Re: Good PC for the Sims 4, that runs it smoothly, and is also reasonably priced?
@SprinkleTastic Once you know what you're looking for, it's not too difficult to keep the hardware details straight. Some components are important but can be (mostly) ignored, for example RAM. Having less than 8 GB would make playing Sims 4 difficult, but any halfway decent gaming desktop will come with at least 8 GB. Similarly for the processor, a weak one would slow down the game, but in your price range, the processors are generally good enough. In fact, if you choose a system with the right graphics card, the CPU and RAM should fall into place.
The single most important component in a gaming PC is the graphics card, in that it will almost certainly be the limiting factor in Sims 4, as in most games. For desktop PCs, an Nvidia 1650 will probably be fast enough to run all current and future Sims 4 packs together on ultra settings. I say probably because we don't know how demanding future expansions will be, but that should do it. A 1650 Super is a bit faster, and a 1660 (any type) is significantly faster than that, if you're interested in futureproofing for other games, or using a lot of high poly custom content. The AMD RX 570 and 580 are older but also good enough for ultra settings now and in all likelihood in the future, if you happen to see them.
The other important detail is storage. While you could run Sims 4 on a 256 GB hard drive without running out of space, if you want to store other data on the computer, or play other games, you'll want more than that: either a larger single solid state drive (probably 512 GB) or a 256 GB SSD in combination with a larger mechanical drive (HDD). A computer with only an HDD will load everything from Windows to apps more slowly, but Sims 4 would still run fine on it once loaded.
I did find a few good options for you to consider, or at least to get you started. This one is as low as I'd go. Its processor is good enough but not by a large margin, and it has an RX 570 graphics card. On the plus side, it's only $600.
I saw an HP with a 1650 and a 512 GB SSD for about $675, but it apparently sold out between when I found it and now. Still, if this is your preferred type of configuration (and price), you should be able to find something equal or similar for the same price sooner or later.
This is the best system I saw for under $750. It has a 1660 and a good processor for gaming, plus a combination 256 GB SSD/1 TB HDD.
https://www.amazon.com/CYBERPOWERPC-Xtreme-i5-9400F-GeForce-GXiVR8060A8/dp/B07VGJDKZ4
There were several other desktops for the same price, but they were all not as good in some way, usually with a slower graphics card. But if you don't like this computer, there are plenty of other options to consider.
If you find something yourself and want a second opinion, feel free to link it. And of course please ask if you have more questions.
