Notice to the 2015 iMac users
If you have a late 2015 iMac, you may have issues with The Sims 3. All 21.5" iMacs have Intel integrated graphics: the 1.6 GHz model has Intel HD 6000 while the 2.8GHz and 3.1 GHz models have Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200, these Graphics are said to be incompatible with The Sims 3.
All 27" models have AMD graphics ranging from AMD Radeon R9 M380 to AMD Radeon R9 M395X and I believe (although not tested) they may not work with The Sims 3.
If you have an iMac with these graphics, please post in this thread and confirm if The Sims 3 works.
The Late 2013 and Mid 2014 iMacs aren't affected unless the iMac has a 2.7 Ghz Intel Core i5.
Original text
This thread is to help you find out which Macs have Intel Iris or Intel Iris Pro Graphics. This information was taken from Apple, About integrated video on Intel-based Macs.
Since Mac users are probably still playing TS3, this guide helps you find out which Macs have Intel Iris in case if you own or are going to purchase a new Mac. The Sims 3 is the only The Sims game on the Mac that hasn't been patched to support the Intel Iris or Intel Iris Pro Graphics whereas The Sims 2 Super Collection and The Sims 4 have been updated to support the Intel Iris Graphics. Below the Useful Links are the list of Macs that have Intel Iris or Intel Iris Pro Graphics as of June 21, 2015.
What I've learned from @BluebellFlora is that The Sims 3 has problems on Macs with Intel Iris which newer Macs have. This is easy to avoid for the iMac since only the 2.7 GHz model has Intel Iris Pro Graphics. However, most MacBook Pros (especially the 13" models) only have Intel Iris or Intel Iris Pro Graphics which is almost unavoidable unless you have the 2.5 GHz 15" Retina model (the most expensive model) which has a discrete GPU. The entry level 15" rMBP has only Intel Iris Pro Graphics.
While The Sims 3 may work in Macs with newer graphics, you'll most likely get a Unrecognized Video Card since the newer cards haven't been included in the GraphicsCard.sgr and GraphicsRules.sgr files.
To find your Mac model and video card on OS X, click on the Apple Menu and then click About this Mac. Your Mac's model and hardware specs will be listed. If your Mac model isn't included on this list, you are not affected. Another thing to check is the Graphics, if OS X says your Graphics is Intel Iris, Intel Iris Pro, Intel HD Graphics 5000, Intel HD Graphics 6000, or AMD Radeon R9 M370X, you will have problems with TS3.
In case if you're running Windows through Boot Camp, I'll include the instructions to find your video card on Windows. On Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, you can right click your desktop and click Screen Resolution, click on Advanced settings and you should see a dialog appear. If you're on Windows 10, right-click the desktop, click Display settings, click on Advanced display settings, and click Display adapter properties to open the dialog. The Adapter tab lists your video card.
For the Late 2013 and Mid 2014 iMac: Your iMac is only affected by the problem if your processor speed is 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 and the Mac is listed by OS X as iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) or iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014). Other iMac models made in 2013 and 2014 do not include Intel Iris/Iris Pro Graphics so they are unaffected.
Useful Links
Graphics known to have problems with The Sims 3
Intel Iris
Intel Iris Pro
Intel HD Graphics 5000 @katier1996
Intel HD Graphics 6000
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
iMac, affected models:
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014)
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015)
MacBook Pro, affected models:
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
MacBook Air, affected models:
MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)
MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)
Mac mini, affected model:
Mac mini (Late 2014) with 2.6GHz, 2.8GHz, or 3.0GHz processor
Other affected Macs w/o Intel Iris/Iris Pro: (Macs that also don't work with TS3)
2.5 GHz 15" MacBook Pro with AMD Radeon R9 M370X (thread mentioned by @BluebellFlora)
11" or 13" Early 2015 MacBook Air with Intel HD Graphics 6000 (according to @BluebellFlora)
If you have a late 2015 iMac, you may have issues with The Sims 3. All 21.5" iMacs have Intel integrated graphics: the 1.6 GHz model has Intel HD 6000 while the 2.8GHz and 3.1 GHz models have Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200, these Graphics are said to be incompatible with The Sims 3.
