Re: Affordable PC Options for optical gaming of Sims 4

Hi @puzzlezaddict

Thanks for responding!

Yeah, I kinda feared that would be the case. Initially, I assumed I could just grab a relatively cheap PC from Amazon, but upon googling ‘best PC for playing Sims 4’ it quickly became clear that I completely underestimated the cost, lol. That’s actually how I stumbled upon a few of your threads here.

So how much would you say I should be expecting to pay at minimum for what I need? I’d really prefer an actual PC over a laptop, though it doesn’t necessarily need to be brand new, I’m fine with a refurbished/renewed model since its primary use will be for gaming and I’ll still use my iMac for everything else.

Like I mentioned before I would just like to have a PC that’s capable of handling my gaming needs, definitely a CPU with a six-core or eight-core chip if possible.

One of the main aspects I also really want to improve is the graphics. When I’m playing on my iMac the graphics are decent when I’m in CAS, but in live mode I experience a lot of inconsistencies and bad graphics. I'd like to be able to play with high-ultra graphics settings, though I'm not sure if I'd need a specific monitor as well?

Aside from getting a faster processor and better graphics, one of my main concerns is ensuring the computer can handle everything smoothly and that I have enough storage space for my game and add-ons; The Sims 4 along with most of the expansion/game packs, mods & cc. Currently, Sims 4 is the only game I'll be playing on the PC, however, with Sims 5 in the making and other games like Life by You and Paralives on the way, I can't help but think I should have enough storage to handle those as well.

System Requirements for Life by You
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system.
OS: Windows 10.
Processor: Intel Core i5-8600 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600.
Memory: 16 GB RAM.
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB / AMD Radeon R9 380 4GB.
DirectX: Version 11.
Storage: 25 GB available space.

Official Minimum Requirements for Paralives
OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10.
Processor: 2.3 GHz Intel i3 or comparable.
Memory: 4 GB RAM.
Graphics: DirectX® 10 compliant graphics card.
Storage: 10 GB available space.

Btw, not sure what's going on with those links, I copied them directly from the site and now they aren't working. Based on some generic recommendations online here are a few options I looked at recently, though I'm not sure what all of it means or if any of these can do everything I need:

1. HP OMEN - 25L Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 5 5600G - HyperX 8GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER - 512GB SSD - Ceramic White - $1,049.99 $650 (this one was on sale  a few days ago and I'm thinking it will be on sale again during the upcoming Memorial Day sale)

2. Lenovo - Legion Tower 5 AMD Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 5-5600G - 8GB Memory - AMD Radeon RX 6500XT - 512GB SSD - Raven Black - $639.99

3. Skytech Archangel Gaming PC Desktop – AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz, NVIDIA RTX 3050, 500GB NVME SSD, 8GB DDR4 RAM 3200, 600W Gold PSU, 11AC Wi-Fi, Windows 11 Home 64-bit - $800

I guess I will need to up my budget a bit, but I'm really hoping to get a decent deal since there are usually some decent sales going on for the upcoming holiday. Please let me know what you think and any suggestions you may have. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

@whynotsim  All of the options you've listed would be more than fine for all the games you've listed.  I don't know what the requirements for ultra settings will be for Life By You or Paralives, but for Sims 4, a desktop 3050 is well above what you'd need.  You could get away with a 1650 as well and still have room to spare, in case you're looking at used computers, but for new models at least, you wouldn't be saving much money, and the upgrade to even a 3050 or 1660 ti is significant.

The 6500XT is behind those two in performance, and although it's above a 1650 in overall speed, I'd avoid it unless you're looking at a much better price.  Between the somewhat small improvement over the 1650 and the occasional issues with AMD cards or drivers in Sims 4 and other games, it's not the best choice for someone who wants to play Sims 4 and not spend time troubleshooting, again if the prices are similar.  (To be clear, I don't mean crashing/can't play, I mean minor slowdowns or inconveniences that mess up your screenshots.)  For $100 less, I'd strongly consider it and just accept that reflections in mirrors might be backwards for a few months or whatever.

