Computer for all The Sims 3 content

"KHS12;c-15727528" wrote:
Did somebody give you a computer tech sticker that you're wearing a little too proudly over there? :D
@phoebebebe13

(checked three times to make sure I am still on a TS3 forum board and not...uhm, a different often less friendly one)

Someone asked for guidance on newer laptops. They got general information from some techies, myself included, and anecdotals from some players who are still very happy with their five year old current devices. To someone who is not all that tech savvy, it may be difficult to tell the difference and could use some clarification. No one is trying to be more "correct" than others, most of us are trying to be helpful here.

"igazor;c-15727804" wrote:

"KHS12;c-15727528" wrote:
Did somebody give you a computer tech sticker that you're wearing a little too proudly over there? :D
@phoebebebe13

(checked three times to make sure I am still on a TS3 forum board and not...uhm, a different often less friendly one)

Someone asked for guidance on newer laptops. .

Exactly yet people keep posting older computers. Not like OP could buy those older computers. This question would have had better results if it was posted in Tech and not in gen discussions.

Personally, I recommend desktop over laptop if you don't need to be mobile and can spare the space at home. Desktops can be upgraded, better performance, and often cheaper. To meet the game requirements (base+all packs) it will fall under the gaming category but you certainly don't need an Alienware computer. Gaming laptops tend to be a bit bigger/thicker than the average casual laptop for web browsing and light task. This is for cooling which is very important.

The current mobile specs found in new hardware today to look for: i5 or i7 quad core processor. (look for HQ or MQ). GTX 960m, GTX 1050 mobile, GTX 1050ti mobile, or GTX 1060 mobile graphics card. 8 or 16 GB of ram. 1TB hard drive all though you can get by with 500GB but space might become an issue. Additional solid state drive is a luxury but Sims 3 would load and save much faster vs hard drive. Anything lower than 250GB of space for a solid state drive is not recommended if you plan to install the game onto this drive because of space issues. This will drive up the price. These specs are for the sims or any other game with similar game requirements.

I'm just moderately annoyed because I wasn't recommending OP go out and buy the exact make and model of my laptop, but that was the assumption from several people. I simply stated that my laptop, regardless of the fact that it can't be bought anymore, works great with the games. I'm aware that my laptop is no longer a buyable product, and wasn't trying to be counterproductive but apparently I was and that ruffled some techies feathers. (Admin can move this to the tech section so us less knowledgeable folk won't ruin this thread)
And while my comment might not seem friendly, I can't say that the other ones were either. I was just throwing in my bit. I love this community and this franchise and my main point to the OP was that you dont have to drop heaps of money on a laptop or desktop to play all of the games on a quality level. You can disagree, but thats my opinion regardless.

When I upgrade my computer, I'm going custom-build. I shoot photos and video for a living. Let's just say that I need multiple cores for batch-processing 1500 shots at a time or processing video and I just don't have the time for the computer to be sitting there churning away for 4 1/2 hrs on a task. I shoot hockey during the hockey season for my son's hockey team and nature/landscape photos, so the computer isn't just for playing games, though it's nice...to be able to without lag.

@KHS12 I not only addressed you but also @CravenLestat and Craven and I are friends. OP's question would have been better asked in the Tech section if they are looking for a new PC to run the game. Your responses would confuse someone if they were looking for a New computer and off topic to what OP was asking. Even after @igazor and I said something more people posted old computers that OP can't buy. That's fine that all your computers can run the game and your responses would have been fine if OP started a thread asking what kind of computer do you play on.

My problem has always been two fold when buying a computer/graphics card. First of all, game specs always give a nividia card. They then say "or the equivalent". But I am NOT a techie. I don't know what the specs for the card mentioned are, or what might provide the equivalent from other brands. That's important to me since I've had nothing but bad luck and trouble installing the drivers for nividia cards in the past. On the other hand, I've never had any issues with AMD drivers.

My second problem then is that I have a strict budget. When I can afford a new graphics card, I typically have to buy a budget one since I can't afford more then $150-$200 on it. But what budget card will get me the performance I need to run the games I want to play? Mind you, I don't play many of the new games that require high end systems on the PC. If I pick up a AAA title, it's probably on a console. I play stuff like Sims 3 and various MMORPGs like WoW or Dungeons & Dragons Online. Games that are older, but still look good and can be fun to play. Since the card mentioned in the "required specs" is typically one of the mid price range cards, how am I suppose to know what budget card can let me play the game? And not with highest graphics either. If I can do that, awesome. But I'm just fine with turning down graphics settings to play a game I enjoy.

