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Re: Gaming desktop reccomendations

@superfam04  Both of those configurations are significant overkill for Sims 4.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, but you really don't need to spend anywhere near $2,000 on a desktop for Sims 4.  So the question becomes whether you'd like to get the cheapest good option, something of higher quality that should support upgrades, or something overpowered for other purposes, like other games.

Please also let me know the resolution of the monitor you intend to play on, and whether you'd like to run the game at 60 or 75 fps or something higher.  If you're undecided, that's fine, but that's part of the overall calculation—how powerful a graphics card you need will depend in large part on the number of pixels it has to render and at what frequency.

Let me know what you're thinking, whether you have a solid plan or are just kicking around ideas, and I'll look around for some good options.

11 Replies

  • superfam04's avatar
    superfam04
    Not applicable
    5 years ago

    @puzzlezaddict First thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question and your help. I really don’t play other games. Other than the Sims 4, my other uses are internet browsing, typing an occasional document/letter, saving photos documents and my kids using it for google classroom and playing Roblox.
    My current laptop plays pretty well with some lagging. I want a bigger better faster experience when playing the sims. I want to feel like I’m there and with faster loading rates. I have most of the sims packs, bunch of mods and custom content. 
    For fps, I’m open to your suggestions.  I hope this helps and thanks again. 

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @superfam04  As far as in-game framerates go, it's hard to say what the best option is for you because some people can't tell the difference between 60 fps and higher.  Others can and would prefer to play with higher framerates.  But if you're used to 60 fps and are fine with it, then a 75 Hz monitor should work great.  Additionally, a higher-resolution monitor, either QHD (2560x1440) or 4k (3840x2160) would be a significant step up as well.  I don't know what size you want the monitor to be though, or even if you have one picked out; if you don't have one in mind, let me know either the size you want (measured on the diagonal) or the width you'd prefer it to be.

    For the computer itself, I found one option that's priced significantly below what I'd expect, with a very new, very fast graphics card that should easily run Sims 4 in 4k at 60 or 75 fps.  (This card is about 35% faster in gaming than the 5700XT.)  The processor is not overly powerful but is more than fine for the game, and the motherboard socket it uses would support a CPU upgrade if you decided you needed one for other reasons in a few years.  Its other components are all good or great quality, as good as or better than what you'd find in a prebuilt PC from a typical manufacturer.

    https://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Gaming-Instant-Ship-GM-99577

    It does only have 500 GB storage; while that's more than enough for most people, it kind of sounds like you might be looking for more than that.  If so, you could easily add another drive yourself, now or later.  But if you don't want to need to do that, there aren't any other desktops with as fast a graphics card in the same price range; the next cheapest one I found is this, for $1,400, with a 1 TB SSD:

    https://www.amazon.com/Skytech-Shadow-3-0-Gaming-Desktop/dp/B08R45ZC6Q

    To be clear though, you don't need such a fast graphics card for Sims 4, and in fact if you're planning on playing on a 1080p monitor, it would be a waste of power even at 144 Hz.  For 60 or 75 fps, something with a 1660 ti or Super would be perfectly fine and likely not run particularly close to its max workload while you played.  For example, these would work:

    https://www.amazon.com/CyberpowerPC-Xtreme-i5-10400F-GeForce-GXiVR8060A10/dp/B08FBK2DK5

    https://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberpowerpc-gamer-xtreme-gaming-desktop-intel-core-i5-10600kf-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1660-super-1tb-hdd-240gb-ssd-black/6430869.p?skuId=6430869

    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1560350-REG/msi_mpg_trident_3_10si_002us.html

    https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-legion-tower-5-amd-gaming-desktop-amd-ryzen-7-3700x-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1660-super-256gb-ssd-1tb-hdd-phantom-black/6424472.p?skuId=6424472

    There are plenty of other options; these are just the cheapest ones I saw that are made by reputable companies.  In this price range, 8 GB RAM is typical, but it's easy enough to upgrade to 16 GB, which is more than you'd ever need for Sims 4, even with some multitasking in the background.

    For the Nvidia 1660/2060 options, it would also be easy to customize a desktop with your preferred configuration, if you'd rather have the extra storage or memory already installed.  For example, this Dell is $1,062 with a 1660 ti or $1,152 with the slightly faster 2060, plus 16 GB RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and an upgraded power supply:

    https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desktop-computers/dell-g5-gaming-desktop/spd/g-series-5000-desktop/gd5090g520s?configurationid=e1c7079a-0cfb-4999-969e-47063be4ac96

    https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desktop-computers/dell-g5-gaming-desktop/spd/g-series-5000-desktop/gd5090g520s?configurationid=e1c7079a-0cfb-4999-969e-47063be4ac96

    I didn't compare the prices for prebuilt systems because there are too many possibilities to cover; you'd need to at least choose the level of graphics card you wanted, then we could go from there.  But it's fairly simple to find the cheapest good options with exactly the components you want as long as I know the basics.  That's why I asked about the monitor—assuming you'd like to play with ultra graphics settings, it's easy enough to figure out what GPU would max out that monitor.

