Best places to buy a gaming laptop

That's a good computer; I have no criticism of it, and MSI makes excellent gaming laptops. But of course I had to poke around on Best Buy's site, just to see. The Asus version of the MSI you're looking at is $100 cheaper, and Asus also makes great gaming laptops.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-tuf-15-6-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1060-1tb-hdd-256gb-solid-state-drive/6297095.p?skuId=6297095

For the same price as the one you're looking at, you could get an MSI with a single 512 GB SSD instead:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/msi-p65-8re-15-6-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1060-512gb-solid-state-drive-aluminum-silver/6337429.p?skuId=6337429

If you really want to go nuts, this model has a 9750H (the newer, better 8750H), an Nvidia 2060 (equal to or slightly better than a 1070, depending on the game), and a 1 TB SSD. And a 17.3" screen. It's from CyberpowerPC, which makes great custom laptops and desktops. Somehow it's only $1550. (Actually, the same model is $1535 on Cyberpower's own site, so it makes some sense.)
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberpowerpc-tracer-iii-17-3-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-2060-1tb-solid-state-drive-black/6350580.p?skuId=6350580

And I'm female, and I read everything I can get my hands on, whether it's for me or not. So I totally understand.

"puzzlezaddict;c-17080034" wrote:
That's a good computer; I have no criticism of it, and MSI makes excellent gaming laptops. But of course I had to poke around on Best Buy's site, just to see. The Asus version of the MSI you're looking at is $100 cheaper, and Asus also makes great gaming laptops.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-tuf-15-6-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1060-1tb-hdd-256gb-solid-state-drive/6297095.p?skuId=6297095

For the same price as the one you're looking at, you could get an MSI with a single 512 GB SSD instead:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/msi-p65-8re-15-6-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1060-512gb-solid-state-drive-aluminum-silver/6337429.p?skuId=6337429

If you really want to go nuts, this model has a 9750H (the newer, better 8750H), an Nvidia 2060 (equal to or slightly better than a 1070, depending on the game), and a 1 TB SSD. And a 17.3" screen. It's from CyberpowerPC, which makes great custom laptops and desktops. Somehow it's only $1550. (Actually, the same model is $1535 on Cyberpower's own site, so it makes some sense.)
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberpowerpc-tracer-iii-17-3-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-2060-1tb-solid-state-drive-black/6350580.p?skuId=6350580

And I'm female, and I read everything I can get my hands on, whether it's for me or not. So I totally understand.

So the 2.2 proccesor Is okay? It says that's base speed.

The 8750H does have a 2.2 GHz base clock speed, but it's built to comfortably run in turbo for long periods of time. It also has six cores, instead of the four of the 7th gen (and some 8th gen) CPUs. TS3 can only use two cores at a time, and TS4 can use up to four, so those cores can run only the game while the others handle Windows and whatever else you're doing while you play. So while the low base clock speed might not quite seem ideal, it's really fine, more than fine, for what you want.

Running in turbo for long periods also might run down the processor a little faster, at least theoretically. But these models are so well made that it might be a decade before the difference between an excess of turbo and "normal" wear and tear became apparent. The limiting factors will definitely be cooling and time-induced obsolesence, not whether the CPU turbos up to run TS3.

Side note: I would worry a bit about running a laptop CPU at max turbo speeds (all cores) for extended periods of time, just for the heat generated, but that's not going to be a problem with Sims games. Besides, if you're really nervous, there are very simple monitoring apps you can install, and you can even set alarms for high temps. But all the above models have good cooling, and it doesn't sound like you're going to try to run Battlefield in ultra for three hours straight or anything like that.

The 9750 in the last link has a 2.6 GHz base clock speed, if that makes a difference to you. Its benchmarks are better than those of the 8750, but not by a very wide margin. So while it's a nice thing to have, there's no sense breaking your budget just for this one upgrade.

"puzzlezaddict;c-17080591" wrote:
The 8750H does have a 2.2 GHz base clock speed, but it's built to comfortably run in turbo for long periods of time. It also has six cores, instead of the four of the 7th gen (and some 8th gen) CPUs. TS3 can only use two cores at a time, and TS4 can use up to four, so those cores can run only the game while the others handle Windows and whatever else you're doing while you play. So while the low base clock speed might not quite seem ideal, it's really fine, more than fine, for what you want.

Running in turbo for long periods also might run down the processor a little faster, at least theoretically. But these models are so well made that it might be a decade before the difference between an excess of turbo and "normal" wear and tear became apparent. The limiting factors will definitely be cooling and time-induced obsolesence, not whether the CPU turbos up to run TS3.

Side note: I would worry a bit about running a laptop CPU at max turbo speeds (all cores) for extended periods of time, just for the heat generated, but that's not going to be a problem with Sims games. Besides, if you're really nervous, there are very simple monitoring apps you can install, and you can even set alarms for high temps. But all the above models have good cooling, and it doesn't sound like you're going to try to run Battlefield in ultra for three hours straight or anything like that.

The 9750 in the last link has a 2.6 GHz base clock speed, if that makes a difference to you. Its benchmarks are better than those of the 8750, but not by a very wide margin. So while it's a nice thing to have, there's no sense breaking your budget just for this one upgrade.