My laptop for the most part runs Sims 3 just fine with all my EP turned on. It has AMD Radeon R4 graphic installed, not that I would know or trust myself to upgrade that even if you could. But as I said, it runs the game fine. In the town for IP the game tends to freeze if there's ocean effects in the background. But that might also be due to not enough ram. I don't know how to set up specific Vram in windows 10, so the laptop's 4 gigs of ram may not be quite enough in IP. It does make me leary on installing Seasons or Pets though. I'd imagine those are much harder on the system then IP is.

I have an old, nay, ancient laptop, but I have squeezed more ram into it, so I run with 6GB. If you can try out with more ram, somehow, then you'll see wether or not it has enough of an impact on your game to save yourself/postponing from buying a 'new' computer. 6 (or more, preferrably (if your computer can handle it)) vs. 4GB of ram makes a huge difference in this game, afaik.

"Faerie197;c-15732029" wrote:
My problem has always been two fold when buying a computer/graphics card. First of all, game specs always give a nividia card. They then say "or the equivalent". But I am NOT a techie. I don't know what the specs for the card mentioned are, or what might provide the equivalent from other brands. That's important to me since I've had nothing but bad luck and trouble installing the drivers for nividia cards in the past. On the other hand, I've never had any issues with AMD drivers.

My second problem then is that I have a strict budget. When I can afford a new graphics card, I typically have to buy a budget one since I can't afford more then $150-$200 on it. But what budget card will get me the performance I need to run the games I want to play? Mind you, I don't play many of the new games that require high end systems on the PC. If I pick up a AAA title, it's probably on a console. I play stuff like Sims 3 and various MMORPGs like WoW or Dungeons & Dragons Online. Games that are older, but still look good and can be fun to play. Since the card mentioned in the "required specs" is typically one of the mid price range cards, how am I suppose to know what budget card can let me play the game? And not with highest graphics either. If I can do that, awesome. But I'm just fine with turning down graphics settings to play a game I enjoy.

If you have a desktop and want to upgrade a video card, speak to user chesterbigbird. She is an Expert computer builder. You can send her a PM or page her.

"Faerie197;c-15732029" wrote:


My laptop for the most part runs Sims 3 just fine with all my EP turned on. It has AMD Radeon R4 graphic installed, not that I would know or trust myself to upgrade that even if you could. But as I said, it runs the game fine. In the town for IP the game tends to freeze if there's ocean effects in the background. But that might also be due to not enough ram. I don't know how to set up specific Vram in windows 10, so the laptop's 4 gigs of ram may not be quite enough in IP. It does make me leary on installing Seasons or Pets though. I'd imagine those are much harder on the system then IP is.

R4 graphics on a laptop are integrated with the processor. They both use the same ram along with windows and other programs. If you only have 4gb ram it's not enough to run the game along with your video card, processor, windows and other programs. You will eventually run into error code 12 on saves for not having enough memory. The game alone needs 4 gb ram to run. You need extra ram for your processor, video card, windows and other programs. Having 8 gb ram would be better. This game does require a dedicated video card that runs on it's own ram separate from the computer. Your having issues with IP it's because your laptop is below requirements to run it. IP does have issues but it will be worse on your computer specs. You will have more issues if you try to add Pets, Seasons and ITF "IF" they will even run. Pets, Seasons, ITF and IP are the most demanding EPs in the game and require a mid range gaming desktop to run them. The more you add to this game the more demanding the game becomes. Laptop hardware is weaker than desktop hardware. You can't upgrade video card and processor in a laptop. You are stuck with the specs you buy. You need a gaming laptop to equal the desktop requirements for this game if you want to run the whole game the way it's supposed to run. I have played this game on lower end to higher end computers. Having the proper hardware that meets all requirements to run this game will make a big difference. Yes the game has bugs but you will get allot more bugs if your computer is under requirements

ITF runs just fine for me. And with a laptop, I'm not even sure if it IS possible to have a graphics card/chip other then the one already built into it. But again, I'm not a techie. I don't know the ins and outs of graphics cards/integrated chips. Nor can I tell just by looking at a model number if a card/chipset is at, below, or above the requirements.