Re: Best used desktop to run Sims 3?

I'm going to jump in here, because I don't agree with some of the advice that was given above, as the OP stated that they were on a budget. 

The Sims 3 can run on any computer that has a quad-core CPU, 4GB RAM and a budget to midrange card, using an ordinary, run of the mill hard drive. I say that as someone who's run the game fine on multiple setups, starting with a rinky-dinky single core AMD Athlon CPU, 2GB RAM and ancient Nvidia 9800GT. This game ran fine with the Nvidia 710GT and the 1030GT, which I have on my other machine. 

The only reason why anyone would need a super-duper computer is if they planned on also live streaming or recording The Sims for Twitch or some other platform. This is why some Sims 3 players have monster rigs, because many of them are streamers and recorders. People who just want to play the game don't need monster rigs, unless they're really impatient and want their game to load in the blink of an eye. A quadcore with 4GB RAM and a large hard drive will do fine. Anything over that is overkill.

I had to speak up because it's very frustrating to me when an image is being depicted of The Sims as being like the latest triple AAA title needing all the works, which in turn induces a lot of anxiety in players when shopping for a new system. Again, if you're someone who is just playing the game, a budget system is fine. It's the ones who are hoping to livestream and run other programs while playing The Sims for whatever reason that need high end machines.

@MAWriterGirl I don't know much about Intel, I just know AMD. A quadcore AMD CPU with 4GB RAM and at minimum an Nvidia 710 GT card will be fine, but the 1030 GT is ideal. (I have that running on my other machine.) I looked at your choices, and I would be more worried about the reviews for each product than whether they will run The Sims. The reviews for the Dell suggests there's something sketchy going on there.

I don't know much about Intel, I just know AMD. A quadcore AMD CPU with 4GB RAM and at minimum an Nvidia 710 GT card will be fine, but the 1030 GT is ideal. (I have that running on my other machine.)

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@thesims1depot  Thank you for your input, that's helpful to know.  I have a few questions if that's OK by you, mainly regarding graphics. When I play the game and skim my camera through town (without going into Map mode) it looks as if the town is perpetually shrouded in fog, so that I can see only a certain distance ahead and as I approach things, they appear from the fog.  Is this normal, or would a better graphics card show me the whole town from the perspective of a bird flying at around treetop level or so?  Would I get sunlight reflecting off water and shadows cast by buildings and other objects, and be able to see to the limits of the world I'm playing?  I've seen so many screenshots that have these qualities and would love to get that in my game.  I have my current graphics on the lowest setting (default, I think), so mirrors in my Sims' homes don't work right.  Mostly I don't mind, but I'd like to have that option too.  I'm afraid that if I try to raise the settings on my current PC, the game will crash or something a lot worse will happen.

You're correct in that my primary, probably only, interest is in playing.  I've been a Simmer for only about a year and don't have a lot of confidence in my ability to transfer short videos or even screenshots to social media, even if my current PC would allow it.  I might do this occasionally just to share with a friend or two, but it definitely won't be a regular thing.  Would you be able to recommend a specific PC that has the specs I quoted above?  Thanks again!

@MAWriterGirl  The second computer is much better than the first.  Its processor is four years newer, which is helpful both for the CPU itself and for the motherboard.  But much more importantly, it has a dedicated graphics card.  While a 1030 will likely struggle a bit with the most demanding packs (Pets, then Seasons), you should be able to get smooth play by tweaking the settings a bit.  (If you want help with this process, just ask, but only when you have the computer in front of you.)  The 1030 at least ten times faster in gaming than the integrated chip in the 13-year-old i5-650; to say it's not even a competition would be an understatement.

It's always a risk buying used, whether from Amazon or elsewhere, but this second one at least has a 90-day guarantee.  So you'd have time to run benchmarks and stress tests and send the computer back if it failed.  I can help with those too; the software you'd want to use is free and simple enough to set up.

Both these computers have more than enough storage.  For the monitor, yes, you can buy a used one, it's not a problem.  For the first one, you'd want a monitor that uses a VGA connection; for the second, the 1030 should have an HDMI and a DVI port.  (You'd want to plug the monitor into the GPU, not the motherboard.)

