Need help deciding on a graphics card for sims 3

[karyssia]

Hello,

I'd like to start off by saying thank you to anyone who decides to read this or help me. It's much appreciated.

Anyways, My current card is a GeForce 9400 GT that my boyfriend bought me almost a year ago. As the title says I play sims 3. I've been experiencing some lag... meshes loading in slow, extra. My Sims game in general does not have the detail i'm looking for, which is most important to me.

I've been looking at graphic cards and was debating getting a 9800 GT. I read on various forums its about 4-5x faster than my 9400 GT.

I'm not looking for the best card, but a good card. I'm on a budget as well. I'd like to stay under 100$ but would be willing to go between 100-150$

Do you guys have any recommendations for my price range/needs?

Thank you!

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Can you give your system specs and what resolution you play on ?

 

[karyssia]

I run my game on 1280x800

Windows 7 64-bit
Processor AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 640 Processor (4 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
8 GB RAM
Hard drive 1TB

Not sure what else you would want. I'm not very computer smart sadly. I can post a DxDiag though if needed

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Just one more thing, your powersupply, how many watts, brandname and model if you know.

 

[karyssia]

250 watt power supply which is know is pretty weak. i'd have to upgrade that for sure.
i don't know about the brand name model and stuff

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

You defenitely need to upgrade that psu. Even for the 9800gt.
Maybe when it's a Dell psu you could run a HD6670 on it but still.
I wanted to suggest a GTX460, so you can be sure you can play Simms 3 and 4 and 5 and so on when they come out, but that card needs at least 450-500W. New psu + 460 will be more expensive though than 150 bucks.
Upgrading from a 9400 to a 9800 is a waist imo, you still have an old card.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Without upgrading the psu you could try the hd6670 ; http://www.hwcompare.com/10937/geforce-9400-gt-256mb-vs-radeon-hd-6670-oem-1gb/

 

[karyssia]

I'm definitely going to be upgrading my power supply it's not that expensive thankfully. I see a 500 for 35-50$

I will consider the 450, I might as well not be cheap because I will end up having to buy a new graphics card anyway down the road.

Edit:
I'm very hesitant on Radeon because my boyfriend bought one and it didn't work so well. I will probably go with the Radeon then I looked at the graph and it seems to fit all my needs. Let's hope mine works better for me than my bf's did.

Thank you!

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Radeon HAD a driver issue problem, but not so anymore.
I adviced the 460 btw, not the 450, alltough the 450 would be enough for sims i quess.
Advice for psu's ; good brands are Corsair, Antec, XFX, Seasonic, OCZ.

 

[karyssia]

Best answer selected by karyssia.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

One last question ; do you know if your motherboard has a pcie 1.0 or 2.0 slot ?

 

[karyssia]

How would I be able to tell?

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

You can tell by downloading and running GPU-Z or if you know your mothetboard name give that, or tell the brand and model name of the pc.

 

[karyssia]

HP model p6754y

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Ok, if i searched right this is your mobo and that supports 2.0 and therefore 2.1 also. No problem, HD 6670 should work. http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02560084&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=5049531&lang=en#N448

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Id go with the 460 1 Gb or 6850 1GB @ $150

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Yeah, and blow the psu.

Nice picture Karyssia Sorry for that :lol: Dutch idiot.

 

[karyssia]

I allowed myself to spend 200$ but I have to stay under 200$ I'm trying to decide between the 460 1 Gb or 6850 1GB as you guys recommend. I'm leaning towards the 6850 based on http://www.hwcompare.com/8241/geforce-gtx-460-1gb-vs-radeon-hd-6850/ it seems so similar.

Now I just have to find a power supply of 500+? that will be around 50$

@robjordy Thanks! ^^

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

6850 is a bit better than the 460. ( but often a bit more expensive )

 

[karyssia]

Thank you. I need to be sure the new power supply will fit in my computer. I will rage if it gets here and it wont fit, lol.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

I'm pretty sure it will. It's not a micro tower or something so there should be enough space.

I'm finished at my job now, so i'm off

 

[karyssia]

Alright, Thank you very much for all your help! Have a great day.