Upgrading graphics card

Gary Norris

I just bought sims 3 for my comuter but an error comes up saying my graphics card doesnt support shader model 2. It says i have to upgrade it. How do i do this. i dont want to spend more than 40 euro on a new graphics card.

StillBallygowan

It is a desktop PC or laptop you have?

If it is a desktop PC you will need to identify if the motherboard supports AGP or PCI, PCI-Express graphics card.

You should be able to purchase one of those types of graphics card for <€50 (excluding delivery)

Also check out adverts.ie for people selling graphics cards.

Gary Norris

Its a pc. i think it a 128mb agb ati radeon 9200se. wud this work http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfullft.asp?productcode=ECE1736848

StillBallygowan

Gary Norris wrote: »

Its a pc. i think it a 128mb agb ati radeon 9200se. wud this work http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfullft.asp?productcode=ECE1736848

Looks like that should support it i.e. that graphics card supports OpenGL 2.0, DirectX 10.

How old is your PC?

Do you happen to have the make/model?

Also, have you the latest version of Microsoft DirectX installed on your PC?

Gary Norris

I think the latest is installed. Its an emachine 5230 i think. The computer is about 4 or 5 years old

Cuddlesworth

StillBallygowan wrote: »

Looks like that should support it i.e. that graphics card supports OpenGL 2.0, DirectX 10.

How old is your PC?

Do you happen to have the make/model?

Also, have you the latest version of Microsoft DirectX installed on your PC?

Are you just point black ignoring the AGP part or is it just bad advise?

Op that card won't work, in fact any card bought for that machine will be a big waste of money. But if you are going to get one, this would be the card to get.

http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=ECE1736849#spec

StillBallygowan

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Op that card won't work, in fact any card bought for that machine will be a big waste of money. But if you are going to get one, this would be the card to get.

http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=ECE1736849#spec

Are you just ignoring the fact that the OP doesn't want to spend more than €40 or is that just bad advice?

StillBallygowan

Minimum requirements for Sims 3:

PC system requirements:
Windows XP (SP2) / Vista (SP1)
2GHz Intel Pentium IV or equivalent for XP / 2.4GHz Intel Pentium IV or equivalent for Vista
1GB RAM for XP / 1.5GB RAM for Vista
6.1GB HDD Space (with at least 1GB of additional space for custom content and saved games)
128MB Graphics Card with Pixel Shader 2.0 support

For computers using built-in graphics chipsets:
2.6GHz Pentium D, 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo or equivalent
0.5GB additional RAM
Intel Integrated Chipset, GMA 3-series or above

Supported PC graphics cards:
nVidia GeForce series
FX 5900, FX 5950
6200, 6500, 6600, 6800
7200, 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
8400, 8500, 8600, 8800
9300, 9400, 9500, 9600, 9800
G100, GT 120, GT 130
GTS 150, GTS 250
GTX 260, GTX 280, GTX 285, GTX 295

ATi Radeon series
9500, 9600, 9800
X300, X600, X700, X800, X850
X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
2400, 2600, 2900
3450, 3650, 3850, 3870
4850, 4870

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator series
GMA 3-Series
GMA 4-Series

Cuddlesworth

StillBallygowan wrote: »

Are you just ignoring the fact that the OP doesn't want to spend more than €40 or is that just bad advice?

I decided a 22% increase in budget would be worthwhile for the money spent. Rather then recommending the purchase of a card which would point blank refuse to work and most likely end up damaging his system as he tries to put it in.

StillBallygowan

back on topic... we are here to help the OP not to bicker afterall

based on the model desktop it appears you have a PCI-E x16 slot available.

i have found a 7 available on elara within your budget

Cuddlesworth

StillBallygowan wrote: »

back on topic... we are here to help the OP not to bicker afterall

based on the model desktop it appears you have a PCI-E x16 slot available.

i have found a 7 available on elara within your budget

Unfortunately they updated the model without changing the model number. So it could have either.

StillBallygowan

OP - are you handy at opening up the PC to identify which slot exists?

As your PC is 4 - 5 years old you could have both.

Overheal

Simplest way to find out is with Everest Free:

http://majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Youll be able to find out with that what slot you have for definite. You should also find out how many watts your Power Supply Outputs - it should be listed on the back of the machine casing.

