@Shiranui67 What country do you live in, what's your price range (or cap) in your currency, and what stores would you consider buying from? Feel free to list them even if they're not in English; I can figure things out in any language that uses the Roman alphabet, and Google Translate can handle the rest.
Hiii thank you sm for answering, I live in Mexico so amazon works perfectly fine, what worries me from buying a pc online is the warranty idk if amazon has that for their electronic products.
My budget in mexican pesos is 20k and other stores I’ve been told to buy from are https://www.cyberpuerta.mx/ and https://ddtech.mx/ , honestly if you told me what type components I need for the games I play I could research on my own too 🙂
Thank u sm
@Shiranui67 You certainly don't need to spend 20k to get a great PC for Sims 4 and your other games, both of which are a little more demanding than Sims 4 but not difficult to run. Looking at their requirements, I would guess you would see little benefit, if any, past an RTX 3060 ti or 4060. Sims 4 won't max out a 3060 ti even at a 2560x1440 resolution, so these two GPUs are good relatively cheap options for all three games.
Even an RTX 3060 is more than fast enough for all three games on ultra graphics settings. In fact, if you're planning on playing at a 1920x1080 resolution, you don't need to go higher than that to max out Sims 4 and (apparently, from the comments I'm seeing) the other two games as well. But if you want a higher-resolution monitor, or one that runs at over 75 Hz, I'd suggest at least considering the 3060 ti or 4060 for the other two games. Sims 4 doesn't need the upgrade.
I would suggest a slight upgrade in the processor over the lowest-tier options available, partially for Sims 4 but perhaps more for Planet Zoo. While you could still play fine on any CPU paired with a dedicated graphics card, a faster one will smooth out the occasional lag or slowdown when the game engine has a lot to process. Sims 4 will lag on any machine, unfortunately, but you can lessen the effects with a better processor, up to a point.
The key here is not the number of cores—Sims 4 can only use four at a time—so much as their speed and efficiency, with efficiency improving slightly every generation. I don't know how many cores the other games use, but no game I know of can take full advantage of more than about eight. So a fast six-core CPU, for example an i5-11600K, is a great option, with extra cores above eight being irrelevant for gaming. There are too many processors to list here, but as a guide, try to stick with at least an i5-xx600K 11th-gen or newer or a Ryzen 5 5000-series or newer. Don't spend extra money on an i9 or Ryzen 9; you won't see any benefit.
For the other components, 16 GB RAM is more than enough. 500 GB on the primary drive is plenty for these games, although I'd suggest getting at least 1 TB total storage, whether it's on the SSD or from a secondary HDD. You might want to keep backup copies of your saves, or custom content you might use at some point, or something not game-related, and 500 GB isn't a huge amount when you're installing several games and hoarding Sims 4 cc. Both RAM and storage can be upgraded easily too, so don't worry too much about this.
Here are some examples of systems that check all the boxes above, including the GPU upgrade, with the first being the best of the three:
I did check Amazon as well, but the prices are somewhat higher for the same hardware, at least with the vendors I'd suggest buying from. There are a lot of bad options, and bad sellers, on the site, unfortunately.
I do want to mention that you could, at least on the sites you linked, save a lot of money by getting a weaker processor. This wouldn't mean bad performance in general, just a bit more lag when the games do lag, which they will anyway. Your budget can accommodate the upgrade, but in case you'd rather save money, something like this would be a perfectly viable option:
The CPU could be upgraded to any10th- or 11th-gen Intel model, so you could pick up a used 11600K or 11700 now or later and slot it in. Processors usually outlast almost everything else in the system, and they keep improving quickly, so used options are cheap and plentiful.
If you have questions about any of this, please feel free to keep asking.
Sorry to bring this thread up again, but it's the newest/most up to date..
My laptop is going to kick the bucket any time now, so ive been shopping around.. laptops are way too much and I think it's time to upgrade to a tower (I never use any of the "portability" features anyways)
That forth link, any chance you have a link to one still available? I'm in Canada, and (if I did the exchange rate right) that computer tower is under $1,000 which is perfect - I already have monitors and such in a box somewhere..
