Buying a Desktop or Laptop for The Sims 3

[KhaineGB]

The AMD CPU will certainly do the job.

I just got The Sims 4 CAS demo! Time to abuse my laptop. Will report back on performance.

[Twinmum]

I know one of the gurus said the recommended specs for 4 would be coming before the game releases. Crossing my fingers it's before Massachusett's state tax holiday weekend. Providing the recommended specs aren't way out of whack with what I assume they are, I am 90% sure of the 700 dollar one.

  You guys are the best, though. Seriously. Thank you tons.

Have you seen the post we have for the specs for Sims 4? You can find it here.

[KhaineGB]

That's only the minimum requirements. She's after the recommended requirements Which is usually a guideline of what hardware you need to run the game in High detail.

Okay... quick test performed. Specs as follows.

CPU: Core i5-2430 (2.4ghz, Dual Core)
GFX: AMD Radeon 6650M 2GB version
RAM: 6GB DDR3
HDD: Samsung 1TB 5400rpm drive.

Again, this is only the CAS demo... but it loaded fast, and auto-detected EVERYTHING at high detail. Resolution is 1600x900, because that's the max my laptop can run.

Aaaaand it's lovely and smooth! Span my sim around as fast as possible as that's always a good way to cause lag... no problems at all!

[Naria]

Thank you guys again for all your help. I purchased this today: http://www.walmart.com/ip/HP-Pavilion-500-290-Desktop-PC-with-Intel-Core-i7-4770-Processor-8GB-Memory-500GB-Hard-Drive-and-Windows-8.1-Monitor-Not-Included/34480191

Mainly for the i7 core. I couldn't find anything else with an i7 core that cheap.

I am going to add a Sapphire Radeon R7 260X graphics card to it and an EVGA 600W power supply for the card.

Fingers crossed. 

[dovile660]

Hi, I wonder if you could help me in deciding which pc to buy. I have 2 links here that cought my eye (and I have to mind the price:( ). I do hope that they are good for playing sims 3.
http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/2383251.htm

And another:
http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/2385905.htm

[KhaineGB]

Honestly? Neither are  great.

http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/2383251.htm

That's the best one out of the two though.

[dovile660]

Thank you for answering, I thought they might not be good because of the graphics cards. I found one more and the specs are good I think and its says that it's a "gaming pc".
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/desktop-pc-monitors/desktop-pcs/gaming-pcs/cyberpower-empire-elite-gaming-pc-21831981-pdt.html#longDesc

[KhaineGB]

That one would be much better.

Half decent CPU, a proper graphics card that's a current-gen and mid range, plenty of RAM and a decent sized hard drive.

[dovile660]

Thanks a lot for reply. I will look arround for gaming pcs and see if I can find something a bit better than this one whithout overstreching my pocket:)

[KhaineGB]

Try this site. They have pre-built systems and you can choose to put Windows 7 on them instead of Windows 8... which I HIGHLY recommend doing.

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/

[RMystery]

Hi! I'm looking to buy a new laptop and I want it to be able to play the Sims 3 with all expansions on high settings. I would also like it if it was able to play the Sims 4 at medium/high settings. I know the minimum requirements for the games are very similar, so I'm hoping I won't have to go all out to get the Sims 4 running smoothly as well. My budget is up to €1000. I need the notebook for the basics (Internet, Office programs etc.), but I also want it to run Photoshop (for digital drawing) and the Sims 3/4 is the only real game I play. I live in the Netherlands by the way.

Preferences/Must-haves:
Screen size: preferably 17.3"
Processor: Intel i5 or i7
Ram: at least 4 GB, preferably 8 GB (I've upgraded my RAM before, so if I get one with 4 GB, I'm looking to upgrade that immediately to 8 GB)
Graphics card: dedicated Nvidia
Body/case: preferably black (I spend a lot of time on my laptop and I want it to look nice too )

I have a 17.3" now and since I like to watch movies/tv shows on my laptop, I figure I'm better off with a 17.3" than an 15.6". However, I'm doubting a bit because 15.6" would allow me to get better specs for less money. But if I could, I would stay with the 17.3".

