Game runs slowly: How bad is my computer?

[Randee15]

I have the base game, WA, LN, AMB, and Pets. I have a 104.36 megabytes of CC in 92 files (the vast majority in .package format, many of those combined), including Awesomemod and some NRaas. But my game runs very slowly: it can take 20-30 minutes to boot up, I have to run the game with the graphics turned way down to get an okay performance in-game, and loading CAS thumbnails takes maybe 5-10 minutes total for each category!

Due to certain physical disabilities I have, I'm using a laptop, which I know isn't the best for this game.

I haven't played in ages, mostly due to the frustration of load times and slow play speed. But I now also know my computer's like a car, and I'm scared of overtaxing it.

Basically, I just want to know how bad my situation is.

I've included two DxDiags, because it offered me both a x32 and a x64 scan.

x32 DxDiag
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/7/2012, 11:28:02
Machine name: MIRANDA-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120503-2030)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Acer
System Model: Aspire 7736
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU T4400 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4024MB RAM
Page File: 1689MB used, 6358MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode


---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A42&SUBSYS_02961025&REV_09
Display Memory: 1695 MB
Dedicated Memory: 64 MB
Shared Memory: 1631 MB
Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: SEC3051
Native Mode: 1600 x 900(p) (59.998Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.1892 (English)
Driver Version: 8.15.10.1892
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 9/2/2009 12:54:16, 5617664 bytes


-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10250205&REV_1002
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6662 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 6/19/2012 16:54:20, 4065296 bytes


------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 541.4 GB
Total Space: 598.4 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: WDC WD6400BEVT-22A0RT0

Drive: D:
Model: Optiarc DVD RW AD-7585H
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7601.17514 (English), , 0 bytes

x64 DxDiag
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/7/2012, 11:32:06
Machine name: MIRANDA-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120503-2030)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Acer
System Model: Aspire 7736
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU T4400 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4024MB RAM
Page File: 1673MB used, 6374MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode


---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A42&SUBSYS_02961025&REV_09
Display Memory: 1695 MB
Dedicated Memory: 64 MB
Shared Memory: 1631 MB
Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: SEC3051
Native Mode: 1600 x 900(p) (59.998Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.1892 (English)
Driver Version: 8.15.10.1892
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 9/2/2009 12:54:16, 5617664 bytes


-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10250205&REV_1002
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6662 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 6/19/2012 16:54:20, 4065296 bytes


------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 541.4 GB
Total Space: 598.4 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: WDC WD6400BEVT-22A0RT0

Drive: D:
Model: Optiarc DVD RW AD-7585H
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7601.17514 (English), 11/20/2010 02:19:21, 147456 bytes

P.S. I wasn't sure whether to put this here or in Computer/Software Tech Support, as it's a bit of both. Please move if I've gotten it wrong!

[HystericalParoxysm]

Pretty bad. You have Integrated Intel graphics plus a fairly low-powered processor. And as it's a laptop, there's not really a fix for that besides a new laptop. Good that you're keeping the settings low - make sure to monitor your temperatures too and keep your play times low as well, to preserve your system. Fewer EPs would help also - Pets especially does not do well with Intel graphics, if you're willing to uninstall it.

[Sgloomi]

Hopefully without starting one of those Mac/PC arguments: If for other reasons than finance you have to use a laptop, might I suggest using a MacBook Pro with Boot Camp, which turns it into a Windows Machine and not just an emulated one?

Or some other high-end brand of similar build-quality robustness - I'm sure there must be some. My point being that if it's gonna be your primary machine, rather than something cheap you chuck in a rucksack to take out and about, then it's a false economy not to go high-end.

[Koolhira]

This happened to me, but it wasn't a computer problem. I got something to make it go faster. Well sorta.

It's called "Delphy's Dashboard (http://www.modthesims.info/d/387006) ". It identifies corrupt, conflicted, empty, broken or sims 2 packages and fixes it. Usually it doesn't fix it, it just disables the corrupted files.

If that doesn't help, try these posts:
http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Package_File_Lag
http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game%20Help:Sims_3_Loading_Crashes

[whiterider]

Also not trying to stoke the Mac/PC argument here: Sgloomi is right that, for gaming, you want a high-end laptop. However, you can get a high end Windows laptop for half the price of an equally high end Mac. The 1000€ MacBooks are a bad choice for TS3; the 1500€ MacBooks are better, or you could get a 1000€ Windows laptop, from a brand like ASUS, which will outperform the 1500€ MacBook.

[Randee15]

*sighs* I suspected as much, but kind of optimistically hoped it would be some simple "upgrade your drivers" type of answer. Oh, well!

I won't be getting another laptop for a while yet; I have to run this current one into the ground, first. ;) But I won't be doing it with The Sims, if I can help it.

I was actually raised on Macs, but was switched exclusively to Windows PCs at around age 10. I've used nothing else since then, and though I could go back to Macs, I would prefer to stay with a Windows PC. But I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I will study the game specs given on this site, especially the graphics cards, and when the time comes I can go to our resident computer geek in the family (my cousin) and consult with him for everything else. In the meantime, I'm debating whether to take "Pets" out or not; I know I should, and probably will in the end, but... kitties and puppies and horsies! :cry:

ETA: Okay, I guess I should ask some more specifics, to be on the safe side.

How long, exactly, does "keep your play times low" mean? 15 minutes? 30? With or without the 20-30 minute boot time?

Also, how do I tell if my computer's temperature is dangerous? It's always warm, and occasionally gets moderately hot even if I'm just browsing the Interwebs or watching a DVD. Is there a thermometer program I could use or something?

[ellacharmed]

I usually toggle between these 2:
- http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
- http://www.hwinfo.com/index.html

If I need a quick screenshot to document hardware changes or how the software affect my GPU Temps, I use HWMonitor.
With my recent hardware troubles, I used HWInfo as it can tell me more than just temperatures. HWInfo also monitors and saves in .csv so you can import into a spreadsheet program and create pretty graphs for analysis. (yes, imma geek) :)
HWMonitor's monitoring saves to a .txt file and I can make heads nor tails of that report. (not that techy of a geek)