just to run sims2

[KBTuning]

if i could i would drop a GF4 Ti in the box im building but i cant get that on newegg anymore...

what would run the sims 2 good w/ a 2500+sempron and 512mb ram

 

[Sc4freak]

6600GT.

 

[KBTuning]

thats WAY more than enough.... this is a hardcore budget system...

my sister is running my old GF4 Ti4200 and i runs amazing

im looking at FX5200, FX5500, Radeon9550, 9600

 

[hughest]

I would sell you my TI4400 for cheap, but I promised a friend I would give her the whole system. Sims 2 did run pretty well on it now that I recall.

 

[piesang]

I used to run it on a Geforce2mx, it was not very fast but playable, so the cheapest you can find on Newegg should be fine.

 

[imhungry]

If you just want 'an old ti4200' then I got one that can OC past Ti4800+ specs you can buy.

I'd think an FX5200 should be enough. FX5200s OC decently too.

 

[akshayt]

6800gs/gt

or atleast 6600gt or 9800pro

 

[Steelski]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...&N=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=0&Go.y=0 the ones with 128bit memory interface only!!!!!!
you have not said if its to be PCIe or AGP,
I am assuming AGP as you talk about the TI4200
http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-Radeon-9800-Pro...35QQcategoryZ40158QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/NVidia-Ti4600-128MB...1QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/ASUS-GEFORCE-4-Ti42...9QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/RADEON-9500-DDR-128...8QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Any of those would take care of your needs and give you some nice functionality.

 

[selfbuilt]

Here's a review of different AGP cards in Sims 2:

Tom's AGP Sims 2 review

As you'll see, anything above Nvidia 5700 or ATI 9600 is fine for standard play (I wouldn't want to go much lower personally).

However, if you want to enable smooth edges, you'll definitely want to stick with at least a 6600GT (or ATI x800 series).

Edit:
Here's a review showing the effects of various graphic settings on performance. Mind you, it's using a 7800GT, but you'll get the idea:
Sims 2 hardware perf guide

 

[KBTuning]

what is a 9550? and the guy that wants this system wouldnt be able to tell the differnce between high and low detail... hes not a gamer nut... if it wasnt for sims2 then it would stay onboard video because all he wants to do is play videos from my website and stuff like that....