What Happens if I play With the Wrong Video Card?

[McChoclatey]

My computer has a video card that the sims 3 doesn't support. (Nvidia Geforce 6100 405)

What would happen, besides having to play with crappy quality? Will the game crash?

[eskie227]

It will run with crappy quality, and may very well crash. Sorry.

[shaaaii]

Is it true that crappy video cards can cause error code 12?

[wolfsbayne]

It could also cause the graphics card to overheat/die if it isn't capable of maintaining the graphics required. Try putting all the graphics to low or medium in game to help

[DaBoogadie]

The 6100 isn't very stable to begin with. It has a high failure rate, so playing a game beyond its capabilities just might burn it up. Notebooks aren't really made for heavy graphics gaming like The Sims 3.

[tangie0906]

Error 12 is an 'out of memory' error and afaik is not caused by a video card. When I played on a laptop with an unsupported card I used to get crashes and 'video card has stopped responding' error messages.

[Kestie Freehawk]

I played Island Adventure with an unsupported VIA video card and the mist effect got stuck .... so in the one lot that had the waterfall if I looked at the mist (and had the mist turned on) the camera would get stuck. Woooooo I didnt even know it was unsupported when I bought the game.
Everything else worked fine and the mist was just trying to make too much mist. The rest of the game was just fine. VIA protested that the card was listed unsupported, and it could have been that the system had a Celeron in it too that caused the problem. The only reason it was unsupported was that the mist (when turned on) stuck the camera.

Life Stories played just fine with the same card. This was on a Gateway laptop and the game was fine but EA chose to mark it unsupported because of one effect, the rest of the play was perfect. The problem is that once its listed as unsupported no one wants the game because it cant do all the effects. My suggestion is that if you are trying to use an unsupported card is to find out why and if its because the mirrors dont show the reflections right or something else you dont care that much about just turn that effect off and don't worry about it. If you are buying a new system make sure its supported.

[McChoclatey]

So far, nothing too scary has happened. Whenever I enter the options menu, there's a frequent glitch where random words and colors will flash in and the screen blinks a bit, but thankfully it only happens for a few seconds.
My Sim will disappear for a few seconds after exiting the mirror-mode.
And once (and this really scared the crap outta me) the dog of the household got really long and stretchy and weird for a moment while it was sitting.
I have most settings on low except for Sim detail and visual effects; any more than that and it slows the game down.

I'm thinking that maybe I'll hold off on playing for a little while. At least until I can figure whether or not I can get a new video card. And how to install it (not very tech-savvy). Don't want to accidentally end up messing up my own graphics card!

Anyway, thanks for all of the information. :)

[MiniMimi]

No, error 12 is not related to video card. You might have have lags or huge graphical glitches, like a red sky, or invisible water, or bald sims, or even magenta-skinned sims. Pets might also be really bad rendered. Or almost no glitches at all... Who knows.

[DaBoogadie]

A GeForce 6100 video card is built into the motherboard, it isn't replaceable.

[McChoclatey]

A GeForce 6100 video card is built into the motherboard, it isn't replaceable.

Oh. Wow. So...that means I'd have to get a new computer, then? :( I thought most computers had replaceable video cards (I kept seeing different types for different prices online.) I read that as long as you bought the type of card your computer is compatible with, then you can install it by manually opening up your computer and replacing it...

Well, this sucks.

[Whiterudder]

Desktop computers have replaceable parts, but the vast majority of laptops don't. Remember, too, that if you break your laptop's video card by playing Sims 3 on it, then you won't be able to use the laptop at all any more (signs that your video card may be on the verge of breaking include blurriness, weird colours and shapes popping up on your screen, blue screen crashes, the computer freezing up and having to be restarted by holding the power button, and any errors which say that your graphics driver has stopped working/responding).

This is why laptops suck for heavy gaming!

[McChoclatey]

Desktop computers have replaceable parts, but the vast majority of laptops don't. Remember, too, that if you break your laptop's video card by playing Sims 3 on it, then you won't be able to use the laptop at all any more (signs that your video card may be on the verge of breaking include blurriness, weird colours and shapes popping up on your screen, blue screen crashes, the computer freezing up and having to be restarted by holding the power button, and any errors which say that your graphics driver has stopped working/responding).

This is why laptops suck for heavy gaming!

S-so there's still hope? Hooray! :anime: My computer's a desktop, a refurbished Vista. I've only had it for about 2-3 years, so it's kinda still brand new. I was surprised to find out that a new game like the Sims 3 couldn't work on it--my computer isn't even that old! :lol:

[eskie227]

S-so there's still hope? Hooray! :anime: My computer's a desktop, a refurbished Vista. I've only had it for about 2-3 years, so it's kinda still brand new. I was surprised to find out that a new game like the Sims 3 couldn't work on it--my computer isn't even that old! :lol:

Well, I do hope for a happy outcome, but just what new computer did you get that's only 2 to 3 years old that came with that graphics system? You could share your other specs, like make, CPU, memory, disk size/space. If by refurb, you mean it's an old computer that you bought "new" 2-3 years ago, that might make sense, as it sounds a lot farther on in years.

[zigersimmer]

That's a cheap on-board chip set. Depending on what else is in your rig (CPU, RAM, power supply, motherboard (questionable that one, considering the graphics chip set), HD) you may only need to add a dedicated graphics board. Maybe.

[McChoclatey]

Well, I do hope for a happy outcome, but just what new computer did you get that's only 2 to 3 years old that came with that graphics system? You could share your other specs, like make, CPU, memory, disk size/space. If by refurb, you mean it's an old computer that you bought "new" 2-3 years ago, that might make sense, as it sounds a lot farther on in years.

