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 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.
Useful Links
Graphics known to have problems with The Sims 3
Intel Iris
Intel Iris Pro
Intel HD Graphics 5300
Intel HD Graphics 6000
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
Macs that have issues with The Sims 3
Blue indicates Macs that are confirmed to not work with The Sims 3.
iMac, affected models:
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013), 2.7 GHz model only
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014), 2.7 GHz model only
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015), all models
iMac (Retina 27-inch, Late 2015)? Possible since Radeon M300 has issues with TS3
iMac (21.5-inch, 2017)
iMac (Retina 21.5-inch, 2017)
iMac (Retina 27-inch, 2017)
iMac Pro, affected models:
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 Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
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)
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 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.
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 5300
Intel HD Graphics 6000
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
Macs that have issues with The Sims 3
Blue indicates Macs that are confirmed to not work with The Sims 3.
iMac, affected models:
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013), 2.7 GHz model only
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014), 2.7 GHz model only
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015), all models
iMac (Retina 27-inch, Late 2015)? Possible since Radeon M300 has issues with TS3
iMac (21.5-inch, 2017)
iMac (Retina 21.5-inch, 2017)
iMac (Retina 27-inch, 2017)
iMac Pro, affected models:
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 Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
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)