Right now I'm looking at MSI notebooks, since those seem to have the best specs for a reasonable price. I am looking at the GP or GE series. My main contenders as of this moment:
GP70 2PE-085NL
https://www.4launch.nl/shop/#p-4-productid-353983

GE70 2PC-079XNL
https://www.4launch.nl/shop/#p-4-productid-348296

Comparison/Overview:
GP has Intel Core i7 4710HQ Quad-Core (2.50 GHz), GE has Intel Core i5 4200H Dual-Core (2.80 GHz). GP is better, I think?
GP has Nvidia GeForce 840M (GDDR3), GE has Nvidia GeForce GTX 850M (GDDR5). GE is better.
GP has 1 TB 5400 rtm, GE has 750 GB 7200 rtm. GE is a little bit better, because 750 GB is sufficient space for me and then speed would beat size.
GP has 12 GB RAM, GE has 8 GB RAM. Both sufficient, both max 16 GB, so tie.
GP has Windows 8.1, GE has no OS. Depends, with GE I will have to spend extra money to get an OS.
The GE is my nr. 1 right now, since I think better graphics will do me more good than a better processor.

P.s. they have the other combinations too. The best is a GE70 with i7 and GeForce GTX 850, but I can't afford that one. The cheapest is a GP70 with  i5 and GeForce 840M.

I would like to spend as little money as possible, while still getting excellent performance. My main trouble is choosing a processor and a graphics card. As for the OS, I hear Windows 8.1 is faster than 7. I've also heard it plays the Sims 3 just fine once the game has been patched. Also, Windows 8.1 is newer and will probably work better with future programs.

My main questions:
Has anyone here gone from 17.3" to 15.6"? If so, can you tell me if it bothered you much?
Can I run my games on high settings on a dualcore i5 or would I really need a quadcore i7?
Can I run my games on high settings on a Nvidia GeForce 840M or would I really need a GeForce GTX 850?
If you had to choose, would you pick the better processor or the better graphics card?
Would you go for Windows 8.1 or 7?

Sorry for the long post, but a good new laptop is expensive. I really want to pick the right one, so I can enjoy it as long as possible. Also, other suggestions are always welcome

Edit: I just found a different one with i7 and GeForce GTX 850 (GDDR3). It's an Asus N750JK-T4158H.
http://www.bol.com/nl/p/asus-n750jk-t4158h-laptop/9200000028229159/

[KhaineGB]

My main questions:
Has anyone here gone from 17.3" to 15.6"? If so, can you tell me if it bothered you much?
Can I run my games on high settings on a dualcore i5 or would I really need a quadcore i7?
Can I run my games on high settings on a Nvidia GeForce 840M or would I really need a GeForce GTX 850?
If you had to choose, would you pick the better processor or the better graphics card?
Would you go for Windows 8.1 or 7?

Sorry for the long post, but a good new laptop is expensive. I really want to pick the right one, so I can enjoy it as long as possible. Also, other suggestions are always welcome

Edit: I just found a different one with i7 and GeForce GTX 850 (GDDR3). It's an Asus N750JK-T4158H.
http://www.bol.com/nl/p/asus-n750jk-t4158h-laptop/9200000028229159/

Okay... answering the questions...

1) I've got a 17" laptop and used a 15" laptop. Only potential issue is screen resolution... other than that, I didn't notice any difference.
2) I've got a Dual Core i5 in my laptop and can run Sims 3 and Sims 4 CAS Demo on high.
3) You -might- be able to do it on the 840. You SHOULD definitely be able to do it on the GTX850. In fact, I would be shocked if you can't!
4) Graphics card. Laptop CPU's can be replaced, graphics cards GENERALLY can't (there are some rare exceptions to this rule).
5) 7. Always 7.

[RMystery]

Thank you so much for the reply! I'm out of a job right now, so I will be waiting for a little bit. I'm confident though that when the time comes to actually buy, I will know what to look for now.

[Xrusaboom]

Hey guys I want to buy a descent laptop under 1,000 for sims 3 I already bought the expansions. SO I want tell me if windows 8 or 8.1 64bit it s compatible. I read negative comments so I don t know what to do. And I have seen gt 820 nvidia cards but I don t know if it s good. Can you help me someone... I m looking 2 weeks now for laptop. I m afraid to get windows 7. And the processor must be i7 or I could buy and i5? I read all the posts but I m still confused and need help.

[MrsFlynn]

Hi Xrusaboom,

Are you in the USA or outside the USA? To make it clear you want something that will run Sims 3 on Med-high settings with all expansions?

MrsFlynn