For your other questions:

1.  I've heard a couple people say they can't download the Super Patch, but I've had no trouble on a few different computers.  It may be that the link uses http instead of https, but that doesn't mean the link itself won't work.  If one browser doesn't cooperate, try another.  Here's the direct download link, which points to EA servers:

http://akamai.cdn.ea.com/eadownloads/u/f/sims/sims3/patches/TS3_1.67.2.0240xx_update.exe

2.  I would look into this again on the new computer, and try using Firefox.  The store doesn't seem to get along with most other browsers.

3.  This sounds more and more like a browser or security settings issue, and again, I'd look into it once you have the new computer set up.

4.  Yes, stuff packs add only a small amount of overhead to the game, and you should be able to play with all of them at the same time.  Whether you can play with most or all expansions depends on the computer you get.  Like I said, you might need to make some compromises with the 1030, especially if it's the slower of the two designs Nvidia released for the card.  But at worst, you might need to disable certain pets and wild horses and perhaps avoid snow; you wouldn't need to disable half your expansions.

There's nothing in your dxdiag that explains the problems you've listed other than the fact that the computer is old and has weak hardware.  The dxdiag doesn't even list the processor, which could be a random glitch or a sign of a serious system issue, but I can see enough to be completely unsurprised that Sims 3 would run poorly on it.  As for the downloading issues, I still suspect browser settings or perhaps an antivirus, but that's a question best left for when you're setting up a new computer anyway.

@thesims1depot  I'm sorry, but I have to completely disagree with your claim that Sims 3 can run on any quad-core with 4 GB RAM.  In fact, I think it's highly irresponsible to post that given how verifiably untrue it is.  Windows 10 will use 2 GB RAM by itself even without any bloatware, and I can show you Sims 3 saves that use more than 2 GB just on loading.  Your saves may use less, but you can't know someone else's playstyle or how long they'd like their saves to last.  And Sims 3 responds very badly to having its data paged out, so it's not merely a question of letting the OS manage memory effectively.

Additionally, not all quad-core CPUs are created equal, and there are plenty of dual-cores that are more powerful than older quad-cores.  As for the graphics card or chip, I have enough hwifno logs to see what happens when the GPU can't keep up with the demands of Sims 3.  It's actually worse on newer systems than on old ones, which may be why you haven't seen it, but I have.  One example I remember is someone who's game crashed every single time it rained or snowed—the iGPU was running at 98% capacity at the time and just couldn't meet the demands put on it, and then the game would crash.  This happened even on low settings.  This computer was made perhaps three or four years ago, and its iGPU was significantly better than a GT 710, although slower than a 1030.

No one is depicting Sims 3 as a AAA game needing an overpowered gaming PC.  Computers with a GTX 1050 can be very cheap on Ebay or bought from friends, and a 1050 itself can be had for about $30 on Ebay.

Finally, the worst advice you can give someone on a tight budget is to buy a low-end computer that doesn't actually meet their needs.  Then they've spent all of their money and don't have anything to show for it, and they may not be able to return the product either.

@MAWriterGirl :

If you're seeing fog, chances are that has to do with the graphics settings in-game. When you lower the draw distance to the lowest level, you'll have this issue. If you have other issues with the game graphically, it could be a case of needing to update your graphics drivers or even, in some odd cases, rolling them back, which is what I had to do with my graphics card. I had to roll the driver back, because there was an issue with a recent update that caused rain to clip. 

In terms of recommending a computer, I would pick a build similar to the Dell you found on Amazon, but with better reviews. Another site I would recommend, in case you decide against Amazon or run out of time at Tiger Direct (can't believe it's closing; bought my first electronics components there, like 20 years ago!), is Newegg: http://www.newegg.com. You can also try Best Buy and B & H Photo.

Go to "Desktops" sections on any of these sites, filter results by "low to high-price" to find budget builds. To help drill things down, read reviews because some of buyers will actually be specific as in, "It runs older games like GTA V great or Assassin's Creed fine." If a desktop can run an older triple A title like GTA V or any other released around the time TS3 wound down (GTA V was released in 2013), it can run TS3. 

