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Should I be getting a new GPU?

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  • GPUs
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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December 10, 2013 9:22:43 PM

Okay, I've been happy with the PC I built over a year ago... until relatively recently. Of all things, Sims 3 is giving my XFX Radeon 7870 Double Dissipation Ghz Edition GPU some trouble. Oddly, it seems that it's only in one of the expansions, Island Paradise. This makes no real sense to me, I can't really understand why it'd be slowing down so drastically, and stuttering, just by playing in the 'world' provided by this expansion pack. Granted, it appears to have more moving objects than other Sims worlds seems to have, but still. I haven't had any issues with any other games I play on my PC (and honestly, all my games are old other than these expansion packs for the Sims 3).

Here's the minimum system requirements.

CPU: For XP 2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent; For Windows Vista and Windows 7 2.4 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
CPU Speed: Info
RAM: For XP 1 GB RAM / Windows Vista and Windows 7 1.5 GB RAM
OS: XP SP2 / Vista SP1 / Windows 7
Video Card: 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 (GeForce 6500 or Radeon 9500)

And here's my PC's specs:

i5-3470 (stock clock)
8GB RAM
XFX R7870 DD Ghz Edition (2GB, OC'd to 1125mhz GPU Clock/1250mhz Memory Clock)

I've also upped the fan speed to 55%, just to be safe, for the overclock. I don't think I've seen temps above 62 degrees.

Is this likely a GPU issue, or something more software/CPU-bound? I really wouldn't think Sims 3 would be that demanding on an i5-3470, but I'm no expert on the matter.

More about : gpu

December 10, 2013 9:28:13 PM

It's a problem with the game. Files being used by the Island Paradise expansion could be corrupted. Go into your Origin client, right-click on the game and select Repair Install.
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December 10, 2013 9:30:56 PM

This may be purely a SIMS issue.. I have sims and when ever I play the people freeze and the world like the trees still sway, then it unfreezes and I can also move my camara around. Many people complain and complain about this so it could just be a software issue. Your pc specs are great and really dont need to worry about that. Unless u can some how try other newer games and if u have the same issue then it may be 1 of your ram sticks is faulty or something. Its also just simply Good to dust out and clean the pc from time to time. If you havent done that already.
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December 10, 2013 9:44:29 PM

Yeah, I've been finding a few threads elsewhere regarding Sims issues with slowdown/freezing/etc with that expansion. I'll try uninstalling and re-installing the pack before I wind up doing anything drastic like purchasing a newer GPU. Oddly, it doesn't have the Repair Install command as huilun02 suggested I do.

That said, a can of air is actually in my grocery list to pick up in a few days. I've been meaning to the insides a good dusting, I just haven't got the can of air to do it. With any luck, it's just the software itself.
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December 10, 2013 9:51:01 PM

install the latest drivers. some times the latest drivers fix the bugs in the games.
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December 10, 2013 9:53:22 PM

That'll be the next step, but unless they've updated the drivers since I made sure they were updated on October 27th...
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Best solution

December 10, 2013 9:58:39 PM

also do check if your game is patched to the latest version. patches ensures bug fixes & proper co ordination betwween sw & gpu from the game aka software side.
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December 10, 2013 10:05:42 PM

It's definitely patched to the latest version, unless something came out in the past couple days. It tends to prompt me anytime I open the launcher for the program when I have a new patch waiting.

I'm also going to install a mod that fixes stuff in the game (stuck Sims, boats, events I guess), and maybe that'll help too.
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December 10, 2013 10:07:50 PM

agreed not bad but do watch out for mods not accepted by EA. that might void ur legal copy & license of the game
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December 10, 2013 10:14:11 PM

True. I'll only try it if the re-install doesn't help.
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