Forum Discussion

whynotsim's avatar
whynotsim
3 years ago
Solved

Affordable PC Options for optical gaming of Sims 4

So I've been playing The Sims 4 on console and recently decided to start playing on my iMac and l've really gotten into mods and cc. But I've noticed it's causing a huge lag (over five minutes to boo...
pc
puzzlezaddict's avatar
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
3 years ago

@whynotsim  Your links are broken, and other than the third option, I have no idea what specs these computers have from the info provided.  If you'd like to link them again, please do so.

However, $500 U.S. isn't enough for a new gaming computer, if that's your goal.  It's fine for a mid-range laptop that can handle Sims 4, all packs included but not accounting for custom content, on medium-high to high graphics settings; all-in-one desktops with the same internal hardware cost a bit more.  You might also consider a used gaming PC from another source, but here again. those from standard online stores tend to only be marginally cheaper than their new counterparts.

Anyway, let me know what you're thinking about—the best option in this price range, the cheapest new gaming desktop, good options on Ebay, something else—and I'll have a look around.

  • whynotsim's avatar
    whynotsim
    3 years ago

    Hi @puzzlezaddict

    Thanks for responding!

    Yeah, I kinda feared that would be the case. Initially, I assumed I could just grab a relatively cheap PC from Amazon, but upon googling ‘best PC for playing Sims 4’ it quickly became clear that I completely underestimated the cost, lol. That’s actually how I stumbled upon a few of your threads here.

    So how much would you say I should be expecting to pay at minimum for what I need? I’d really prefer an actual PC over a laptop, though it doesn’t necessarily need to be brand new, I’m fine with a refurbished/renewed model since its primary use will be for gaming and I’ll still use my iMac for everything else.

    Like I mentioned before I would just like to have a PC that’s capable of handling my gaming needs, definitely a CPU with a six-core or eight-core chip if possible.

    One of the main aspects I also really want to improve is the graphics. When I’m playing on my iMac the graphics are decent when I’m in CAS, but in live mode I experience a lot of inconsistencies and bad graphics. I'd like to be able to play with high-ultra graphics settings, though I'm not sure if I'd need a specific monitor as well?

    Aside from getting a faster processor and better graphics, one of my main concerns is ensuring the computer can handle everything smoothly and that I have enough storage space for my game and add-ons; The Sims 4 along with most of the expansion/game packs, mods & cc. Currently, Sims 4 is the only game I'll be playing on the PC, however, with Sims 5 in the making and other games like Life by You and Paralives on the way, I can't help but think I should have enough storage to handle those as well.

    System Requirements for Life by You
    Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system.
    OS: Windows 10.
    Processor: Intel Core i5-8600 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600.
    Memory: 16 GB RAM.
    Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB / AMD Radeon R9 380 4GB.
    DirectX: Version 11.
    Storage: 25 GB available space.

    Official Minimum Requirements for Paralives
    OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10.
    Processor: 2.3 GHz Intel i3 or comparable.
    Memory: 4 GB RAM.
    Graphics: DirectX® 10 compliant graphics card.
    Storage: 10 GB available space.

     
     

    Btw, not sure what's going on with those links, I copied them directly from the site and now they aren't working. Based on some generic recommendations online here are a few options I looked at recently, though I'm not sure what all of it means or if any of these can do everything I need:

    1. HP OMEN - 25L Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 5 5600G - HyperX 8GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER - 512GB SSD - Ceramic White - $1,049.99 $650 (this one was on sale  a few days ago and I'm thinking it will be on sale again during the upcoming Memorial Day sale)

    2. Lenovo - Legion Tower 5 AMD Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 5-5600G - 8GB Memory - AMD Radeon RX 6500XT - 512GB SSD - Raven Black - $639.99

    3. Skytech Archangel Gaming PC Desktop – AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz, NVIDIA RTX 3050, 500GB NVME SSD, 8GB DDR4 RAM 3200, 600W Gold PSU, 11AC Wi-Fi, Windows 11 Home 64-bit - $800

    I guess I will need to up my budget a bit, but I'm really hoping to get a decent deal since there are usually some decent sales going on for the upcoming holiday. Please let me know what you think and any suggestions you may have. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

About The Sims 4 Technical Issues - PC

PC players get help with their technical issues in The Sims 4 here.52,513 PostsLatest Activity: 3 hours ago