Difference between revisions of "Game Help:TS3 System Requirements"

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Onboard Video
 
Onboard Video
 
! rowspan=2 | Sims 3  
 
! rowspan=2 | Sims 3  
[[File:Sims3 icon.png|24px|Base Game]]
+
[[File:Sims3 icon.png|24px|Base Game]] [[File:logo Sims3BG00.png|34px|Base Game]]
 
! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Expansion Pack
 
! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Expansion Pack
! colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | Stuff Pack
+
! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Stuff Pack
 
|-
 
|-
! [[File:Sims3EP01 icon.png|24px|World Adventures]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP01 icon.png|24px|World Adventures]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP01.png|34px|World Adventures]]
! [[File:Sims3EP02 icon.png|24px|Ambitions]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP02 icon.png|24px|Ambitions]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP02.png|34px|Ambitions]]
! [[File:Sims3EP03 icon.png|24px|Late Night]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP03 icon.png|24px|Late Night]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP03.png|34px|Late Night]]
! [[File:Sims3EP04 icon.png|24px|Generations]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP04 icon.png|24px|Generations]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP04.png|34px|Generations]]
! [[File:Sims3EP05 icon.png|24px|Pets]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP05 icon.png|24px|Pets]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP05.png|34px|Pets]]
! [[File:Sims3SP01 icon.png|24px|High-End Loft Stuff]]
+
! [[File:Sims3SP01 icon.png|24px|High-End Loft Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP01.png|34px|High-End Loft Stuff]]
! [[File:Sims3SP02 icon.png|24px|Fast Lane Stuff]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3SP02 icon.png|24px|Fast Lane Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP02.png|34px|Fast Lane Stuff]]
! [[File:Sims3SP03 icon.png|24px|Outdoor Living Stuff]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3SP03 icon.png|24px|Outdoor Living Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP03.png|34px|Outdoor Living Stuff]]
! [[File:Sims3SP04 icon.png|24px|Town Life Stuff]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3SP04 icon.png|24px|Town Life Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP04.png|34px|Town Life Stuff]]
 +
! [[File:Sims3SP05 icon.png|24px|Master Suite Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP05.png|34px|Master Suite Stuff]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! style="text-align:left;"| Intel Extreme/  
 
! style="text-align:left;"| Intel Extreme/  
Line 239: Line 240:
 
! rowspan=2 | ATI Dedicated Graphics Card
 
! rowspan=2 | ATI Dedicated Graphics Card
 
! rowspan=2 | Sims 3  
 
! rowspan=2 | Sims 3  
[[File:Sims3 icon.png|24px|Base Game]]
+
[[File:Sims3 icon.png|24px|Base Game]] [[File:logo Sims3BG00.png|34px|Base Game]]
 
! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Expansion Pack
 
! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Expansion Pack
! colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | Stuff Pack
+
! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Stuff Pack
 
|-
 
|-
! [[File:Sims3EP01 icon.png|24px|World Adventures]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP01 icon.png|24px|World Adventures]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP01.png|34px|World Adventures]]
! [[File:Sims3EP02 icon.png|24px|Ambitions]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP02 icon.png|24px|Ambitions]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP02.png|34px|Ambitions]]
! [[File:Sims3EP03 icon.png|24px|Late Night]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP03 icon.png|24px|Late Night]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP03.png|34px|Late Night]]
! [[File:Sims3EP04 icon.png|24px|Generations]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP04 icon.png|24px|Generations]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP04.png|34px|Generations]]
! [[File:Sims3EP05 icon.png|24px|Pets]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP05 icon.png|24px|Pets]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP05.png|34px|Pets]]
! [[File:Sims3SP01 icon.png|24px|High-End Loft Stuff]]
+
! [[File:Sims3SP01 icon.png|24px|High-End Loft Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP01.png|34px|High-End Loft Stuff]]
! [[File:Sims3SP02 icon.png|24px|Fast Lane Stuff]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3SP02 icon.png|24px|Fast Lane Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP02.png|34px|Fast Lane Stuff]]
! [[File:Sims3SP03 icon.png|24px|Outdoor Living Stuff]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3SP03 icon.png|24px|Outdoor Living Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP03.png|34px|Outdoor Living Stuff]]
! [[File:Sims3SP04 icon.png|24px|Town Life Stuff]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3SP04 icon.png|24px|Town Life Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP04.png|34px|Town Life Stuff]]
 +
! [[File:Sims3SP05 icon.png|24px|Master Suite Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP05.png|34px|Master Suite Stuff]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! style="text-align:left;"| Radeon 9500
 
