More Awesome Than You!

Before i bite the bullet and buy a new computer.  I contacted EA because I bought Fast Lane and installed without success.  It would only crash to desktop.  After following the direction to uninstall and reinstall (3 times) they finally came back with the answer that my processor was too slow.  It's 2.1 and I think they recommend 2.3 or 2.4.  I played all the way up to Ambitions before having any trouble.  Please help me.

Thanks

Ha! EA lies.

I think it's pretty obvious that the real problem here is that you need a new monitor.

I am assuming that you are trying to say that you have a 2.1 GHz processor, which is barely over the minimum specs for the game on Windows XP, and under the minimum specs for Vista. You usually want to be well over all minimum specs, not just barely scraping by. So, yeah, I would say it could be your processor, but that could just be one component of the problem, perhaps your entire system is under or just barely over specs. You haven't told us any other things like how much RAM you have, which operating system you use, or which graphics card you have so it makes it hard to diagnose the problem.

Never heard of a CTD because the CPU was too slow.

OS is Vista, Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6400  @ 2.13GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.1GHz, Memory: 3070MB RAM
 Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT. 

If I'm correct, everything else is o.k. except for the processeor.  I thought about getting the processor upgraded, but noone i talked to was able to help me.  They made it sound really complicated and I would be better off buying a new computer.  Like I said I played all the way up to Ambitions with no problems. 

Thank again.         

Upgrading the CPU isn't really that big of a deal. Just find out what socket it uses and get a replacement for that socket type. With installing it you have to be a bit careful, but if you buy at a local shop you might even get a good deal on installing it, too.

Replacing CPU is indeed not hard, just be careful not to scratch it. What they meant is that probably when you have an old enough computer that CPU is causing trouble, finding a decent processor replacement might be a lot of hassle when you're probably gonna need to buy a new computer soon, anyway.
As Patrick said - look up your motherboard model compatibility and buy a processor that's on supported list (if it's not there, it might not work).

I thought minimal requirements for sims 3 were lower than that, especially since it can take advantage of multiple cores (I managed to run it on 3GHz 1 core AMD without trouble). Have you tried googling your FLS problem before you complained to EA?

I went to http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/ to see if I could run The Sims 3 on my computer, and it said all the eps were fine except for Late Night.

I passed everything but the video card.

It said:

Features: Minimum attributes of your Video Card
                         Required      You Have
Video RAM               128 MB        1.0 GB
Pixel Shader version   2.0        3.0

So...how is it that I failed? Looks to me like I have above the minimum required. *shrugs*

So before you go by a computer, make sure you get one that will run the Sims right, get all the specs you need, etc etc and show the computer guy what you want. Sometimes you can go into a store, say what you want your computer for, and they'll fix you up with one.

This post is kind of pointless. Sorry.

It isn't always that easy.  As processors develop they tend to change socket type, which often makes upgrades to the CPU difficult without replacing the motherboard, which usually then requires new RAM as the new boards use newer RAM modules, etc.  When trying to stay within a particular socket type, especially older ones, the available CPU's, which tend to be limited,  are usually older models and don't offer huge increases in performance.

I doubt CPU performance would be causing the original problem, more likely something else.

Like others have mentioned, I wouldn't think CPU alone would be enough to cause crashes. EA tech support is a joke, and they likely just wanted to get you off the phone.


I would be very, very careful about this. It's not a good idea to go out computer shopping and depend solely on a retailer for advice unless it's someone you trust, and never do it at a big box retailer. They may or may not know what they are talking about, and a lot of employees will gladly take advantage of a customer in order to make a sale, especially if there's commission involved.

That and they would have been reading from a script, and as soon as a slower CPU (or any spec lower than what their script said was required) was mentioned, they would have zeroed in on it as the reason because their script says it should be this speed, etc, rather than actually trying to find the problem.

I doubt it is your processor. My Processor is at lower speeds, but I did own a Nvidea Geforce 9500GT 1GB graphics card witch tends to overheat and cause programs to be closed even restart the entire computer when the problem starts increasing.

There is nothing wrong with your processor. Your 2.1 GHz  dual core is much faster/better then the required 2.4 GHz Pentium IV processor.

I don't doubt it's the processor at all. My game CTDd on start-up when I tried to run it on Ye Olde Craputer. The specs are for a reason.

She does? Whateva were you doing, Witch?

Choking n00bs?

Search through the forums. Heaps of people get CTD issues, it's not your hardware.

If the processor is below spec, it might VERY WELL be the hardware. Why would it not be?

