- Aug 12, 2013
- 5
- 0
- 10,510
I think I need a new video card but I am not sure. Starting a few weeks ago, anything with 3D graphics runs horribly slow. Extremely low frame rates and even actual processing gets slow (i.e. in The Sims 3, "game time" normally runs one minute per one real life second, but now it has slowed at least 2-3 real seconds per "game minute"). The Sims 3 is my one and only game, but I also ran some 3D benchmarks and they ran horribly as well. Up until this point, my system has not had any major issues with gaming and 3D.
Here are my specs:
Intel Core i3 2100 CPU
MSI H61M-P23 Motherboard
8 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS Video 320MB
Windows 7
The RAM was just recently installed (upgraded from 4 GB) before this issue started, but it did run fine at first after I installed it. I have run MemTest86 on it and it comes back clean. I also ran Video Memory Stress Test which also came back clean, however I don't know whether to trust it or not.
I've done the following so far to try to fix this issue:
Scanned for malware using Malwarebytes.
Reformatted and reinstalled Windows.
Made sure video and chipset drivers are all installed and up to date.
Updated BIOS.
After reinstalling Windows, I installed only The Sims 3 base game with no expansion packs, and even that is unplayable. Something physical has to be wrong, because this system has handled this game just fine for the past two years. The timing could not be worse, as I am saving to move in to a new apartment in a month and just don't have money to throw in to my PC right now. I am hoping if it's the video card, that I can get something equal to or slightly better than what I have for not a whole lot of money (aiming for <$75). Really hoping it is not the CPU or motherboard, which would most likely mean replacing both and that is something I just cannot do right now. I also don't know if there's anything else I can do to determine which it is.
Any suggestions on further troubleshooting, diagnostics, and/or what would be an acceptable and affordable replacement if needed? Thanks in advance!
Here are my specs:
Intel Core i3 2100 CPU
MSI H61M-P23 Motherboard
8 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS Video 320MB
Windows 7
The RAM was just recently installed (upgraded from 4 GB) before this issue started, but it did run fine at first after I installed it. I have run MemTest86 on it and it comes back clean. I also ran Video Memory Stress Test which also came back clean, however I don't know whether to trust it or not.
I've done the following so far to try to fix this issue:
Scanned for malware using Malwarebytes.
Reformatted and reinstalled Windows.
Made sure video and chipset drivers are all installed and up to date.
Updated BIOS.
After reinstalling Windows, I installed only The Sims 3 base game with no expansion packs, and even that is unplayable. Something physical has to be wrong, because this system has handled this game just fine for the past two years. The timing could not be worse, as I am saving to move in to a new apartment in a month and just don't have money to throw in to my PC right now. I am hoping if it's the video card, that I can get something equal to or slightly better than what I have for not a whole lot of money (aiming for <$75). Really hoping it is not the CPU or motherboard, which would most likely mean replacing both and that is something I just cannot do right now. I also don't know if there's anything else I can do to determine which it is.
Any suggestions on further troubleshooting, diagnostics, and/or what would be an acceptable and affordable replacement if needed? Thanks in advance!
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