Computer shuts down during gameplay

[slstoll]

My computer completely shuts off right in the middle of playing the game. It started doing this occasionally after downloading Hidden Springs, and started doing it a lot more after installing Showtime, and after the most recent patch, and now it shuts off after only five minutes of playing.
I have contacted EA customer service and tried all of their suggestions thus far with no resolve. I tried the first 3 steps on this site. Step 1 I tried and it still shuts down, step 2 I didn't do, because I don't have any custom content files, and step 3 I had already tried before.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[whiterider]

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.

[slstoll]

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/12/2012, 14:35:49
Machine name: OWNER-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite L675
BIOS: Phoenix SecureCore Version 2.10
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 370 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3890MB RAM
Page File: 1522MB used, 6256MB 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: Intel(R) HD Graphics
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) HD Graphics (Core i3)
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0046&SUBSYS_FD001179&REV_02
Display Memory: 1696 MB
Dedicated Memory: 64 MB
Shared Memory: 1632 MB
Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: LGD01CA
Native Mode: 1600 x 900(p) (60.080Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.2182 (English)
Driver Version: 8.15.10.2182
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/20/2010 11:10:36, 6544896 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_0269&SUBSYS_1179FD08&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6069 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 3/22/2010 14:21:18, 2298400 bytes


Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 347.9 GB
Total Space: 464.1 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: TOSHIBA MK5055GSXN

I hope I submitted the right info. Thanks for your help.

[ellacharmed]

General - Integrated Graphics
The reason for your issue is that your computer doesn't meet the minimum requirements to play TS2/TS3.
In particular, you don't actually have a graphics card - you have integrated graphics, which is just a chip on your motherboard. Most laptops come with integrated graphics, as do some desktops; and while salesmen often claim that integrated graphics chips are just as good as real graphics cards, they're not.

Integrated graphics chips are designed for people who just use their computers to read email, type up documents, and play minesweeper - they are not suitable for high stress games like TS2/TS3. At the very least, playing TS2/TS3 with integrated graphics will mean the game looks terrible; at the worst, you could permanently damage your computer.
If you have integrated graphics, the other requirements - particularly minimum processor speed - go up to compensate. You can see the increases here (http://sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:System_Requirements), under "If you have a non-T&L capable video card...".

This FAQ contains tips on things you can do to improve your gameplay, and prolong the life of the integrated chip: Game Help:Onboard Graphics
This is MTS's recommended minimum system specs
for each EP/SP in The Sims 2: Game Help:System Requirements/MTS2 Recommendations

for The Sims 3: Game_Help:TS3_System_RequirementsBe aware that, even if you follow all the tips in the above article, you will probably have to upgrade or replace your computer to alleviate all problems.


Does this laptop have switchable graphics? Or just the Integrated Intel HD listed?

[slstoll]

Thanks for your response. This is the first I've heard of this. I was told that this laptop, which is only 1 year old, would easily run a game like TS3.
Why would it just start crashing now, as opposed to all along?
I don't know if it has switchable graphics or not.

[ellacharmed]

"I was told that this laptop, which is only 1 year old, would easily run a game like TS3."
By whom? The salesperson who most likely do not play Sims and is only interested in meeting their sales quota and making a commission?
Didn't do your own research on the games' requirements? All integrated graphics are not supported, no matter what EA specs say. They based that on the unpatched, base game only, and just being able to load the game, not run the game well.

And the age of a machine has no bearing on how well it runs a program if it does not meet the basic requirements. See next point below though. The age of how new or how old just means the machine is new enough to be able to withstand more abuse, less wear and tear. Until the day comes when it goes kaput, when enough wear and tear has build up. Compared to a PC that can withstand such abuse for 3 or more years.

"Why would it just start crashing now, as opposed to all along?"
Game Help:Your Computer is Like a Car
Any PC works on the premise that the user knows more than the PC. The PC has no AI to tell the user - "Hey, now, what do you think you're doing trying to load that thing on me? I cannot play that!". All it can do is chug along until the day comes when it throws in the towel, which is exactly how all laptops with IGPs behave.

"I don't know if it has switchable graphics or not."
If it has switchable graphics, it would have this info plastered on the laptop or on the marketing pamphlets. The manual should also have a guide on how to switch.
If there's nothing, most likely no, then.

[slstoll]

Thanks for all your help. Pretty rediculous that I can't get this kind of help and info from EA!
I have an old desktop that ran TS2 just fine. Would it be able to run TS3?
If so, would there be a way to move my saved Sims from my laptop to my desktop?

[whiterider]

Post the system specs for your desktop, and we can check. For your info, you can figure it out yourself by comparing the results of the system specs check with the system requirements, which are linked to in ella's first post.

Do be aware, though, that TS3 is a pretty resource-heavy game, much more so than TS2 - so there's a good chance that an aging computer bought/built for TS2 won't be able to run TS3. But, it doesn't hurt to check. :)


EA don't give out this kind of info for the same reason that computer salespeople don't - because if you know your computer can't handle a game you want to buy, or you know a computer you want to buy can't handle a game you already own, then you're not gonna buy the computer/game.

[slstoll]

Thanks Whiterider! I know it's a long shot that my old desktop will run TS3, but I appreciate you checking it out for me. :up:

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/22/2012, 12:23:02
Machine name: BEDROOM
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.111025-1629)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Dell DM051
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A02
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 741MB used, 1717MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

Display Devices
---------------
Card name: ATI Radeon X300/X550/X1050 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: RADEON X600 (0x5B62)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5B62&SUBSYS_06021002&REV_00
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6925 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 2/25/2009 17:41:10, 325120 bytes

Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SigmaTel Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7680&SUBSYS_102801AB&REV_1032
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: sthda.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.4568.0000 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 6/15/2005 00:40:08, 180864 bytes

Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 6.6 GB
Total Space: 76.2 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: HDS728080PLA380

[eskie227]

The simple answer is no, your desktop will not be able to run TS3. Nor can it be upgraded to run TS3.

[slstoll]

Thanks. I figured as much.