Game Help:System Requirements/MTS2 Recommendations
Contents |
Graphics Card Compatibility and Recommendations
This chart is for 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 an awesome graphics card and everything else and pile on all EPs and tons of high-poly, large-texture custom content, your performance will suck. Don't blame us.
| Model | Base Game | Expansion Pack | Stuff Pack | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University | Nightlife | Open for Business | Pets | Seasons | Bon Voyage | Free Time | Apartment Life | SP1 | SP2 | SP3 | SP4 | SP5 | SP6 | SP7 | ||
| Radeon 7000/VE | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Radeon 7200 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Radeon 7500 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| **Radeon 8500 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Radeon 9000 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Radeon 9200 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Radeon 9500 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Radeon 9600 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Radeon 9700 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Radeon 9800 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Radeon x300 | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| Radeon x600 | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| Radeon x700 | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| Radeon x800 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radeon x850 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radeon x1300 | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| Radeon x1600 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radeon x1650 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radeon x1800 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radeon x1900 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radeon x1950 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radeon HD 2400 | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| Radeon HD 2600 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Radeon HD 2900 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Radeon HD 3400 | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | |
| Radeon HD 3600 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radeon HD 3800 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| **Radeon HD 3870x2 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Radeon HD 4800 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce 2 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| GeForce 3 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| GeForce 4/4xx/4xxx | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| GeForce 5200/5300/5500 | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | No | No | No | No | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| GeForce 5600/5700 | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| GeForce 5800/5900 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| GeForce 6200 | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| GeForce 6600 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| GeForce 6800 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce 7300 | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| GeForce 7600 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce 7800 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce 7900 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce 7950 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| !GeForce 8400 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| **!GeForce 8500 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| !GeForce 8600 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce 8800 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce 9500 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce 9600 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce 9800 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce GTX 260 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeForce GTX 280 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- Regardless of the performance potential of these cards, the GeForce 8500GT and Radeon 3850x2 are known to have compatibility problems with TS2.
! 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 8300/8400/8500/8600/8700 cards.
System Requirements
A note on these requirements: These are the requirements as posted by EA/Maxis for the game. 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.
Items marked in red are those which, while officially supported, are completely unsuitable for playing The Sims 2.
It is recommended that for the base game you have at least:
- A 1.5 GHz processor
- A 128 MB video card
- 512 MB of RAM.
If you are running Windows Vista you should have at least DOUBLE those specs for the base game!
It is recommended for expansions, especially later ones like Pets and Seasons that you have at least:
- A 2.5 GHz processor
- A 256 MB video card - a newer, better one (higher numbers = newer and better)
- 1 gig of RAM.
Please note that nVidia GO series cards (found in laptops) are NOT compatible with Sims 2 and are not supported for use with Sims 2 or its expansions! You -will- have problems running Sims 2 if you have a GO card. Updating drivers can help sometimes but usually not - the best thing to do if you have a GO card and you would like to play Sims 2 is to pick up one of the Stories series games (Life Stories, Pet Stories, or Castaway Stories) which are specifically made for laptop gaming and do support the nVidia GO series cards.
Base Game/University
If you have a T&L capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM then you need at least:
- 800 MHz processor or better
- 256 MB RAM if Windows Vista, XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000
- At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space
If you have a non-T&L capable video card (an Intel Extreme Graphics or a Radeon 7000/VE Series) then you need at least:
- 2.0 GHz processor or better
- 256 MB RAM if Windows Vista, XP, Windows ME, Windows 98, or Windows 2000
- At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space
Get the most current driver for your video card. The manufacturers usually have the video drivers on their sites for you to download. Visit the nVidia site, the ATI site or the support site for your computer's manufacturer for the latest drivers for those video cards.
Supported video cards (and the more video memory the better):
- ATI RadeonTM series (7000 or better)
- Radeon 7000/VE series (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor)
- 7200, 7500
- 8500, All-In-Wonder 8500
- 9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800
- X300, X600, X800
- Nvidia QuadroTM series
- Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4
- Nvidia Geforce series (GeForce2 and better)
- GeForce2
- GeForce3, 3 Ti
- GeForce4, 4Ti, MX 420, 440
- GeForce FX 5200, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
- GeForce 6600, 6800
- Intel Extreme Graphics (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor)
- 82845, 82865, 82915
Nightlife/Open for Business
In order to install and play The Sims 2 Nightlife and/or Open for Business you must have The Sims 2 installed and meet the hardware requirements listed below:
- Windows Vista, XP, ME, 98, or 2000 operating system.
