Hi everyone!
So I feel a little dumb, but I do need some advice on buying a new computer. We want to be able to play Sims 3 and 4, fairly smoothly. For 3 we have most expansions, some CC etc. I do have a budget, but I also want to be sure we get something that will last a while. lol Any advice or help is appreciated! I've been looking at this one, what do you think? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-pavilion-21-5-touch-screen-all-in-one-computer-amd-a4-series-4gb-memory-500gb-hard-drive-black/3200174.p?id=1219088674951&skuId=3200174
Hi, SimsMom80.
Unfortunately, no. This system would not perform well for The Sims 3. The processor and video are below specs for the game and as such it would run very slow on low settings. Also, the memory is pretty low for a 64-bit system to run The Sims 3 plus feed the graphics card the memory it needs for the game. In general, I would steer clear of all-in-one systems as they are usually the equivalent of a low-end laptop embedded in a larger monitor.
Here's some basic specs to look for when researching a computer for these games:
- Intel Core i5 or Core i7 with a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz or faster (ignore the Turbo Boost number)
- nVidia GTS or GTX graphics card
- 8 GB system memory
You may notice I've left AMD off the list. AMD systems have pretty good processors and their gaming graphics cards are pretty decent. But, their model numbers are a little more difficult to work out. So, to keep things simple, I tend to recommend Intel/nVidia over AMD.
One final note - when looking at a computer's specifications, if it only lists Intel HD as the graphics chip, don't buy the system. Intel HD is the built-in graphics chip on the Intel Core processors. While they are normally pretty decent chips, they have known issues with TS3 and TS4, and do not provide any dedicated video memory.
If you like, give us an idea of what your budget is and what country you're in and we'll see if we can find something for you that will meet the criteria above.
Hope this helps and happy Simming!
Flynn