I plan to play Sims, all the content, handful of mods, and hopefully still have space for other games (had to uninstall a bunch, but I've been wanting to get City Skylines too, so something that can run both without crashing would be amazing)
Any help would be extremely appreciated- thank you for taking the time
@oh_Cosmos What's available can vary greatly from one country to another, and custom-built PCs are rarely available in multiple countries, especially ones that the store puts together itself and sells already assembled. So no, I doubt that the computers I posted are available in Canada. But I can find something suitable for $1,000 CAD or less.
What do you think of this one?
https://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=7_4527&item_id=243651
It's $1,000 new or $900 open-box, from Canada Computers, and it has a graphics card capable of easily handling all Sims 4 content on ultra settings. It also has an overpowered processor relative to its other hardware, which won't help Sims 4 but will be a benefit when running Cities Skylines.
I'd be happy to look for more options for you if you let me know your preferred budget (is $1,000 your cap, or a preference, or would you go higher for the right hardware?) as well as the stores you'd be comfortable buying from. At the moment, Best Buy Canada's prices aren't as good as other options, but those other options aren't helpful if you don't trust them or can't get to a physical store to make the purchase.
$1,500 CAD at the highest, but anything around the $1000 price is PERFECT
what you sent looks amazing, and if it runs both that's perfect! The more I think, the more games I want. So, if it can run Sims, Skylines, and Minecraft somewhat decently, I'm a happy camper.
Before you replied, I managed to find this HP system Thoughts?
https://www.bestbuy.ca/product/open-box
Stores nearby are limited (small town) so it would have to be by delivery only, unless I plan a trip to the city- trusted brands are best buy, Amazon if possible, or staples (do they still have computers?) but at this point I'd shop just about anywhere.
I've had good experiences with HP, Dell, and Lenovo, but again, open to just about anything. Doesn't need to be flashy, just needs to run.
Thank you for your assistance! It is greatly appreciated.
@oh_Cosmos This computer isn't in the same category as the one I linked. It doesn't even have a dedicated graphics card; its integrated chip is several times slower than the 1660 ti in the one I linked. That's not to say it's a terrible system, but if you can spend even the $1,000 for a true gaming PC, the upgrade is well worth the price premium.
As far as gaming desktops go, Dell and HP are not good choices overall because they use OEM components that are difficult to repair or replace. With a standard build, whether from a custom system integrator or from certain other brand names (Asus, Lenovo), you get standard parts that are easily replaced if necessary. So you could for example go to the store and buy a new power supply and swap it in without worrying about proprietary connectors or whether the PSU even has enough cables for what you'd like to install.
I'd be happy to look for more expensive systems too if you're interested, but if you're happy with the one I linked, I think it's a very good option at its price and for the games you want to play.
If it's still available when my next paycheck comes out, I'll probably grab it- it really is a great system!
Thank you for the info! You're definitely more knowledgeable than I am.. I'll probably be back, but if not, I hope you have a great day! Thank you for all your help! ♥️
hello, its me again..
once again opening this thread,
alrighty. so, tomorrow is payday (yay) so i wanted to check and make sure it was still available. i was able to find the same tower on best buy for the same price, and staples for the same open box price! sadly, the best buy link is now broken (re searched, its now $1,700!) and staples now has it for higher.. so, the only place i could buy it at the same price was the site you linked. (I'm happy its Canadian, but I've honestly never heard of it, seems to be mainly eastern- and BC.)
so i went to go through the transaction-- taxes $52, shipping $44, no longer available as open box but still cheaper than anywhere else.
sadly, after two attempts, the transaction will not go through. just get an error and told to try again.
so,, I'm now looking for alternative towers.
same three games, (sims 4, city skyline, Minecraft) all three with a mod or two (i have an external drive i use for mods on my laptop, so as long as i have space for three games and one mod folder when playing I'm happy) ,, and a max of $1,500. of course, cheaper the better, something around 800-1,000 is great because even with shipping i have cash left over.
any ideas? 🙂
@oh_Cosmos Please list the stores where you'd be comfortable buying, and I'll take another look. I'm happy to search however many sites you list, but I don't want to waste your time with suggestions that won't work for you. Please also let me know whether Memory Express is an option—I know it has some good stock most of the time, but it might also be unavailable or inconvenient in your region.
