Game Help:System Requirements/MTS2 Recommendations

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Contents

Graphics Card Compatibility and Recommendations

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
Radeon 7200 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
Radeon 8500 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
Radeon 9200 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
Radeon 9600 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
Radeon 9800 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe
Radeon x600 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe
Radeon x700 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe
Radeon x800 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon x850 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon x1300 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe
Radeon x1600 Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon x1650 Yes Yes Yes Yes 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
Radeon x1900 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
Radeon HD 2400 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe 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
Radeon HD 3800 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Radeon HD 4800 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
GeForce 3 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
GeForce 5xxx Maybe Maybe Maybe No No No No No No Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe No No
GeForce 6200 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No No No No No Yes No Yes No
GeForce 6600 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce 6800 Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GeForce 7300 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe
GeForce 7600 Yes Yes Yes Yes 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
GeForce 7900 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
GeForce 8400 Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe No No Yes Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe No No
GeForce 8500 Maybe Maybe No No No No No No Maybe Maybe No No No No No
GeForce 8600 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
GeForce 9500 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
GeForce 9800 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
GeForce GTX 280 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

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

RightArrow.gif 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

RightArrow.gif 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

RightArrow.gif 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

RightArrow.gif In Order to use the Family Fun Stuff Pack you must have The Sims 2 installed and meet the following sytem requirements:

RightArrow.gif 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

RightArrow.gif 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

RightArrow.gif 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


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