    Anyway, let me know what you're thinking, more or less, and we can narrow things down from here if necessary.

  • superfam04's avatar
    superfam04
    Not applicable
    5 years ago
    @puzzlezaddict you are awesome, thank you so much. I’m really liking the cyber power pc’s. As for monitor, I would like at least a 25 in if possible. I’m perfectly fine with 60 fps.
  • dolldrms1's avatar
    dolldrms1
    Seasoned Ace
    5 years ago

    @superfam04  Just wanted to take a minute and let you know that I have a Cyberpower pc and I love it. As a matter-of-fact, this is my second gaming pc from them. Nothing was wrong with the first one I used for several years. I got a new one because I wanted to upgrade and opted to buy a new one so I could give the old one to my granddaughter, who also plays sims. Her Mac had gotten so old and I wanted to help her out. We enjoy sharing the simming experience and she is enjoying playing on the "new to her" gaming pc. 🙂

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @superfam04  For a 25" or larger monitor, I'd go with QHD (2560x1440) unless you really don't mind the lower resolution.  My 27" is QHD and looks a bit pixellated if I pay close attention, although I don't notice it at all when I'm playing.  Anyway, take a look at these and let me know what you think.  They're all QHD and have IPS panels, which have the best colors and contrast, and they're made by quality manufacturers.

    https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-q27q-10-27-ips-led-qhd-freesync-monitor-displayport-hdmi-black/6404031.p?skuId=6404031

    https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-27mq-27-ips-led-qhd-monitor-hdmi-vga-silver-black/6426785.p?skuId=6426785

    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1429422-REG/asus_designo_mz27aql_27_wqhd.html

    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1456960-REG/acer_um_hv7aa_003_v277u_bmiipx_27_16_9.html

    https://www.amazon.com/BenQ-2560x1440-Widescreen-BL2420PT-DisplayPort/dp/B01LHYIATA

    All except the last are 27", since 25" is a more uncommon size.  (If you want something more like 32", that's easy to find too.)

    This one is a bit more expensive, but I figured I'd mention it because my brother got the 144 Hz version two years ago and loves it:

    https://www.newegg.com/nixeus-27/p/0JC-00E7-00009?Item=0JC-00E7-00009

    These are more of a starting point—if you like one, great, but if none of them are quite what you're looking for, let me know why, so I can narrow down the search.

  • superfam04's avatar
    superfam04
    Not applicable
    5 years ago
    @puzzlezaddict Again, thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I appreciate it very much.
    So I’m deciding between the CyberPowerPC GM 99577 and the Lenovo Legion 5 (if I can find them available in my area) and I really loving the style of the Lenovo - Q27q-10 27" IPS LED QHD FreeSync Monitor.
  • superfam04's avatar
    superfam04
    Not applicable
    5 years ago
    • @puzzlezaddict hello! It’s me again! So sorry to bother you. I haven’t been able to find either one of the pc’s I wanted but I’m kinda glad because we recently got an oculus quest 2. So I’d like to add vr ready to my gaming pc. 

    if you have any further recommendations for this, I’d greatly appreciate your input.  Here is what I have saved so far but I’m not sure. With the current sale, I can get the PC and Monitor for $1600 (tax included) Thanks in advance!

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @superfam04  The Oculus Quest 2 doesn't really change things: the systems you were considering already supported it.  If you'd like more details, here are the minimum requirements:

    https://support.oculus.com/444256562873335/

    As you'll notice, the only components you really need are a fast new-ish graphics card and a USB 3 cable.

    The monitor specs you've posted seem fine, although I can't tell you more without knowing the exact model attached to those specs.  Dell monitors are good quality overall, although many people (myself included) don't really like how their colors look.  But that's a matter of taste.

    The computer itself is mostly fine too, and more than good enough for Sims 4.  However, without an SSD, other games you might want to play may load more slowly, perhaps much more slowly.  I'm not familiar with the Oculus, but it's possible that using one would exacerbate the issue.

    If you want to keep the budget down, you could add a 128 GB SSD and buy and install second SSD yourself (maybe $50 for a 500 GB model) at some later date.  The reason to get at least a small SSD now is so that Windows is installed on it rather than on the HDD.  Or you could reinstall Windows and critical drivers on the SSD when you get it.

  • superfam04's avatar
    superfam04
    Not applicable
    5 years ago

    @puzzlezaddictgotcha. I upgraded the hard drive to include ssd so I hope this is more adequate. The model of the monitor is Dell 32 Curved Gaming Monitor - S3220DGF ... I remember you saying to stick with QHD.

    Also just wanted you to know that you are awesome for helping us who are less knowledgeable in this regard. You are a lifesaver.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @superfam04  If you're satisfied with what you're buying, I think you're getting a good system.  Remember too that you can add more RAM or another hard drive after the fact, if you decide you need an upgrade.