For the processor, I'd try to avoid the Ryzen 3rd-gen processors like the R5 3600 in the third option, again if all else were equal.  I've tried to troubleshoot a few instances of the game running slowly and not utliziing much graphics power on systems with this and similar CPUs that I couldn't explain or solve.  So I try to avoid recommending those when I can find other options at a similar price.  But again, it's not like the game wouldn't work at all, it just might not run as well as it should given the hardware.  The newer AMD processors don't have this issue as far as I've seen.

Life By You does specify that it requires 16 GB RAM.  But memory is extremely easy to upgrade and quite cheap these days, at least for the DDR4 kits you'd be considering.  So while it would be nice to find a system with 16 GB already installed, you could also wait a while, then buy yourself more for $40 or so and install it in a couple of minutes.

So among the three, the first choice would be my recommendation and the one I'd buy for myself, at least at the sale price.  I don't think it's at all worth an extra $250 over the third one, and I'm not sure the third is better than the second at that price difference either.  But if you're looking at used systems too, you might find the configuration you're looking for at a price that makes it worthwhile.

I also want to say that if you really would like to keep the budget down, this one would be absolutely fine.  Its CPU does only have four cores, but that's plenty for the games you want to play (and in fact this is a very good processor for mid-tier games), plus you could upgrade it in the future if you needed to.  A used i5-13600K might be under $200 by the time you're looking.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-victus-gaming-desktop-intel-core-i3-12100f-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1650-512gb-ssd-mica-silver/6504334.p?skuId=6504334

On the flip side, if you want to go big, this is an excellent option, total overkill but also not more expensive than the current prices of the ones you're considering.  And Skytech's build quality is usually very good:

https://www.newegg.com/skytech-st-azure-0641-b-ne/p/3D5-000Z-000Z2

If you find something else you like, feel free to link it here.  I'm around every day, so you shouldn't need to wait long for a reply.

@puzzlezaddict Thank you, I really appreciate your detailed explanations as I would have never been able to narrow down my search and find what I needed without your help!

Honestly, I’m debating just springing for the second one you recommended, Skytech Azure. Although it’s a bit more, I think it’ll be wise to get something that’s guaranteed to meet my requirements, while also being less likely to need any upgrades or replacing any time soon. Since I'm spending a bit more either way I really want to ensure I'm able to play without any issues.

I did have a few others I just wanted to get your opinion on, at this point just to see how they compare against the Skytech Azure. Btw, what is the significant difference in performance when it comes to a mini PC and a normal/medium size PC?


1. MXZ Gaming PC Desktop Computer, AMD Ryzen 5 4500 3.6GHz, GTX1660S,16GB(8G*2) DDR4, NVME 500GB SSD, 6RGB Fans, Win 10 Pro Ready, Gamer Desktop Computer(R5 4500|GTX1660S)

https://www.newegg.com/p/3D5-002D-00058?item=9SIAZBDJ8V0182&source=googleshopping&nm_mc=knc-googlemkp-mobile&cm_mmc=knc-googlemkp-mobile-_-pla-mxz+pc-_-gaming+desktop-_-9SIAZBDJ8V0182&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid+shopping&utm_campaign=knc-googlemkp-mobile-_-pla-mxz+pc-_-gaming+desktop-_-9SIAZBDJ8V0182&id0=Google&id1=19834472380&id2=147434657655&id3=&id4=&id5=pla-1968579871859&id6=&id7=9027781&id8=&id9=g&id10=m&id11=&id12=CjwKCAjw9pGjBhB-EiwAa5jl3FWN4hqIZlr4fzS4tCZRVoslPcDLEYNSOZBGV3TCg680pY0Uzsh-9xoCqx0QAvD_BwE&id13=Y&id14=Y&id15=&id16=651581942777&id17=&id18=&id19=&id20=&id21=pla&id22=410252212&id23=online&id24=9SIAZBDJ8V0182&id25=US&id26=1968579871859&id27=&id28=&id29=&id30=11715816848882117623&id31=en&id32=&id33=&id34=&gbraid=0AAAAAD-YhmMaaH3WRfbpLmjSOVEQpwMke&gclid=CjwKCAjw9pGjBhB-EiwAa5jl3FWN4hqIZlr4fzS4tCZRVoslPcDLEYNSOZBGV3TCg680pY0Uzsh-9xoCqx0QAvD_BwE


