Windows 7 + Sims 3 = Slow?

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NyteBlade

Weaksauce
Joined
May 25, 2007
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So here's my dillema. With the end of XP coming sooner than later, I decided to take the plunge into Windows 7 - it sounded like Windows 7 performed better at everything than Vista, and was just marginally short of Windows XP. Okay, safe bet. My XP installation had all kinds of strange adware and evil stuff. So I upgraded to 7. Windows 7 has been a bit sluggish, but not anything that caused me to want to chuck it out the window. It's probably been caused by my 100 instances of Firefox I keep open.

So, I close all my programs, install The Sims 3, and fire it up. The thing runs like a slug. I mean it's not even close to the realm of usable. My PC sounds like a 747 getting ready to take off. Even at 1024x768 resolution with most of the graphics settings turn down, the thing isn't even usable.

My specs are as follows...
AMD 64 3200+ Processor
1 gigabyte of PC3200 Ram
Geforce 6800 AGP Graphics Card
Standard issue 7200 RPM Maxtor HD

I realize my computer is probably aproaching hte dinosaur line rapidly, but being a college student, I cannot bring myself to spend an epicton of money on old DDR ram, and upgrading the motherboard, RAM, graphics card, processor etc. to something better could get expensive. However, if $35 for a gig of DDR would allow this dinosaur to co-exist in the world longer, then it could be an option..

So my question is...is my computer the culprit here - is upgrading my only option to run The Sims 3 decently? Is Windows 7 the guilty party? Bad device drivers? As always, advice appreciated!
 
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It's your CPU. Sims 3 is incredibly CPU intensive.
 
450 said:
It's your CPU. Sims 3 is incredibly CPU intensive.
Click to expand...

Would there be any benefit of downgrading to Windows XP? Anything I could do besides make sure all programs are closed and that nothing is eating up CPU time? Turn down graphic settings which sound CPU intensive maybe.
 
You're trying to run a new game on an outdated computer. I think that's the problem here.
 
Thanks for the reply guys. I know my computer is pretty generally outdated, and upgrading this rig anymore just isn't cost effective. Just trying to see if there's anyhting I could do to squeeze the last drops of oomph out of this thing. I'll try closing all programs, reducing graphics settings, throwing in a flash drive for ready boost and hoping for the best...
 
Downgrading to XP might help, but the effort isn't worth it. If you'll be using this computer a while longer, I'd still get the extra gig of RAM. $35 isn't too much to double your RAM.
 
The amount of memory is the problem:

The Sims 3 Minimum System Requirements:

PC Desktop - XP (Service Pack 2)
- Processor Pentium IV 2.0 GHz / Athlon XP 2000+
- Memory 1 GB
- Graphics GeForce FX 5900 / Radeon 9500
- Graphics Ram 128 MB

PC Desktop - Vista (Service Pack 1)
- Processor: Pentium IV 2.4 GHz / Athlon XP 2400+
- Memory: 1.5 GB
- Graphics: GeForce FX 5900 / Radeon 9500
- Graphics Ram: 128 MB
Click to expand...
Even under XP, you're just barely meeting the *minimum* memory requirement. Under Vista you're 0.5GB below the minimum. My nephew has an Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.5GHz with 3GB and a 6800GT running Vista and he said Sims 3 is running nicely for him at 1280x1024.
 
450 said:
Downgrading to XP might help, but the effort isn't worth it. If you'll be using this computer a while longer, I'd still get the extra gig of RAM. $35 isn't too much to double your RAM.
Click to expand...

I think this would be the only worthwhile upgrade for your PC. Beyond that...you basically have to replace everything(motherboard/cpu/ram/videocard) and it will end up costing around ~300$ at least.
 
Open your case, dust it off, overclock CPU + GPU.

College + sims though?
 
Yeah...Sims 3 + exam week don't mix at all, let alone my ancient computer! Probably for Christmas I'll be looking into upgrading this rig to something nice and shiny and new (and of course posting here for advice! A quad core with 4 gigs of ram...a man can dream, right?) but times are tough and as a college student I don't have any money at any time :p

I looked on newegg, and I can get an extra gig of Corsair PC3200 RAM for $25 shipped after rebate! Given the fact that it seems like I'm always trying to close stuff to free up RAM, I think doubling my RAM for $25 is a good investment. Should be able to use this computer for awhile longer anyway.
 
XP will help. We have no gaming computer anymore since we game on the 360 but my girlfriend runs the sims 3 just fine on an XP 2800+, gig of ram and a 7600gs at medium(couple things on high) and 1024x768 just fine. It ran like ass in 7.
 
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