Choosing a computer

[Seabody]

I've just recently started earning income, and to celebrate, I'm looking for a decent, Sims-Worthy computer. I love my current laptop, I do, but it's just got so much stuff on it that I really need to get a decent PC just for Sims. Which is why I'm here.

I have a few main questions about computers for Sims, and I'll list them in order from most pressing to least:

1. Windows or Mac? Honestly, I've heard things about Macs being disadvantaged when it comes to Sims, like Mac versions of stuff being released later than Windows. Is it simply personal preference? An iMac, which is what I'd probably buy if I got a Mac, sets me back around $2,000 NZD, so if Mac users are at a disadvantage I'd probably go with a Windows machine and customize it slightly.

2. What would you say is the absolute bare minimum RAM wise? I've got 2GB at the moment, would love more, and the 2GB I have hasn't caused any major problems until yesterday.

3. If I were to get a Mac, would my copy of SimCity 5 work on it, or would I need to keep that on my current Laptop?

4. Once again, if I were to get a Mac, are there any 64-bit / 32-bit complexities involved, or is it just straightforward "you have OS X and this this and this will work on it"?

5. Would it be better to get a Laptop or a Desktop? I currently play on my Laptop and had to purchase a cooling fan for it, but I love the portability, if we go on holiday I can, in theory (meaning glitches at the moment mean I can't), play Sims there.

6. Are Macs self contained -- would I need to buy anything else to use it (I'm thinking along the lines of the USB adaptor for iPods)?

As you can see I've used Windows all my life, my knowledge of Macs stretches to iPods and iPads, not iMacs.

[Flynn Arrowstarr]

I've just recently started earning income, and to celebrate, I'm looking for a decent, Sims-Worthy computer. I love my current laptop, I do, but it's just got so much stuff on it that I really need to get a decent PC just for Sims. Which is why I'm here.

I have a few main questions about computers for Sims, and I'll list them in order from most pressing to least:

1. Windows or Mac? Honestly, I've heard things about Macs being disadvantaged when it comes to Sims, like Mac versions of stuff being released later than Windows. Is it simply personal preference? An iMac, which is what I'd probably buy if I got a Mac, sets me back around $2,000 NZD, so if Mac users are at a disadvantage I'd probably go with a Windows machine and customize it slightly.

Hi, Seabody.

No disadvantages for the Mac (other than cost) as far as The Sims 3 is concerned. The Mac version of each game/expansion/stuff pack is on the same DVD as the Windwos version.

2. What would you say is the absolute bare minimum RAM wise? I've got 2GB at the moment, would love more, and the 2GB I have hasn't caused any major problems until yesterday.

I would say 4 GB absolute minimum, 8 GB if you're using a 64-bit OS (Mac OS X and most Windows 7/8 machines).

3. If I were to get a Mac, would my copy of SimCity 5 work on it, or would I need to keep that on my current Laptop?

SimCity for the Mac will need to be purchased separately as the disc/download versions did not include the Mac version. The Mac version wasn't released until Aug. 29th in the US. Not certain if it was a world-wide or staggered release, so check Origin's site for more information.

4. Once again, if I were to get a Mac, are there any 64-bit / 32-bit complexities involved, or is it just straightforward "you have OS X and this this and this will work on it"?

The only complexities I can think of would be you're in a different OS than what you're used to. Some Unix/Linux knowledge may be useful as Mac OS X is based on those systems. On Windows, Sims 3 will run in a virtual memory space called Windows on Windows (WoW) and can access up to 2 GB system RAM. WoW will use up to 4 GB of system RAM.

5. Would it be better to get a Laptop or a Desktop? I currently play on my Laptop and had to purchase a cooling fan for it, but I love the portability, if we go on holiday I can, in theory (meaning glitches at the moment mean I can't), play Sims there.

Me personally, for The Sims 3, I would go with a Windows desktop. The configuration options are fairly inexpensive compared to laptops or Macs, and can be more easily expanded if need be. You also have the advantage of not needing to learn a new OS and where it stores everything.

For a Windows laptop, look for a laptop with a 1 GB or 2 GB dedicated graphics card. There are decent options from both AMD and nVidia. You'll also want a quad-core processor and max out the memory the system can handle. Most laptops can take at least 8 GB and a few of the newer ones will take up to 16 GB. 8 GB should be sufficient.

