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shiny!
retired moderator
#26 Old 31st Dec 2007 at 1:39 AM
Quote: Originally posted by therawringlioness
Yes, Bethan, that's the computer. :D

And yes, Callistra, but I was mostly wanting to make sure that sims that reversed back to Maxis sims would revert to their original custom sims once they were reinstalled.

-- Lioness


Removing the cc from the downloads folder in and of itself does not cause sims to suddenly revert back to their defaults. Only if you actually play the game without the cc would they look like maxis defaults. Even then, if you were to exit and put the cc back your sims would also go back to using the cc next time you loaded the game. So, taking the cc during the install should not be a problem.

Quote: Originally posted by BethanSims2
Do you know how to get to a place to buy it on the actual website...I can't seem to find it? :umm: But I'm in the UK do you think thats why?

Bethan x

HP manufactures various computers specific to distributors. For example, my friend bought an HP from WalMart that could only be bought at WalMart.. this may be a case of that. This is HP UK: http://welcome.hp.com/country/uk/en/welcome.html

These are the specific dv9600 models (what therawringlioness purchased) available to people in the uk: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/e...1-80632151.html

However, if you go to http://pcspecialist.co.uk you can build a laptop with comparable or even better specs for less money. And, what I really like, is you can choose to have them install XP so you don't have to fuss with Vista.

Here's a price/specs comparison..

HP model 1 costs 999GBP. On PC Specialist I built a very similar laptop with almost idential specs. However the laptop on PC Specialist has a better graphics card, only 250GB instead of 320GB but really still quite huge, and Windows XP instead of Vista hell. All this for for £649.36 ex VAT/£763 inc VAT and Delivery. The PC Specialist laptop is still less expensive than cheapest HP model which costs 799GB and the has much lower specs than the PC Specialist. Also, keep in mind the HP prices don't include the vat and delivery. You're looking at a several hundred pound difference. No small change here.
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Test Subject
#27 Old 31st Dec 2007 at 4:05 AM
I went onto PC Specialist and I filled it in to what I thought it needed. I'm not sure of what I have missed out though?

These are what I have selected...

Display
15.4 INCH WIDESCREEN DISPLAY (1280 X 800) + ANTI-GLARE
Processor (CPU)
INTEL® Celeron® M 540 (1.86GHz) 533MHz FSB/1MB L2 Cache
Memory (RAM)
2GB CORSAIR DDR2 667MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY! (2x1GB)
Operating System
WINDOWS® XP Professional (inc. Genuine CD & License) (£95)
USB Options
4 x USB 2.0 PORTS
Bluetooth & Infrared Options
NONE
Memory - Hard Disk
250GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5400rpm)
CD/DVD Drive
8x DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Graphics Card
128MB (SMA) INTEL GM965 + D-SUB + TV-OUT
Sound Card
Realtek ALC268 2 Channel High Definition Audio + SPIDIF OUT
Modem
INTEGRATED 56KBPS V92 MODEM
Network Facilities
Onboard LAN & WIRELESS 802.11G NETWORK CARD
Floppy Disk Drive
NONE
Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 3 IN 1 MEMORY CARD READER (SD, MMC, MS, MS PRO)
Firewire & Video Editing
1 X 1394a FIREWIRE PORT
TV Card
NONE
Stand-Alone Monitor
NONE
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 87 KEY KEYBOARD + 2 HOTKEYS
Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Speakers
INTEGRATED 1.5W STEREO SPEAKERS
Printer
NONE
Surge Protection
Belkin 4 Socket 2M Surge Protector with £25,000 Protection! (£7)
Webcam & VoIP
NONE
Media Center Kit
NONE
Anti-Virus
NONE
Office Software
Microsoft® Works 9 - Word Processing, Spreadsheets, etc (£6)
Port Replicator
NONE
Laptop Stand
NONE
Battery
6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery - up to 4 Hours Battery Life
Power Lead & Adaptor
1 x UK Power Lead & 65W AC Adaptor
Dimensions & Weight
W x D x H: 355mm x 257mm x 35.2mm | Weight: 2.7KG
Additional Features
1 x Express Card Slot & 1 x Kensington Lock Port
Carry Case
NONE
Warranty
1 Year Return-to-Base incl 1st Month Free Collect & Return