Spacemouse got it right.  A Core 2 Duo at 2.1GHz is very much within specs.  Minimum system requirements for Late Night on Vista/Windows 7 is a Pentium 4 2.4GHz.

For example, the PassMark benchmark of a Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz is 1270.  Pentium 4 2.4GHz is 315. http://www.cpubenchmark.net/common_cpus.html (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/common_cpus.html)
The C2D at 2.1GHz is significantly faster than minimum requirements.

CPU being below spec is definitely not the problem.

Oh, alright then. APPLY LOGIC, FINE. :P

Exactly, GnatGoSplat. A single core of that processor might be weaker but there are two cores available. The game would only fail if it couldn't spread its process across both cores, but since it's a fairly new game - it can.

I would like to baa a bit about that link. I was unsure about how good my 2GHz quad core actually was but blah blah blah [insert boring drivel about me and my computer that nobody cares about] and it's nice to be able to quickly compare numbers with recommended vs own specs when buying games. :D

Totally stupid question, did you change your DEP settings? I never had any CTDs until Ambitions, and then I went and actually changed the DEP settings. EA is stupid.

I did try the DEP, but I was so frustrated by that time I probably screwed it up.  As it stands right now I have nothing Sims related installed on my computer.  I think I'm going to reinstall (again) and see if I can't get it up and running.  I discovered that EA support was a total joke.  The only recommendation they gave was to uninstall and start over.  They told me that 3 times before finally settling on the processor.  By then I was finished and never wanted to turn my computer on again.

Thanks for all the feedback.

This is very true in the UK. The big chains are useless, they will deliberately lie - to get a sale. Proved on TV watchdog programs.  They do not employ people with computer skills, just anybody who wants a job. Try to return the product  and get a refund because of misleading sales tactics, may result in a long and costly legal battle. They know this and can afford it, they also know the average person can not.

So, go to the small independant shops, they rely on goodwill and repeat business. It is probably the same in other countries.

Sorry, what? The TV told you that all large PC retailers are stupid/evil and you are actually claiming that as evidence? Did you WANT someone to come and point out your stupid?

Furthermore, your picture is inaccurate. The problem with places such as PC World (which will henceforth be the main retailer discussed) is that they are inconsistent - they do tend to hire people who are very good with computers, but simultaneously staff who don't know what a monitor is. This also is subject to local variaton - so I know that my local one at home requires people to demonstrate computer skills as part of the interview, but the one in Oxford will hire anyone (or so they tell me.) If you work with their core departments however (bypassing the poor confused part-time staff), they are quick, not overly expensive, and good at what you want them to do. I have heard them endorsed from senior types in IT companies as well, so this is not just my isolated opinion. The trick is to not go in entirely uninformed - so that you can recognise whether you are being served by someone who knows what they are doing.

The best option, in my opinion is to find an independent computer retailer and have them build something within your budget.  Most larger retail stores tend to sell brand name equipment which may have a good processor but crappy graphics for gaming, or a good graphics and poor CPU performance, usually to keep the costs down, at least in my area.

We have a couple of good independent computer stores who specialise in building systems to your needs, tell them what you want, and you will usually get a better system for your money, and one which is usually more easily upgraded later on, plus better and usually more personalised after sales service as these places depend very much on repeat business and good word of mouth advertising.

The other option, learn how to build systems yourself, they really aren't that hard to do.

Try the DEP and cff explorer routes first before looking at new hardware. In my game, I just need to adjust the cff explorer settings to avoid crashes.

LN and the patches released at the same time no longer require the CFF Explorer setting.  They are already set to be LAA aware.  It took the EA people long enough to figure that one out.

So I should just have to install everything again then patch and all will be well in Simland?  No extra tweaking on my party?  I assume the patches will fix Fast Lane also?  I have yet to purchase Late Night since all the trouble FL caused.

I noticed that when I went to update mine. Does the patch affect just LN, LN and the base game, all? Does she need to go ahead and update the base game and any EPs and stuff packs prior to LN or is the patch patching all? I had already done everything else and so the only thing new for me was that LN was already done when I went into explorer.

If you have LN, then LN will patch the base game only.  You'll need to download and install the patches for your other EPs and SPs separately.
No extra tweaking necessary, though some people recommend the DEP change in Windows.  I left my DEP in the default setting and have never had a DEP-related CTD, so not everyone has to mess with DEP.  I don't know why some people do and some don't.

Thanks, but I must have bigger issues.  I just installed the base game last night and loaded to make sure it all worked...2 seconds it play mode...CRASH!?  I never had that problem before.  It's just so frustrating!  I'm thinking I did something when I was trying to get Fast Lane to work that has messed everything up on my computer.  If only I could remember all that I did.