Let's see...

Windows Vista Service Pack 1

manufacturer: acer

(upgraded to) 4GB of RAM

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3600+ 2.00 GHz

NVIDIA GeForce 6100 nForce 405

32-bit operating system

45.0 GB free space of 113 GB

[eskie227]

Well, it could be worse. The processor, which I believe is technically supported, will be stressed by the base game plus expansions, especially Pets. The real question is whether you even have a video slot on the motherboard. If you do, you should be able to disable the onboard video through the Bios, and add an upgraded card. Not cutting edge, as I doubt your power supply will handle a high end card, but something. Some Acer boards with onboard video solutions do not even offer a true video slot. While there are plain PCI cards out there, the restricted throughput will take a toll. You might get something that will limp along, but my gut tells me that saving your pennies for a modern system, which doesn't have to be some top end, expensive beast, will be your best investment right now.

To be clear, if you're mostly using your system for web, word processing, light stuff, it's fine. It gaming that exposes the flaws you're facing. Even the lowly Sims extracts a toll on hardware. Crysis 3 is not in your future with that box.

[zigersimmer]

The bad news is that CPU does not meet EA's minimum spec for TS3, and minimum specs are always subpar anyway. You could overclock it, but I don't know how much experience you have with hardware and I don't want to encourage you to do something that could fry your CPU. Keep in mind that CPU is six years old, not exactly current. My suggestion is not to use that rig for graphics intensive games. When I first installed TS3 I was running an Intel Core 2 Quad at 2.5 Ghz with 8GB RAM and a 9800GT with 1GB video RAM and I lagged pretty bad.

[eskie227]

Zigersimmer, are you sure about the CPU? I thought a 2.4 P4 was the minimum. While a 2.0 Athlon X2 is no great shakes, it might squeak by. Still, as I posted above, I agree that something more contemporary (with a dedicated graphics card, NO integrated solutions) is really what he needs. I started out with a DuoCore and 4 GB RAM, Vista 32, and a 9800 GT, and it really did get to be painful after even 1 EP (must have been WA, always hated that EP). Still, base game, without a lot of mods, I did get my first 10 gen legacy done on that machine. Hurt like hell, but it did limp there.

[zigersimmer]

I think it would be iffy, plus I wouldn't recommend putting more money into that rig to try to get TS3 to run when it may just be money wasted.

I also don't like to see someone driving a 1983 Honda CRX on the Bay Bridge. At least not while I'm on the Bay Bridge.

[Saturnfly]

I have integrated graphics that really shouldn't handle TS2, but find TS3 less demanding, or at least with just 1 EP. It does limit me to smaller houses/ households and makes parties exceptionally choppy.
I also have a lack of exterior shadows, but other than that I have not noticed anything overly funky. I have never experienced crashing or anything.

I installed an extra gig of RAM late last year, and before then I couldn't play TS2 at all on my comp, the extra RAM has certainly helped (I have 2 gigs).

[eskie227]

I think it would be iffy, plus I wouldn't recommend putting more money into that rig to try to get TS3 to run when it may just be money wasted.

I also don't like to see someone driving a 1983 Honda CRX on the Bay Bridge. At least not while I'm on the Bay Bridge.

But that Honda is a classic! :D Besides, if you hit and total it, it still won't run your insurance carrier more than a few hundred dollars for its totaled value.

As far as sinking more money into that machine, I would be saving for a replacement as well.

[Belzader]

Since no one have repleid about the error code related to playing with an computer that don't meet the requirements, it's error 16
And i agree with zigersimmer & eskie227 that sinking more money into that computer to get a dedicated video card is not a good idea, as the rest of the computer barely support game.

[Kestie Freehawk]

A GeForce 6100 video card is built into the motherboard, it isn't replaceable.

My MOBO has a built in Nvidia 4000 something card and a add on Nvidia 9500 gt it was easy to drop in and I checked .. the mobo was dual poled from the start. Someone got their skirt in a bunch about plugging the thing in, and I was curious as to what other than the socket made for the card needed to be plugged in. There is no plug on the card and ummm it doesnt need one. End of life is kewl for that reason, they totaly have all the bugs worked out.

I asked Nvidia about SLI with the mobo card and an add on and they said why....
I just dropped in twice the card with its own memory and everything. Its the shared system memory that weakens the onboard cards IMHO.

At the store I handed the card to the clerk and asked him to read the specs to me ;)

I love being blind.

[AzaraGore]

;- ; Now I know why my laptop can't run TS3, cause of the graphics card.. guess I gotta go to crap graphics. The funny thing is I never had the issue of lower graphics until I downloaded my games from Origin (I used my steam codes to register on the Sims official site) but before then I was running the game off Steam and it was working great. Sad to hear that my card isn't support with the game, I dunno if I wanna run it anymore if it'll make my laptop go poop.

Desktop computers have replaceable parts, but the vast majority of laptops don't. Remember, too, that if you break your laptop's video card by playing Sims 3 on it, then you won't be able to use the laptop at all any more (signs that your video card may be on the verge of breaking include blurriness, weird colours and shapes popping up on your screen, blue screen crashes, the computer freezing up and having to be restarted by holding the power button, and any errors which say that your graphics driver has stopped working/responding).

This is why laptops suck for heavy gaming!

I've been getting the blue screens, power button restarts, but none of the others. Though I wasn't playing the Sims 3 when these happened, they happened when leaving Firefox alone for too long or when I had a bit too many tabs open (still happened when there were few). I've since then changed to Opera though but the problem still pops it's rear end from time to time not as often, but still.