Not very savvy with computer specs, and need new computer. Help please?
ptvsophie The component that determines how well most computers, including gaming laptops, run games is the graphics card, so that's the detail to focus on here. Given your budget and your goal to use some custom content and ReShade, your best option is an RTX 4050, which is well past what's necessary to run Sims 4 itself on ultra graphics settings. But ReShade makes the game more demanding, and so can high poly cc, and your budget can accommodate an upgrade over the cheaper RTX 3050.
If you do want to save money though, the 3050 can still run Sims 4 on ultra settings, just maybe not on ultra with all the added content you're planning to use. It really depends on your play style and what exactly you add to the game.
Anyway, these are the cheapest laptops I found with an RTX 4050 and good build quality overall:
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/lenovo-loq-essential-15-6-fhd-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i5geforce-rtx-4050
https://www.centrecom.com.au/lenovo-loq-gen-9-156-fhd-ryzen-7-24gb-ram-512gb-rtx4050-gaming-laptop
https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/acer-nitro-v-16-ryzen-5-16g-1tb-gaming-ai-pc-geforce-rtx4050-acqp1sa002The first two are not quite the same model because one has an Intel processor and the other has AMD. The AMD CPU is significantly faster overall, but the Intel CPU is a bit faster in single-core clock speeds, meaning they would likely handle Sims 4 at close to the same level. But again, the GPU is the limiting factor here. The Acer has a newer and faster CPU than the others, which would help with loading times, but not necessarily elsewhere. So unless you want every bit of performance out of this laptop, choose whichever one you want for whatever reasons you like.
If you'd like to go with an RTX 3050 instead, you have a lot more options, starting around $1,000. Here are the the cheapest good ones I'm seeing:
https://www.umart.com.au/product/asus-vivobook-16x-16in-wuxga-144hz-i5-13420h-rtx-3050-512gb-ssd-16gb-ram-w11h-laptop-indie-black-v3605vc-rp451w-82373
https://www.harveynorman.com.au/acer-aspire-7-15-6-inch-i5-12450h-16gb-512gb-ssd-rtx3050-6gb-gaming-laptop.html
https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/acer-15-6-nitro-v-15-gaming-laptop-ryzen-5-16-512gb-rtx3050-acqpfsa001I wouldn't drop down past an RTX 3050 because of the performance loss. And playing at a 1920x1080 resolution, as most laptop screens have in this price tier, Sims 4 isn't really going to use any more power than a 4050 has, so you don't need to spend more money on a further upgrade.
If none of these are what you want, let me know in what way, and I'll do another search. Please also let me know whether you want an RTX 3050 or 4050; the latter would at or above your budget cap. And if you have more questions in general, feel free to ask.