All 27" models have AMD graphics ranging from AMD Radeon R9 M380 to AMD Radeon R9 M395X and I believe (although not tested) they may not work with The Sims 3.
If you have an iMac with these graphics, please post in this thread and confirm if The Sims 3 works.
The Late 2013 and Mid 2014 iMacs aren't affected unless the iMac has a 2.7 Ghz Intel Core i5.
Original text
This thread is to help you find out which Macs have Intel Iris or Intel Iris Pro Graphics. This information was taken from Apple, About integrated video on Intel-based Macs.
Since Mac users are probably still playing TS3, this guide helps you find out which Macs have Intel Iris in case if you own or are going to purchase a new Mac. The Sims 3 is the only The Sims game on the Mac that hasn't been patched to support the Intel Iris or Intel Iris Pro Graphics whereas The Sims 2 Super Collection and The Sims 4 have been updated to support the Intel Iris Graphics. Below the Useful Links are the list of Macs that have Intel Iris or Intel Iris Pro Graphics as of June 21, 2015.
What I've learned from @BluebellFlora is that The Sims 3 has problems on Macs with Intel Iris which newer Macs have. This is easy to avoid for the iMac since only the 2.7 GHz model has Intel Iris Pro Graphics. However, most MacBook Pros (especially the 13" models) only have Intel Iris or Intel Iris Pro Graphics which is almost unavoidable unless you have the 2.5 GHz 15" Retina model (the most expensive model) which has a discrete GPU. The entry level 15" rMBP has only Intel Iris Pro Graphics.
While The Sims 3 may work in Macs with newer graphics, you'll most likely get a Unrecognized Video Card since the newer cards haven't been included in the GraphicsCard.sgr and GraphicsRules.sgr files.
To find your Mac model and video card on OS X, click on the Apple Menu and then click About this Mac. Your Mac's model and hardware specs will be listed. If your Mac model isn't included on this list, you are not affected. Another thing to check is the Graphics, if OS X says your Graphics is Intel Iris, Intel Iris Pro, Intel HD Graphics 5000, Intel HD Graphics 6000, or AMD Radeon R9 M370X, you will have problems with TS3.
In case if you're running Windows through Boot Camp, I'll include the instructions to find your video card on Windows. On Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, you can right click your desktop and click Screen Resolution, click on Advanced settings and you should see a dialog appear. If you're on Windows 10, right-click the desktop, click Display settings, click on Advanced display settings, and click Display adapter properties to open the dialog. The Adapter tab lists your video card.
For the Late 2013 and Mid 2014 iMac: Your iMac is only affected by the problem if your processor speed is 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 and the Mac is listed by OS X as iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) or iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014). Other iMac models made in 2013 and 2014 do not include Intel Iris/Iris Pro Graphics so they are unaffected.
Useful Links
- Intel Iris Pro graphics cards - please post here if you have a Macbook with Intel Iris Pro card
- Intel Iris workaround from @tmethei
Graphics known to have problems with The Sims 3
Intel Iris
Intel Iris Pro
Intel HD Graphics 5000 @katier1996
Intel HD Graphics 6000
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
iMac, affected models:
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014)
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015)
MacBook Pro, affected models:
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
MacBook Air, affected models:
MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)
MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)
Mac mini, affected model:
Mac mini (Late 2014) with 2.6GHz, 2.8GHz, or 3.0GHz processor
Other affected Macs w/o Intel Iris/Iris Pro: (Macs that also don't work with TS3)
2.5 GHz 15" MacBook Pro with AMD Radeon R9 M370X (thread mentioned by @BluebellFlora)
11" or 13" Early 2015 MacBook Air with Intel HD Graphics 6000 (according to @BluebellFlora)