2. Skytech Chronos Mini Gaming PC Desktop – AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz, NVIDIA RTX 3050, 500GB NVME SSD, 16GB DDR4 RAM 3200, 600W Gold PSU, Wi-Fi, Windows 11 Home 64-bit

https://www.amazon.com/Skytech-Chronos-Mini-Gaming-Desktop/dp/B0BFGD4C5T?th=1


3. ACEMAGICIAN Mini Gaming PC, AMD Ryzen 5 5600U (up to 4.2GHz), 16GB DDR4 RAM 512GB SSD Mini Desktop Computer, Windows 11 Pro, RGB Light, WiFi 5 Bluetooth 4.2, 3 Screens Display, HDMI, DP, Type C Port

https://www.amazon.com/ACEMAGICIAN-5600U-16GB-512GB-Bluetooth/dp/B0BCQQNKZT?th=1


Lastly, I read online that I could possibly use my iMac as a monitor for the PC but I'm not completely sure if that will work or if I'll need a new monitor as well. For instance, if I purchase the Skytech Azure you recommended, will I also need a particular monitor or does it not really matter?

@whynotsim  None of the three computers you've listed are anywhere close to as fast as the Skytech Azure I linked, so if you're comfortable in that price range, the Azure is the best bet.  The first one you listed looks fine to me and is a good price, but I don't know anything about this particular seller, either the build quality of its systems or what kind of support you'd get.  I would consider it somewhat of a risk just because buying from a third party through Newegg, as opposed to buying something sold directly by Newegg, is always a risk in terms of support options.  On the other hand, if the computer works as advertised, then you won't need support and so that wouldn't be an issue.

The second computer you've listed is the same price as the Azure and not nearly as good, so I'd just cross it off.  The third is basically a laptop in desktop form, without even a dedicated graphics card.  It's a good option at that price but is absolutely not a gaming PC and shouldn't be advertised as one.  Even a desktop 1650 is more than twice as fast as the integrated graphics chip in this computer. 

There are two potential problems with mini PCs or small form factor builds, by which I don't mean the third option you linked but rather the Skytech Chronos and others like it.  The first problem is that it can be difficult to work inside such a small space, especially for people who aren't already comfortable building or upgrading computers.  That would of course only be an issue if you were looking to upgrade.  The other problem is cooling: it's more difficult to move air out of the case fast enough to keep the components cool.  This shouldn't be a problem with a properly-done build or with the components in the Chronos, which wouldn't generate a lot of heat.  So I wouldn't tell you not to buy one in this price range.

Almost all new-ish monitors work with almost all new-ish computers.  DisplayPort and HDMI are standard connections, with any given graphics card from the last five years at least supporting both, and most monitors supporting both as well.  It's really just plug and play here.  However, the iMac monitor wouldn't be compatible out of the box, so to speak, and it might not work even with some advanced trickery.  I'd have to look into it more, but I can tell you for sure that this kind of setup is not supported.

In terms of what monitor you'd want, the first question is how large you'd like it to be.  Then you can get into resolution and refresh rate.  The other critical detail is that you ideally want IPS, the highest-quality panel in terms of colors and viewing angles.  VA is good enough if you play in a dark room and a reasonable way to save money, especially if you're getting a monitor with a higher resolution or refresh rate.  But like I said, choose the physical size first, then we can go from there.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. So based on everything we discussed I did just go ahead and order the Skytech Azure from Newegg, just so I'm confident I'm getting a PC powerful enough to do everything I want it to, even if it's a little overkill. Who knows, I may get into a new game that has higher spec requirements, so with that logic, I've come to terms with the higher price tag.



Btw, I did notice that under specs it mentioned the video card brand may vary; "Video Card: NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3060 12GB GDDR6 Graphics Card (Brand may vary)." Is that something I should be concerned about, or is it not really a big deal and won't really affect much?





As for the monitor, I want to find something that will pair well with this PC and maximize the graphics it has to offer. My goal is to play with the ultra setting and high resolution. I know I don't want anything smaller than a 27" since that's what I'm used to, though a bigger screen might be nice as well, maybe a 30-32". I'm really conflicted about whether I should get a curved monitor or a flat monitor. I think I like the aesthetic of a curved monitor, but I'm unsure of the pros and c ons of the two and which is best for gaming.