(Sorry if this isn't mean't to be here).
shiny!
retired moderator
#28 Old 31st Dec 2007 at 4:45 AM
You clicked on the wrong one. You gotta click on the second link, or else it only offers integrated graphics. This one: http://pcspecialist.co.uk/index.php...t=intel_laptop2 has the 8600 GT card you want for the price I listed.
Also, you need to change the processor.. Here this is what it should say:

Display
15.4 INCH WIDESCREEN DISPLAY (1440 X 900) + ANTI-GLARE

Processor (CPU)
INTEL® Core 2 Duo T7500 (2 X 2.20GHz) 800MHz FSB/4MB L2 Cache

Memory (RAM)
2GB CORSAIR DDR2 667MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY! (2x1GB)

Operating System
WINDOWS® XP Professional (inc. Genuine CD & License) (£95) (I priced up XP Home because it's a 46GBP price difference between Home and PRO but if you want pro that's totally your choice )

USB Options
4 x USB 2.0 PORTS

Bluetooth & Infrared Options
NONE

Memory - Hard Disk
250GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5400rpm)

CD/DVD Drive
8x DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)

Graphics Card
512MB GEFORCE 8600GT + D-SUB + TV-OUT See this is what is missing from the other laptop which will run TS2 so nicely.

Sound Card
Realtek ALC268 2 Channel High Definition Audio + SPIDIF OUT

Modem
INTEGRATED 56KBPS V92 MODEM

Network Facilities
Onboard LAN & WIRELESS 802.11G NETWORK CARD

Floppy Disk Drive
NONE

Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 3 IN 1 MEMORY CARD READER (SD, MMC, MS, MS PRO)

Firewire & Video Editing
1 X 1394a FIREWIRE PORT

TV Card
NONE

Stand-Alone Monitor
NONE

Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 87 KEY KEYBOARD + 2 HOTKEYS

Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE

Speakers
INTEGRATED 1.5W STEREO SPEAKERS

Printer
NONE

Surge Protection
NONE

Webcam & VoIP
INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM

Media Center Kit
NONE

Anti-Virus
NONE

Office Software
NONE

Port Replicator
NONE

Laptop Stand
NONE

Battery
9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery - Up to 6 Hours Battery Life

Power Lead & Adaptor
1 x UK Power Lead & 90W AC Adaptor

Dimensions & Weight
W x D x H: 355mm x 257mm x 35.2mm | Weight: 2.7KG

Additional Features
Biometric Fingertip Reader & 1 x Express Card Slot

Carry Case
NONE

Warranty
1 Year Return-to-Base incl 1st Month Free Collect & Return

Delivery
Standard Insured Delivery to UK Mainland (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm)

Quantity
1
Test Subject
#29 Old 31st Dec 2007 at 4:15 PM
Thanks callistra, I have done that now and it comes to £688.51 ex VAT, £809 inc VAT and Delivery. So it's quite pricey but I could save up that amount if I wanted to I *think*. Would you reccomend this model over the ones that you linked here?? Some of them are are quite a bit cheaper, but they don't come woth XP, thats my main concern.

Bethan xx
shiny!
retired moderator
#30 Old 31st Dec 2007 at 4:27 PM
Well the thing is since you're in the UK you can't buy from Newegg. For you and others living in the UK, those laptops can be purchased here:

http://www.cclonline.com/product-in...tid=g2sc-7r024c
http://www.cclonline.com/product-in...&tid=g1s-ak005c

But they're more expensive than PC Specialist again.. That same site has some some lower spec laptops which run more in the 700GBP+ range, but at that end you can drop some of the specs on at PC Specialist and end up on top again.. I think the PC Specialist site offers really competitive prices for the specs you're getting. Unfortunately, it is more expensive to buy laptops in the UK. It seems that many companies do not take into account exchange rate.. so a $1000 USD laptop here is pretty much 1000GBP there..it’s something I ran into when trying to help a friend find a laptop a few months ago.

