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Re: BEST PC FOR SIMS 4 HELP

@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.

9 Replies

  • oh_Cosmos's avatar
    oh_Cosmos
    Rising Novice
    2 years ago

    $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.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @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.

  • oh_Cosmos's avatar
    oh_Cosmos
    Rising Novice
    2 years ago

    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! ♥️

  • oh_Cosmos's avatar
    oh_Cosmos
    Rising Novice
    2 years ago

    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? 🙂

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @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.

  • oh_Cosmos's avatar
    oh_Cosmos
    Rising Novice
    2 years ago

    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 

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @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:

    https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/open-box-asus-rog-strix-g13-gaming-pc-dark-grey-intel-core-i5-14400f-1tb-ssd-16gb-ram-geforce-rtx4060-win11/17930204

    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.

  • oh_Cosmos's avatar
    oh_Cosmos
    Rising Novice
    2 years ago

    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"? 

      https://a.co/d/8KjCIAD 

    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,, 

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @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.

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