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Test Subject
Original Poster
#1 Old 11th Jun 2009 at 4:02 AM
I'm having an issue very similar to this. The game crashing back to desktop after about 30 minutes or less. Here are my specs.

Dell Desktop Dimension e510
Windows XP professional service pack 2
Pentium 2.99 Ghz processer
1 GB of ram
Radeon x600 video card.

I do think its an overheating problem, because the fan sounds like its kicking into high gear then shutting down just prior to each crash. I was able to play the game for a couple of hour before the first crash, about 30 min after the 2nd and less after the third.

Thank you for your help.

Carrie
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shiny!
retired moderator
#2 Old 11th Jun 2009 at 4:22 AM
I split off your thread. Too many people asking to help in the same thread gets confusing.

While your computer technically meets minimum requirements, it does not meet recommendations for good game play. Your RAM is minimal and your computer could benefit from more. The graphics card is a likely issue. There are people who report having problems with much stronger cards. Your CPU is likely ok. The fact that things are crashing more and more frequently may indicate that you are damaging your computer by playing this game.
This guide was written for Sims 2, but most of it also applies for Sims 3: http://modthesims.info/wiki.php?tit...nboard_Graphics

Try updating drivers and directx:
Directx: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...6a-9b6652cd92a3
Graphics: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownlo...19&lang=English (use options 1)
Motherboard: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/con...lName=&lang=eng (if that doesn't work, try these: http://support.dell.com/support/top...pup&file=150654)


Also, what you described has no bearing on whether or not things are overheating, except that the fan kicking on high means there's a lot of heat being produced. You still need to check temps. Download and run this program: http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php Leave it running while you play the game. Ideally you want to stress your computer at least 20minutes. After at least 20minutes has passed, screencap the program and post the image here.
Test Subject
Original Poster
#3 Old 11th Jun 2009 at 4:27 PM Last edited by pendragon1980 : 11th Jun 2009 at 6:27 PM.
I did all this, including the temp monitor, which never went over 40 degrees C. I also lowered the graphics in the game to the lowest possible setting.

I then left the game (the Lum household, 3 sims) play itself for almost 2 hours without a crash, I built on the lot, furnish and went to various community lots.

As soon however, I created a new sim and started building and furnishing a fresh lot, the crashes began again. I wonder if there is a programming glitch after all.

When I returned the the lot, I played again for another 3 hours, making small changes and saving frequently, so I wonder if the glitch in either in the build mode or the build mode is too intense for my computer.

Pendragon.
shiny!
retired moderator
#4 Old 12th Jun 2009 at 1:39 AM
If you've done everything listed above then I'm pretty well out ideas. It very well could be due to your computer just not being able to handle the game.
Test Subject
Original Poster
#5 Old 12th Jun 2009 at 2:42 PM
Quote: Originally posted by callistra
If you've done everything listed above then I'm pretty well out ideas. It very well could be due to your computer just not being able to handle the game.


I could upgrade the RAM to 2G, you think that would solve the problem? I'm researching upgrades my video card and if XP is compatible with DirectX10.
shiny!
retired moderator
#6 Old 12th Jun 2009 at 5:41 PM
Upgrading the RAM will probably help but there's no guarantee it will solve your problem. RAM is a cheap place to start. If you want to try that, I would get these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16820146526 And sell the Dell RAM.

Upgrading the video card is possible on your computer, but it would require a new power supply as well. The power supply would cost you about $50 and the new graphics card would cost you around $50-$80.

Would you check to see if your computer has a rear exhaust fan? Because from the pics I'm looking at, it doesn't appear to :\ The x600 doesn't produce a lot of heat but once you get some of those higher end cards in your case, you might start having problems with the terrible airflow design on that case. You could always mod it and put a couple fans back there yourself, that's even more money into this machine.
Test Subject
Original Poster
#7 Old 13th Jun 2009 at 2:28 PM
I think I'll start with upgrading the RAM to 2G, as you said its a cheap fix. Although I'm getting mixed reports that my PC can even handle that much RAM.


If that doesn't work, time to start saving for a new PC.

Although I am a bit skeptical, I see people on the Sims 3 forums with PCs much more powerful that mine having similar problems.
shiny!
retired moderator
#8 Old 13th Jun 2009 at 7:33 PM
Your PC will handle 2 1GB RAM sticks fine. I don't know where you're getting that info from. Your computer has 4 RAM slots and each slot can take a maximum of 1GB. I would just recommend pulling out the RAM you have in there now and replacing the new RAM in the same slots. Sometimes motherboards get cranky when all 4 slots are filled and it will also rule out defective RAM.

Best of luck. If you do end up wanting a new computer, check out the computer tech forum
Scholar
#9 Old 14th Jun 2009 at 1:17 PM
Did you defrag and clean your PC before you installed the game. A lot of people on minimum requirements have had problems which were solved by a good clean out. Derag, registry clean, etc. Maybe a pc tune up, driver updates. All this should be done before any install of any game.
Test Subject
Original Poster
#10 Old 14th Jun 2009 at 6:14 PM
Quote: Originally posted by fluttereyes
Did you defrag and clean your PC before you installed the game. A lot of people on minimum requirements have had problems which were solved by a good clean out. Derag, registry clean, etc. Maybe a pc tune up, driver updates. All this should be done before any install of any game.


I updated all my drivers and did a full defrag.
Test Subject
Original Poster
#11 Old 15th Jun 2009 at 11:02 PM
I just wanted you to know I increased my RAM to 2 G and seem to have no problems as of yet. The game runs alot smoother too, I still have the video at the lowest setting but I'll inch that up slowly.

I want to thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.

Pendragon
shiny!
retired moderator
#12 Old 16th Jun 2009 at 12:42 AM
That's awesome. Very helpful to us to know that increasing to 2GB in XP does make a difference.
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