Troubleshooting Graphics/Video Cards Benchmarks & Performance Ratings

Graphics/Video Cards Benchmarks & Performance Ratings

I deal with a lot of computer stuff on a day to day basis. From time after time, I usually get invited to a whole bunch of computer conferences and get debriefed on the latest technologies out on the market.

My personal recommendation for a computer to work with The Sims 2 is a system with AT LEAST:

1.5GHz Pentium 4/Athlon XP Processor
512MB-1GB of RAM
GeForce FX5200 or ATI Radeon 9200

A quick way to find out your video card chipset is doing the following.

Click Start > Run.
Type DXDIAG
Hit Enter.

Click the Display Tab and look under the Chip Type. Usually looking under there, name or manufacturer could tell you the model and the manufacturer of the board. People may tell you this is not important however I can tell you both are equally important as just Company A and Company B uses the same chipset, they may not necessary be equal.

From our Friends @ Digit-life.com

We have recently tested some Low-End video cards (up to US$100) on the latest versions of drivers (for the beginning of December 2003) in modern gaming applications (though most older cards do not support shaders, and they got zero scores in the tests where games without shaders look awful).

Today we are going to carry out a through complex test of most video cards released in 1999-2003 (but only those which are able to work on modern mainboards requiring AGP power supply of 1.5V, that is why Voodoo3/5 based cards are missed). But this is just a summary review, not a comparative analysis as it doesn't make sense to compare speeds of various cards of different generations without accounting for quality because up-to-date accelerators deliver perfect gameplay with AA and anisotropy enabled, in contrast to video cards of previous generations.

I selected 80 cards from the collection of our 3Digests of different times including those from the latest 3Digests. Some of the cards are borrowed from traders.

The tests were carried out in two resolutions: 800x600 (to relieve suffering of the low-end cards) and 1024x768 as this is the most frequently used resolution today.

So, the review covers the following cards (the average price in USD for the beginning of December 2003 is given in parentheses; the cards are taken only from well known companies

1. [size=-1]NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Ultra (20)[/size]
2. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 200 (15)[/size]
3. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 400 (28)[/size]
4. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce256 (36)[/size]
5. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS (35)[/size]
6. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce2 Pro (40)[/size]
7. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 (45)[/size]
8. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440SE (36)[/size]
9. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 460 (55)[/size]
10. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440-8x (55)[/size]
11. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200 (70)[/size]
12. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 (100)[/size]
13. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4400 (148)[/size]
14. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 (160)[/size]
15. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200-8x (125)[/size]
16. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4800SE (140)[/size]
17. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 64bit (58)[/size]
18. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128bit 250/400 MHz (67)[/size]
19. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128bit 250/300 MHz (60)[/size]
20. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128bit 275/500 MHz (64)[/size]
21. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra (100)[/size]
22. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 64bit (89)[/size]
23. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128bit (120)[/size]
24. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB 325/550 MHz (118)[/size]
25. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB 325/600 MHz (175)[/size]
26. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB 325/500 MHz (149)[/size]
27. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB 325/400 MHz (141)[/size]
28. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB 350/600 MHz (138)[/size]
29. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 350/700 MHz (192)[/size]
30. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 400/800 MHz (223)[/size]
31. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 (175)[/size]
32. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra (252)[/size]
33. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5800 (265)[/size]
34. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5800 Ultra (340)[/size]
35. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900SE (CP/LX) (252)[/size]
36. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 (313)[/size]
37. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900EPV (321)[/size]
38. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Turbo (380)[/size]
39. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Ultra (452)[/size]
40. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra (540)[/size]
41. [size=-1]ATI RAGE 128 PRO (14)[/size]
42. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 7000 (VE) 32MB (30)[/size]
43. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 7200 64MB DDR (20)[/size]
44. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 7200 32MB DDR (20)[/size]
45. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 7500LE 64MB DDR (38)[/size]
46. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 7500 64MB DDR (50)[/size]
47. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9000 PRO 128MB (78)[/size]
48. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9100 64MB (65)[/size]
49. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9100 128MB (70)[/size]
50. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 8500 64MB (70)[/size]
51. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 8500 128MB (85)[/size]
52. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9200SE 128MB (47)[/size]
53. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9200 64bit 64MB (57)[/size]
54. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9200 128MB (67)[/size]
55. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB (102)[/size]
56. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9600 128MB (113)[/size]
57. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9600 256MB (135)[/size]
58. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9600 PRO 128MB 400/600 MHz (168)[/size]
59. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9600 PRO-EZ 256MB 400/400 MHz (155)[/size]
60. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9600 XT (232)[/size]
61. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9500 128bit 128MB (147)[/size]
62. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9500 PRO (165)[/size]
63. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9700 (230)[/size]
64. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9700 PRO (270)[/size]
65. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9800SE 128bit (202)[/size]
66. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9800SE 256bit (255)[/size]
67. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9800 (275)[/size]
68. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB 380/680 MHz (340)[/size]
69. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB 400/680 MHz (400)[/size]
70. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 256MB (478)[/size]
71. [size=-1]ATI RADEON 9800 XT 256MB (530)[/size]
72. [size=-1]3dfx Voodoo4 4500 (22)[/size]
73. [size=-1]Matrox G550 32MB (36)[/size]
74. [size=-1]Matrox Parhelia 128MB (340)[/size]
75. [size=-1]SIS Xabre 400 (35)[/size]
76. [size=-1]SIS Xabre 600 (65)[/size]
77. [size=-1]PowerVR/STM KYRO 64MB (23)[/size]
78. [size=-1]PowerVR/STM KYRO II 64MB (46)[/size]
79. [size=-1]S3 Savage4 Pro+ 32MB (14)[/size]
80. [size=-1]S3 Savage2000 32MB (14)[/size]

