sims 4 computer

Hey @LittleMissAly 

While I can't make a direct recommendation for what to purchase, I do like to share this site, where you can input the game you want to play and the specs of your system (or potential system) and it will give info over how it might work based on the minimum and recommend specs for the game you input. 

For reference, this is the minimum and recommend specs from the Sims 4 Origin page: (please note this might change based on which DLC you want to play as well, so make sure you check out their store pages for spec requirements)

Hope this helps!

@LittleMissAly  I don't work for EA, so I guess I'm free to make specific recommendations if I want.  The computer you linked would run Sims 4 fine, but probably not on ultra settings if you installed most of the expansion packs, and not if you're planning to play at that monitor's native resolution.  I think you can do better, perhaps a lot better.

Are there any other details that matter to you aside from being able to play Sims 4?  Do you want a custom-built PC or do you just want the best option available for the price?

For the monitor, the one you've linked would be more than fine, but I don't think you need to spend >$300 on a monitor for Sims games.  This monitor has a professional-grade color range, more than you need for any game and more than you'd likely even notice in games either.  I can look for other options here too, but please let me know if you have a specific reason for wanting a pro-level display.  Let me know whether the resolution matters as well, i.e. whether you'd be fine with 1920x1080 or specifically want 2560x1440.

@puzzlezaddict I am open to custom-built but would prefer the best option available for the price. Only because I plan to use the computer for work as well. It is so much nicer to do bookkeeping on a desktop than it is my small surface pro lol. Really I am just looking for something that I can play the sims 4 or have about 6 tabs open without the computer missing a beat. 

I was into color display because I do enjoy photography. But, i am not at a professional level so I would be open to different monitors as well. I actually thought the professional color display would help in the game as well. But as you can see I have no idea what I am doing. 
I would be fine with 1920x1080. I was just thinking a larger screen would be nice when I have two tabs open side by side for work. 

I want to thank you so much in advance for your help!

@LittleMissAly  There are unfortunately not a lot of good gaming PCs available right now.  The market hasn't calmed down yet, and manufacturers are transitioning between the older 16- and 20-series graphics cards and the newer and more expensive 30-series.  You can still do better than a 1030 though.  For example:

https://www.amazon.com/SkyTech-Blaze-Gaming-Computer-Desktop/dp/B08VYDFMS8

This one can run Sims 4 on ultra settings now, and it has room for improvements in the future if you need them: the processor and graphics card could be upgraded, and you could add more RAM.

If you want to keep the price a bit lower, the above applies to this one too, except the 1050 ti is a little slower than the 1650: you should still be able to use ultra graphics settings, but maybe only barely.  I wouldn't say it's a better deal overall—the faster card is worth the extra $50—but if you'd upgrade the card regardless, you'd end up saving money by initiall getting a cheaper one.  The processor in this model is better than in the one above, but both are fine for Sims 4.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1642272-REG/ibuypower_slatemr149i_computer.html

If you're not in a hurry, an alternative option is to configure this model to your liking.  It starts at $650.

https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-pavilion-gaming-desktop-tg01-2170m-pc-3v2z3av-1

I would definitely upgrade the SSD to 500 GB (+$40) and the graphics card to either a 1650 Super (+$20 and a few percentage points faster than a regular 1650) or a 1660 Super (+$90, much faster than the 1650s).  I wouldn't pay to upgrade the RAM; save some money and do it yourself if necessary.  The build quality of this computer isn't as good as the others, but it's certainly not bad.  The real advantage though is you'd get a faster graphics card for your money.  This is about your priorities though: absolute performance vs. build quality.

As for monitors, it does sound like you'd benefit from a high-res screen, specifically 2560x1440.  Many people are fine with 1080p, but the higher resolutions do make a difference to plenty of players, especially those who are attuned to visuals as well.  Choosing a monitor is about personal taste as much as anything else, but the important details are the resolution, the panel type, and of course the physical size on your desk.  Among panels, IPS is the highest quality in terms of color vividness and range, at least until you get into much more expensive options.

Since I can't tell you what you like, I'll list a few examples of good 1440p IPS monitors so you can get an idea of what's out there.  They're not cheap, but they do start at $100 less than the one you linked.