- 1000 MHz (1 GHz) or faster processor.
- 256 MB or more RAM.
- At least 1.5 GB of additional hard drive space.
- Supported T&L-capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM.
Supported Video Cards:
- ATI Radeon series 8500 or better (7x00 models no longer supported)
- All-In-Wonder 8500, 9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800, X300, X600, X700, X800, and X850.
- Nvidia Geforce series:
- GeForce 2, 2 GTS
- GeForce 3, 3 Ti
- GeForce 4, 4 Ti, 4200, 4600, and 4800
- GeForce MX 420, 440, and 460.
- GeForce FX 5200, 55500, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, and 5950.
- GeForce PCX 5300, and 5900.
- GeForce 6200, 6600, and 6800.
- Nvidia QuadroTM series:
- Quadro, Quadro2, and Quadro4
- Intel Extreme Graphics:
- 82865, 82915, and higher
NOTE: If you have a non-T&L capable video card, such as Intel Extreme Graphics, then you need at least a 2.4 GHz processor.
Pets
In order to install and play The Sims 2 Pets you must have The Sims 2 installed and meet the hardware requirements listed below:
- 1300 MHz processor
- 256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM is recommended if you are running with a few expansion packs installed)
- Windows(R) Vista, Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000 Operating System.
- At least 1.5 GB of additional hard drive space (5.0 GB total is required if installing both The Sims 2 and The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack at the same time.)
- A T&L-capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM.
Supported video cards:
- ATI Radeon(TM) series (8500 or better):
- 8500, All-In-Wonder 8500
- 9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800
- X300, X600, x700, X800, x850
- X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
- NVIDIA(R) Quadro(TM) series:
- Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4
- NVIDIA GeForce series (GeForce2 GTS and better):
- GeForce 2, 2 GTS
- GeForce 3, 3 Ti
- GeForce 4, 4 Ti, 4200, 4600, 4800, MX 420, 440, 460
- GeForce FX 5200, 5500, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
- GeForce PCX 5300, 5900
- GeForce 6200, 6600, 6800
- GeForce 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
- S3 GammaChrome
- S18 Pro
- S18 Ultra Intel(R) Extreme Graphics (see note below)
- 82865, 82915 and above
NOTE: If you have a non-T&L capable video card, such as Intel Extreme Graphics, then you need at least a 2.4 GHz processor.
Seasons
In order to install and play The Sims 2 Seasons you must have The Sims™ 2, The Sims™ 2 Special DVD Edition, or The Sims™ 2 Holiday Edition for PC and meet the hardware requirements listed below:
- 1300 MHz processor
- 256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM is recommended for Windows Vista or if you are running with a few expansion packs installed)
- Windows(R) Vista, Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000 Operating System.
- 8x or faster CD/DVD drive
- At least 1.5 GB of additional hard drive space (5.0 GB total is required if installing both The Sims 2 and The Sims 2 Seasons Expansion Pack at the same time.)
- A T&L-capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM.
Supported video cards:
- ATI Radeon(TM) series 8500 or better (9600 or greater required for Vista)
- 8500, All-In-Wonder 8500
- 9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800
- X300, X600, x700, X800, x850
- X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
- Nvidia(R) Quadro(TM) series
- Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4
- Nvidia GeForce series GeForce2 GTS and better (GeForce 6200 or greater required for Vista)
- GeForce 2, 2 GTS
- GeForce 3, 3 Ti
- GeForce 4, 4 Ti, 4200, 4600, 4800, MX 420, 440, 460
- GeForce FX 5200, 5500, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
- GeForce PCX 5300, 5900
- GeForce 6200, 6600, 6800
- GeForce 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
- S3 GammaChrome
- S18 Pro
- S18 Ultra Intel(R) Extreme Graphics (see note below)
- 82865, 82915 and above
NOTE: If you have a non-T&L capable video card, such as Intel Extreme Graphics, then you need at least a 2.4 GHz processor.