! style="text-align:left;"| Radeon 9500
Line 795: Line 797:
 
! rowspan=2 | Nvidia Dedicated Graphics Card
 
! rowspan=2 | Nvidia Dedicated Graphics Card
 
! rowspan=2 | Sims 3  
 
! rowspan=2 | Sims 3  
[[File:Sims3 icon.png|24px|Base Game]]
+
[[File:Sims3 icon.png|24px|Base Game]] [[File:logo Sims3BG00.png|34px|Base Game]]
 
! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Expansion Pack
 
! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Expansion Pack
! colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | Stuff Pack
+
! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Stuff Pack
 
|-
 
|-
! [[File:Sims3EP01 icon.png|24px|World Adventures]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP01 icon.png|24px|World Adventures]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP01.png|34px|World Adventures]]
! [[File:Sims3EP02 icon.png|24px|Ambitions]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP02 icon.png|24px|Ambitions]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP02.png|34px|Ambitions]]
! [[File:Sims3EP03 icon.png|24px|Late Night]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP03 icon.png|24px|Late Night]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP03.png|34px|Late Night]]
! [[File:Sims3EP04 icon.png|24px|Generations]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP04 icon.png|24px|Generations]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP04.png|34px|Generations]]
! [[File:Sims3EP05 icon.png|24px|Pets]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3EP05 icon.png|24px|Pets]] [[File:Logo Sims3EP05.png|34px|Pets]]
! [[File:Sims3SP01 icon.png|24px|High-End Loft Stuff]]
+
! [[File:Sims3SP01 icon.png|24px|High-End Loft Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP01.png|34px|High-End Loft Stuff]]
! [[File:Sims3SP02 icon.png|24px|Fast Lane Stuff]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3SP02 icon.png|24px|Fast Lane Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP02.png|34px|Fast Lane Stuff]]
! [[File:Sims3SP03 icon.png|24px|Outdoor Living Stuff]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3SP03 icon.png|24px|Outdoor Living Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP03.png|34px|Outdoor Living Stuff]]
! [[File:Sims3SP04 icon.png|24px|Town Life Stuff]]  
+
! [[File:Sims3SP04 icon.png|24px|Town Life Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP04.png|34px|Town Life Stuff]]
 +
! [[File:Sims3SP05 icon.png|24px|Master Suite Stuff]] [[File:Logo Sims3SP05.png|34px|Master Suite Stuff]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! style="text-align:left;"| GeForce 5900
 
! style="text-align:left;"| GeForce 5900

Revision as of 11:10, 27 January 2012

Sims 3 Logo transparent small.png This article is written for The Sims 3. For the equivalent Sims 2 article, click here.
Sims 3 Game Help Categories:

Custom Content  | Installation  | Gameplay Guides  | Technical & Graphics Issues  | Miscellaneous Issues

MTS Help Q&A Forums

Contents

Desktop Graphics Card Compatibility and Recommendations

This chart is for desktop graphics ONLY and does not take into account the rest of your computer. If you have an awesome graphics card but crappy everything else, your performance will suck. If you have a newer computer with a strong CPU and lots of RAM, but install a crappy graphics card, you will still likely have performance problems.

TS3 relies very heavily on the CPU and having a multi-core processor makes a huge difference in performance, but that does not mean just any graphics card out there will work. What it DOES mean, is that if you have a really strong dual or quad core CPU, you may be able to get better performance out of the Maybe cards. If you have an older single core CPU, even the Yes cards may not give perfect performance.

Please note: It is not recommended that you attempt to play TS2 or TS3 on an integrated video chipset. If you have a computer with integrated video, it is recommended you view this guide.


