Is this a good computer for TS3?
Is this a good computer for running the Sims 3 on medium-high graphics with several expansion packs? I have Ambitions, Generations, Late Night, Pets, Seasons, Supernatural and University (although I d...
Forum Discussion
@jadebean
I am not an expert laptop shopper, others here are. But I can look at any you find within your price range and tell you how well TS3 would be expected to run on it. For all EPs and medium to high graphics settings, these are the system elements you would be looking for. They should be easily found in the lower end of gaming laptop series on most shopping sites, to the extent things are actually available these days due to supply chain issues.
-- 2.4 GHz or higher processor (avoid the U- and Y-series Intels as they are meant to conserve power, not deliver graphics intensive games even by 2009 standards); quad core or better.
-- At least 6 GB of RAM, 8 GB or higher would be better. The game doesn't require more than that, but having more than 8 GB will more comfortably allow you to use other programs like web browsers and video streaming while the game is running but paused.
-- Graphics card should be dedicated, not integrated, and "strong enough," going by Nivida's historical numbering systems that means a "5" or higher in the middle digits -- e.g., GTX 950/960+, 1050/1060+, 1660...etc. Which series are actually available now in off the shelf laptops (and desktops) will of course limit one's choices, but examples of "not strong enough" would be MX 130s (roughly equivalent to the 1030, middle digit "3"). AMD has their own numbering systems, so sometimes we have dig a little deeper into the GPU specs to find what they are equivalent to. Yet stronger graphics cards than that will of course also be okay even if they are overkill, but while those would future-proof the system for other games and those not yet released, they will also tend to drive the price tags way up.
-- Hard drive of at least 256 GB to allow for saved games, other programs, and added content as time passes. More than that increases the comfort level, but it depends on users' file management habits. A Solid State Drive (SSD) will allow TS3 to load/save faster and increases the speed of some other processes like CAS and pattern catalog loading.
I am not an expert laptop shopper, others here are. But I can look at any you find within your price range and tell you how well TS3 would be expected to run on it. For all EPs and medium to high graphics settings, these are the system elements you would be looking for. They should be easily found in the lower end of gaming laptop series on most shopping sites, to the extent things are actually available these days due to supply chain issues.
-- 2.4 GHz or higher processor (avoid the U- and Y-series Intels as they are meant to conserve power, not deliver graphics intensive games even by 2009 standards); quad core or better.
-- At least 6 GB of RAM, 8 GB or higher would be better. The game doesn't require more than that, but having more than 8 GB will more comfortably allow you to use other programs like web browsers and video streaming while the game is running but paused.
-- Graphics card should be dedicated, not integrated, and "strong enough," going by Nivida's historical numbering systems that means a "5" or higher in the middle digits -- e.g., GTX 950/960+, 1050/1060+, 1660...etc. Which series are actually available now in off the shelf laptops (and desktops) will of course limit one's choices, but examples of "not strong enough" would be MX 130s (roughly equivalent to the 1030, middle digit "3"). AMD has their own numbering systems, so sometimes we have dig a little deeper into the GPU specs to find what they are equivalent to. Yet stronger graphics cards than that will of course also be okay even if they are overkill, but while those would future-proof the system for other games and those not yet released, they will also tend to drive the price tags way up.
-- Hard drive of at least 256 GB to allow for saved games, other programs, and added content as time passes. More than that increases the comfort level, but it depends on users' file management habits. A Solid State Drive (SSD) will allow TS3 to load/save faster and increases the speed of some other processes like CAS and pattern catalog loading.