Here are a few options I looked at, but I'm hoping you have a few good recommendations as well 🙂



1. Z-Edge 30-inch Curved Gaming Monitor, 200Hz Refresh Rate, 21:9 2560x1080 Ultra Wide, Curved Monitor, R1500 Curvature, MPRT 1ms FPS-RTS



https://www.amazon.com/Z-Edge-30-inch-Curved-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B08H5K5QYX/ref=sr_1_21?crid=A7EUUQVON1B7&keywords=27+inch+gaming+monitor+ips&qid=1684462613&refinements=p_n_feature_seventeen_browse-bin%3A17726608011%2Cp_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A72511692011&rnid=72511690011&s=pc&sprefix=27+inch+gaming+monitor+ips%2Celectronics%2C111&sr=1-21



2. ViewSonic 32 Inch 1080p Widescreen IPS Monitor with Ultra-Thin Bezels, Screen Split Capability HDMI and DisplayPort (VX3276-MHD)



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0787WGCXT/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?pf_rd_p=7b21e0c7-2d6d-4279-a40b-74d2b0593b5a&pf_rd_r=Y9S28BBP5AXC7BM1M7TW&pd_rd_wg=Lnlcj&pd_rd_w=h4jNI&content-id=amzn1.sym.7b21e0c7-2d6d-4279-a40b-74d2b0593b5a&pd_rd_r=26ced724-8871-4322-9a27-64a0caa4a883&s=pc&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyREExOFdHUDFSM1RVJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTA5NjY1MUEwWTE3QURMQVVGNyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDMxNTA0MkNaQ09CQ0c5TklBQSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbF90aGVtYXRpYyZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1



3.ViewSonic OMNI VX3218-PC-MHD 32 Inch Curved 1080p 1ms 165Hz Gaming Monitor with Adaptive Sync, Eye Care, HDMI and Display Port



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V85DH1R/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?pd_rd_i=B08V85DH1R&pd_rd_w=f6mYn&content-id=amzn1.sym.08ba9b95-1385-44b0-b652-c46acdff309c&pf_rd_p=08ba9b95-1385-44b0-b652-c46acdff309c&pf_rd_r=Y9S28BBP5AXC7BM1M7TW&pd_rd_wg=Lnlcj&pd_rd_r=26ced724-8871-4322-9a27-64a0caa4a883&s=pc&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE4RjRQNktTWFlUWDImZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA3MDQ4NTUyODA0VTg2NTgxV05aJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1MTQxOTU5RzhOVlZOTFdUNlUmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWMmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&th=1



4.SAMSUNG 27-Inch CF39 Series FHD 1080p Curved Computer Monitor, Ultra Slim Design, AMD FreeSync, 4ms response, HDMI, DisplayPort, VESA Compatible, Wide Viewing Angle (LC27F398FWNXZA), Black



https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LC27F398FWNXZA-C27F398-Curved-Monitor/dp/B01CX26WIG/ref=sr_1_10?crid=A7EUUQVON1B7&keywords=27%2Binch%2Bgaming%2Bmonitor%2Bips&qid=1684462613&refinements=p_n_feature_seventeen_browse-bin%3A17726608011%2Cp_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A72511692011&rnid=72511690011&s=pc&sprefix=27%2Binch%2Bgaming%2Bmonitor%2Bips%2Celectronics%2C111&sr=1-10&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&th=1



5.SAMSUNG Odyssey G5 Series 27-Inch WQHD (2560x1440) Gaming Monitor, 144Hz, Curved, 1ms, HDMI, Display Port, FreeSync Premium (LC27G55TQWNXZA)



https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-27-Inch-Odyssey-FreeSync-LC27G55TQWNXZA/dp/B08FF3HDW5/ref=sr_1_8?crid=A7EUUQVON1B7&keywords=27%2Binch%2Bgaming%2Bmonitor%2Bips&qid=1684462613&refinements=p_n_feature_seventeen_browse-bin%3A17726608011%2Cp_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A72511692011&rnid=72511690011&s=pc&sprefix=27%2Binch%2Bgaming%2Bmonitor%2Bips%2Celectronics%2C111&sr=1-8&th=1



