affordable PC/Laptop recs?

sarakemi​  Is your budget in U.S. dollars or some other currency?  $700 U.S. is right around where gaming laptops start, and any new-ish gaming laptop can handle ultra graphics settings.  But if you'd prefer something lighter and more portable, I can usually find a few options capable of at least high-ultra settings at or just below this price point too.

A desktop would likely be a bit more expensive, especially if you have to buy the monitor too, although you'd get slightly better hardware for it.

Have you thought about getting a laptop cooler though? It might help with the overheating.

Hi puzzlezaddict​ Thank you for jumping in to help! I saw some of your responses to other older threads and was hoping you'd be able to chime in and give some tips. It would be $700 USD as a budget but I understand if it needs to be a bit higher for what I am looking for. Based off of how I typically play, I am leaning more into prioritizing portability and smoother gameplay with wiggle room for larger save files, additional DLC and a few mods I would download in the future. I figure getting better graphics than my MacBook would be guaranteed with most gaming laptops so that is lower on my priority list at the moment. I have a friend who is trying to convince me to build a desktop, but with TS4 being the only game I really play, it seems a bit excessive for where I'm at. With that being said, I would really only need the tower as I already have an extra monitor, keyboard, etc.

I have seen some listings for refurbished laptops that tend to be around $300-$500 but am slightly worried about the longevity of the computer and potential hidden problems/issues. 

videogamefan07​ to be honest, I haven't looked that much into cooling systems and my knowledge is pretty limited. I wasn't sure if that alone would keep my game running smooth cause one of my concerns was the game slowing down because of larger save files. Have you had success with just using a "personal" laptop and cooling system?

puzzlezaddict​ Wow! Thank you for providing so many varied options! I was overwhelmed at the idea of researching it with my limited knowledge so I appreciate the detailed description and options you gave me. I thought a bit more about the desktop option.. I know that it's usually the better option and can be upgraded. I know I might regret it in the long run, but for where I am at right now, I really enjoy being able to play in different locations at my house or on vacation, visiting home, etc. So I think the laptop is where I'm leaning.. 

Based off of your suggestions, I preferred the HP Victus with the AMD Radeon graphics card due to its ability to be upgraded and cost effectiveness and the Lenovo with the 12GB RAM. Again, similar reasoning being the ease to upgrade and lower cost. I also wanted to avoid the issue with HP computers you mentioned, so it seems easiest to go with the other 2 options. Out of those 2, is there one that you would recommend over the other?

Again, thank you so much for taking the time to help me with this!

sarakemi​  I personally would go for the Lenovo because the graphics card can't be upgraded, and the GPU determines how well a given computer runs most games, including Sims 4.  However, that is based on the value I put in higher performance as well as my interest in other games.  It's not a bad decision at all to go with the cheaper option.  And if your plan is to get another new computer a few years down the line, you could put the money you saved now towards that hypothetical future purchase.  This really is about what you want, and what the money means to you; there's no one right option.

Getting a laptop is also a perfectly reasonable decision even when you know a desktop would give you better performance.  Portability can matter a lot, especially if you might enjoy playing on the couch or in bed (although make sure the laptop isn't resting directly on a blanket, as that could block the air vents).  You don't need to choose performance or upgradability over everything else if you have other priorities.  So don't let anyone tell you that you should want something else.

puzzlezaddict​ I was initially leaning more towards the Lenovo, so you helped to affirm my gut feeling. I did not want to pigeon hole myself into only having the capacity for Sims 4, rather than giving my future self the option to add  more DLC or get into other games. I also tend to go with the cheaper option and then regret it down the road. 

When I am playing in different rooms of my house, I make sure to use a lap desk for air flow. So I will make sure I continue to do that, especially with a more powerful computer than my MacBook. My last question (I promise!) is whether it is worth getting a cooling unit or if that's a "cross the bridge when I get there" kind of purchase?

Thank you again for all your help! I feel confident in making my first gaming laptop purchase now!

sarakemi​  My guess is that you won't need a separate cooling pad or fan, but you can wait to find out until you have the laptop.  I can show you how to monitor temperatures if you like and explain what to look out for.  Gaming laptops do run hot, but they're also designed to keep the hardware temps within range so as not to damage themselves.  The key here is to determine whether your laptop is needing to throttle too much to stay within that range, as in, whether performance is taking a noticeable hit.

I would expect the answer to be no, given the design and hardware, because this processor and graphics card don't use that much power and therefore don't produce that much heat for the fans to dissipate.  And this particular model and chassis can be configured with more powerful components that it also needs to be able to cool properly.  But there's no way to be sure without trying it out.

You're welcome to keep asking questions as long as you have them.  I enjoy talking about hardware and helping people set up their new systems.

puzzlezaddict​ I'm so sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I live in Los Angeles and work in Downtown LA so things have been a bit busier than usual. 

Thank you for the info on the cooling system. I'm going to wait on that one and see how it goes with the laptop on its own. For now, I am going to move forward with the Lenovo! Thank you for all your help. I'm going to mark it as solved since my intial question was just about laptop recs but you may see me pop up again if I end up having any overheating issues. If not, it's cause you gave a great recommendation and things are all good. Thanks again!