Thank you for your time! I'm up first thing in the morning, so I'll likely not review your suggestions till then.. that's on me for getting stuck gardening.
I have little experience when it comes to stores that fell computers, it's always been best buy, but I know they're limited..
We can try memory express! I believe there's a location on the west side of the city, I'd just need a day off to go- but that typically means cheaper shipping. Looks like Visions Electronics is similar.
Of course, Amazon, best buy, and staples
Would Walmart have anything good? It seems weird to go there but I know they have things..
We have a Costco run coming up, if there's something good there I could probably get it
Looking at locations downtown.. BCOM Computer Center, Uniway Computers, The Source? London drugs keeps popping up for whatever reason. ISP Computers Ltd, Honor Computer Systems Ltd, Clocked Computers,
Again thank you, you've done so much
@oh_Cosmos Visions Electronics only has higher-end, and higher-priced, gaming systems. Amazon's and Walmart's options are overpriced for the hardware; it looks like they import the computers from the U.S. and tack on a sizable surchare. That's also true of the relatively few offerings on Staples and Memory Express, at least at the moment. Costco has almost nothing at the moment, although that's a good place to check just in case it happens to stock exactly what you want at a given point in time. The others either don't sell what you want or charge way too much for it.
So that leaves, unfortunately, Best Buy, at least for the moment. This is the cheapest good system I found on either site, open box but you said you didn't mind:
It's significantly more expensive but also significantly more powerful than the one I linked from Canada Computers, so much so that it's overkill for Sims 4 no matter how much extra content you pile onto the game itself. I would say it's better for Cities Skylines as its processor is a little faster for gaming, but not that that the upgrade is worth $150. On the other hand, once you pile on the taxes and shipping, the price might be closer, especially if Best Buy's shipping is free. This system also has very new hardware, which is always a bonus when buying open box.
It does look like this sale is going to end today (June 6), so if you're sold on it, don't wait. If you're not though, perhaps other good options will show up in the next couple weeks. While I don't see anything else worth suggesting from Best Buy—the next system with equivalent hardware is $100 more and also open box, and not of the same build quality—stock turns over fairly quickly on the site.
Another option, in general at least, is Newegg Canada. I don't know how you feel about the site, but buying new from Newegg directly should be fine; it's the third-party sellers and the used items that cause problems. If you'd like to compare prices, here's a new system from Newegg's in-house system integrator, meaning they take standard components and assemble them into pre-built PCs. This one is just a touch below the system above:
https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16883361009?Item=N82E16883361009
If you're not happy with the Best Buy option and would like to keep looking, that's understandable. Let me know, and I can check the site in a week or so to see whether there are any better options. It's very fast for me because I don't have to look up the hardware, so don't feel like you'd be imposing or inconveniencing me.
I think I'll grab the one from best buy, it looks great and I think it would work out!
Before I go, what are you opinions on these "mini computers"?
If fore whatever reason the best buy one isn't available or it won't take my payment method, I'll likely be back again. Things are lining up, I got a good desk second hand, I'm honestly extremely excited to have a system that can run a game well enough to not crash when placing a lot.
Thank you again,,
@oh_Cosmos This particular mini computer is basically a set of laptop hardware in a different chassis, with no built-in screen. That's usually the case with mini PCs, although not always. Like most of its brethren, this one doesn't have a dedicated graphics card, so it's going to have the same limitations as the last one with no graphics card you mentioned.
Hiii i'm sorry to bother you yet again ☹️ but I have some important questions regarding the use of my pc. I've read online that if you unplug a pc while it's on it can damage its hardware and software, how true is that? for some reason the power cord that goes directly into my pc is prone to moving just a little; ever since I’ve bought it and turned it on which has been a month I just had the issue up until now.