6. GTEK 165Hz 2K Gaming Monitor, 27 Inch Frameless Display QHD 2560 x 1440P, Curved 1800R, VA 1ms MPRT, Supports 144Hz HDR, FreeSync, DisplayPort/HDMI 2.0, VESA - Q2765VC



https://www.amazon.com/GTEK-Q2765VC-Frameless-Supports-DisplayPort/dp/B09HL9CB4P/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.64bc779e-b98c-45cc-a090-d4d3598f4d4c%3Aamzn1.sym.64bc779e-b98c-45cc-a090-d4d3598f4d4c&crid=A7EUUQVON1B7&cv_ct_cx=27%2Binch%2Bgaming%2Bmonitor%2Bips&keywords=27%2Binch%2Bgaming%2Bmonitor%2Bips&pd_rd_i=B09HL9CB4P&pd_rd_r=d9be538c-4fdc-4d00-8e52-f6ba6971a436&pd_rd_w=DsUoj&pd_rd_wg=N92Te&pf_rd_p=64bc779e-b98c-45cc-a090-d4d3598f4d4c&pf_rd_r=MC52MKGZEH25YCYZ47YZ&qid=1684462613&refinements=p_n_feature_seventeen_browse-bin%3A17726608011%2Cp_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A72511692011&rnid=72511690011&s=pc&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=27%2Binch%2Bgaming%2Bmonitor%2Bips%2Celectronics%2C111&sr=1-2-364cf978-ce2a-480a-9bb0-bdb96faa0f61-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE5NVBES0s5OVVRMEImZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1MDE3NDlJNkNEWklETEhXN1gmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDIxNDk3MkhaVjRDQjM0WjJNTCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3NlYXJjaF90aGVtYXRpYyZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1



7. Z-Edge 27-inch Curved Gaming Monitor, Full HD 1080P 1920x1080 LED Backlight Monitor, with 75Hz Refresh Rate and Eye-Care Technology, 178° Wide View Angle, Built-in Speakers, VGA+HDMI


https://www.amazon.com/Z-Edge-1920x1080-Backlight-Eye-Care-Technology/dp/B08H8JM216/ref=sr_1_29?crid=A7EUUQVON1B7&keywords=27+inch+gaming+monitor+ips&qid=1684463936&refinements=p_n_feature_seventeen_browse-bin%3A17726608011%2Cp_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A72511692011&rnid=72511690011&s=pc&sprefix=27+inch+gaming+monitor+ips%2Celectronics%2C111&sr=1-29

@whynotsim  Nvidia and AMD make only a small number of graphics cards, as in, the full-size unit you install into a computer.  They mostly make the chips (the brains of the GPU) and sell them to third parties that then make the printed circuit board and install everything else, from VRAM to the cooler.  These cards, from companies like Asus and MSI, make up the bulk of the market.

The product page for the computer is telling you that you'll get a 3060, but you don't get to choose who made it: Asus or MSI or Gigabyte or Zotac or someone else.  The system integrator has bought a bunch of GPUs in bulk and will install what is has on hand.  It doesn't really matter though.  At the high end, you might want to pay more for a beefier cooler or a high-end factory-overclocked chip or some other detail, but a 3060 doesn't generate enough heat to need a powerful cooling solution, and you don't need the GPU to be overclocked.

For the monitor, since you want such a large screen and you have such a fast GPU for Sims 4, I'd highly recommend going with a 2560x1440 resolution.  Your games will look more crisp and clear with the higher pixel density, and I personally find 1920x1080 a bit grainy even at 27", although I might be a bit sensitive.  But since you don't want to go to 4k for both cost and performance reasons, 1440p is a good balance.  A refresh rate over 100 Hz also makes games feel smoother, and regular use probably will as well.

That leaves 5 and 6 as the best options, although I don't really know anything about GTek as a brand.  The bad reviews for the product sound pretty bad, but they're also a low percentage of the total.  I personally think even a used Samsung monitor would be a better option.