6. Are Macs self contained -- would I need to buy anything else to use it (I'm thinking along the lines of the USB adaptor for iPods)?

As you can see I've used Windows all my life, my knowledge of Macs stretches to iPods and iPads, not iMacs.

Yes, Macs are mostly self-contained. However, do note that most Mac laptops do not come with an optical drive (CD/DVD/Blu-Ray), so you will need an external drive if you plan to install things from DVD. Also, as they are usually self-contained, they are much more difficult to upgrade. For instance, the iMac's computer components are all built into the monitor, so getting to the hard drive or memory for updating may not be as easy as getting into a standard PC case. For most laptops (Windows or Mac) about the only thing you can usually update is the memory or replace the hard drive.

Hope this helps, and happy Simming!

Flynn

[LivvieLove]

I've just recently started earning income, and to celebrate, I'm looking for a decent, Sims-Worthy computer. I love my current laptop, I do, but it's just got so much stuff on it that I really need to get a decent PC just for Sims. Which is why I'm here.

I have a few main questions about computers for Sims, and I'll list them in order from most pressing to least:

1. Windows or Mac? Honestly, I've heard things about Macs being disadvantaged when it comes to Sims, like Mac versions of stuff being released later than Windows. Is it simply personal preference? An iMac, which is what I'd probably buy if I got a Mac, sets me back around $2,000 NZD, so if Mac users are at a disadvantage I'd probably go with a Windows machine and customize it slightly.

2. What would you say is the absolute bare minimum RAM wise? I've got 2GB at the moment, would love more, and the 2GB I have hasn't caused any major problems until yesterday.

3. If I were to get a Mac, would my copy of SimCity 5 work on it, or would I need to keep that on my current Laptop?

4. Once again, if I were to get a Mac, are there any 64-bit / 32-bit complexities involved, or is it just straightforward "you have OS X and this this and this will work on it"?

5. Would it be better to get a Laptop or a Desktop? I currently play on my Laptop and had to purchase a cooling fan for it, but I love the portability, if we go on holiday I can, in theory (meaning glitches at the moment mean I can't), play Sims there.

6. Are Macs self contained -- would I need to buy anything else to use it (I'm thinking along the lines of the USB adaptor for iPods)?

As you can see I've used Windows all my life, my knowledge of Macs stretches to iPods and iPads, not iMacs.

As always, I trust Flynn's judgement as he is incredibly good with computers and glitches - mine is based off my life with computers (my dad being a software installer, my brothers building computers every Christmas morning every year - every time. My boyfriend is a computer whiz to the core just to give you a little of where my knowledge comes from, I promise I'm not just stabbing in the dark!)

Just to also be straight, I'm biased towards Windows. I looked for a very - very long time at Macs when searching for my new computer but soon realized that what I could get at the Apple store for $1,000 would go a lot farther on a PC. That was my big concern with Macs as well as I had heard rumors that it's harder to mod the Sims with a Mac and I do enjoy the few mods that I use (not saying it's true, but I did use it as minor factor in my decision on top of that my budget just couldn't handle it).

1. I say go for a PC. Obviously this is my opinion totally, but if you know a lot about Windows anyways it does prevent that awkward phase of being unsure about the operating system/what to do if it breaks or gets slow. There's also a very big following of the Sim's Players on PC, so it's easier to find help for problems you may be experiencing. Macs are very awesome computers, but make sure you study and compare the specs. With Mac you really can't customize like you can with a PC, so you're paying for exactly what you're getting. With a PC you can have the manufacturer (like HP) customize your computer to fit you - better graphics card/processor, more ram/less ram. It's completely up to you and I feel like money goes farther there. Obviously to repeat, I am so biased towards Windows, and I've only ever owned an iPhone and and iPod. My boyfriend has an iPad as well, but no one in my family has ever had a full Mac computer. I was raised on Windows... so obviously I root for what I know.
2. Obviously Flynn has the right answers here, but I when I'm asked that personally I usually say go 6 as the minimum (not the bare minimum, but just a minimum) because with operating systems taking up Ram as they go you really don't want it to butt heads with your game - especially if you have a lot of bigger expansions like Pets or Late Night). I like to say 8 is a happy medium.
3. Flynn's answer is correct (or to my knowledge it is, I don't have SimsCity5).
4. Never owned a Mac, so trust Flynn with that one - he really is good for general all over computing. I need to work on my general knowledge of Macs but it's so hard when Windows is all I know.
5. Personally for me I totally agree with Flynn. A laptop sounds so great in theory but you run into so many problems/possible problems when buying that it may not be as practical as you think. Not to mention, if you're going to keep it plugged in and stationary for a long time then it would function similarly to a desktop.
6. Macs are self-contained. *Re-read Flynns answer for more*

