Just after some info. Basically, I don't have a proper gaming laptop nor can I afford one... But...
The laptop I run Sims 4 on was doing fine, but I have downloaded a couple of expansions, and now with the toddler update as well it is seriously slow and laggy. (I realise there are lots of reports of this since the update, but I'm sure that it isn't all to blame in my case.)
It has plenty of memory for the game, graphics card is bordering on being ok (just!), it's the running power (RAM?) that I am concerned with. It has 6GB (4.96 available), I read this was fine for the base game alone but I am concerned that it isn't enough now.
Would any tech geeks out there be able to help. I am not too worried about the graphics assuming adding expansions doesn't increase the demand on that? I have all my settings set to medium/low currently in the hope it would help it run better, but were previously on medium/high with no issues. It is the lagginess I am concerned with because it is driving me a little insane!
I was considering uping my RAM to either 8GB or 16GB which is the highest my laptop will take, would that make my game smoother?
Gallery name: Anna-Banna
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Comments
without knowing your computer specs would be hard to know if adding more ram would even help. You can't upgrade a video card or processor in a laptop. That your stuck with. Since you can't upgrade the laptop your might need to save for a new computer that meets recommended requirements to continue playing as the game adds more and more.
Can you post your computer specs please. Windows Key + R Key will open your run box in the bottom right hand corner of your computer. In the run box type DxDiag. Hit ok, let it load. Use the save option and save a copy to your desktop. It will now be a text file. You can cut and past the whole text file here in several sections in several posts. It wont fit in one post. You can also upload the DxDiag text file to http://pastebin.com/ and then post a link here if that is easier for you. Thank you
Wow, you need that whole Diag thing? I'll give the pastebin a try. Bare with...
System Information
Time of this report: 1/15/2017, 21:48:36
Machine name: WIFEPANTS
Machine Id: {FE60A0AC-FB2E-48E2-8CC6-C87A848AD9FB}
Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit (10.0, Build 14393) (14393.rs1_release.161220-1747)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: SATELLITE L50D-B
BIOS: 1.20
Processor: AMD A4-6210 APU with AMD Radeon R3 Graphics (4 CPUs), ~1.8GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 5082MB RAM
Page File: 3074MB used, 2838MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 12
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
Miracast: Available, with HDCP
Microsoft Graphics Hybrid: Not Supported
DxDiag Version: 10.00.14393.0000 64bit Unicode
DxDiag Notes
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
DirectX Debug Levels
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)
Display Devices
Card name: AMD Radeon(TM) R3 Graphics
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9850)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Type: Full Device
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9850&SUBSYS_F9251179&REV_00
Device Status: 0180200A [DN_DRIVER_LOADED|DN_STARTED|DN_DISABLEABLE|DN_NT_ENUMERATOR|DN_NT_DRIVER]
Device Problem Code: No Problem
Driver Problem Code: Unknown
Display Memory: 3548 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1007 MB
Shared Memory: 2540 MB
Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: SDC4146
Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p) (59.998Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\c0310011.inf_amd64_7c21aa033b961c28\aticfx64.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\c0310011.inf_amd64_7c21aa033b961c28\aticfx64.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\c0310011.inf_amd64_7c21aa033b961c28\aticfx64.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\c0310011.inf_amd64_7c21aa033b961c28\amdxc64.dll
Driver File Version: 21.19.0407.0000 (English)
Driver Version: 21.19.407.0
DDI Version: 12
Feature Levels: 12_0,11_1,11_0,10_1,10_0,9_3,9_2,9_1
Driver Model: WDDM 2.1
Graphics Preemption: DMA
Compute Preemption: DMA
Miracast: Not Supported by Graphics driver
Hybrid Graphics GPU: Not Supported
Power P-states: Not Supported
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 23/12/2016 00:00:00, 1587320 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-DB10-11CF-C972-B2D8BCC2D835}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x9850
SubSys ID: 0xF9251179
Revision ID: 0x0000
Driver Strong Name: oem31.inf:cb0ae41413e16795:ati2mtag_MullinsPA_MobileDS:21.19.407.0:pci\ven_1002&dev_9850&rev_00
Rank Of Driver: 00D12000
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C
DXVA2 Modes: DXVA2_ModeMPEG2_VLD DXVA2_ModeMPEG2_IDCT DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_NoFGT DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_Stereo_Progressive_NoFGT DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_Stereo_NoFGT DXVA2_ModeVC1_VLD DXVA2_ModeMPEG4pt2_VLD_AdvSimple_NoGMC DXVA2_ModeVC1_IDCT DXVA2_ModeWMV9_IDCT
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DXVA-HD: Not Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
MPO Caps: Not Supported
MPO Stretch: Not Supported
MPO Media Hints: Not Supported
MPO Formats: Not Supported
Your laptop is way under requirements. Your hardware is older so I suspect windows 10 is making it worse. It's designed to run on newer hardware. It also need more computer ram to run than windows 7 . There were a few people posting in the sims Australia forum a while back had old toshiba saitlite laptops that could not handle windows 10 per microsoft and had to revert back to windows 7. Is there a way for you to revert back to your older OS?