Gary Norris

it is agp

Overheal

Grand. So changes are it wont require a new power unit either, if you go with something cheap enough. IDK about nvidias model lineup but I know every geforce from 5 series on has the 2.0 shader, and starting at about 7 or 8 they have the 3.0 shader, and dx10 starting with 8 and up.

Most companies still offer up their latest beasts on an AGP slot though:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9399171&st=AGP&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1218099254614

Youd only need this though

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9360087&st=AGP&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1218090911855

John mac

Overheal wrote: »

Grand. So changes are it wont require a new power unit either, if you go with something cheap enough. IDK about nvidias model lineup but I know every geforce from 5 series on has the 2.0 shader, and starting at about 7 or 8 they have the 3.0 shader, and dx10 starting with 8 and up.

Most companies still offer up their latest beasts on an AGP slot though:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9399171&st=AGP&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1218099254614

Youd only need this though

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9360087&st=AGP&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1218090911855

Irish price here

Gary Norris

U can only buy them in america.

Overheal

BB is easy for me when I just wanna grab product examples.

encryptix

StillBallygowan wrote: »

Looks like that should support it i.e. that graphics card supports OpenGL 2.0, DirectX 10.

How old is your PC?

Do you happen to have the make/model?

Also, have you the latest version of Microsoft DirectX installed on your PC?

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Are you just point black ignoring the AGP part or is it just bad advise?

Op that card won't work, in fact any card bought for that machine will be a big waste of money. But if you are going to get one, this would be the card to get.

http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=ECE1736849#spec

Dont' want to go off topic but could you please explain why the card wont work? I dont want to be helping friends out, and get something that will break there/my pc! Thanks.

marco_polo

encryptix wrote: »

Dont' want to go off topic but could you please explain why the card wont work? I dont want to be helping friends out sometimes and get something that will break there/my pc! Thanks.

That HD2400 seems to be AGP, supports up to shader model 4.0 and is in the list of supported card models for Sims 3 so I am interested as to how it would 'point blank not work' and 'damage his system' as well.

Gary Norris

This is the report fot the computer

Gary Norris

So will that card work http://www.elara.ie/products/details...CE1736849#spec

Cuddlesworth

Gary Norris wrote: »

So will that card work http://www.elara.ie/products/details...CE1736849#spec

Yes

marco_polo wrote: »

That HD2400 seems to be AGP, supports up to shader model 4.0 and is in the list of supported card models for Sims 3 so I am interested as to how it would 'point blank not work' and 'damage his system' as well.

I didn't see the connection type listed as AGP at first glance. But it is labelled as pci-ex in the header and it is listed in the pci-ex section.

marco_polo

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Yes



I didn't see the connection type listed as AGP at first glance. But it is labelled as pci-ex in the header and it is listed in the pci-ex section.

Ah I thought that might be what happened, but I was only looking at the specs and saw AGP so I was a little confused . I see what you mean now.

Gary Norris

Or this 1 is cheaper. Whould this work
http://www.misco.ie/productinformation/~110956~WW~/Zotac%206200A%20256Mb%20AGP%20graphics%20card.htm

Gary Norris

I think i`d prefer to get this 1

Gary Norris

http://www.misco.ie/productinformation/~Q111270~WW~/PNY%20GeForce%206200%20256Mb%20AGP%20Graphics%20card.htm

marco_polo

Not so fast. The 20 euro HD2400 is comfortably better than the 6200A.

Gary Norris

So this will work. This would be much cheaper.http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfullft.asp?productcode=ECE1736848

marco_polo

Gary Norris wrote: »

So this will work. This would be much cheaper.http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfullft.asp?productcode=ECE1736848

Should be fine it says it is PCI in the title but AGP in the specs so be careful maybe send them a mail first to be sure.

To my eye it looks like an AGP slot in the picture as well.

TerrorFirmer

Its AGP going by the picture.

The 6200 is absolute trash and incapable of playing anything modern, even the Sims. It would work, but at such poor levels it'd be rather pointless.

Try www.adverts.ie, some AGP cards floating around there most days.

Other then that, an Agp Hd2400 is a steal at 20 euro to be honest, once you've confirmed it is actually AGP.

Gary Norris

I bought this graphics card http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfullft.asp?productcode=ECE1736848# and got it 2day but its a pci-e card even tho it says its a agp. I`m going to return it. So i guess i need 2 pick out another agp card that will work for maybe 30 or 40 euro. Does it have to be a ati radeon grapics card as the drivers 4 my old 1 are uninstalled.