BTW, I'm just going to reiterate what I said earlier, and explain my remarks:

1. There aren't desktops with a quadcore in consumer builds (aka store-bought) that cannot run older titles like The Sims. Desktops like that have always been aimed at casual users/casual gamers who want budget builds that can play older titles like GTA V, Assassin's Creed, etc. That's why I said that an AMD quadcore is fine without getting into specifics about it. 
   
   
2. The Sims 3 is not a triple A title, so it doesn't make sense to say that a casual user would need at least 8GB, or even invoke SSDs or anything of the sort. A person can certainly start with 4GB and then upgrade if they want, but not need it for The Sims 3 if all they want to do is play the game. 
   
   
3. Speaking of which, the conventional wisdom of needing a monster rig started when it turned out that TS3 was poorly optimized. So, people assumed that when their computers started sputtering, they needed to drop gobs of money on souped up components. But then, as it turned out, some of them wound up needing mods and hacks anyway to get the game running smoothly in spite of all the money they had spent: Help With Setting Up/optimizing The Sims 3 On New/high end systems. — The Sims Forums
   
   So, I guess that's why everyone wants to recommend SSDs, expensive cards, etc.. I suppose dropping $700-$1000 on a rig to play TS3 will cancel out some of the lag that comes with the game because of poor optimization, but I think it would be much cheaper to get a midrange computer and just use NRAAS and other mods like everyone winds up doing anyway, no matter how budget or high end the system. 🤣

Good luck on your search, and Happy Simming!

@puzzlezaddictOkay, so I received the new computer, then spent several hours setting it up, installing the game along with the EPs and SPs I'm currently playing.  I double-click on the icon for the game, get the launcher, try to run it -- and it goes to a black screen, then shows me a weird white top and left-side border for a few seconds before the screen goes back to black and then returns to the desktop image.  The game won't run on the computer and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.  I bought the Amazon machine, and it's working fine otherwise; I'm posing this question with the new computer.  Is there any way to find out what went wrong?  Thanks ...

@MAWriterGirl  Try forcing the game to launch in windowed mode.  Go into Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3, open options.ini, ctrl-F to search for fullscreen , and set it to 0 (zero).  If this works, you can switch back to fullscreen at the Main Menu, but at the same time, also switch to your monitor's native resolution.

If that doesn't help, please run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/

Please also let me know whether you've installed any mods or custom content so far.

@MAWriterGirl What model computer did you get? If by "Amazon machine" you meant the "Dell Gaming 7020 SFF", then you got scammed by a third party vendor at Amazon that is taking an old business model called the Optiplex 7020 (released in 2013) and converting them into a fake gaming computer. Apparently, it was a fad on YouTube to take this old business computer and turn into a "monster rig" with spare parts. Some of the builders took things to the next level and apparently convinced Amazon to sell these Frankenbuilds as "refurbished."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f25UJrfjAi0&t=43s

@MAWriterGirl  If you post a dxdiag, I'll be able to see most of the comptuer's internal components.  The power supply won't be listed, but you can find its specs by looking at the unit itself.  Rather than get into speculation about what might or might not be inside the system, I figured it was easier to just ask.

If you do decide to return this system, for whatever reason, and want to computer-shop in the future, feel free to reach out.  It's also worth considering whether you'd be willing to buy a used computer from someone local, either from a friend or on Craigslist.  It's certainly a risk buying from someone you don't know, but there are also tests you can run, in-person, that give you a good idea of whether the computer is currently in decent shape.

One other approach would be to build your own computer.  Used components in the "runs Sims 3 on ultra settings" range are relatively cheap, well within your budget if you're patient.  And while building a computer can be intimidating, it's also a fun process that can teach you a lot about hardware.

Whatever you decide to do, feel free to ask whatever questions you have, and I'll be around.

