@puzzlezaddictThe dxdiag for the new computer is attached. The sticker on the top of the tower says it's a Dell Optiplex 9020 SF; it runs fine as long as I'm not trying to play the game, but of course that was what I wanted it for. When it's running, it makes an endless rapid clacking sound (I think it's the exhaust fan), which I'm sure isn't supposed to be the case. When I first attempted to run the game, I had installed the same two EPs and SPs I'm currently playing with on my other computer. At this time I don't use mods in my game (mostly because I'm not sure my computer will deal well with them), and I hadn't yet installed any CC. After I found that the game crashed instantly, I uninstalled everything but the base game and tried running it like that, with the same result. As to other options ... I'm not sure I have the mechanical aptitude to build my own computer, and I don't have a computer-geek friend, but I'll keep looking around to see what I can find and will certainly vet my next "discovery" with you, thank you so much.
@thesims1depotAt the moment I don't have a credit card (though I'm about to get one, especially now); if I'd had one earlier, I wouldn't have had quite such a strict budget limit. Once I get a card, though, I'll have some more leeway with pricing, since I'll be able to make payments on a purchase price and not have to cough up the whole thing at once. I'll keep a sharp eye on the manufacturer websites; thanks very much for that.
I have another thought. I'm tentatively playing with some of the graphics settings in the game on my current PC. If I play with fewer EPs and SPs installed, does that give me any room to make further adjustments to the settings so I can maximize the draw distance and the mirror/water-reflection settings? Everything else is at the minimum setting and I don't mind leaving them that way, but I did want to play with the draw distance in particular. I adjusted the reflector setting to apply just to mirrors and that seems to work, even though my game likes to freeze up at 11;59 PM every Sim night, then go forward till 12:59 AM, freeze, and make several additional short freezes for the next 15-20 Sim minutes before running more smoothly again. I figured it had to do with installing the second stuff pack. For all that my current PC and the game tend to argue with each other every so often, at least it's willing to run the game, which is more than I can say for the new one. 🙂 Anyway, many thanks to both of you for all your generous help!
