New Laptop needed for Sims 4
@smilelikemiles There are two possibilities for that $400 laptop. The first is a computer with much weaker hardware than you're looking for. The minimum requirements for the TS4 base game are lower than the reqs for each the newer expansion packs, and that still doesn't account for the demands of running them all at the same time. Besides, you're not looking for a computer that only meets the minimum reqs, i.e. that can technically run what you're asking of it, probably on the lowest settings. You in all likelihood want a computer that will make TS4 look great, and that will allow you to play with the content you want for the forseeable future.
The other possibility is that the $400 computer is used. That's just asking for trouble—you never know how the previous owner treated it. Even a desktop is a huge risk, but a laptop could be broken or nearly so, and it's impossible to replace the hardware, with the exception of RAM.
I looked for deals again, and for around $700, I could only find two good options. They both have an Intel i5-8300 processor, an Nvidia 1050 ti, and 8 GB RAM. (You could add more RAM later, if you wanted.) The first is cheaper, once you factor in the rebate, but it has only an HDD for storage. The second has a hybrid (SSHD) drive, which will be faster than an HDD, but again, that won't affect how TS4 itself runs.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834155024
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834235023
Again, these computers will handle TS4 itself on the highest settings; the question is how much farther you can take them with custom content, now or later. At the moment, it looks like a laptop with an Nvidia 1060 (3 GB or 6 GB) would cost at least $900, but prices may come down a bit. For example, this one is over $1000 but comes with a rebate card that brings it to $880 net before taxes:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16834154829
Anyway, there aren't ever going to be a whole lot of options in that price range, no matter what the sales look like.
As to your other question, most laptops these days don't come with a disc drive. But as long as your content is registered in Origin, as TS4 has to be (even if you own it on disc), you can redownload it onto as many computers as you want, for free. You can only play on one computer at a time, but your account has the right to run the game on any computer you choose.
The same is true for TS3 if your base game and packs are registered to your Origin account. Otherwise, external disc drives can be as cheap as $30.