If you need to chop some money off the laptop you could consider bringing the ram down to 1GB which should be just fine with an XP operating system. You could also opt for XP Home. 1gb plus Home brings the price to. £639.15 ex VAT./£751 inc VAT and Delivery. I don’t know how much HDD space you use. I know I’d personally never touch 250GB but you may.. but if you think you could stand a smaller hard drive you could choose a 120GB and bring the price to £602.55 ex VAT./£708 inc VAT and Delivery. Maybe someone else knows more about laptops in the UK but I have not found another company which comes even close to PC Specialist as far as offering that kind of specs at that price. Except *maybe* Acer.. which is evil :D
Test Subject
#31 Old 31st Dec 2007 at 4:55 PM
Thanks callistra, it's a shame they don't do UK sellers...I think that would benifit them a lot...but anywho if I did lower tha RAM to 1GB could I add a gig of ram or 2 then, or would there be no point? As for the XP Pro or Home does it make that much difference? Also I don't know how much HDD space I'd use, not much I'd imagine as I would only have TS2, Uni, Nightlife, Pets, Season, H&M Stuff and Christmas Party Pack and most likely Bon Voyage and Free Time, when I can get them though...also I might be putting on Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop. Thats what I had on my old laptop anyway, I think I may have had Petz on there aswell, but I won't be putting that back on anyway...

Sorry for rambling...I ramble way too much. :frying: <-- feel free to do this at any time...

Bethan xx
shiny!
retired moderator
#32 Old 31st Dec 2007 at 5:14 PM
TS2 rarely uses even a gig of ram. If you had a laptop with Vista I'd say it was very important to make sure you have 2GB but otherwise, little point for what you say you want to use it for. I use a little over a gig when I play TS2 but I have an embarrassingly insane amount of custom content to a level at which I've never seen anyone else admit to LOL The only thing about that laptop is it seems the 1gb isn't split to 512x2 which.. is nice in one way because it gives you the option to expand without having to remove any memory but doesn't make much sense to me because it's not bothering to take advantage of the dual channel technology.. You really need two identical chips in that thing, which is why I originally suggested the 2GB. That and it’s only about 18GBP difference to add a second 1GB stick.

The only way you'd use up 250GB is if you had a tendency to store a lot of large files like movies and such on your computer. If all you're going to do is play TS2 with some photoshopping then 120GB should serve you fine. I have 160GB on mine and I don't come anywhere near filling it up.

LMAO feel free to talk it all out loud :D

eta: XP Home vs. Pro.. Pro has a bunch of extra controls. Like file encrypting and stuff like that.. some extra networking options..more business oriented. http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article10-002 I originally bought XP Pro with my computer but I'm currently running home (long story) and I don't miss it.
Test Subject
#33 Old 31st Dec 2007 at 7:36 PM
Thanks for that callistra, I think I'll go with XP Home then, if I do decide to get this laptop because thats what I have used mostly before. I will be getting some CC but keeping it to a minimum if I can, I don't think I could survive without CC now, lol.

This is what I put the settings to:

Display 15.4 INCH WIDESCREEN DISPLAY (1440 X 900) + ANTI-GLARE
Processor (CPU) INTEL® Core 2 Duo T7500 (2 X 2.20GHz) 800MHz FSB/4MB L2 Cache
Memory (RAM) 2GB CORSAIR DDR2 667MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY! (2x1GB)
Operating System WINDOWS® XP Home (inc. Genuine CD & License) (£59)
USB Options 4 x USB 2.0 PORTS
Bluetooth & Infrared Options NONE
Memory - Hard Disk 120GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5400rpm)
CD/DVD Drive 8x DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Graphics Card 512MB GEFORCE 8600GT + D-SUB + TV-OUT
Sound Card Realtek ALC268 2 Channel High Definition Audio + SPIDIF OUT
Modem INTEGRATED 56KBPS V92 MODEM
Network Facilities Onboard LAN & WIRELESS 802.11G NETWORK CARD
Floppy Disk Drive NONE
Memory Card Reader INTERNAL 3 IN 1 MEMORY CARD READER (SD, MMC, MS, MS PRO)
Firewire & Video Editing 1 X 1394a FIREWIRE PORT
TV Card NONE
Stand-Alone Monitor NONE
Keyboard & Mouse INTEGRATED 87 KEY KEYBOARD + 2 HOTKEYS
Mouse INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Speakers INTEGRATED 1.5W STEREO SPEAKERS
Printer NONE
Surge Protection NONE
Webcam & VoIP INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Media Center Kit NONE
Anti-Virus NONE
Office Software NONE
Port Replicator NONE
Laptop Stand NONE
Battery 9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery - Up to 6 Hours Battery Life
Power Lead & Adaptor 1 x UK Power Lead & 90W AC Adaptor
Dimensions & Weight W x D x H: 355mm x 257mm x 35.2mm | Weight: 2.7KG
Additional Features Biometric Fingertip Reader & 1 x Express Card Slot
Carry Case NONE
Warranty 1 Year Return-to-Base incl 1st Month Free Collect & Return
Delivery Standard Insured Delivery to UK Mainland (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm)
Quantity 1

