I'm sure this is getting old, but PLEASE help!

[Raven Loch]

Hi, I got the SIMS 2 for my wife as a B-day gift and it runs, but very slow and choppy at times and it freezes for long periods when more then two people are on the screen or the time of day changes. here's what my PC is right now:

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
System Memory is: 495.7( 512 MB 400MHZ DDR SDRAM)
Processor Speed is: 2793.3 (Pentium 4 2.8 GHZ and 800 MHZ FSB)
Hard Drive: 160GB serial ATA hard drive w/ 8MB cache)
Optical Drive: 16x/48x DVD-ROM
Direct x 9.0c
Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller (local memory 64)
Display memory: 64

Will getting a new graphic card fix this problem? Do I need an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro or a nVidia Geforce 4 or FX series? My PC is only 9 months old from Gateway. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[ManagerJosh]

Try upgrading your graphics driver.
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/Product_Filter.asp?ProductID=1044

[Cyricc]

Get a new graphics card... you really need one.

[Raven Loch]

Thanks Manager Josh, I've tried updating the drivers for my graphic card and it didn't help. Is everything else okay on my PC except for the graphic card? Is a Radeon better then a Nvidia Geforce? I've seen graphic cards called "Geforce" but none of them said they were Nvidia, does that matter?

[Flameback777]

Thanks Manager Josh, I've tried updating the drivers for my graphic card and it didn't help. 1. Is everything else okay on my PC except for the graphic card? 2. Is a Radeon better then a Nvidia Geforce? 3. I've seen graphic cards called "Geforce" but none of them said they were Nvidia, does that matter?1. Yes.
2. Radeons and Geforces are really the same, just different brands, there shouldn't be much difference.
3. Geforce cards are made by Nvidia.

[ThyLaSlain]

just be happy you can actually PLAY it, lol. mine won't go past the splash screen. then it starts complaining about how directx 9c isn't installed.

[Raven Loch]

Thanks for your help everyone! I'll try getting a new graphic card today. It's nice to know that there's a forum where people are actually getting help with their tech problems! Thanks again!

[Raven Loch]

One more question I have is this...
Which graphic card do I REALLY need?

PNY Technologies PNY Technologies Verto GeForce FX 5200 128MB AGP Graphics Card

or

ATI Radeon 9600 XT 128MB 128 bit AGP

Is one better then the other? Will either of these cards be enough to make a BIG difference for me?

[alssetna]

It may make a difference. I personally prefer the ATI cards. However, I have the same card, and I am still having some performance problems, which I now think may be caused by the DVD version of the game. Which version do you have?

[Raven Loch]

I have the DVD version. You have the same graphic's card I currently have and got an ATI Radeon and it didn't make a difference? $100-$250 is a lot to spend if it's not going to change anything. I'm assuming a new graphics card is really only going to benefit me when I play games right? Any reccomendations?

[KevCritch]

put as simple as possible ATI 9600XT is alot better than the Nvidia FX5200

[Raven Loch]

Thanks! Gateway has one for $184.95 or for about $30 more I can get a ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB. I'm assuming if I do this I should just invest the extra $30 and get the 9800 for the long term? Am I right on that?