KEY
Yes Known to give good game play, little or no lagging is expected
Maybe Performance is uncertain/unknown, or may still be mostly playable with expected lagging/reduced performance
No Not recommended/known problems/poor performance
Integrated/

Onboard Video

Sims 3

Base Game Base Game

Expansion Pack Stuff Pack
World Adventures World Adventures Ambitions Ambitions Late Night Late Night Generations Generations Pets Pets High-End Loft Stuff High-End Loft Stuff Fast Lane Stuff Fast Lane Stuff Outdoor Living Stuff Outdoor Living Stuff Town Life Stuff Town Life Stuff Master Suite Stuff Master Suite Stuff
Intel Extreme/

GMA 8xx/9xx

No No No No No No No No No No
Intel GMA x3x00 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Intel GMA x4500 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Intel HD (core i-series) Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon Xpress No No No No No No No No No No
Radeon x1200, x1250, x1270 No No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD3200 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD4200 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD4250 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD6250 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD 6310 (E350/ E240 APU) Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD 64xx (A4 Series APU) Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD 65xx (A6 / A8 Series APU) Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Nvidia 61xx/71xx No No No No No No No No No No
Nvidia 8200/8300 No No No No No No No No No No
Nvidia 9300/9400 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
ATI Dedicated Graphics Card Sims 3

Base Game Base Game

Expansion Pack Stuff Pack
World Adventures World Adventures Ambitions Ambitions Late Night Late Night Generations Generations Pets Pets High-End Loft Stuff High-End Loft Stuff Fast Lane Stuff Fast Lane Stuff Outdoor Living Stuff Outdoor Living Stuff Town Life Stuff Town Life Stuff Master Suite Stuff Master Suite Stuff
Radeon 9500 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon 9600 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon 9700 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon 9800 Maybe No No No No No No No No No
Radeon x300 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x600 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x700 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x800 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x850 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x1300 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x1550 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x1600 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x1650 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x1800 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x1900 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon x1950 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon HD 2400 No No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD 2600 Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 2900 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 3400 No No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD 3600 Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 3800 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
**Radeon HD 3870x2 Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
Radeon HD 4350 No No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD 4550 No No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD 4600 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 4770 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 4800 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 4800x2 Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
Radeon HD 5450 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Maybe Maybe
Radeon HD 5550/5570 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 5670 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 5700 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 5800 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 5900 Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
Radeon HD 6450A (AIOs) No No No No No No No No No No
Radeon HD 6550A (AIOs) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 66x0A (AIOs) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 6450 Maybe Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
Radeon HD 6570 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 6670 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 67xx Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 68xx Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 6950 / 6970 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 6990 Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
Nvidia Dedicated Graphics Card Sims 3

Base Game Base Game

Expansion Pack Stuff Pack
World Adventures World Adventures Ambitions Ambitions Late Night Late Night Generations Generations Pets Pets High-End Loft Stuff High-End Loft Stuff Fast Lane Stuff Fast Lane Stuff Outdoor Living Stuff Outdoor Living Stuff Town Life Stuff Town Life Stuff Master Suite Stuff Master Suite Stuff
GeForce 5900 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
GeForce 6200 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
GeForce 6600 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
GeForce 6800 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
GeForce 7300 No No No No No No No No No No
GeForce 7600 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
GeForce 7800 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
GeForce 7900 Yes Maybe No No No No Maybe No No No
GeForce 7950 GX2 Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
 !GeForce 8400 No No No No No No No No No No
**!GeForce 8500 Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
 !GeForce 8600 Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce 8800 GS Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce 8800 GTS Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No Yes Yes Maybe Maybe
GeForce 8800 GT / GTS512 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce 8800 GTX / Ultra Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce 9300 GE / GS No No No No No No No No No No
GeForce 9400 GT Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce 9500 GT Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce 9600 GSO / GT Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce 9800 GT / GTX / GTX+ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce G 100 OEM No No No No No No No No No No
GeForce GT 120 Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce GT 130 Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce GT 140 Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce GTS 150 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce G 210 No No No No No No No No No No
GeForce GT 220 Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce GTS 240 / (OEM) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTS 250 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 260 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 275 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 280 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 285 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 295 (x2) Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce 310 No No No No No No No No No No
GeForce 315 No No No No No No No No No No
GeForce GT 320 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Maybe Maybe
GeForce GT 330 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Maybe Maybe
GeForce GT 340 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Maybe Maybe
GeForce 405 No No No No No No No No No No
GeForce GT 420 OEM Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce GT 430 OEM Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Maybe Maybe
GeForce GT 440 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Maybe Maybe
GeForce GT 440/GTS 450 OEM / GTS 450 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 460 / SE / OEM / v2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 465 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 470 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 480 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce 510 OEM No No No No No No No No No No
GeForce GT 520 / OEM No No No No No No No No No No
GeForce GTX 530 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Maybe Maybe
GeForce GT 545 OEM Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 550 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 560 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 570 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 580 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce GTX 590 (GX2) Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe