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-L24q-30-23-8-inch-Widescreen-65FBGCC1US/dp/B089FJS412

https://www.amazon.com/LG-24QP500-B-FreeSync-Virtually-Borderless/dp/B08YJWYMD5

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-KA272U-biipx-Zero-Frame-Technology/dp/B08JQSBNYH

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/6453642.p?skuId=6453642

Quality 1080p IPS monitors are cheaper, and if you get a smaller one, you might be fine at the lower resolution.  I wouldn't go higher than 24" though.

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VL249HE-Adaptive-Sync-Frameless-Mountable/dp/B08LCPNPNG

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/6454576.p?skuId=6454576

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Computer-Border-Less-FreeSync-LS24R350FZNXZA/dp/B091BCRJR7

The FreeSync feature doesn't really matter here: FreeSync is an AMD feature, and only some of the monitors will also work with Nvidia's G-sync.  Besides, you can achieve the same effect with software.

If you're not sure what you want out of a monitor, the best thing to do is to go to a physical store, e.g. Best Buy, where a number of monitors are on display.  You'd get a sense of how each resolution looks at different sizes as well as which manufacturers' panels you like.  Even if the store doesn't have the models you're considering, you'd still have a better idea of what to look for rather than relying on Amazon reviews.

If you have more questions, please feel free to ask.

@puzzlezaddict 

I have another question. Would it be worth me spending more money on a monitor like this in the long run? Monitor here This is one that I currently pulled up. I am just curious if forking out around $1,500 would be better for me and my gaming experience versus trying to stay under 1k. 

I do want something that will be able to run the sims 5 if that comes out within the next two years and isn't just a rumor in the air. 

I really do appreciate all the help you have given me this far. 

@LittleMissAly  Personally, I think the best investment you can make is in upgradability, not in current components.  As an example, the 2070 Super in this build is a little slower than the newer 3060 ti, a card that's supposed to be $400 standalone when the market isn't insane.  (The market is extremely insane right now.)  That means in about 18 months, the 2070 Super was surpassed by a lower-tier card from Nvidia's next generation.  Two or three years from now, whatever card is priced at $400 will undoubtedly be faster than the 3060 ti and might be faster than the current 3070.

Sims 5 won't be here for at least a year or two, maybe more, and the base game alone probably won't even be as demanding is Sims 4 is now if we judge by the gap between the final version of Sims 3 and the original Sims 4 base game.  Or you might decide in the future you want to play a different game that happens to be more demanding than Sims 4 or 5, and it's a lot cheaper to buy a new graphics card than an entire new computer.  The 2070S might be fast enough for anything you'd ever do in the lifespan of this system, but it's impossible to know for sure.

On the other hand, maybe you don't want to deal with all that.  If you'd just rather get a computer that is probably going to handle everything you want it to do for a number of years, that's a perfectly valid approach.  In that case however, I'd suggest something with a higher build quality, for example one of these:

https://www.newegg.com/abs-ali564/p/N82E16883360194

https://www.newegg.com/abs-ali519/p/N82E16883360119

The 3060 is a little slower than the 2070 Super but still massive overkill for Sims 4.  The only meaningful difference between the two is the processor, but the cheaper one is still more than fine for Sims games, and since the two systems' motherboards use the same socket, they have the same processor upgrades available.  ABS is Newegg's in-house brand, basically its system integrator arm, and the build quality is surprisingly good according to reviews.

In terms of cheaper but upgradable options, I can get this one down to $1142 in price with a few different choices, including a 1650 (good enough to run Sims 4 on ultra settings) and the other components to support a future upgrade.

https://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Syber-M-Core-100

There might be a slightly cheaper configuration available; let me know if you'd like me to check.

@puzzlezaddict Thank you so much for your help! Is it really that easy to upgrade things within the tower? I have never taken apart a computer tower in my life lol. 

@LittleMissAly  When you have a full tower, not some mini or small form factor PC but a properly sized computer, yes, it's quite easy to swap out many of the components.  RAM is the simplest: you click the modules into the appropriate slots and you're done.  A graphics card is a bit more complicated, but not much: you unplug the power cables, take out a couple of screws, and click a release to remove the old one, then put the new one in the slot, screw the mounting bracket back into place, and reattach the cables.

The processor is more complicated in that you need to take off the cooler and put it back properly, and you really do need to be careful with the processor itself.  But it's something most people get right on their first try just by paying attention and reading the manual.

If you're curious, there are plenty of YouTube videos that show how to add or upgrade a particular component, not to mention the hundreds of build guides that cover everything at once.  And you can always ask a friend who's built before—it's pretty common for people who play PC games to build their own system at least once.