These would be good options (both IPS) too:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-nitro-xv320qu-lvbmiiphx-31-5-ips-led-wqhd-monitor-freesync-premium-hdmi/6498034.p?skuId=6498034

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-odyssey-27-ips-led-qhd-freesync-g-sync-compatible-gaming-monitor-with-hdr-display-port-hdmi-black/6471364.p?skuId=6471364

Or, like I said, a good VA monitor in a darker room looks great; that's what I use for gaming.  Something like one of these:

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16824011453?Item=N82E16824011453

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16824475294?Item=N82E16824475294

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16824281243?Item=N82E16824281243

https://www.newegg.com/lenovo-32/p/0JC-0006-00UW4?Item=0JC-0006-00UW4

https://www.newegg.com/p/1B4-00MJ-000D0?Item=1B4-00MJ-000D0

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-nitro-xz322qu-sbmiipphx-31-5-led-wqhd-1500r-curved-monitor-freesynchdmi/6498038.p?skuId=6498038

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gigabyte-g27qc-a-27-led-curved-qhd-freesync-premium-gaming-monitor-with-hdr-hdmi-displayport-usb-black/6462630.p?skuId=6462630

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-odyssey-g51c-32-led-qhd-freesync-premium-gaming-monitor-with-hdr10-black/6532282.p?skuId=6532282

All of these are from reputable brands that make good-quality monitors; AOC normally makes panels for other companies and also creates a few of its own.

Okay, yeah I was a bit concerned when I noticed that, but that makes sense. As long as it doesn't affect the performance or anything it doesn't really matter to me, just thought I'd double-check with you on that, regarding the graphic card.

Side note; I did have a mishap with Newegg after purchasing the Skytech Azure. I received an email the following day stating that my order was canceled due to the item being out of stock. However when I did go back to the site the exact same PC was still listed for about $50 more. Luckily I was able to reach out to support and have the item price matched and re-ordered, but due to that weird experience, I did just want to see if you could recommend an alternative similar to the Skytech Azure, in the event that something like that is to happen again with my current order.

As for the monitor, I ended up going with this one for the time being, at least until I'm able to upgrade it in the future. 

Xgaming 27-inch Curved Gaming Monitor, Ultra Wide 16:9 PC Monitor with 165Hz Refresh Rate, QHD 2560 x 1440 Display, DisplayPort, HDMI and Speakers, Metal Black

https://www.walmart.com/ip/seort/2097826017

My setup is near a large window at my place and I hardly play in the dark just because my eyes are sometimes super sensitive when I watch tv or play games in the dark for long periods of time. So when searching for a monitor I was looking at something with:

1. curved screen
2. 27"-32" screen
3. 2560x1440 resolution
4. IPS panel
5. 120Hz-144Hz

I searched for hours but I had a hard time finding something that checked all of those boxes until I stumbled upon this one. Do you mind taking a look and seeing if I missed any major flaws?

There's one last thing I wanted to get your opinion on, and it may seem like a silly question. Are there any specific keyboards and mouse that I may need?

@whynotsim  The monitor looks fine on paper, although it is a bit dimmer than I'd expect: 250 nits is standard for VA panels but a little low for IPS.  Still, it could be perfectly fine for your needs; the only way to know is to test it out.  I'm not familiar with the brand at all, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I'd suggest inspecting the monitor very closely and returning it if you notice any problems.  Even one dead pixel out of the box is a reason for returning it—one now could mean more coming in the future.

Keep in mind that you can also calibrate the monitor to your preferences if you're not totally thrilled with how it looks out of the box.  The online guides for this do a better job than I could, so find one that works for you and try out some settings.  This really is more about subjective experience than anything else, so take your time and choose what works for you.  There's no one right answer.

For the keyboard and mouse, they're almost universally compatible just like monitors are.  The right answers are what feel good under your fingertips.  A high-quality keyboard can easily cost over $100, but you don't need one of those.  On the other hand, cheap keyboards can feel awful to the touch.  So I'd suggest either going to a store that has a bunch of keyboards laid out for testing, or trying out some you already have access to, like the ones at work or at your friends' places.  A $30 keyboard meant for office work might actually be perfectly fine: it could feel good enough to type with and just be missing the gaming-related bells and whistles that Sims 4 can't use anyway.  You don't need to care about response time or macros or RGB lighting.

The same goes for mice: you don't need a gaming mouse with lots of extra thumb buttons and customizable profiles, just something with nice-feeling buttons and that doesn't make your hand cramp during extended use.

I just wanted to thank you again for all your help during this process, you are amazing, truly!

Hey @puzzlezaddict 

I am also looking for an affordable PC, laptop or PC handheld that can keep up with Sim 4 and its Mods. Would you be able to help me with that? 

