Pc build for sims 4,please help!
I am a newb who hasn't purchased a pc in a decade or more and who knows nothing about available software today. I am looking to do a custom build on clx, am liking the idea of the Nvidia geforce rtx ...
Forum Discussion
@so0307 For this build, I'd change a couple things. First, two 8 GB RAM modules will give you significantly better performance than a single 16 GB stick. The motherboard can run memory in dual-channel mode, and doing so will make a big difference in certain tasks.
Second, I'd spend a little more money to get a higher-quality SSD, for example this one:
PCIe (as opposed to SATA) SSDs are significantly faster (around six times faster for Gen. 3 PCIe, which is what this motherboard uses), which won't make any real difference to Sims 4 but will make your system feel faster and more responsive overall. And they're cheap now, plus they're easier to install.
I do want to point out that 1 TB SSDs are cheap too, and if this computer is only for Sims 4 for now, dropping the HDD and going with a a single SSD might be the better solution. You could always add more storage later.
Finally, and most crucially of all, spend the extra money for a better power supply. If you get a bad one, or even one that's fine for a couple of years but starts to decay, it can and will affect your entire system. A bad PSU can even damage other components. This is the single most important decision you make when building a PC.
Corsair is the gold standard in PSUs, and Seasonic is the next-best option for those who don't want to pay for Corsair. EVGA is creating good PSUs too but hasn't been a big player in the market for as long, so I can't tell you that their products will last the way the others will. Corsair and Seasonic typically offer 10-year warranties, to give you an idea of how seriously they take this.
Given the components in this build, I think 80+ Bronze is good enough—it's not as power-efficient as Gold, but the components aren't power hogs and you won't be maxing them out with Sims 4. This is one good option:
Even though it's a little more expensive than the one you picked out, consider it an investment in the overall health of your computer.
The included CPU cooler should be sufficient for the processor as far as Sims 4 is concerned. If you upgrade to a faster GPU down the line, or start playing more CPU-heavy games, that's something to consider upgrading. But you can check the temperatures you're getting under heavy load and make the decision then; it shouldn't be a problem now.
By the way, the motherboard you picked out is ATX. That's a form factor, not a make or model.
I checked at least a dozen different U.K. sites for prebuilt gaming PCs, and I didn't find anything that was as good as what you've picked out in terms of hardware and price. The cheapest systems I found with a 3060 are these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ADMI-Gaming-PC-3000MHz-Windows/dp/B077GS751Z/
Your build has a better processor, better storage options, and likely a better motherboard, although the product pages don't specify. The same goes for the PSU if you pick out a higher-quality option.
Downgrading to an RTX 3050, a GTX 1660 of some kind, or an AMD RX 6000-series only brings the price down to about £650. The 3060 is so much faster that if it's within your budget can accommodate it at all, I would definitely stick with it.
If you have more questions, feel free to keep asking.
Hi!
Think I made all changes you recommended: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/Qz2qKp
Glad the build is better than the pre-builds, I saw those but was wondering if they'd be better given the price. Do we have a winner? 🙂 whoop!
@so0307 I'd suggest spending the extra £4 to upgrade the RAM speed. It's not strictly necessary, but AMD CPUs do love fast RAM, and there's a big difference between 3600 and 3000 megatransfers per second.
It looks like you went with the single 500 GB SSD, which should still be fine for Sims 4; I just wanted to mention it in case that's not what you meant to do.
Other than that, I think you have a winner and the components for an excellent gaming PC, especially for the budget.
It's always worth comparing prices between components and pre-built systems, and in this price range, the prebuilts are often significantly cheaper. But as you're seeing, that's not always the case, and if you can build your own system or are willing to learn, you can guarantee you get the quality hardware you want.
Hello hello,
Just updated the RAM. Not sure about the SSD, should I go for more storage?
Thanks for all the help again 🙂@so0307 In your position, if the extra cost wasn't a problem, I'd go with the 1 TB SSD rather than 500 GB. It's a cheap upgrade, and your motherboard only has one M.2 slot, meaning you couldn't add a second one of these drives. A SATA SSD is fast enough for most tasks, including running Sims 4; this is more about maximizing the usage of that faster M.2 connection, which uses PCIe lanes rather than a SATA port. (That's the 6x increase in speed I mentioned before.) Plus, it pushes the need for a storage upgrade further down the line, if you ever need it at all.
Still, if you don't want to spend the extra money now, it's perfectly fine to stick with the 500 GB drive. You'll have more than enough storage now, and the motherboard has plenty of SATA ports if and when you're ready to add another drive.
- @puzzlezaddict Hi, not sure I understand everything but I don't want to take any more of your time so I will try to figure the SDD out myself. Just wanted to say thank you one more time, you have no idea how much you've helped!!
Wishing you all the best and if you have a tipee or anything similar please share it! @so0307 If you do have more questions about SSDs, I'd be happy to answer them. But the main question for you is whether you want 1 TB of storage now for a small price increase, or you're fine with 500 GB now and adding a second, slower drive later.
Community Highlights
- EA_Cade11 months ago
Community Manager
