Official specs from Steam
The Sims 3 system requirements
Minimum and recommended PC specs as listed by the developer on Steam.
Minimum
| OS * | Windows XP (Service Pack 2) or Windows Vista (Service Pack 1) |
|---|---|
| Processor | (XP) 2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent; (Vista) 2.4 GHz P4 processor or equivalent |
| Memory | (XP) 1 GB; (Vista) 1.5 GB |
| Graphics | 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 |
| DirectX® | |
| Hard Drive | At least 6.5 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content |
| Sound | |
| Built-in Graphics | Intel Integrated Chipset, GMA X3000 or above. |
| Note | 2.6 GHz Pentium D CPU, or 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, or equivalent |
| Note | 0.5 GB additional RAM |
| Supported Video Cards | Nvidia GeForce series: FX5900 or greater, G100, GT 120, GT 130, GTS 150, GTS 250, GTX 260, GTX 275, GTX 280, GTX 285, GTX 295; ATI Radeon™ series: ATI Radeon 9500 series of greater, X300, X600, X700, X800, X850, X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950, 2400, 2600, 2900, 3450, 3650, 3850, 3870, 4850, 4870 series or greater; Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA): GMA 3-Series, GMA 4-Series |
| Note | *Please note that the GeForce 6100 and 7100 cards are not supported |
FAQ
What graphics card do I need for The Sims 3?
Minimum: 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0.
How much RAM does The Sims 3 need?
The Sims 3 needs (XP) 1 GB; (Vista) 1.5 GB at minimum.
How big is The Sims 3?
The Sims 3 requires At least 6.5 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content.
Does The Sims 3 run on Mac or Steam Deck/Linux?
There is no native macOS version. There is no native Linux build (Proton compatibility may vary).