Thanks for all the help callistra, I would have been really struggling without your help, and everyone elses as well! I would have probably bought a really crappy laptop by now, lol.

EDIT: I think I might ask around here to see if anyone with the 512MB GEFORCE 8600GT, I really want to see a picture of the graphics in TS2...

Bethan x
shiny!
retired moderator
#34 Old 31st Dec 2007 at 9:15 PM
You're very welcome! I'm glad I could help

The 8000 series from Nvidia are their top of the line cards. Guarantee no disappointment. I'm sure there's gotta be someone crawling around with a card to show off though..

eta: the user Scout says they have a 8600 GT card in their computer. Here as some images they've posted around the site:
http://forums.sims2community.com/sh...0&postcount=114
http://forums.sims2community.com/sh...36&postcount=53
http://forums.sims2community.com/sh...0&postcount=258
http://forums.sims2community.com/sh...0&postcount=355
Test Subject
#35 Old 31st Dec 2007 at 10:24 PM
Wow, her pictures are beautiful, there really nice and sharp. Thanks for those callistra! :D

Bethan x
Field Researcher
#36 Old 1st Jan 2008 at 7:18 PM
Only the first of those pics is from the 8600. The others are off of my old system which has Radeon x 1600 with 512 MB (at least that is what PCWiz says it has as I can't remember). I posted in your other thread asking about the card some links to pics I know are from the new system.
Original Poster
#37 Old 2nd Jan 2008 at 5:10 AM
Sorry to kick a dead horse, but this is still the only place that I can imagine to ask this. Gah. :einstein

Quote: Originally posted by callistra
Removing the cc from the downloads folder in and of itself does not cause sims to suddenly revert back to their defaults. Only if you actually play the game without the cc would they look like maxis defaults. Even then, if you were to exit and put the cc back your sims would also go back to using the cc next time you loaded the game. So, taking the cc during the install should not be a problem.


Does this apply to any furniture in the house as well (when playing a test run without CC to check that a new EP is working then putting the CC straight back in)? *crosses fingers and hopes that it does*
shiny!
retired moderator
#38 Old 2nd Jan 2008 at 5:46 AM
Yep that's fine.. people pull custom content in and out all the time when trying to determine a source of bad cc. I know I've spent many a day doing it :D
Original Poster
#39 Old 2nd Jan 2008 at 3:48 PM
Thanks! :D
Test Subject
#40 Old 7th Jan 2008 at 3:39 PM
Really sorry to drag this one up again but the laptop that I'm going to buy only has intergrated graphics Do you think this would be a problem?

Bethan x
shiny!
retired moderator
#41 Old 7th Jan 2008 at 9:49 PM
Yes it would be a problem. I would HIGHLY advise against that. The one I linked you to before had the 8600 GT.. what happened to that one?
Test Subject
#42 Old 8th Jan 2008 at 3:58 PM
That's the one I think, I couldn't find anywhere where it said dedeicated graphics so I emailed them and they said that they had intergrated? I think the one you listed before is the one I'm looking at

This is the email they sent me:
Hello Bethan,

The Graphics Card used in Laptops at the moment is the Intergraed Graphics.