Family Fun Stuff/Glamour Life Stuff/Celebration Stuff
In Order to use the Family Fun Stuff Pack you must have The Sims 2 installed and meet the following sytem requirements:
To use the Glamour Life Stuff Pack or Celebration Stuff Pack, you must have The Sims 2, The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition, or The Sims 2 Holiday Edition installed, and you must meet the following sytem requirements:
- OS: Windows Vista, XP, Me, 2000, or 98
- Installed: The Sims 2 for Windows
- CPU: 1.0 GHz or faster
- RAM: 256 MB or more
- Disc Drive: 8x or faster CD/DVD drive
- Hard Drive: At least 350 MB of free space
- Sound: DirectX 9.0 compatible
- Video: DirectX 9.0 compatible
Video card must have 32 MB or more memory and one of these T&L capable chipsets:
- ATI Radeon 8500 or greater; 9600 or greater recommended.
- Nvidia GeForce2 GTS or greater; 5600 or greater recommended.
Bon Voyage
In order to install and play The Sims 2 Bon Voyage you must have The Sims 2 installed and meet the hardware requirements listed below:
- OS: Windows Vista, XP, Me, 2000, or 98
- Installed: The Sims 2 for Windows
- Disc Drive: 8x or faster CD/DVD drive
- Hard Drive: At least 1.5 GB of free space
- Sound: DirectX 9.0 compatible
- Video: DirectX 9.0 compatible
Windows XP/Me/2000/98
- CPU: 1.3 GHz or faster
- RAM: 512 MB or more
Supported Graphics Cards:
- ATI Radeon(TM) series (8500 or better)
- 8500
- All-In-Wonder 8500
- 9000, 9200, 500, 9600, 9700, 9800
- X300, X600, x700, X800, x850
- X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
- NVIDIA(R) Quadro(TM) series
- Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4
- NVIDIA GeForce series (GeForce2 GTS and better)
- GeForce 2, 2 GTS
- GeForce 3, 3 Ti
- GeForce 4, 4 Ti, 4200, 4600, 4800, MX 420, 440, 460
- GeForce FX 5200, 5500, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
- GeForce PCX 5300, 5900
- GeForce 6200, 6600, 6800
- GeForce 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
Windows Vista
- CPU: 2.0 GHz or faster
- RAM: 1024 MB or more
Supported Graphics Cards:
- ATI Radeon(TM) series (8500 or better)
- 9600, 9700, 9800
- X300, X600, x700, X800, x850
- X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
- NVIDIA GeForce series (GeForce2 GTS and better)
- GeForce 6200, 6600, 6800
- GeForce 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
FreeTime
In order to install and play The Sims 2 FreeTime you must have The Sims 2 installed and meet the hardware requirements listed below:
- OS: Windows Vista, XP, Me, 2000, or 98
- Installed: The Sims 2 for Windows
- Disc Drive: 8x or faster CD/DVD drive
- Hard Drive: At least 1.5 GB of free space
- Sound: DirectX 9.0 compatible
- Video: DirectX 9.0 compatible
Windows XP/Me/2000/98
- CPU: 1.3 GHz or faster
- RAM: 512 MB or more
Supported Graphics Cards:
- ATI Radeon(TM) series (8500 or better)
- 8500
- All-In-Wonder 8500
- 9000, 9200, 500, 9600, 9700, 9800
- X300, X600, x700, X800, x850
- X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
- NVIDIA(R) Quadro(TM) series
- Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4
- NVIDIA GeForce series (GeForce2 GTS and better)
- GeForce 2, 2 GTS
- GeForce 3, 3 Ti
- GeForce 4, 4 Ti, 4200, 4600, 4800, MX 420, 440, 460
- GeForce FX 5200, 5500, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
- GeForce PCX 5300, 5900
- GeForce 6200, 6600, 6800
- GeForce 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
Windows Vista
- CPU: 2.0 GHz or faster
- RAM: 1024 MB or more
Supported Graphics Cards:
- ATI Radeon(TM) series (8500 or better)
- 9600, 9700, 9800
- X300, X600, x700, X800, x850
- X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
- NVIDIA GeForce series (GeForce2 GTS and better)
- GeForce 6200, 6600, 6800
- GeForce 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
System Requirements for Mac
These are the absolute bare minimums you need to get the game up and running on a Mac. 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.
- Operating System: Mac OS X 10.3.8 or later
- CPU: PowerPC G4/G5
- CPU Speed: 1.2GHz or faster
- RAM: 256 MB or more
- Hard Disk Space: 3GB free disk space
- Video Card: Radeon 9000/GeForce FX5200 or better; 32MB of Video RAM
- CD/DVD drive