I'm so excited for tomorrow. Your also my new go to for these types of things ( you've taught me very well :) ) whenever I need some technical help or someone else does I'll be sure to mention you :blush:

I'm excited for you. It's so much fun to get a new computer (and more than a bit nerve-wracking at times, too). The one thing you definitely should do right away, as soon as you're ready to play TS3, is manually cap your frame rates. Since TS3's fps limiter doesn't work, you'll need an outside tool. This is true for any card strong enough to run the entire game on high settings—these cards are also strong enough to overwork themselves if fps isn't capped. SimplyJen wrote out excellent instructions for Nvidia cards:

https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/16540301/#Comment_16540301

You're very sweet, but I would be remiss if I didn't point out that igazor is the real expert here. I didn't know anything until I showed up and started reading his posts, and asking what were undoubtedly some very basic questions. (He was kind enough not to point that out.) So I'm still deep in the process of figuring things out myself. Still, if you have questions, I'm always happy to try to help.

There comes a time when a student's knowledge may far surpass all that a teacher had to share with them. Or something like that. Anyway, I don't think I'm a hardware expert but several of us are indeed pretty good at digesting large amounts of information, filtering out that which is not very relevant to the tasks at hand, explaining what is left in an understandable way to those who might benefit from a more firm grasp of the basic and then the more advanced concepts, and filling in any remaining knowledge gaps for each other as they arise. And, the important part, we enjoy doing it.

"soko37;c-17080710" wrote:
Buy parts from Amazon and build one. You won't find a better computer anywhere than the one you build yourself. Speaking from experience. And it's easy. I watched a few how to videos and that's it.

That's a good plan too for many, but not as accessible to everyone. One of its drawbacks is that if something goes wrong with the build, not the parts themselves, there is no company standing behind it to fix or replace it. For example, if the PSU were to malfunction or not be suitable for the system to begin with, one runs the risk of having no usable computer at all in the end.

Given that I can't drive a nail into the wall to hang a picture without injuring myself or possibly taking down my building's electrical grid in the process (slight exaggeration), I tend to shy away from do it yourself tech projects more involved than say adding more RAM to a system designed to provide access to where it goes. Others' experiences and innate skills in this arena of course vary.

"puzzlezaddict;c-17080702" wrote:
I'm excited for you. It's so much fun to get a new computer (and more than a bit nerve-wracking at times, too). The one thing you definitely should do right away, as soon as you're ready to play TS3, is manually cap your frame rates. Since TS3's fps limiter doesn't work, you'll need an outside tool. This is true for any card strong enough to run the entire game on high settings—these cards are also strong enough to overwork themselves if fps isn't capped. SimplyJen wrote out excellent instructions for Nvidia cards:

https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/16540301/#Comment_16540301

You're very sweet, but I would be remiss if I didn't point out that igazor is the real expert here. I didn't know anything until I showed up and started reading his posts, and asking what were undoubtedly some very basic questions. (He was kind enough not to point that out.) So I'm still deep in the process of figuring things out myself. Still, if you have questions, I'm always happy to try to help.

What about for the sims 1 and 2? Just curious since I own all of them

I need some help actually . I got the new computer but I’m not sure how to go about getting both my game and the documents folder on the d drive. Origin allowed me to direct my games to the d drive but the problem is I have about ten expansion/stuff packs that need to be installed via disk . I’m not sure where to direct the disk downloads so I can combine the files from the origin client with the files the disks generate . For now I did a clean uninstall if everything . I have Windows 10 so moving the documents folder doesn’t seem so simple . Does my electronic arts folder have to stay in the D drive ? I’m so confused and I’m just trying to start playing .

Create a folder on D manually and call it Games Installed on D (or whatever you like). That is where Origin itself, the game, and its packs should be directed to install. You can't direct an install to just plain D as the system tends to not allow that, there must be a subfolder first.

Origin is supposed to be able to manage mixed disc/digital installs, but it often enough doesn't do a very good job of it. If you must have an Origin controlled install, it's usually much easier to have all digital if that can be arranged. Can you not access the packs you have on disc by way of Origin, or are they not registered or able to be registered to your account?

Shifting the entire Documents folder over to D, which is what you will want to do since you have a small SSD for C, is about the same on Win 10 as its predecessors but I guess that's not much help if you don't routinely do this. Sorry about the "dummies" link, but they do provide good illustrations over there.
https://www.dummies.com/computers/operating-systems/windows-10/how-to-change-the-location-of-user-folders-in-windows-10

On the prior question, TS1 and 2 would not tend to kick up so much GPU activity that runaway fps rates become an issue. There are other challenges in getting TS1 going on Win 10, and TS2 as well unless you have Origin refreshed collection version that they released a few years ago. Those who hang out on the TS1 and 2 boards on this forum can probably assist better if needed.

"igazor;c-17086303" wrote:
Create a folder on D manually and call it Games Installed on D (or whatever you like). That is where Origin itself, the game, and its packs should be directed to install. You can't direct an install to just plain D as the system tends to not allow that, there must be a subfolder first.

Origin is supposed to be able to manage mixed disc/digital installs, but it often enough doesn't do a very good job of it. If you must have an Origin controlled install, it's usually much easier to have all digital if that can be arranged. Can you not access the packs you have on disc by way of Origin, or are they not registered or able to be registered to your account?

Shifting the entire Documents folder over to D, which is what you will want to do since you have a small SSD for C, is about the same on Win 10 as its predecessors but I guess that's not much help if you don't routinely do this. Sorry about the "dummies" link, but they do provide good illustrations over there.
https://www.dummies.com/computers/operating-systems/windows-10/how-to-change-the-location-of-user-folders-in-windows-10

On the prior question, TS1 and 2 would not tend to kick up so much GPU activity that runaway fps rates become an issue. There are other challenges in getting TS1 going on Win 10, and TS2 as well unless you have Origin refreshed collection version that they released a few years ago. Those who hang out on the TS1 and 2 boards on this forum can probably assist better if needed.

Not all of them can be registered I believe . Can I download it all to the C drive and then move it? Would that be easier ?