Re: Sims 4 Computer Specs *

Thank you so much! I tagged you in hopes of getting an answer and refreshed the oage to see that you had answered! Thanks for the help, i’ll be sure to check your suggestions and i’ll get back to you! 

@puzzlezaddict  

The system I was talking about was actually the first link you mentioned, I just added the taxes that I would have to pay with it. 
I’m really only planning to play the Sims 4, a few other games (maybe not, we’ll see) and do school work. 

Just a question though, would you recommend the HP Pavillion or the Asus PC? They both seem to be the same. 
Does the CPU make a big difference? 
https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/hp-pavilion-gaming-pc-black-intel-core-i7-9700-1tb-hdd-256gb-ss...

this is the other one I was looking at, it has more SSD. Would this be a better choice? 
Sorry if I am overwhelming you with so many questions, I’m just so confused with all these specs 😭 

@monghco  You're not overwhelming me with questions; I like answering these kinds of threads.

The processor is significantly stronger in the HP, yes, but that won't make a difference to Sims 4.  Where it may make a difference is several years down the road, when you're contemplating whether to upgrade your current computer or buy a new one.  Getting a new processor would mean a new motherboard, which means rebuilding your PC, so not needing a new one would mean you could upgrade the graphics card and possibly the power supply and mostly have a new computer, at least in terms of performance.

If this idea appeals to you, then the HP is a better choice, as is the Skytech from Newegg.  I can also look for other options with similarly strong CPUs if you want; just let me know what you're looking for and how much you'd like to pay.

From what I can see, the HP has the same two hard drives as the Asus: a 256 GB SSD and a 1 TB HDD.  The SSD is big enough for Windows, the Sims 4 program files, and all your content, plus however many small apps like browsers you feel like installing.  If you plan on playing other games though, you'd need to start moving data to the HDD.  That's not a big deal, especially for Sims 4—while it would load more slowly on a mechanical drive, it would run the same once it loaded.  But you might not want to have to bother.

On the other hand, hard drives are easy to install even for someone who's never built a computer.  You could order the drive of your choice when you felt you needed it and install it in a few minutes, so don't let that be the determining factor in choosing a computer.  Aside from the processor, you'll get more value from a fast graphics card, up to a point; memory and storage are flexible and can be upgraded whenever you feel like it.

I know the list of specs can seem daunting, sometimes more so when your budget is big enough to give you some flexibility.  But these are all good computers, capable of running Sims 4 on ultra settings for in all likelihood the entire development of the game.  Any of them would be a perfectly good choice.

@puzzlezaddict Thank you. I think i’ll go with the HP because the specs seem to be pretty nice and is $100 cheaper than the Asus computer. 
I just need a computer that’ll run the Sims on ultra with all packs smoothly. With very little to no lag.

I want to make a few videos too to post on youtube, or stream.

Also, some adobe programs and browsing for school. The HP seems good enough for that. 
So in your opinion, HP seems to be the best choice right? The CPU seems ok to me, but I really don’t know because my mac has a cpu of 1.4

@puzzlezaddict  And to add on to that, 
i noticed HP and Asus have a $100 difference, but they are so similar. 

Which is why I’m most likely going to purchase the HP instead. I checked the MSI computer and it seems good too. Do the specs matter more or does the company matter a lot too?  

What i like about MSI is that it has more SSD but is the same price as HP. $100 extra for an upgrade in SSD seems ok to me.

I’m still trying to pick between Asus, HP, and MSI though.. 

I don’t want to go too overkill but i’m also worried the Sims will take up so much space. 

@monghco  Are we still looking at the same links?

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/asus-rog-strix-gl10cs-gaming-pc-iron-grey-intel-core-i5-9400f-1tb-hdd-256gb-ssd-8gb-ram-gtx-1650/13865184

https://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=7_1203_121&item_id=156768

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/hp-pavilion-gaming-pc-black-intel-core-i7-9700-1tb-hdd-256gb-ssd-16gb-ram-gtx-1660-english/14417635

The HP is better than the Asus or the MSI because it has a stronger processor and a faster graphics card.  The gap is significant in both cases.  A 500 GB solid state drive is nice, but you can get one later if you need it; it's a lot more expensive to replace the processor or graphics card.

The manufacturer of a desktop computer matters a little bit, but not a lot, certainly not as much as with laptops.  HP, Asus, and MSI all make good quality computers, so you shouldn't run into problems on that account.  Besides, many of the internal components are from third parties and equal (or essentially so) anyway.  The i5-9400F is made by Intel no matter whose computer it's in; the graphics card is going to be a slight variation on the Nvidia reference design in any case.  There are small details around the edges, but the differences will be small too, for example it's unlikely to matter who made the memory in each computer because it will just work.

If you're going to have this computer for a long time, you'll get the most benefit from a stronger processor, rather than any other component.  While all the CPUs mentioned are more than fine now, that might not be true in four or five years when Sims 5 comes out (if it ever does), or you decide you want to play some other new game.  A graphics card can be replaced, as can other components.  If you want another SSD, just order one.  They're not that expensive in the grand scheme of things.  And like I said, one can be installed whenever you want.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07PGC3JKQ

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01K8A29E6

 @puzzlezaddict Which HP are you talking about? The first one you linked is different to the one you linked below. They are slightly different and have a price difference. 

I'll probably have this computer for a very long time. And i'd love to play the Sims 5 (if it does, come out of course) I just don't want to have to change my computer in another 4-6 years (maybe even more than that) 

I think it would probably be more beneficial to buy a better one that costs more now rather than having to go budget and having to buy another one in a couple years.

Thanks in advance!

@monghco  I meant the HP you linked, with the i7-9700 and the 1660.

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/hp-pavilion-gaming-pc-black-intel-core-i7-9700-1tb-hdd-256gb-ssd-16gb-ram-gtx-1660-english/14417635

If you'd like to keep this for a while and upgrade one or two components rather than getting an entirely new system, this would give you the most flexibility.  But like I said, they'd all be great for Sims 4, now and for the entire development of the game.

@puzzlezaddict Thanks for all the help! I’ll be ordering it tomorrow, super excited! I decided to get the HP🙂

@puzzlezaddict   

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/acer-nitro-50-gaming-pc-black-red-intel-core-i5-9400f-1tb-hdd-8gb-ram-geforce-gtx-1650/14433028

is this one also good? 

@monghco  Sorry for the late reply.  It's fine, but it's not even as good as the Asus you were originally considering because it only has a single slow mechanical hard drive.  While you could always install a second hard drive later, you'd need to reinstall Windows to get the benefits of running off that drive.

On the other hand, if you wanted to do that right away, you could get yourself a 256 GB SSD for $50, or a 500 GB SSD for $85.  Then you'd have the benefits of dual drives for less than the Asus.  For example:

https://www.amazon.ca/Kingston-Digital-240GB-SA400S37-240G/dp/B01N5IB20Q/

https://www.amazon.ca/Crucial-BX500-480GB-2-5-Inch-Internal/dp/B07G3KGYZQ/

To be clear though, the HP is still a lot better.  This is just if you wanted to save the money and were okay with the merely good and not great hardware.