Error 12 Issue: More dedicated memory needed?

[nikaw29]

OK, aborted the Vista route.  Found some other ops.  What are your thoughts about this one:

Processor Brand -AMD

Processor -AMD A8-Series

Processor Speed -2.1GHz

System Memory (RAM)-4GB

System Memory (RAM) Expandable To 8GB

 Type of Memory (RAM) - DDR3 SDRAM

Hard Drive Type SATA (5400 rpm)

Computer Hard Drive Size 750GB

Graphics -AMD Radeon HD 8550G

Video Memory -Up to 2158MB (total)

[nikaw29]

Don't hate me.  Here are three more.  That gives me a total of four to consider:

Opt 2

Processor Type:  Intel Celeron B877 Processor 

Processor Speed:  1.50 GHz 

System Ram:  4 GB 

Maximum Memory Expansion:  8 GB 

Hard Drive Size:  500 GB 

Laptop Screen Size:  14.0 inch 

Screen Type:  LED Backlight, BrightView HD Touchscreen Display 

Resolution:  1366 x 768 

Graphics Card:  Intel HD Graphics with 1664MB of dedicated system memory 

Opt 3

Processor

AMD A4-1200 1.00 GHz

Memory

2 GB DDR3L 1066 MHz

Hard drive size

320 GB 5400 RPM HDD

Operating system

Windows 8. Update to Windows 8.1 for free through the Windows Store.

Video

AMD HD 8180 Graphics with shared graphics memory

Opt 4

Processor Brand:  AMD 

Processor Type:  AMD E-300 Accelerated Processor 

Processor Speed:  1.3 GHz, with a Max Turbo Speed of 3.20 GHz 

System Ram:  4 GB 

Maximum Memory Expansion:  8 GB 

Hard Drive Size:  320 GB 

Laptop Screen Size:  15.6 inch 

Screen Type:  LED Backlight, Full HD Display 

Resolution:  1366 x 768 

Graphics Card:  AMD Radeon HD 6310 

[roberta591]

op 1 - The graphics chip is integrated with the cpu much like the Intel I series. These video system commonly lack the power for demanding video games like TS3.

op2 - Celeron processor is very slow (below TS3 minimum requirement) and Intel HD Grphics  (integrated) frequently has problems with expansion packs.

op3 - processor is way under powered and looks more like a netbook rather then a laptop.

op4 - cpu clock slow (turbo to 3.2ghz?) and the 6310 has no dedicated video memory which seems to be a big problem for Sims 3.

What you are looking at are student/business laptops. You can not skimp here as more demanding expansion packs like PETS and Seasons will run run very well (if at all).

[nikaw29]

ok, the laptops i'm looking at don't discern student or business use.  They are merely listed throughout sites I am looking at.  A few of my friends who play the sims have something similar to a couple of these models with most of the expansion packs and haven't incurred any issues, so my guess is that they figured I wouldn't either.  I was just posting to get an idea from folks on this board because I am having to replace one of my machines and figured it made sense to get something that I can move my game to and play without the same issues I am experiencing now.  I don't know what to actually look for as it seems opinions truly run the gammit on various boards.  Each person tends to feel one way about their particular machine, but nothing is at all consistent. 

[nikaw29]

13.3 inch gaming laptop with dvd drive AMD E450 Dual Core 1.65Ghz Netbook 4G DDR3 640G

• Processor Brand : AMD
• Frocessor Familly:APU Dual Core
• Processor Core :AMD E450 1.65Ghz (Dual Core)
• Processor Frequency :16.5Ghz
• L2 Cache
• System Bus Frequency:667MHz
• Memory :Memory Type : DDRIII
• Maximum Memory Capacity : 4GB
• Hard Drive Type :SATA 640G
• Hard Drive Speed :5400RPM
• Graphic Audio and Speakers
• Graphics Chipset: ATI Radeon HD 6320 Graphics
• Graphics Memory :512M
• Audio and Speaker: Builtin mircophone,Premium sound-2 speakers
• Camera:Built-in 1.3 Mega Camera
• LCD: led
• Display relolustion :1366*768
• Widescreen : yes

Visionman WNBI-2SGR20 Visionman 15.4 Gaming Notebook

Specifications:
15.4WXGA (1200x800) w/Super Clear Screen
Intel Core Duo T8100 2.1Ghz Processor
Dual Core / 64-bitSupport
4GB of Blazing Fast DDR2-667
160GB SATA-II 5400RPM 2.5 Hard Drive
4-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/SD/MMC)
Microsoft XP Professional 32-bit
Slim 8X DVD-RW
nVidia 8600GT 512MB DirectX10 Video

