Buying a Desktop or Laptop for The Sims 3

[simmer34]

Hello =)

I wonder if anyone can help me. Thinking of buying this computer and wonder if it would be suitable to run the sims base and a few extensions.

Intel Pentium D 2.8Ghz
8GB - Memory
ITB - Hard drive
PCI-E Nvidia Geforce GT610 1GB DDR3 Dedicated Graphics Card

Thank you!

Jo

[Axiom]

I would definitely get a better GPU based on what I found here: http://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_System_Requirements

I have a 630m in my laptop and it runs Sims 3 just fine. But that GPU is questionable at best for Sims 3.

[simmer34]

Okay I have changed my mind and think I am going to get a laptop now. Could you please look at these two laptops and see if they would be suitable?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-pavilion-15-n027sa-15-6-touchscreen-laptop-10002086-pdt.html


http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-v5-561g-15-6-laptop-iron-grey-22070768-pdt.html

Thank you again

[KhaineGB]

The second one will be a lot better for The Sims 3.

Core i7's are nice CPU's and that can turbo boost to a good speed. The graphics card is also a LOT better than the one in the first laptop.

[simmer34]

Changed my mind again! I am buying this laptop tomorrow,  do you think it will play the sims well?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/lenovo-g710-17-3-laptop-22071104-pdt.html

Thank you!

[KhaineGB]

You should be fine with that.

What's annoying is, if you put the processor from the 3rd laptop into the second laptop, that'd be a nice little machine.

[simmer34]

Yeah annoying! Thanks I bought it yesterday so it shall hopefully be okay when it comes

[Axiom]

I thought I would give you guys this website if you're going to build your own computer:
http://pcpartpicker.com/

For example, this: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bgnkjX

I am considering it right now, but I lack the know how.

For sheer fun I decided to see what a computer made with an unlimited budget would look like and how expensive it would be:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/F4kkjX - I'm surprised... That's about as much as a new car right there.

[MerryGold]

Hi, this is my first post although I've often read the forums for much needed info.

I'm needing a new deskstop and would like to play Sims 3 plus a few expansions, is it possible for you to name a few models that you like? I've been looking at alienware, but I am just about computer illiterate so any guidance would be much appreciated. I noted all your suggestions on processors, graphics card, and system RAM but when I start looking at the actual models I get totally confused. I can afford a fairly pricey pc mainly because I hold onto them for years until finally forced to upgrade.

Thanks for any help you can offer and for your great forum in general.

[Axiom]

Alienware is expensive. You can get the same amount of power for roughly 1/3 off the price elsewhere.

I would recommend going through iBuyPower or CyberpowerPC [DIRECTLY] if you're not willing to build your own. They offer some good base models [And they're highly customizable], and I think both brands offer a standard 3 year warranty.

http://www.ibuypower.com/
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/

[MerryGold]

Yes, alienware is very expensive. I don't really have the time to try and build a pc but I will definitely check those places out. Thanks for your help!

[KhaineGB]

I always steer people away from Alienware and Dell. You're paying for the name more than the parts.

If you're in the USA, I'd go with Axiom's suggestions. Otherwise I would recommend www.scan.co.uk and www.pcspecialist.co.uk if you're UK based.

If you find anything you like, feel free to link it and we can advise.

[LivvieLove]

I always steer people away from Alienware and Dell. You're paying for the name more than the parts.

If you're in the USA, I'd go with Axiom's suggestions. Otherwise I would recommend www.scan.co.uk and www.pcspecialist.co.uk if you're UK based.

If you find anything you like, feel free to link it and we can advise.

I used to advise against Alienware, but I'm finding more or less now that their laptops can't be beat by any other brand - they put more memory and graphics into it and you just can't find that from many other companies. If someone is hesitant to not get a name they don't recognize, I would recommend Alienware to them. It's just hard to find the kind of power they put in those laptops anywhere else. I wouldn't recommend a desktop from them, but if someone was insistent that they have a *laptop* to play games on, I would say that's a good exception to the no alienware rule (I usually just say don't do it unless you know what you're getting into).

[mdemeijer]

Hi! so I've been having troubles playing The Sims 3 on my laptop, than again, my laptop is just crappy. I was looking for a new laptop that will run the game really well and hopefully cooperate with The Sims 4 coming out soon. I know absolutely nothing about gaming laptops or graphics cards and I was hoping to get some insight into this laptop. It's within my budget, has great performance reviews, and will also suit my school needs. but before I buy it, I need to know 100% that it will play The Sims 3 and hopefully The Sims 4.
If you could take a look it would really help me out
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-15-6-ideapad-notebook-4-gb-memory-500-gb-hard-drive/1310977792.p?id=mp1310977792&skuId=1310977792&st=categoryid$pcmcat247400050000&cp=1&lp=1#tab=buyingOptions

There is also this laptop which is supposed to be the "newer and better" version of the above, but it has an Intel built in graphics that i've heard isn't' the greatest
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-IdeaPad-15-6-Inch-Laptop-Metal/dp/B00ATANY3Q/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
Let me know which is better because both have great reviews and performance for my other requirements.
Thanks!

[LivvieLove]

The second one is a no-go for that, Intel integrated graphics won't do for the Sims 3. The Sims 4 possibly, but they simply refuse to tell people the required specs so we're in the dark about that. Since it's supposedly "easier to run" than the Sims 3, I would aim to play the Sims 3 and hope that they meant what they said about the Sims 4.

Meanwhile, the first laptop doesn't give enough information about the type of card they have inside of it. It only says NVidia, which is a good brand, but just putting down NVidia is like telling someone you want Campbell's when asked what kind of soup you want. There's a million different types of soups Campbell's makes... and Nvidia is like that with graphics cards. So it could be anywhere on the spectrum from "barely able to run the Sims" to "top of the line, perfect for the Sims."
The other thing that concerns me about the first laptop is the processor speed seems a little low to me, also it only has 4 gigs of ram, which will kill your gameplay in the long run, (you want about 8 gigs).

The second laptop is still lacking in ram, the graphics card is a big no (you'll struggle to get Sims up with an integrated card, I really can't recommend it, I've tried for so long to do so on an old laptop), not to mention the processor is a little better than the first one, but still seems to be weaker. I wouldn't use Lenovo personally (I got my Lenovo from Best Buy, and now it's just a piece of scrap metal, even though it's still fairly new), it barely even turns on, it's a piece of junk.

Overall, I must recommend you avoid Best Buy for this situation.
Neither of those laptops could get my 100% seal of approval for Sims, so I would keep searching.