How do I get a new video card so I can play The Sims 3?

Question

I'm able to play The Sims 3 but occasionally it causes my computer to freeze & crash...with an error messaging telling me I need to update my video device driver and something about my graphics accelerator....the graphic settings are all set as low as possible on the game...causing my sims to not look as well as they should...which defeats the purpose of having this game with amazing graphics...soo...my issue...how do I upgrade or get a new video card??

MY PC: Compaq Presario SR1720NX
I have enough RAM the only issue is the Video Card
Currently I have an Ati Radeon Xpress 200 series and I'm well aware that it's old & outdated and The Sims 3 requires a much better video card for the game to run properly...

MY QUESTION:
How exactly do I get a new video card...is it something I can just download onto my computer....can I upgrade the one I already have just by going to a website? If so, please supply me with a link :)

Or is it something I need to buy and physically install into my computer. ( And, how would I go about doing that? )
Also could I get any video card or are there certain types that must be compatible with my PC?

I apologize if this seems like a stupid question, and if the answer is extremely obvious... but I'm not too great with this technical computer stuff :) THANKS!!!

Answer 1

Hi there, the built in video card on your Compaq Presario SR1720NX is very weak and old to play The Sims 3 and get the most from its graphics, so you need to upgrade your video card and if it's possible your whole system should be upgraded if it's still the same from when you bought it because it's really old especially for gaming.



Now moving to your question, the video card is a hardware and a physical part inside your system which can be upgraded by purchasing a new video card.

Just go to a computer store and tell them that you need to upgrade your video card to a new one that is good for gaming, they should help you and install it for you, they should know what video card is compatible with your computer as well, tell them to perform a full check to see if everything is okay with your system and if there is any other issues that might prevent you from playing your game.



You have nothing to worry about just take it to a computer store and you should be okay.



If you can afford a new computer, I recommend it, yours is really old and it would be a waste of money to upgrade it as you will have many other problems in the future.

Answer 2

A video card is a physical component, you need to go to a computer store and buy one. You probably need help getting it installed too. There are compatibility issues too, so I suggest you bring in your entire computer and have an expert look at it.



Compaq Presario SR1720NX is a very old computer. Are you SURE you have enough RAM? I'm not sure that computer is worth upgrading.

Answer 3

It is hardware, if it were software then games would handle it themselves. You need hardware to process better video information. Then it depends on your PCs card slots. Video cards come in PCI, AGP, and PCI-e (listed worst to best). You can often get the same model in the different types. Just get the best you can for the slot in your PC. You may have to take out a video card to put a new one in, or if it is part of the motherboard, disable it in the BIOS. Some do this automatically when they detect a new video card. If not, it could result in some communication conflicts.

Answer 4

its not a stupid question, i might have the same problem but i know the answer, you can update your video card driver, but for a better quality to run sims you will have to buy a new video card from any computer shop, i havnt looked because i just want a new computer because mine is quite bad, i cant play sims on it either...



so bascily, update the driver from the company's website and if that still doesnt work, buy a new one

Answer 5

You can get a new graphics card by going to the store and buying one.

OR, if you just want to update your graphics accelerator, its free. Search for the graphics card you have on google and the rest is simple.

Answer 6

Adding to Gwill's answer...



You can also find video cards at respectable online stores, like newegg.com, tigerdirect.com, and even some other, more popular chain stores. This tends to be easier.



I'll even recommend a card for you.



The ATI Radeon HD 4870 x2 is very powerful for its pricing. You can easily check and see if your computer is capable of running it.