**Regardless of the performance potential of these cards the Radeon 3850x2 is unsupported by TS3 and is known to have compatibility problems with TS2. Therefore the card is not recommended

! At least some if not all of Nvidia's cards with G86 and G84 cores are defective. They they do not handle heat like they should. This includes all GeForce 8400/8500/8600/8700 cards.

The Sims 3 System Requirements

A note on these requirements: The requirements listed below are taken directly from the official TS3 site. These are the absolute bare minimums you need to get the game up and running. These are NOT the minimum requirements for a playable game experience! If you have just the bare minimum and a low-end graphics card, you will NOT be able to play the game! It will run... but it will not look good, run well, or run consistently without crashing.

In order to find the specs on your system, see: Game Help:System Specs. If you are looking to upgrade your system, please see Help: Computer & Software Help for lots of advice, recommendations, and a place you can ask questions on specific hardware.

Sims 3 Base Game PC Requirements

From: http://www.thesims3.com/game/systemreq (with some slight changes based on advanced graphics card knowledge)

Items marked in green are those which are also recommended by MTS for playing The Sims 3.

FOR WINDOWS XP

  • 2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent (2.0ghz Core 2 Duo or higher is recommended)
  • 1 GB RAM (2GB of RAM is recommended)
  • A 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 (256 MB dedicated video card - mid-range or higher - is recommended)
  • The latest version of DirectX 9.0c
  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
  • At least 6.1 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB of additional space for custom content and saved games


FOR WINDOWS VISTA/WINDOWS 7

  • 2.4 GHz P4 processor or equivalent (2.0ghz Core 2 Duo or higher is recommended)
  • 1.5 GB RAM (at least 2.5GB of RAM is recommended)
  • 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 (256 MB dedicated video card - mid-range or higher - is recommended)
  • Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1
  • At least 6.1 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB of additional space for custom content and saved games


For computers using built-in graphics chipsets, the game requires at least:

  • Intel Integrated Chipset, GMA 3-Series or above
  • 2.6 GHz Pentium D CPU, or 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, or equivalent
  • 0.5 GB additional RAM


SUPPORTED VIDEO CARDS: (MTS staff note: Model numbers listed in green are likely to run the game well, assuming the rest of the computer also meets the above recommendations)

NVIDIA GeForce series:

  • FX 5900, FX 5950 (The NVIDIA GeForce FX series is unsupported under Vista.)
  • 6200, 6500, 6600, 6800, (Please note that the GeForce 6100 and 7100 cards are not supported.)
  • 7200, 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
  • 8400, 8500, 8600, 8800
  • 9300, 9400, 9500, 9600, 9800
  • G100, GT 120, GT 130, GTS 150
  • GT 220, GTS 240, GTS 250, GTX 260, GTX 275, GTX 280, GTX 285, GTX 295

Note: EA does not list the entire 200 series as being supported. However, we have expanded the list to include cards from the series which should work well.

ATI Radeon™ series:

  • 9500, 9600, 9800
  • X300, X600, X700, X800, X850
  • X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
  • 2400, 2600, 2900
  • 3450, 3650, 3850, 3870,
  • 4830, 4770, 4850, 4870, 4890

Note: The official list no longer includes the anything below the 4850 from the Radeon 4000 Series graphics cards. However, we have expanded the list to include some these cards which should work just fine.

Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA)

  • GMA 3-Series, GMA 4-Series (This game will not run on the GMA 950 class of integrated video cards.)