If we can assist you any further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Many Thanks

Sales Supp Team


Bethan x
shiny!
retired moderator
#43 Old 8th Jan 2008 at 6:07 PM
This one: http://pcspecialist.co.uk/index.php...t=intel_laptop2 has a 8600 GT in it. The other one you were looking at had the integrated graphics.. Just look up to my post #28 where we were talking before and I had a link to this laptop and how I reccomended configuring it..
Test Subject
#44 Old 8th Jan 2008 at 6:49 PM
Thanks callistra, how did you find out if this one had dedicated graphics though? These are the specs I put in, I did all of the things on that list, exept I changed the 250GB Hard Drive to 160GB...

Display
15.4 INCH WIDESCREEN DISPLAY (1440 X 900) + ANTI-GLARE
Processor (CPU)
INTEL® Core 2 Duo T7500 (2 X 2.20GHz) 800MHz FSB/4MB L2 Cache
Memory (RAM)
2GB CORSAIR DDR2 667MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY! (2x1GB)
Operating System
WINDOWS® XP Home (inc. Genuine CD & License) (£59)
USB Options
4 x USB 2.0 PORTS
Bluetooth & Infrared Options
NONE
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
160GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5400rpm)
1st CD/DVD Drive
8x DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Graphics Card
512MB GEFORCE 8600GT + D-SUB + TV-OUT
Sound Card
Realtek ALC268 2 Channel High Definition Audio + SPIDIF OUT
Modem
INTEGRATED 56KBPS V92 MODEM
Network Facilities
Onboard LAN & WIRELESS 802.11G NETWORK CARD
Floppy Disk Drive
NONE
Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 3 IN 1 MEMORY CARD READER (SD, MMC, MS, MS PRO)
Firewire & Video Editing
1 X 1394a FIREWIRE PORT
TV Card
NONE
Monitor
NONE
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 87 KEY KEYBOARD + 2 HOTKEYS
Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Speakers
INTEGRATED 1.5W STEREO SPEAKERS
Printer
NONE
Surge Protection
NONE
Webcam & VoIP
INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Media Center Kit
NONE
Anti-Virus
NONE
Office Software
NONE
Port Replicator
NONE
Laptop Stand
NONE
Battery
9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery - Up to 6 Hours Battery Life
Power Lead & Adaptor
1 x UK Power Lead & 90W AC Adaptor
Dimensions & Weight
W x D x H: 355mm x 257mm x 35.2mm | Weight: 2.7KG
Additional Features
Biometric Fingertip Reader & 1 x Express Card Slot
Carry Case
NONE
Warranty
1 Year Return-to-Base incl 1st Month Free Collect & Return
Delivery
Standard Insured Delivery to UK Mainland (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm)
Quantity
1
New Total Price
£734

The whole price only comes to £1 more than it did with the other quote I had before? lol Strange...

Bethan x
shiny!
retired moderator
#45 Old 9th Jan 2008 at 3:42 AM
Because it says it has dedicated graphics..

Quote:
Graphics Card
512MB GEFORCE 8600GT + D-SUB + TV-OUT


Dunno about the pound difference.. lol.
Test Subject
#46 Old 9th Jan 2008 at 2:08 PM
Oh, lol sorry I'm dumb when it comes with computers...hehe.

EDIT: I have both quotes saved still, the one I did yeasterday and the one I did before and the both say Graphics Card 512MB GEFORCE 8600GT + D-SUB + TV-OUT...? This is really confusing.


Bethan x
shiny!
retired moderator
#47 Old 9th Jan 2008 at 9:40 PM
8600 GT is dedicated graphics. If the computer says this then it has dedicated graphics. If the customer service people told you that the 8600 GT is not dedicated graphics then.. they're just wrong. :\ Or maybe they were confused about which laptop you were refering to. Because they do offer a laptop with integrated graphics.
Test Subject
#48 Old 9th Jan 2008 at 9:56 PM
Lol, I hope he is wrong, although I did give him the reference number to the saved quote? Silly people...The one that I asked about wasn't the one you linked for me but I thought it was but then I found out it wasn't the right one, hehe. (I hope that makes sense?)

Bethan x
shiny!
retired moderator
#49 Old 9th Jan 2008 at 10:43 PM
Yeah.. just as long as you use the one I linked to and config the way you said, you should be good
Test Subject
#50 Old 10th Jan 2008 at 5:34 PM
Thanks I'll definately make sure I do get the right one this time, lol.

Bethan x
 
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