I know Flynn covered everything, but it's always nice to have a second opinion.
Now it would be great if a Mac-Savy person came here to give their opinion - as I feel I've biased it with my Windows-oriented view. Good luck!

[Seabody]

Okay, I crunched some numbers and checked my pay, and narrowed it down to a potential computer. It's currently unavailable (good for me, I've only got about 10% of the money needed at the moment ), but how could I expect to play Sims on this? I googled it a little bit, the specs I could find were:

8GB DDR3 RAM
1TB Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
Intel Core i5 processor (3 MHz)
(Source: PCWorld)

To me this seems like a good buy (all the better because it's Alienware), but I want a couple of professional opinions before I start saving for it properly.

[DanBrunetu]

@Seabody, I think that is a good choice. (I'm not a professional).  It has a great performance-price balance.
I want also some advice in choosing a good desktop, decent to play with max settings sims3 and maybe sims4... 

[LivvieLove]

Well, Alienware is a well known brand to gamers everywhere, but I would recommend price checking on that computer as I wouldn't spend so much money on a computer just for the brand.
Right now I'm on an HP that I had built customized for me for about $1000, I have 8GB of DDR3 Ram, a very large harddrive (not a T-byte, but I never would need so much room) an Intel i7-Core Processor and a top notch graphics card.

Now I'm not saying Alienware is a bad name, but I just wanted to show you that you can easily get a computer with slightly better specs for less money other areas.
This is entirely my opinion, I've also not had the best experience with Alienware myself. I highly recommend you price around and check out your own options of customizing your computer elsewhere. If you're very happy with the Alienware computer then you should get it, but for the price I feel you could get a much better computer (spec wise) it just wouldn't have the name-brand on it that you might like.

Obviously though, I'm not a professional opinion, but that computer would play Sims well. Alienware is known for overclocking their PCs to run optimally, but I feel you'd be surprised that these specs aren't as good as they could be for the price. The only other thing I wish I could know about the computer is the graphics card (what kind it is, and the number on it) because that would determine a lot of the capabilities of playing Sims on it. I just recommend shopping around with the same specs/price in mind and see how much/fewer things you can get for the same price with other brands.

[Blackrosea]

Okay, I crunched some numbers and checked my pay, and narrowed it down to a potential computer. It's currently unavailable (good for me, I've only got about 10% of the money needed at the moment ), but how could I expect to play Sims on this? I googled it a little bit, the specs I could find were:

8GB DDR3 RAM
1TB Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
Intel Core i5 processor (3 MHz)
(Source: PCWorld)

To me this seems like a good buy (all the better because it's Alienware), but I want a couple of professional opinions before I start saving for it properly.

Alienware is not as good as they use to be since they were bought by Dell from what I have read. However, they still are good. Do you know what the video card is on the system?  I have my computers made when I need one.  You might want to just look and see what you think. I use www.ibuypower.com. If the video card is integrated then you are looking at a big repair cost. They would need to replace the motherboard sometimes and maybe other things as well etc from what I read.

[ewilson1114]

I'm not seeing anywhere on the specifications list you linked to which specific Nvidia card is in the computer. That's important because of course not all Nvidia cards are created equal

[LivvieLove]

They said it was a Geforce when I looked it up, but unfortunately it didn't say which Geforce, the 220 and the 660 are two VERY different models.

[Blackrosea]

They said it was a Geforce when I looked it up, but unfortunately it didn't say which Geforce, the 220 and the 660 are two VERY different models.

That is why I asked. There are many different Geforce cards.

