# Sims 2 is not compatible with my computer. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 18, 2004, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sims-2-is-not-compatible-with-my-computer-why/264855 "2004-09-18T15:20:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sims-2-is-not-compatible-with-my-computer-why/264855/1 "2004-09-18T15:20:05Z")
After reading the thread about Sims 2 in Cafe Society, I thought I wanna get that. So I followed the link to MS’s [Game Advisor](http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/games/gameadvisor/default.mspx) and found that I was close but no cigar to everything I needed to play. All of the boxes were green checked, but I was two bars to the left of perfection. Your PC has: - Processor: Intel Pentium 4 1495MHz - Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 100/200 - Memory: 1024MB - Free Disk Space: 18.58GB - Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Here are the needed specs per [Sims 2](http://thesims2.ea.com/help/detail.php?help_id=21): > [@](#): > > If you have a T&L capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM then you need at least: > 800 MHz processor or better > 256 MB RAM if Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000 > At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space > If you have a non-T&L capable video card (an Intel Extreme Graphics or a Radeon 7000/VE Series) then you need at least: > 2.0 GHz processor or better > 256 MB RAM if Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98, or Windows 2000 > At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space > Get the most current driver for your video card. The manufacturers usually have the video drivers on their sites for you to download. Visit the nVidia site, the ATI site or the support site for your computer’s manufacturer for the latest drivers for those video cards. > > Supported video cards (and the more video memory the better): > > ATI RadeonTM series (7000 or better) > Radeon 7000/VE series (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor) > 7200, 7500 > 8500, All-In-Wonder 8500 > 9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800 > X300, X600, X800 > > Nvidia® QuadroTM series > Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4 > > Nvidia® Geforce series (GeForce2 and better) > GeForce2 > GeForce3, 3 Ti > GeForce4, 4Ti, MX 420, 440 > GeForce FX 5200, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950 > GeForce 6600, 6800 > > Intel® Extreme Graphics (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor) > 82845, 82865, 82915 So how can I find out what I’m missing? (I’m not sure how to see what, if any, sound card or video card I have) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sims-2-is-not-compatible-with-my-computer-why/264855/2 "2004-09-18T15:48:15Z")
You have a GeForce 2 **MX**. That’s the problem. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sims-2-is-not-compatible-with-my-computer-why/264855/3 "2004-09-18T15:50:35Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > You have a GeForce 2 **MX**. That’s the problem. Really? Even though the Game Advisor gave me the green check for it? What a worthless program for that then. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sims-2-is-not-compatible-with-my-computer-why/264855/4 "2004-09-18T16:15:19Z")
You said the indicator was two bars to the left of perfection, that is one bar below Recommended PC. Actually I believe that this too high a rating, taking into account that you have the cheap version (MX) of a 4 year old graphics card, and a rather slow processor. Still, the indicator is above the Minimum PC, so this doesn’t mean that the game is incompatible with your PC. It will play, but not on the highest graphics settings. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sims-2-is-not-compatible-with-my-computer-why/264855/5 "2004-09-18T16:16:59Z")
For comparison, my specs: Your PC has: Processor: Intel Pentium 4 2599MHz Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra Memory: 1022MB Free Disk Space: 38.15GB Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP The indicator was one bar below perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sims-2-is-not-compatible-with-my-computer-why/264855/6 "2004-09-18T16:20:28Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Here are the needed specs per [Sims 2](http://thesims2.ea.com/help/detail.php?help_id=21) You can’t always go by what the box/website says. I found that out with Morrowind. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sims-2-is-not-compatible-with-my-computer-why/264855/7 "2004-09-18T16:57:01Z")
I’ve got a computer that was barely on the required list - 800 mhz PIII, Radeon 7200, 256 MB RAM. The Sims2 won’t run on it. I just get “The application has crashed” during the startup movie. I loaded it on my main machine (PIV 3 gHz, Radeon 9600XT, 512MB RAM), and it works fine.