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Post by blackcat on Mar 9, 2010 4:28:36 GMT -5
I finally got the desktop computer back... two weeks after I gave it back to the repair guy... AND he didn't do the work! I got fed up and told him I wanted it back today, he didn't like me 'ordering' him to do it today and told me to take it back not fixed. So I did. Then I phoned another place to see about getting it done. They said it would take 2-3 hours and quoted me a price, which I didn't actually hear because my brain switched off when he said '2-3 hours'... this other guy had my computer sitting there for 2 weeks for a job that takes 2-3 hours?!?Took it to the other place at 12 noon. I had it back at 4.30pm!! That's the good part. The bad part is, I still can't play Sims2 on it. All the eps and sps install (and THAT took forever!) but its too slow, even with low settings, and the pictures look crappy... so back to the laptop. At least now I'll only be playing the game on the laptop, not having it turned on all day for the other stuff I do on the computer, so that in itself with help reduce the heating problem. But still, bummer Also the laptop has to go into the warranty repair place tomorrow so I'll be without it completely for ... ? Just hope they're a bit more efficient than that other guy! Now that my hood is on the desktop anyway I might use the time to look around online, see if I can improve the graphics performance or something on the desktop, but I doubt I'll be able to make it good enough. Will experiment, anyway.
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Post by raquelaroden on Mar 9, 2010 7:16:35 GMT -5
That's horrible! What a terrible experience. That one repair guy needs to be decked!
I hope you are able to get your computers back to normal soon.
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Post by laura on Mar 9, 2010 8:01:48 GMT -5
Awww, this sucks! And right before you're about to start blogging too! A new graphics card might be all you need to speed up performance. I couldn't play Sims 2 - back in the day - with the card my computer came with. The one I got was pretty mediocre even then, but it was affordable, and it works. And LOL, the one I got ( GeForce FX 5200) is only $25 now! Was like $100 back when I bought it. Maybe try that one out, if it works for your setup, and at least you won't have wasted very much money, lol! ETA: oh, and how are you doing on RAM? I upgraded mine to 1 GB, since that's the most my computer will hold. That's pretty cheap and easy to do as well.
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Post by mdpthatsme on Mar 9, 2010 13:17:01 GMT -5
I sorry for your experiences, but at least you know not to go to that one guy.
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Post by blackcat on Mar 9, 2010 15:26:53 GMT -5
Thanks, Laura... you have got me thinking now Slack Computer Guy put in a new graphics card... the desktop previously had a graphics card that was integrated in the motherboard, I didn't know you could upgrade it until he said you could... looking online now, the hard part is disconnecting the integrated card, he's done that and there's no reason for me not to try to upgrade it further. He said he was putting a 'good' one in it and that it was hard to find one that would work with the older motherboard. Its a GeForce Mx400, which I can see after a bit of research, is not so good by todays standards... it might be that this is all that will work with my motherboard but frankly I don't trust anything this guy said now, and he might just have wanted to unload this old thing on the first sucker who walked in. I compared the relevant specs of the laptop and the desktop: DesktopCPU 2.80Ghz 1GRam (all it will take) Video card memory 64MB LaptopCPU 2.00Ghz 2.86G Ram Video memory 1024MB I think I see the problem... Lol... and interesting that the CPU on the laptop is slightly slower than the desktop... definately a memory problem. Laura, the card you linked to has 256Mb memory, so a big improvement over 64Mb, and it uses a standard PCI slot so that makes it easy, too. My Ram would be the same as yours... out of curiousity, what is your processor speed? I looked online and I can get the card for about NZ$50 here (for comparison, about 2 hours' pay or a half a pair of jeans ) and I can install it myself, so like you say not a big loss if it doesn't work, and I could probably resell it. The bit that stings is that, according to his invoice, Slack Computer Guy charged me $156 for the 64mb graphics card! Like I said, maybe he just spotted a sucker...
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Post by blackcat on Mar 9, 2010 15:33:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the support, guys. Am spending the morning backing up anything worth keeping from the laptop before I take it in to the warranty repair place... they shouldn't have to delete anything to replace the screen but, hell, after this nothing would surprise me
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Post by laura on Mar 9, 2010 17:32:44 GMT -5
That new card should really make a difference for you. And yup, my CPU is the same too, 2.80Ghz. There are some in-game settings that really speed things up too, like setting the UI to not be transparent, reflections off, and small or medium lot view size, and I think I have shadows and graphic effects on medium - then when I skimp on those things, I'm able to turn my Sim detail, and lighting up to high I only turn on reflections, or turn up lot size when I'm about to take a picture.
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Post by blackcat on Mar 9, 2010 17:52:22 GMT -5
Thanks, Laura - you have made me hopeful again now I love the fact that you get these awesome pictures on a computer very similar to mine, and the fact that yours supports that graphics card with similar specs is very promising. Will put all this on hold, though, until the laptop is back - I want to have one working computer around in case something does go wrong with installing the graphics card. I do the same thing with the settings, on the laptop - turn all those things down then turn them up again for pictures. The lot view size, particularly, unless I want to wait 30secs or more to change camera direction... With the desktop as it is now, most of the higher settings are greyed out and I basically have a choice between 'crappy picture and slow' and 'slightly better picture and unbearable' Thanks for the advice, should have talked to you instead of taking it to Slack Computer Guy!
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