New PC help
I’m looking to invest in a gaming pc / mac for playing the Sims. I’m unfamiliar with pc specks so don’t really know what to look for. I would use mods and CC plus expansion packs. I might use it to p...
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@BlankHotel The first computer you linked is significant overkill for Sims 4. The i5 is not at all outdated; I don't know where that information is coming from. Sims 4 also doesn't require and can't use more RAM than 16 GB. This system's hardware should be able to handle anything Sims 4 can throw at it, including a significant pile of custom content, for the entire life of the game.
The second computer is even more overkill, and I don't think you could actually see any difference in how the two handled Sims 4 unless you ran some benchmarking tests. If you plan to play other more demanding games, for example Baldur's Gate 3 or Hogwarts Legacy, and want to use ultra settings and Raytracing, the RTX 4070 would help there. But it's not necessary and certainly not going to help with Sims 4.
If you'd like other suggestions as well, let me know, but only if you're ready to buy now. There's no sense in going over the currently-available options if you're going to wait even a couple of weeks, given how quickly things change.
You are a lifesaver, thank you so much.
Turns out I can actually get it much sooner than I anticipated. I’m going to go for the first one I linked, the i5. I don’t really plan on playing any more demanding games and I have an Xbox for those anyway.
If I changed my mind in the future, would it be possible to upgrade the processor and graphics card to an i7 and 4070?
Also, what should I look for in a monitor?
@BlankHotel The processor can be upgraded to anything from the same generation, so i7-14xxx or i9-14xxx. You'd probably need a more powerful CPU cooler for the higher-end SKUs, not necessarily an i7-14700 but anything above that. I'd have to look up benchmarks and don't know the specs of the cooler that comes with this build.
The graphics card could be upgraded in theory, but for an RTX 4070 or higher, you'd need to upgrade the power supply as well. A 500W PSU isn't sufficient. I have no idea how much power the RTX 5060 or whatever Nvidia ends up calling it will use, but it might work fine; the 5070 or equivalent will almost certainly need more.
For the monitor, the most important detail is that it has an IPS panel, the highest quality. Next I would suggest looking for something with at least 300 nits (candelas, or cd/m^2) brightness; 250 is fine in a darkened room but not ideal under lights. If you're willing to spend a bit more for the monitor, a 2560x1440 resolution would look great, and your GPU can certainly handle the load. For the size itself, whatever feels comfortable and fits on your desk is fine.
If you're not ready to buy a new monitor now, you could pick up a good used one for cheap on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Monitors lose their value pretty quickly, so a 1080p IPS monitor that's a few years old could cost very little and last you until you've picked out the model you want.
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