Help, Sims 3 crashin in CAS and build modes.

[rumandginger]

I've been playing Sims 3 since it came out. I currently have base game + ambitions + generations + pets + showtime installed.

The thing is, since it came out, it's worked wonderfully for me. But some months ago, it started crashing in CAS whenever I spent more than 5 minutes on it.
I've been trying to avoid creating sims unless completely necessary, and all's been good. But TODAY I was building a new house and it crashed just the same as in CAS (first, the game got magically minimized, and I had to click on it to get back, then the screen went black after some minutes, and though the computer was still on, fan working and all, it gave no signals that it was well, on at all. So I had to manually shut it down).

My computer was too hot when this happened and couldn't start up again until it cooled down.

**Also, as a note: I've had problems with another game too, Final Fantasy XIV, in which after 5 minutes of gameplay, it will either: close down, restart my computer, or shut it down making it unable to restart until some time's passed. Maybe this can help you help me identify my problems?

***Besies that, I've also gotten the Nvidia Display Driver Stopped Responding and has recovered errors, in both Sims 3 and FFXIV

So I'm guessing it has to do with either RAM or my graphics card, for which I'm giving out my details:
-Nvidia Geforce 8800GT
-Computer: Acer Aspire M1610
-RAM: 3GB
-Windows 7

I don't know what else could be, so please if anyone has any suggestions, or knows if it could be the RAM (not enough of it) or maybe with the new patches the needed specs are higher and I don't meet them, then please tell me, that would be of help. Thank you!

[Whiterudder]

You RAM is under the minimum required for TS3, but that's not what's causing the crashes; the problem is your graphics card. While that card is supported for TS3, that assumes a brand new 8800GT in perfect working condition, and nothing stays like that for long. :)

Hopefully, the problem at this point is just overheating; but if overheating happens too often for too long, then it can cause permanent damage to the graphics card, so you really need to be nipping it in the bud. You say you know that your computer is too hot - does that mean you've been running software to monitor the temperatures? If so, what kind of temperatures have you been seeing?
When was the last time you opened up your machine and cleaned it out? Did you do a good, thorough clean of all fans and heatsinks using canned air or a small hoover; or just a quick once over? Whereabouts is your computer, and what surface is it on - wooden desktop, carpet on the floor etc? It's not sat in one of those godawful compartments which limits the airflow and accumulates dust, is it?

[rumandginger]

Let's see... how much RAM would I need for it to play better? 4 GB?

And which graphics card would you recommend? I got this one for the game, can you believe it D:

My computer would need a place where air flows better, indeed, but as it is I can't give it more room.
I haven't tested temperatures lately, I should do that, but since it just shuts down, I can't really look into it, will try that.

I can't really take off all the dust because I would need one of those compressed air thingies but don't know when I can get one or how much they cost.

Could overheating cause the graphics card to do weird things and, eventually, restart the computer? Also about the Nvidia error, no one seems to have a fix and that's what happened to me most of the time in CAS. Maybe because my graphics card isn't fully supported perhaps? Ahh... I'm lost here. If it were just Sims 3, but also being FFXIV dfkjdhg.

[AceTheUnknown]

You can get compressed air at Walmart in the electronics section.

And I think the overheating was caused by the graphics card causing a fail-safe emergency shutdown. (Like BSOD but worse)?

[ellacharmed]

General - Post System Specs
We need more information before we can help with your issue.
Please post a Quick summary of your System Specs
Instructions on finding them are here: Game Help:System Specs.
Please Do NOT post your complete DxDiag report in your thread.


Based on web searches for this model, the CPU is a tad weak. Can we see specs to confirm?
With the age, other components you would need to upgrade, the difficulty of locating in-stock components to be able to fit a motherboard from that era, I think it would be best to replace the whole shebang. Instead of upgrading piecemeal, one component at a time.

[rumandginger]

My dxdiag report:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/1/2012, 14:56:45
Machine name: WIN-M0PIC1RTAFT
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600)

(7600.win7_gdr.110622-1503)
Language: Spanish (Regional Setting: Spanish)
System Manufacturer: Acer
System Model: Aspire M1610
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4600 @ 2.40GHz (2

CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 3072MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3072MB RAM
Page File: 1294MB used, 4846MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode


---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8800 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0611&SUBSYS_34681458&REV_A2
Display Memory: 1777 MB
Dedicated Memory: 497 MB
Shared Memory: 1279 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Monitor PnP genérico
Monitor Model: AL1511
Monitor Id: ACRAD14
Native Mode: unknown
Output Type: HD15
Driver Name:

nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.17.0012.9610 (English)
Driver Version: 8.17.12.9610
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 3/1/2012 02:02:00, 17642816 bytes


Description: Altavoces (Dispositivo de High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO

\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_105B0C9E&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 65535
Type: WDM
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385 (Spanish)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 7/14/2009 02:07:00, 350208 bytes


------------------------ < copy+pasted info >
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives < starts from >
------------------------ < here >

Drive: C:
Free Space: 13.8 GB
Total Space: 305.1 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: WDC WD3200AAJS-22VWA0 ATA Device

I thought so, that my computer was a bit old to keep upgrading it, it just won't take most of the stuff very well D: I'll look into getting a new one, but please if you could review my specs report first? :3 Thank you for the help everyone!

[ellacharmed]

Please copy and paste into the post itself, so we don't need to click on a link to open a separate tab each time we revisit this thread. That was after all, what the instructions say. :)

And if you want to do a self-build when getting the new PC, following instructions is critical. You don't want to plug in the wrong pegs to the wrong holes, so to speak.
In regards to that, there's some initial research you need to do, so please go to the Help menu and head on over to the Computer and Software Help subforum where we have stickies and other threads to start you off on some reading.

When you're ready to start your research for purchasing new components or a new PC, please post (in that Computer Tech forum, not here) with
- budget
- primary purpose of usage: just Sims 3, with any other games, or a lot of photographic/video editing & rendering, watch BluRay movies, etc
- monitor size and resolution (reuse current or new)
- what other requirements: OS, keyboard+mouse, wireless, etc (ie reuse current or new)
- country of purchase
- self-building or pre-build (Dell / HP / Acer / Asus / etc) or custom-build (TigerDirect / NCIX / etc)?

----
For the issue with the current system, I see the graphics drivers is already updated, so there's nothing to update further regarding the black screen crashes.
And as it is already crashing from overheating issues, like I suspected the system is on the right track to be scrapped and replaced. Was it already upgraded at one time? The web searches I mentioned I did earlier all posted the graphics did not come with the Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT model. I'm thinking its on its last legs, and not worth more money being invested in it. If you need more convincing: a comparison of current Processors available on the retail marketplace right now versus the CPU in this system. http://cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Duo+E4600+%40+2.40GHz
You'd be better of saving a bit more and putting that money into a brand new system.

[rumandginger]

Sorry I thought posting a lengthy report would annoy some people (guess I was wrong, so I fixed that :3).

Looks like I'll need a new computer then. I'll want it to run Sims 3 and FFXIV, so I'll look into that part of the forum this week and ask there. You'v helped me a lot by being patient and telling me what looks like the problem is.

Indeed, investing more money on this computer would be crazy, any new releases I want to play would need a better PC as it is :/ Someone told me to, first, upgrade stuff and see if it worked, saying I was wrong on thinking of buying a whole new one, ha!

Thank you for the help, again!