These results should generally determine whether you can run The Sims 2. Below are results from Unreal Tournment 2003, one of the newest games out on the market that's probably one of the most intensive out there.


You can check out the results from the following images:

 

Here are more test results.

Understand that any computer can play The Sims 2. Performance would vary though greatly. If people tell you that your old Pentium Computer can't run The Sims 2, well there is some truth however there is a lot of fiction in that as well.

The Truth: is that any computer can run The Sims 2, however it might be so slow, you'd probably turn 1,000 before you finish creating your sims.

If you have a card with a similar chipset towards the bottom of those graphs, the general thought is that you can run it, however performance may be faster or slower depending on what ingame features you have and how powerful your CPU (Processor) and how much memory you have.

When a computer processes graphics, it first defers instructions to the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and its on board memory. Its like a CPU but its on the Video Card just dedicated to processing graphic functions. When the GPU can not keep up with the amount of instructions and/or graphics memory is being overrunned with too many instructions, the computer will start rerouting instructions for the CPU to process and store stuff in the system memory.

For any game to run smoothly, including The Sims 2, the computer MUST be outputting graphics at at LEAST 30fps (Frames Per Second). Any slower, and it will look jagged, jerky, or whatever you want to call it. My personal limit recommendation is something over 40 so that there is a bit of leeway of your computer slows down a bit causing some delay you have a few extra frames as buffer.

If you have a card performing somewhere between the 40-70fps range, they SHOULD not have any problems however I can't promise anything. A lot of factors go into this, including how fast the GPU is clocked up and how much memory is on board, including how fast the onboard memory is as well. This also includes what type of memory (DDR, DDR2, DDR3, etc.) and that also affects things as well.

If you look at the chart, you can see Chipsets like FX5200 scoring at several ranges. Some are scoring higher while others are scoring lower. The Chipset/GPU are the same however their speeds are completely different.

I strongly suggest not getting a computer with integrated graphics. True some do cut it like the Radeon IGP 9100, however overall majority don't satisfy the pace games are growing and how much resources they demand on a computer. A lot of them depend on System Memory (RAM) however there are a few out on the market that have their own independent memory built in on the motherboard and do not depend on the system memory for its own memory. They are rare (I think the nForce series and IGP series are the only exceptions....you just gotta find motherboards with them that have it built on)

Most custom build computers today from OEM/Channel Builders do use onboard solutions to cut costs, however they usually bundle with an AGP port because it is a complete necessity. Usually popping in a new card into the AGP port will render the onboard graphics useless.

The cards usually on the upper end of the chart, the 100+fps cards are guarenteed to work, and can probably last you quite a while. They normally range from $399.00+ US Dollars however I'm not sure if someone wants to sink that much money into a video card.

I know places actually once in a while have these one day specials where they have cards like ATI Radeon 9800 Pro with 128MB (Brand new too) at 199.00 with no mail in rebate.

Prices change and vary on the market. I personally advise finding a local computer company in your area to help you get the cards you need. Many have suppliers which they can bargain out products for you.

I strongly suggest finding a distributor (its a middleman that carries large inventory between the manufacturer and resellers/end-users) that deals with end-users. They are very rare as many distributors prefer working with resellers.

Please note that not included in these benchmarks are the new ATI X800 Pro/XT and nVidia FX6800 Ultra/GT. These top the top of the list and carry a hefty price tag.

For US Residents.. WorldSims can help assist many people in finding products at cheap prices. We've recently acquiried a bit of buying power and can probably act as middleman between Manufacturers and You in all aspects of the computer industry, from CPUs, Memory, Video Cards and anything computer related.

Hopefully this helps clear out some confusion create by other people based on false information.

 

Your closest comparison would be:

1. [size=-1]NVIDIA GeForce2 Pro (40)[/size]
2. N[size=-1]VIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 (45)[/size]

 

I believe that is an intergrated card. What are the rest of your system specs?

 

Since you may not have a AGP slot or you might not want to buy a video card, I would try and upgrade that 254MBs of RAM to 512MBs of RAM.

 

The chart shows what the frames per second are. The fewer the frames, the more jerky it looks (unless you're above a certain threshold.)

It explains it in one of the paragraphs. "For any game to run smoothly, including The Sims 2, the computer MUST be outputting graphics at at LEAST 30fps (Frames Per Second). Any slower, and it will look jagged, jerky, or whatever you want to call it. My personal limit recommendation is something over 40 so that there is a bit of leeway of your computer slows down a bit causing some delay you have a few extra frames as buffer."