Requirements.

[LindaPR]

I'd like to know if I meet the requirements. I'm really lost with the cards & the terms because I'm used to play simple stuff that any computer can run. Recently I got FIFA09 and Leisure Suite Larry but I now got The Sims 2 with Apartment Life but when I'm trying to create my sim, it freezes and does nothing, even though the music keeps playing. I have read a few lists of requirements but they're always different & I'm even more lost now.

This is what the computer has on it (a sticker on the outside):
Intel Celeron Processor 540
(1.86 GHz, 533 MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache)
Up to 252MB Mobile Intel Graphic Media Accelerator X3100
1GB DDR2
15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite LCD
80GB HDD

& here's this too:
http://i36.tinypic.com/fjesz8.jpg

Thanks in advance.

[Canoodle]

Your computer does not meet the specs to run any expansions. We have a handy guide to minimum specs. Be aware that EA's minimums are just that...minimum. Yes, the game will load and run, but it will run horribly slow and poorly.
http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:System_Requirements

You're lucky you've gotten this far. But stressing that chipset might fry your computer. You don't have a graphics card but an onboard chipset.

This might help you with your chipset:
http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Onboard_Graphics

Plus, you have Vista which requires 512 RAM just to run the OS. If nothing else, you need at least another 2 Gig of RAM. But the real problem is your processor. It just can't pull the load.

[LindaPR]

Thanks for your reply. I got it to let me play by lowering the settings a while ago but now I read this, so I understand. I shouldn't even try anymore.

Also, you can't upgrade stuff on a laptop like on a Desktop computer, right?

Bummer.

[Canoodle]

Yeah..major bummer. You really can't upgrade a laptop. Lowering the settings helps, but you could harm your laptop by stressing it too much. Also, make sure you use a cool pad to stop over-heating. I have an old steam powered laptop that I wouldn't dare put the games on. lol

[LindaPR]

Lol. That's a pretty good idea. I guess I should just move on, lol. I'll save it & try in the future, with a better computer. So then that makes a desktop computer better for gaming? Being that you can upgrade it.

[whiterider]

Yes, definitely - desktops, as well as being upgradeable, tend to start out with better hardware for a less extortionate price; and they also (generally, this is not always the case) are far less likely to have overheating issues. There are, of course, obvious advantages to laptops for working etc.; but a desktop is pretty much always the best bet for gaming.

[callistra]

Desktops are not always better for gaming. If you go and buy a budget desktop, just like you have bought a budget laptop laptop, you won't have any better experience. There are some desktops that are better for gaming than some laptops and there are some laptops that are better for gaming than some desktops. Real advantage for desktops are that they have a lot more options to expand/upgrade, and are cheaper as far as performance/$ goes. So.. last you longer and cost less.

If you get to a point where you decide you would like to invest in a desktop or a laptop capable of running TS2, you need to make sure it meets not only the EA Requirements that Canoodle already linked too, but also our recommendations (http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:System_Requirements/MTS2_Recommendations#Graphics_Card_Compatibility_and_Recommendations). If you have any more questions about this please head over to our sister site, S2C (http://forums.sims2community.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8) and have a look through our Computer forum.

Good luck!