@ZoeNicole1226  Sure, just list your budget and country as well as any other details that matter to you.  Please also let me know whether you'd prefer a laptop or desktop, or you truly don't care.

I wouldn't recommend a handheld gaming PC for Sims 4, at least not now.  Some of them are reasonably powerful, but the screen size is inconvenient at best for a Sims game, and the ones that run versions of Linux can have problems with the EA App.

Hey Thanks!

Was thinking the OLED Steamdeck, for on the go, just cause sometimes i can't wait until i get home I don't mind the smaller screen.

Here are some links to laptops i found on sale at amazon today, and I'm in the U>S looking to stay under $500.

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Vivobook-Laptop-Windows-E1504FA-AS54/dp/B0CWJB9ZC6/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_pd_sbs_rvi_d_sccl_1_3/136-1482558-4089022?pd_rd_w=tfnre&content-id=amzn1.sym.9c71db11-3b2f-49a1-9fef-afd524b20130&pf_rd_p=9c71db11-3b2f-49a1-9fef-afd524b20130&pf_rd_r=Q837JSTK085TQVXFN7PT&pd_rd_wg=VcGbX&pd_rd_r=c0908eb4-bc39-4fbf-8448-5fedf42f6080&pd_rd_i=B0CWJB9ZC6&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Vivobook-i5-1235U-Graphics-F1605ZA-AS56/dp/B0CWJ642YM/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=rrkq2&content-id=amzn1.sym.621cf3d5-8912-4f0e-a16d-432aa5b660ba&pf_rd_p=621cf3d5-8912-4f0e-a16d-432aa5b660ba&pf_rd_r=EEZA79CEFR3RBG93KPK3&pd_rd_wg=dMwsT&pd_rd_r=69169e3d-5a68-4ddc-9eb6-54e6329effe6&ref_=pd_hp_d_atf_dealz_mlc

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Low-Blue-Processor-Ethernet-Bluetooth/dp/B0CVN88CFX/ref=sr_1_15?crid=3QECSZAM3A89Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.txhnqyLr3wObSlRSjTfU6AW7CxgpB9xaZkLLCyXkXbcsKwJ35Wh6TjorKKhwaMKddMl7MrIFx4hvM8CqEK_Mb4Na5CofV-1n7fM8GxsgozCVxLJkmubYLFSV1L4pujBJ2JDmdhESvHqmpXRROoU2nceM_N31P8beGEP4Wx_F3NU_PxNpkQwS8YkAhJuMPMwGD8tOE_uwYXZvJ7duiqT6p85xkhotZIs7MBmReHaGB6o.79cwoavUg5_pGDgk2cA3Efpz6-NFffuoq0j8NPLMID4&dib_tag=se&keywords=gaming%2Blaptop&qid=1721143143&refinements=p_36%3A-58000%2Cp_n_deal_type%3A23566064011&rnid=2421885011&sprefix=gaming%2Blaptop%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-15&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Ryzen5-5500U-1920x1080-Storage/dp/B0CJB5N9BQ/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3QECSZAM3A89Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.txhnqyLr3wObSlRSjTfU6AW7CxgpB9xaZkLLCyXkXbcsKwJ35Wh6TjorKKhwaMKddMl7MrIFx4hvM8CqEK_Mb4Na5CofV-1n7fM8GxsgozCVxLJkmubYLFSV1L4pujBJ2JDmdhESvHqmpXRROoU2nceM_N31P8beGEP4Wx_F3NU_PxNpkQwS8YkAhJuMPMwGD8tOE_uwYXZvJ7duiqT6p85xkhotZIs7MBmReHaGB6o.79cwoavUg5_pGDgk2cA3Efpz6-NFffuoq0j8NPLMID4&dib_tag=se&keywords=gaming+laptop&qid=1721143143&refinements=p_36%3A-58000%2Cp_n_deal_type%3A23566064011&rnid=2421885011&sprefix=gaming+laptop%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-13

