Hey, I'm having some graphical issues with The Sims 2.

Lately I've changed my graphic-card, first it was a nVidia GF8400 GS, now it's a NEW Radeon HD4550. All drivers are up to date. Since then, I have the following problem:

When I'm ingame with my family to play with them or to build anything, the screen flickers when I'm moving my position on the screen. Also when building, for example only shadows are left after building a wall. Here's a screenshot of that: http://i41.tinypic.com/2pr93bb.jpg

Also after approx. 1 hour i usually get a Blue screen of death, probably caused due to these graphical glitches. WHen time passes I also got artifacts.

The power supply is strong enough (recently upgraded) and the videocard wasn't secondhand so it can't be bad, right?

Any ideas on this one? I haven't got any custom content installed btw.

Have you changed the power supply since changing the video card or is it the same psu that was running the 8400? Also what manufacturer and model is it?

It could be the card is defective. Sometimes you get a lemon. It happens, but it could also be a driver issue. Did you uninstall your 8400 before you pulled it out and replaced it with the ATI card? I would recommend uninstalling your all your ATI software/drivers from the control panel. Run this program to make sure you clean up anything left from the Nvidia card and the ATI card: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/d...cleaner_pro.cfm Restart your computer. Then install the latest drivers for you OS direct from ATI (not off the disc it came with): http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx If you have XP I would also install the latest directx: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...6a-9b6652cd92a3 Don't worry about that if you have Vista.

Just FYI your 4550 was barely an upgrade. They're in the same class. If you're really looking for a notable increase in performance you're going to have to reach higher than that.

Thanks for the reply.

I have changed it yesterday. 350W were in it, put in a 400 from X-Gear (Don't know the brand of the other one, sorry) but that didn't make the difference unfortunately. Put in the 350W again now since the 400W seems to be a bit faulty, the pc randomly fell out.

I uninstalled the 8400 before pulling it out. I just ran through deinstalling drivers, run drivercleaner and installed them again from the ATI-site, but still no difference.

I guess I'll be testing some videocards and i'll come back if I know more.

Turn down the ...smooth edging? I think that is what that slider is called. But just drag the slider down the minimum amount. Should fix that. Personally I think this 4550 sucks. I would rather have that nVidia one.

Provided that the 350W PSU is actually performing at rating and not wearing out, that should be enough.

Anyway, since this is really a computer problem and not a game problem I'm going to move your thread to our computer forum. If you need help upgrading your computer please have a read through the stickies first.