Laptop versions of these chipsets may work, but may run comparatively slower. Standalone cards that are installed in vanilla PCI slots (not PCIe or PCIx), such as some GeForce FX variants, will perform poorly. Most AGP, if not all, won't work at all

Intel integrated chipsets featuring underclocked parts will not perform adequately. Integrated chipsets such as the ATI Xpress and the NVIDIA TurboCache variants may default to settings that are higher than what would be optimal for them. Graphics settings can be lowered to improve performance.

Please note that attempting to play the game using video hardware that isn't listed above may result in reduced performance, graphical issues or cause the game to not run at all.

The NVIDIA GeForce FX series is unsupported under Vista.

Sims 3 Base Game MAC Requirements

FOR MAC OS X

  • Mac OS X 10.5.7 Leopard or higher
  • Intel Core Duo Processor
  • 2 GB RAM
  • ATI X1600 or Nvidia 7300 GT with 128 MB of Video RAM, or Intel Integrated GMA X3100.
  • At least 6.1 GB of hard drive space, with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content and saved games
  • This game will not run on PowerPC (G3/G4/G5) based Mac systems, or the GMA 950 class of integrated video cards.


MAC OS X Supported Video Cards


NVIDIA GeForce series

  • 7300, 7600
  • 8600, 8800
  • 9400M, 9600M GT
  • GT 120, GT 130

ATI Radeon(TM) series

  • X1600, X1900
  • 2400, 2600
  • 3870,
  • 4850, 4870

Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA)

  • GMA X3x00



Expansion Packs

World Adventures

All requirements the same with following additions:

  • Additional 3.5GB of free Hard Drive space
  • @ 10GB in total with The Sims 3


Ambitions

All requirements the same with following additions:

  • Additional 3.5GB of free Hard Drive space
  • @ 10GB in total with The Sims 3 only
  • @ 13.8GB if installing with The Sims 3 base game + WA + HEL + AMB
  • 4GB RAM minimum is recommended


Late Night

All requirements the same with following additions:

  • Additional 3.5GB of free Hard Drive space
  • @ 10GB in total with The Sims 3 only
  • @ 17.6GB if installing with The Sims 3 base game + WA + HEL + AMB + FL + LN
  • 4GB RAM minimum is recommended


Generations

All requirements the same with following additions:

  • Additional 1GB of free Hard Drive space
  • @ 7.5GB in total with The Sims 3 only
  • @ 18.8GB if installing with The Sims 3 base game + WA + HEL + AMB + FL + LN + OLS + GEN
  • 4GB RAM minimum is recommended


Pets

All requirements the same with following additions:

  • Additional 3.5GB of free Hard Drive space
  • @ 10GB in total with The Sims 3 only
  • @ 22.5GB if installing with The Sims 3 base game + WA + HEL + AMB + FL + LN + OLS + GEN + TLS + PETS
  • 4GB RAM minimum is recommended


Stuff Packs

High-End Loft

All requirements the same with following additions:

  • Additional 300MB of free Hard Drive space
  • @ 6.8GB in total with The Sims 3 only
  • @ 10.3GB if installing with The Sims 3 base game + WA + HEL


Fast Lane

All requirements the same with following additions:

  • Additional 300MB of free Hard Drive space
  • @ 6.8GB in total with The Sims 3 only
  • @ 14GB if installing with The Sims 3 base game + WA + HEL + AMB + FL
  • 4GB RAM minimum is recommended


Outdoor Living

All requirements the same with following additions:

  • Additional 200MB of free Hard Drive space
  • @ 6.7GB in total with The Sims 3 only
  • @ 17.8GB if installing with The Sims 3 base game + WA + HEL + AMB + FL + LN + OLS
  • 4GB RAM minimum is recommended


Town Life

All requirements the same with following additions:

  • Additional 150MB of free Hard Drive space
  • @ 6.7GB in total with The Sims 3 only
  • @ 19GB if installing with The Sims 3 base game + WA + HEL + AMB + FL + LN + OLS + GEN + TLS
  • 4GB RAM minimum is recommended


Related Pages

Sims 3 Game Help Categories:

Custom Content  | Installation  | Gameplay Guides  | Technical & Graphics Issues  | Miscellaneous Issues

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