@puzzlezaddictThe dxdiag for the new computer is attached.  The sticker on the top of the tower says it's a Dell Optiplex 9020 SF; it runs fine as long as I'm not trying to play the game, but of course that was what I wanted it for.  When it's running, it makes an endless rapid clacking sound (I think it's the exhaust fan), which I'm sure isn't supposed to be the case.  When I first attempted to run the game, I had installed the same two EPs and SPs I'm currently playing with on my other computer.  At this time I don't use mods in my game (mostly because I'm not sure my computer will deal well with them), and I hadn't yet installed any CC.  After I found that the game crashed instantly, I uninstalled everything but the base game and tried running it like that, with the same result.  As to other options ... I'm not sure I have the mechanical aptitude to build my own computer, and I don't have a computer-geek friend, but I'll keep looking around to see what I can find and will certainly vet my next "discovery" with you, thank you so much.

@thesims1depotAt the moment I don't have a credit card (though I'm about to get one, especially now); if I'd had one earlier, I wouldn't have had quite such a strict budget limit.  Once I get a card, though, I'll have some more leeway with pricing, since I'll be able to make payments on a purchase price and not have to cough up the whole thing at once.  I'll keep a sharp eye on the manufacturer websites; thanks very much for that.

I have another thought.  I'm tentatively playing with some of the graphics settings in the game on my current PC.  If I play with fewer EPs and SPs installed, does that give me any room to make further adjustments to the settings so I can maximize the draw distance and the mirror/water-reflection settings?  Everything else is at the minimum setting and I don't mind leaving them that way, but I did want to play with the draw distance in particular.  I adjusted the reflector setting to apply just to mirrors and that seems to work, even though my game likes to freeze up at 11;59 PM every Sim night, then go forward till 12:59 AM, freeze, and make several additional short freezes for the next 15-20 Sim minutes before running more smoothly again.  I figured it had to do with installing the second stuff pack.  For all that my current PC and the game tend to argue with each other every so often, at least it's willing to run the game, which is more than I can say for the new one. 🙂  Anyway, many thanks to both of you for all your generous help!

@puzzlezaddict  It took me a week to follow all the advice you gave me in the last post, primarily because of work; but after several hours of following your instructions, installing games and EPs, transferring my saved games and CC, and then starting up the game ... it works!  Everything is in terrific working order and I was even able to download and install the last patch, not to mention being able to install and use some CC that my older computer refused to have anything to do with.  I've been slack-jawed over the graphics and the goodies that have come with the patch, and I can hardly wait to install more EPs and SPs.  Thank you SO much for all your help; it's been invaluable, and I never would have been able to complete the whole setup alone.  You've been a truly amazing help and I'm really grateful.

My new computer has gotten past the clacking from the exhaust fan as well; I tinkered with it a bit and now it runs nice and quiet.  The sound, though, comes through the tower speaker, which renders it very tinny; I couldn't get either headphones or speakers to work with it.  I figure I can live with that for now, at least till I get used to all the amazing new changes in my game; I may be back later to ask if there's any possibility of improving the sound quality.

Also: my next goal is to download Aurora Skies from the Sims 3 store; but whenever I click on the Buy SimPoints button, it kicks me to the home screen for EA.  I tried it on both computers and it's the same problem on both.  Is there a way around this?  Thanks again!

@MAWriterGirl  I'm so glad to hear everything, or at least almost everything, is working correctly.  For the sound devices, you might need to plug one in and restart to give Windows a chance to install and initialize the correct device driver.  It should just be plug-n-play, but sometimes things don't work correctly.  You might also ask your friends to loan you different devices so you can try them out; when you find one that works, consider buying something similar.

For the SimPoints issue, you'll need to install the EA App.  You can download it from here:

https://www.ea.com/ea-app

Sign in using the same email address and password you use on the Store site.  Open your game library, click Sims 3, click the DLC button at the top of the page, and "The Sims 3 Currency" should be the first entry.  If you don't see it, search for the same name, and it should show up in the App's store.  Buying from here will add the points directly to the account that you're signed into at the moment.  You can uninstall the App when you're done.

If you have a disc install, make sure the App doesn't detect it and try to patch your game.  You'd see the progress bar in the lower-left corner.  (The App won't touch a Steam install.)  Or you could install the App on a separate computer if you prefer.  Sims 3 doesn't need to be installed in order for the App to allow purchases.

Unfortunately, there hasn't been a way to buy without the App since EA took down the old Origin website in December.