Processor & Chipset 

Processor Manufacturer Intel

Processor Type Core 2 Duo

Processor Model P8400

Processor Speed 2.26GHz

Processor Core Dual-core

Memory 

Standard Memory 4GB

Maximum Memory 4GB

Memory Technology DDR2 SDRAM

Memory Standard DDR2-800/PC2-6400

Storage 

Hard Drive Capacity 250GB

Solid State Drive Capacity Not Included

Optical Drive Type DVD-Writer

Optical Media Support DVD-RAM/R/RW

Display & Graphics 

Screen Size 15"

Graphic Mode WXGA

Display Screen Type Active Matrix TFT Color LCD

Widescreen Yes

Graphics Controller Manufacturer nVIDIA

Graphics Controller Model GeForce 9600M GT

Graphics Memory Capacity 512MB

[nikaw29]

Found another option?

Processor Brand

AMD

Processor

AMD A8-Series

Processor Speed

1.9GHz

Cache Memory

4MB on die Level 2

System Memory (RAM)

4GB

System Memory (RAM) Expandable To

8GB

Type of Memory (RAM)

DDR3

Hard Drive Type

SATA II (5400 rpm)

Computer Hard Drive Size

500GB

Digital Media Reader or Slots

Yes, select memory card slots

Graphics

AMD Radeon HD 7640G

Video Memory

Shared

Operating System Platform

Windows

Operating System

Windows 8

Graphics Chip

AMD/ATI

Drive Capacity

500GB

Graphics Card

AMD Radeon HD 7640G

[nikaw29]

OK, disregard everything else I have posted.  I think I have narrowed it down to two options.  What is the difference between these and is one better than the other?

AMD A6-4455M Accelerated Processor with AMD Radeon HD 7500G discrete-class graphics
For efficient performance

AMD E-300 Accelerated Processor with AMD Radeon HD 6310 discrete-class graphics
For efficient performance.

[nikaw29]

ok, i lied.  added one more

AMD Quad-Core A8-4500M Accelerated Processor with AMD Radeon HD 7640G graphics
For efficient performance.

[roberta591]

While those laptops you list may play the base game some more demanding packs like PETS may have problems. Descrete-class graphics IS NOT dedicated graphics. It is best to have a dedicated graphics chip with al least 512mb (the more the better) DEDICATED memory (not shared memory). TS3 requires a 2.4GHZ processor or higher (higher is better). Most gaming computer today are in the 3GHZ range. TS3 is a DX9 32 bit application. As such it will run on one core of your processor. You may see activity on other cores but this is probably other system processes running. Some processors actually slow down when there is activity on other cores. TS3 being a 32 bit applications means it can't use more then 4gb of main memory. TS3 seems to be a very hardware demanding game - both processor and graphics. You need to be careful buying a laptop because there is usually no upgrade path. If you buy a laptop and TS3 does not run on it your only path is to replace the laptop with a more powerful laptop so care is required when you purchase the laptop. While TS3 base game and some packs may run well on a basic laptop packs like PETS and Seasons may have trouble (probably). It is nice to enjoy the game rather then be frustrated with it. Laptops typically have low power processors and low power graphics chips to claim long battery life. TS3 requires a gaming class computer to play all the packs. A lesser laptop may play the base game and some of the packs but again packs like PETS, Seasons, IP may (probably) have trouble. If you feel that getting a laptop like your friends will play the game then acquire the same make and model as they have. You say "i'm not going to play PETS". You have no idea how many times I have heard that as I am a consumer computer consultant only to return to an irate customer because the computer crashes with PETS. Mostly I get people who buy a student laptop and they can't play games on it. Then I show them the difference between a student laptop and a gaming laptop. Unless the laptop can play the whole game I can not recommend anything less.

hth

a good place to start looking for gaming laptops is ibuypower or cyberpower

[nikaw29]

So these laptops would not be good options, even if they are only used to play the sims?  I have four different machines.  I damaged one and am replacing it by way of my home insurance coverage.  That said, I figured I would get a laptop that I would use to play my game and remove my games from my other machines.  I don't have the Pets EP but am not against it.  There are a few EPs and SPs that I have yet to have an interest in purchasing, but that's not to say I won't in the distant future. I definitely wouldn't say I won't play it (you might have meant that generically as a statement that people say alot, right?). Since I am not likely to play many other games and the sims is all I have played over the past four years, would any of these that I have posted suffice?  EA sent me their basic specs and I found other forums with recommendations.  I'm just interested in buying a decent machine that would play the game well with it only running the game.