Need help with buying new graphics card

• 520 MHz core clock
  
• PCI Express 2.0
  
• 1024 MB 64-bit DDR3 memory
  
• 600 MHz memory clock and 1230 MHz shader clock
  
• 8 CUDA Cores
  
• 8 CUDA Cores. Max Analog : 2048x1536, Max Digital : 1920x1200
  

killercolors wrote:Okay I've decided to grab a new card for my desktop pc. I've got sims 3 running on both my laptop and my desktop and noticed it runs better on my laptop, but can only assume it's the graphics card causing the low frame rate as when the world loads it misses frames as it goes along, skipping. This is with the settings on low to medium. The only thing I've got set high are the sims texture and details themselves. 

My desktop has: Win 8.1 with 8GB RAM but only a NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS with 256MB. 
I've only got the base game installed and:
Supernatural EP
Island Paradise

My laptop has: Win 8.1 with 4GB Ram and an Intel(R) HD Graphics card.
I have the base game and all the EP's and Stuff packs installed with loads of CC and it only lags slightly due to the CC.


I was thinking of buying this card for my desktop pc: 
EVGA GeForce 8400 GS 1 GB DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 DVI/HDMI/VGA Graphics Card 

• 520 MHz core clock
  
• PCI Express 2.0
  
• 1024 MB 64-bit DDR3 memory
  
• 600 MHz memory clock and 1230 MHz shader clock
  
• 8 CUDA Cores
  
• 8 CUDA Cores. Max Analog : 2048x1536, Max Digital : 1920x1200
  

Do you guys think the 1GB is enough to stop the sims 3 from skipping and slowing down?

Have you made sure that the dimensions of both cards are similar (I was too lazy to google that  ). But the new card should of course fit into your computer tower too...in case of doubt, do some research on that. The next thing is the power supply issue, but in your case, both cards (7600 GS + 8400 GS) seem to require a power supply of "at least 350 Watts", so I assume you shouldn't have to buy a new power supply.

Hope this helps you a little bit !    

So yes, with that new card, you should be able to enjoy The Sims 3 more fully.