Help with graphics

[treowe]

Hi, I recently got another pc with an integrated graphics card for my Sims 2. I don't know if it's a piece of doodoo or just not set correctly, but the graphics are awful.
My old pc has a Radeon 9600, and I wanted better graphics on the new pc but was told that the integrated card should be just fine.
The specs are:

Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator Driver Report


Report Date: 07/01/2009
Report Time[hr:mm:ss]: 10:25:54
Driver Version: 6.14.10.4906
Operating System: Windows XP* Professional, Service Pack 3 (5.1.2600)
Default Language: English
DirectX* Version: 9.0
Physical Memory: 3317 MB
Minimum Graphics Memory: 8 MB
Maximum Graphics Memory: 384 MB
Graphics Memory in Use: 11 MB
Processor: x86 family 6 Model 23 Stepping 10
Processor Speed: 2982 MHZ
Vendor ID: 8086
Device ID: 2982
Device Revision: 03


* Accelerator Information *

Accelerator in Use: Intel(R) G35 Express Chipset Family
Video BIOS: 1594.0
Current Graphics Mode: 1280 by 1024 True Color
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I don't know if this is a good set up for Sims 2, and wonder if there is a way to change/tweek the settings for optimal graphic performance in my game.
thanks for any advice

 

[uncfan_2563]

nah those things just suck, its not ur settings. You can pickup a card for like 35 bucks that'll out perform that

 

[njalterio]

Sims 2 is not that graphically demanding (relatively), but you should still get at least a low-end graphics card to play things smoothly. Check newegg.com for a good cheap graphics card. Something like an HD 4550 is fine, although for your needs the possibilities are endless.

 

[treowe]

I've read that too, but I wasn't really satisfied with the graphics of the 9600, it just wasn't clear enough and I need to be able to take nice clear screenies.

 

[uncfan_2563]

well now the 9600 is really low end. current low end hardware should suffice

 

[megamanx00]

Bwa ha ha.

Yeah, that integrated graphics is worse than your old Radeon 9600. Go to newegg.com and get either an nvidia 8600GT or a 9500GT. Whichever is cheaper. Those cards a pretty low end, but they should be more than enough for sims2