@l1vefreed1ehard Is that $900 in U.S. dollars or some other currency? Are there any other details that matter to you, e.g. does this computer need to have a lot of storage, or perhaps run other games? I'd be happy to look for good options for you.
900 dollars in US currency. Storage isn't that big of a deal as I have the sims 4 on Xbox one and it's only taking up 20 GB right now. I have an external ssd that I can hook up to in the future if need be. I want a computer because there's options I don't have on my console. I don't really plan on playing other games on the computer as PC gaming is a first for me but I suppose I might be open to them in the future. I would say having an hdmi option would be ideal as I'm planning on connecting to my 4k TV. Also the ability to connect my Xbox controller too.
@l1vefreed1ehard Sorry for the late reply; I've been running a bit behind lately.
First, the easy parts. Any modern graphics card should have an HDMI port, as in, it's standard for all the current cards and older ones going back quite a while. Connecting the XBox controller is mostly about software; if it doesn't come with a USB cable, you could probably find one on Amazon for under $10.
There is not a lot of stock in gaming desktops right now: the global shortage is affecting pretty much every segment of the market. I did see a few good options though. This one, starting at $680, has the strongest hardware overall:
https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-pavilion-gaming-desktop-tg01-1070m-3g825av-1
In your position, I'd pay to upgrade the storage, to a 512 GB SSD ($40), as well as the chassis and power supply ($20). But Sims 4 and your content won't use the full 256 GB, and the existing PSU will power the graphics card just fine, so these are not strictly necessary.
This processor and graphics card are both over the top for Sims 4 in 1080p, but if you want to play in 4k, the added speed of the 1660 Super will help a lot. A 1650 would be more than enough for playing at 1080p.
In case you don't like the HP for one reason or another, while this Dell doesn't have a graphics card as is, it can be upgraded to have either a 1650 Super or a 1660 Super, pushing the price to $830 or $880, respectively. ($50 is a great price for upgrading to the 1660 by the way.) It does only have 256 GB storage, but if you don't want to spend the $50 to upgrade, you should still be fine.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desktop-computers/xps-desktop/spd/xps-8940-desktop/xd8940ms02s
This Acer comes with a 1650 regular, not Super, which is a few percentage points slower than the Super, but the card is still more than fast enough for ultra settings in 1080p. This model has 512 GB already installed.
All of these have 8 GB RAM, which is enough for Sims 4. If you want to upgrade, you're better off buying the extra memory yourself: RAM is extremely cheap compared to what Dell or HP charges for it, and it's also extremely easy to install.
I did see a few other options, but these were the best I found. If they're not quite what you're looking for though, just let me know what other details you'd like to see. And if you have more questions, please feel free to ask.
Thank you for all the options. I think I'm down to 2 choices, between the Dell and the Acer. Here's my question for you: if you had to choose between more storage with a 1660 regular and less storage with a 1660 super what would you do? I'm sure it just comes down to my preference but I'd like your opinion. I'm looking at the Dell right now at a price of 890 and the Acer at 839. The Acer comes with accessories whereas the Dell doesn't but the Dell has the 1660 super and the Acer has the regular.
@l1vefreed1ehard Personally, I'd go with the faster graphics card every time. But that's because I'd be comfortable adding a second hard drive to my computer, which is a very simple task once you know what you're looking for. Since a 500 GB SATA SSD might be $60, and a 1 TB HDD $50, it's cheaper than the cost of upgrading the graphics card even without the current global shortage.
Again though, the 1650 will run Sims 4 on ultra graphics settings as it is; the faster card is more about futureproofing and buffering the inevitable framerate drops that the game will produce on any system.
Thanks for your answer and now I apologize for taking so long to reply. I decided to go with the Dell except shipping says it's going to take 3 weeks to arrive. Is that because of the shortage? Do you think 3 weeks is about as good as I'm going to find it right now or should I shop around for something better?
@l1vefreed1ehard I think three weeks is about right for a computer you're upgrading. It's a little long if you're not upgrading any components, but still within reason. And it's certainly not a reason to buy something different—better to get the more powerful system in a few weeks than get something mediocre right now.
If you'd like to see other options, I can take another look for you. But stock is even lower than it was the first time you asked, so don't count on my finding anything better.
I don't need you to look further as you've answered my final question and I've decided to go ahead and make the purchase.
Thank you again for all your help and taking the time to assist me with my first PC, I really appreciate it.
Community Manager