[Seabody]

I keep rebumping this, but I keep finding better computers for decent prices. I looked around. Still a Dell, but this is an XPS. It's $100 more, but seems like it's quite substantially better. Here it is. If I do buy it, I'll probably do so in the next few days (limited time $400 off). It looks twice as good for only a little more. I'm not sure if I can afford it, but what are your opinions?

[MrsFlynn]

Hi Seabody,

That's a nice computer. Although Hubby and I kind of cringed at the price. Have you thought of pricing out a build-your-own computer? Just even to compare costs of pre-built and build-your-own side by side.

MrsFlynn

[joenewbie]

I built my own with some top of the line specs, but I spent about 2k on it in total with accessories, monitor etc... my thinking of course is long term, I can always swap out video cards or even motherboards later as the tech changes.  I got tired of buying a laptop every 2 years because it kept getting outdated. 

Look into it, it is a viable option.  There are a lot of how-to sites out there to show you step by step how to build a gaming PC, even search youtube, lots of videos and reviews of the best builds vs budget. 

[LivvieLove]

Or there are always a build your own option (not sure which Mrs. Flynn referred to) option on some PC websites like HP (like how I did mine). I was able to about match those specs for a lot less money because I got to decide that "I didn't need 2 TB of storage" among other things.
Honestly, it can't hurt to look at a build your own model, or even building your own like Joenewbie suggested which can mean you know exactly what goes into your computer, or you can just go with the dell you found because that is a nice computer. I just have to agree with Mrs. Flynn that I jumped at the price.

[saltpastillen]

My biggest problem with that computer would be the graphics card, I just don't think it's good enough for the price you are paying.

I would also suggest you see if there are any build-your own options. I bought a computer at a local computer store when I started uni, and since the guys in the store built it themselves for gamers, it was both cheaper than any computer I could get hold of online at the time, and continued to be a great computer for over 5 years. I have only recently had to take it in to a computer guy I know for a memory upgrade and a new graphics card.

I know it can feel overwhelming when you are looking for a new computer, but hang in there. I think the main things to focus on when you are deciding what you want in a new computer are:

1. Graphics - since you are buying it for gaming, you need to make sure the graphics card is good enough. The consensus online is that a graphics card gets outdated in about 6 month, lucky for us sims 3 is an old game and will not evolve like many of the newer computer games. This means you can look for a good but not extremely expensive card. I would suggest getting a GeForce GTX 650 Ti or higher/equivalent from Radeon. This will probably be well enough to let you play sims 4 and other media needs. 1GB or 2GB or graphics memory is up to you. 1GB is naturally cheaper and I think it is sufficient to run sims 3 well, so maybe you don't need the extra GB, which will make the graphics card a little cheaper.

2. RAM - If you are buying a desk top (which I would recommend if want to be able to update it later) you will probably use a x64 operating system. This means you can access more than 4GB or RAM and it would be a good investment. In my old computer I had 4GB, now when I'm updating it I'm putting in 8GB. I would recommend choosing a memory card that has a higher frequency (1600MHz) rather than just adding more RAM.

3. Processor - after reading up on this when deciding what to do with my own computer I have to say it's hard to know what is best here. I know most about Intel processors and the i5 or i7 both have pros and cons but they are minor and a general consensus on the forums I have visited seems to be that the i5 still works well and is sometimes more stable than the i7. Since sims 3 is an older game I think an i5 could be just as good as an i7 and a lot cheaper. The main thing to remember is to buy a quad core processor because that improves performance.

4. Power supply unit (PSU) - this is crucial to any computer, and the better the graphics card and the higher the performance you have on you computer, the more important this becomes. I would recommend at least 500 W PSU, but  higher is better.

5. Hard drive - Like LivvieLove said, do your really need 2TB hard drive space? Personally I had 1 TB on my computer and never filled it up. If you need a lot of storage an external hard drive would probably be a better option anyway. I think it would be a wiser choice to invest in a SSD hard drive (solid state drive) since they are faster and more stable. A SSD is more likely to reduce loading speeds, which is a huge bonus when playing sims 3. SSD's are more expensive, but if you are willing to reduce the amount of memory available on the hard drive a 500GB SSD would be a great investment.

Hope you get something out of my own ramblings. I can't promise it's great advice, just what I have learnt on my own the last couple of weeks looking into maybe getting a new computer and instead deciding on updating my old one.