Graphics Issues! :[

[tea_leaf]

Ever since I got a new computer I have had a lot of problems with the graphics in my game. For example, sims' faces or bodies will spontaneously go black, random textures will cover the ground (or somtimes objects), building will be dark in the neighborhood view, screenshots will have a weird square stuck right in the middle, and much more. My computer is has the 64-bit version of Windows 7. Since my old computer wasn't 64-bit I was thinking that this might be the problem, but I'm not sure. Does anyone have any ideas as to what's wrong (or if I can fix it)? I've had this computer for over a year and I haven't been able to solve this. I'm tired of my graphics being wonky. :(

Comments

[zerographic]

What graphic card do you have? Have you updated your graphics drivers?

[tea_leaf]

My computer has the "Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family," and when I click update it says that it's already up to date.

[zerographic]

Are you on a laptop or desktop? That sounds like on-board card. Those are very basic and are less than optimal for something like the sims.

If you're on a desktop you need an nVidia, AMD, ATI. Something like that. If you're on a laptop you're stuck with what ya got unless it's one of the high end with an actual separate card.

[tea_leaf]

Thanks for the info. I am on a laptop...and I'm pretty sure the card isn't separate.

[drewsims]

Nothing really helpful from me, I'm afraid, but the same exact thing happens to me all the time. I play on a laptop with a graphics card that is... less than great, that is always what I assumed the problem was =/

[tea_leaf]

Yeah I don't think my graphics card is a good one, so that could be it. My older computer had an even worse card, though, so it seems strange that nothing like this ever happened on that one.

[mrskilgoretrout]

I will second this: I also play on a laptop with the standard video card, and this happens not too often, but still regularly. Especially the issue where random textures will replace the terrain textures. I figured it was either the card or Windows 7.

It usually rights itself within 10-20 seconds, though, so I just sort of deal with it.

[tea_leaf]

Yeah it usually doesn't last very long for me either. Every once in a while it will get stuck for quite some time, but that doesn't happen often.