I would not upgrade your laptop. It is older. Its not going to make much of a difference. Your processor and video card are integrated and very weak to run the game. If you can go back to previous windows would be better, play on low, check off laptop mode and play in windowed mode. This will take some stress off your laptop and it may run a little better.
I suggest saving for a computer that meets the recommended requirements to run this game. Your laptop will eventually not be able to run this game at all as the game adds more. It's possible the next patch could do your computer in to where the game won't play
I don't have everything for the game, only 2 EPs because I know it won't cope with much more.
Thank you for the advice. I'll save my money instead then.
At the moment desktop $600-700 and up USD. Laptop $800-900 and up USD. Prices vary in other countries. The best thing to do is to come in tech when you are ready to buy and ask for help finding a new computer. We can help you do that so that you get the best computer specs to run this game for your money.
a) that's do-able, and
b) it would end up costing more?
If we did do that it would be a long work in process though so I suppose we run the risk of it being outdated by the time we finish..
Any idea on parts that would be needed? It would be a complete overhaul because I think it runs xp still and is possibly getting on for 10 years old...
@chesterbigbird is an expert builder and she would be best to tell you which would be the best way to go.
As for a new pc, If your husband can build you a pc then it would be better, this is just a basic list so you can get an idea of price if he were to build it for you.
This is a very solid gaming rig
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/z7jFYr
It's a little more expensive but has much better hardware.
The thing with buying off the shelf say at best buy or walmart is they often come with generic hardware that lacks the quality of the hardware you can choose yourself. When building your own you can choose what hardware you want based on reviews and quality.. and this is very important when choosing a power supply or even a motherboard/ram.
16GB hyper X fury
MSI GTX 1080
MSI gaming M5 mobo
Evga 750 supernova
Corsair hydro h110i GT
Corsair obsidian 750D
500GB SSD
6TB Seagate Barracuda Pro
LG 34" ultra wide
Also, would you always go Intel over AMD?
Chester and I are both intel/Nvidia users.
intel/nvidia is better than AMD but more expensive. Intel makes better processors than AMD. If you have a lower budget AMD is fine. You just may need more cooling since AMD heats up more. That's why that PC I posted at walmart is cheaper because it's all AMD.
My old PC is a Medion. Just dragged it out from it's hiding spot and it's that old it had intel Pentium on it! Windows 7 though so I was wrong there. So if needs be that could stay? I'll try get some pics sorted because I can't seem to find the actual model of it.
You would be fine with AMD which is cheaper. Cooling would just be extra important. I just don't know if you would be able to do custom build buying your own hardware cheaper than that computer I posted from walmart. Like I mentioned before it's rare you will find a computer under $600 that meets all requirements Good processor, video card etc. . Usually for $600 The processor might be fine and the video card to weak. Both the processor and video card are weak. It might be better for you to buy off the shelf and upgrade as needed.
Not sure if that will work... But it's a few pics of it.
When I say a case with good cooling or room to add more cooling I mean like this https://www.walmart.com/ip/iBUYPOWER-Gamer-WA583R7-Black-Desktop-PC-with-AMD-Eight-Core-FX-8320-Vishera-Processor-8GB-Memory-1TB-Hard-Drive-and-Windows-10-Home-Monitor-Not-In/35119954#about-item
You want a good case. One you can add extra fans to if necessary. It has good air flow. If your hardware breaks and needs replacing or you want to upgrade the hardware you need a case that will permit you to do that.
Google images of gaming computer cases https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=922&q=gaing+computers&oq=gaing+computers&gs_l=img.3...2559.6512.0.6727.15.6.0.9.0.0.85.460.6.6.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.5.387...0j0i10k1.dEHeUtMv11Q
Also, I found the model for it. It's Medion PC MT 12.
Would you be able to post the minimum requirements it needs to run Sims 4 and I will work up from there within my budget if that makes sense.
I know some tech but I dont build. I have a custom desktop but I had a custom company build it. Chester is the upgrade expert when she comes back on she will advise you
A new case will only add up to $100 to the total.
Probably the only part you could re use in that desktop is the HDD.
If you need to build on a budget i can help put a list of hardware together that fits your budget. However i wouldn't do this until a couple of months before u wish to buy. New tech comes out all the time and prices drop all the time, so its best to not do it yet. Just save the $$ and i will figure the rest out when u are ready. Feel free to PM me with any questions
16GB hyper X fury
MSI GTX 1080
MSI gaming M5 mobo
Evga 750 supernova
Corsair hydro h110i GT
Corsair obsidian 750D
500GB SSD
6TB Seagate Barracuda Pro
LG 34" ultra wide