What happened was that I turned my pc on and 5 seconds later the power went off and I noticed it was the loose power cord, I turned my pc on after plugging it back on and everything was fine, I was still anxious so I talked to someone in my family about what happened and they had the bright idea to touch the same power cord and my pc turned off yet again, I turned it back on and restarted the pc, once again everything is fine but since I am so new to this I’m so anxious something’s going to go wrong ☹️
@Shiranui67 I wouldn't expect any given episode to permanently damage the PC, although it can happen. And it's certainly possible to damage the data stored on your PC, especially data associated with an open app, but that's usually fixable aside from the loss of any work you hadn't saved. But repeated power losses can definitely add up, both because of repeated low-level stressors and because what's an unlikely event one time (damage from a single power loss) becomes significantly more likely when it happens repeatedly.
Is the power cord coming loose at the PC end or the wall socket end? If it's the socket, use a different one, or better yet, buy a surge protector and plug that into the wall, and make sure it's snug and doesn't move at the slightest touch. (This is a good idea anyway.) If the cable is coming loose at the PC end, I'd look into replacing it because this is not a good situation long-term.
Also consider taping down the cord. I wouldn't tape it to the PC itself, but if the problem is it's getting kicked, that's fixable with some duct tape or perhaps a slight rearrangement of your stuff.
I do have a surge protector and it does help 🙂 It is coming loose at the pc end and it is kind of similar to an xbox power cord, do you know what specifications should I look for in a replacement?
@Shiranui67 I actually don't know, but a computer repair shop may be able to help, especially if you bring in the existing cable. The problem could be the power supply and not the cable, of course, but at least you'd have somewhere to start.
In terms of power delivery at least, I'd suggest getting a cable rated for 50% higher (or more) than the wattage of the power supply. A PSU can temporarily exceed its wattage by 10-20% without any ill effects, although it can and should shut itself off beyond that for safety reasons, and you don't want the cable itself to be the limiting factor here.
You can find the wattage printed on the side of the PSU itself and possibly also in the documentation that came with the computer.
I will try to tape it or rearrange my set up thank you sm for answering 😉
@puzzlezaddict Hey, just another person asking for pc recommendations unfortunately. I was looking through posts and recommendations but I wanted to ask for my specific circumstances just to be safe. I had hoped to buy a custom pc, but I'm feeling a little too confused and ill equipped to even choose proper parts. I thought it was important to prioritize power and storage over everything but from what I've read about parts and components and brands, I have a feeling I'm going to get something wrong.
Ideally, I would be able to run the sims smoothly (or about as good as it can get) with half of the packs and roughly 15gb of cc (though i might get more in the future). I'd also want to be able to have other games like Minecraft or steam indie games, while being able to use it daily for regular school work. I'm willing to spend between 3-4k (and i am living is the US). It doesn't have to be that amount, but I just want something that can get the job done. I'm trying to figure out specs and components but I'm really lost, especially if I have o think about how they might work together. (It would also be great if it was on the quieter side rather than a loud fan T_T)
Thanks anyway for posting so many recommendations.
@Li1acL0ser Do you want to build your own PC, or order a custom build from a system integrator? Both are viable options. Both are also going to be more expensive than a prebuilt system, at least in the "runs Sims 4 on ultra settings plus some extra power" category. But the difference doesn't have to be large, and you don't need to spend even $2,000 if you don't want to. Sims 4 wouldn't use the extra power beyond what you could get for... maybe a ~$1,400 custom-built PC; I'd have to check current prices.
For noise, an AIO CPU cooler and extra case fans should be more than enough. An AIO cooler has a pump and radiator rather than a fin stack and fan, and extra case fans mean hot air is moved out of the case more efficiently. Both are easy to add to a custom order, and extra fans are cheap.
Whatever you're looking for, I can help with it. Just let me know.
@puzzlezaddict Sorry for the late reply, I've just started my major assignments for the semester. Thank you for the CPU recommendation! I've unfortunately come to the conclusion that I'm not equipped for a custom PC, at least not yet. I don't think I'm knowledgeable enough in this area to create a balanced setup. In the meantime, I would appreciate some help in choosing the right prebuilt PC for the gaming and schoolwork I plan to do on it. I don't know if my storage and CPU preferences would make that harder when looking for a prebuilt but I'd appreciate even getting pointed in the right direction. I appreciate it!