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Display-NVIDIA%C2%AE-GeForce-FA506NF-ES51/dp/B0CRDF25TQ/ref=sxin_15_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.20582a66-3fea-414a-a28a-1cfcb5c8fe7e%3Aamzn1.sym.20582a66-3fea-414a-a28a-1cfcb5c8fe7e&crid=3QECSZAM3A89Q&cv_ct_cx=gaming%2Blaptop&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hNnMBzw5M3YWOCo43tcx9o2xLpUZob5SR87XJboP2RjTHgCU_YkBKXvbxlQQ-d4fhRdsQIp4h8DkNIfdas_yDw.817QBrjO2_JhP20uzTuj7A-mna_F3QtLoiO_TAXKvpY&dib_tag=se&keywords=gaming%2Blaptop&pd_rd_i=B0CRDF25TQ&pd_rd_r=d4382dec-8d67-40e9-bb26-eb1d84751e7a&pd_rd_w=l5cue&pd_rd_wg=L6TIJ&pf_rd_p=20582a66-3fea-414a-a28a-1cfcb5c8fe7e&pf_rd_r=K56R19SYNGKMFP1ZMJT8&qid=1721143095&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=gaming%2Blaptop%2Caps%2C94&sr=1-1-ac07dfd7-5f37-4797-bcf7-0f4905c82761-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/A314-23P-R3QA-Display-Quad-Core-Processor-Graphics/dp/B0BSLVF5F5/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_lotl_2?pd_rd_w=Uhd4D&content-id=amzn1.sym.34c0e86b-eca4-4a76-9631-47b39806a560%3Aamzn1.symc.42859738-97cc-4afd-9c72-2878a1f5e950&pf_rd_p=34c0e86b-eca4-4a76-9631-47b39806a560&pf_rd_r=4YK7EEZRX96JWE5JSVK3&pd_rd_wg=Vr1pG&pd_rd_r=d7110598-8a3e-45de-8b5d-78457c91b7dd&pd_rd_i=B0BSLVF5F5&th=1

@ZoeNicole1226  Absolutely cross off the third (Lenovo V15), which is at least a tier below any of the others.  In your price range, I'd skip the first (Vivobook Go), fourth (Ideapad 1), and last (Aspire 3), because they all have only 8 GB RAM, although the Ideapad 1 is the best among them in terms of performance in Sims 4.  That leaves the one true gaming laptop (the TUF) and the $450 Vivobook.

The TUF should be able to run all current Sims 4 content on ultra graphics settings, or maybe a mix of high and ultra, depending on your play style and what type of custom content you use, if any.  The Vivobook should handle medium-high to high settings.  For comparison's sake, a Steam Deck would perform somewhat better than Vivobook, but not at the level of a gaming laptop, if you ran the game at the same resolution; at the Deck's lower 1280x800 resolution, you might be able to manage ultra settings.

Even though the TUF has only 8 GB RAM, it's not nearly the problem on a gaming laptop because the discrete graphics card has its own video memory.  That means it doesn't need to borrow from main memory until it's exhausted its VRAM, which Sims 4 can't do at these resolutions.  So the 8 GB installed is actually 8 GB available when playing, unlike the ~6 GB you'd have on an 8 GB laptop with only integrated graphics.  Additionally, the RAM in most gaming laptops can be upgraded easily enough, and RAM is cheap.

If you're looking for something on the cheaper side, these would be a bit faster than the Vivobook and about equal to each other:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/5262667268

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-vivobook-16-m1605-16-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-with-16gb-memory-1-tb-ssd-indie-black/6542092.p?skuId=6542092

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-computer-laptops/new-inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3535-laptop/useichbts3535gryw

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-computer-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3520-laptop/nn3520gskhs

And this is a cheaper gaming laptop that's much faster than the TUF:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/5395277312

If you like the TUF in general, this model is cheaper and has a significantly faster graphics card, on par with the RTX 4050 in the Victus above; and 16 GB RAM as well.  It's only on sale for another day though.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-tuf-gaming-a16-16-165hz-gaming-laptop-fhd-amd-ryzen-7-7735hs-with-16gb-ddr5-memory-radeon-rx7700s-512gb-pcie-ssd-off-black/6560989.p?skuId=6560989

If you decide the Steam Deck is right for you, for portability or whatever other reasons, that's totally reasonable.  Just understand that while its performance on its own small screen is quite good, you'd lose a lot relative to a gaming laptop if you plugged it into a standalone 1080p (or higher) monitor.  That may or may not bother you; it's just something to consider when you're reading about how well the Deck runs more modern games.

THANK YOU!!! So much for this!!!