@Li1acL0ser I'd be happy to pick out a prebuilt PC, but I want to reiterate that you could order a custom build as well, and the company would assemble it for you. As noted, it's somewhat more expensive than a prebuilt system, but not alarmingly so, and the advantage is you (or I) could choose exactly the components you wanted: extra storage, a beefier power supply, extra case fans, really whatever you want. Since it's built to order, you wouldn't need to do any more work than you would with a prebuilt PC.
Think of a custom build like a menu with anywhere from a handful to two dozen choices to make, depending on where you order. You're not cooking anything; it's being presented to you on a platter, for an extra fee. And you don't need to learn what all the little details mean if you don't want to; that's why I'm here.
This is not to say I think this is the better option, and it's not for most Sims 4 players. But since you listed a couple of upgrades that matter to you, and your budget can accommodate a custom-build-related surcharge, I want to make sure you know this is a viable option.
Take your time in responding. I'll be around whenever you're ready to figure this out, whichever direction you decide to go.
@puzzlezaddict Thank you so much for your time and patience! I started researching and I found the term 'bottlenecking', which was what I've been afraid I'd end up doing. I feel like I'm getting some understanding of what certain things are supposed to do and compatibility a bit. I was on an intel website so it's expected that they directed me to their CPU recommendations. I don't know if it's safe to assume their fastest CPU to date is the best choice, the Intel Core i9 14900K. If so, I'm left wondering about the hardware, like the case, the motherboard, and how much ram is 'the sweet spot' since I don't know how much and how fast I need it (I've only been on a few PC builder sites but I'm seeing mostly DDR5 if that changes things).
I started thinking more about the case not only because bigger ones offer more opportunities with hardware, but also because I saw they had cooling support listed (240mm or 360mm). I remember the recommendation you gave me in terms of CPU cooler, it was a liquid coolant and extra fans, I just don't know how many or how much I need and which case I'll be needing considering that. I don't know if the Intel Core i9 is over doing it.
Thank you for helping me out!
@Li1acL0ser The 14900K is definitely overdoing it. I understand you're worried about bottlenecking, but the thing is, most games (including Sims 4) use much more GPU power relative to CPU power. Couple that with the fact that processors are cheaper than graphics cards for the same relative power, and a $300 CPU can keep up with the demands of a $1,600 GPU in most games without any real bottleneck.
The motherboard is an important choice but not a difficult one because there are lots of good options. Since you're building for the first time, get an ATX board, as they're large enough to give you room to maneuver. They also tend to have more slots for future upgrades, which is nice to have even if you'll probably never use most of it. The overclockable boards aren't necessary here but also sometimes only marginally more expensive than their alternatives: Z790 vs. B760 for Intel or X670 vs. B650 for AMD.
For the RAM, speed is good, especially for an AMD CPU, but timings are more important, especially for DDR5, which is what you want to get. Look up "first word latency" and find the lowest number that's not too expensive. It's relatively cheap and easy to make quality RAM, which means there's a lot of it out there. So don't overthink this; just get something reasonably-priced from a name brand: Corsair, GSkill, Kingston, etc.
For the CPU cooler, you need only one, and a quality unit with a 240mm radiator is sufficient. That's not to say don't get a 360mm radiator, only that you don't need to limit yourself to those options. I can help you pick one out if you like, or you can do your own research, in which case I'd suggest starting with a Corsair 240mm option as a baseline and comparing others' performance to that. Good coolers aren't cheap but also shouldn't be more expensive than the motherboard.
For the case, get one with ATX support and support for whatever radiator you want to use and you'll be fine. Get however many fans fit in the case, aside from the radiator, which will come with its own and which you should use with it. So you might only need 3 more fans, and the case may include those. Between the AIO cooler and radiator and the extra fans, you should be able to keep noise to a reasonable level, although you may need to play with the fan curves a bit. But that's a project for after you've built the PC.
Keep asking questions if you want, and remember that there's no one right answer. Sims 4 doesn't need a lot of power either, for example an i5-12600K would run the game as well as anything else out there.
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