Re: Which Graphics Card Would Work Best For Sims 4?
@NelliePye I split your posts into their own thread, since the other thread was a bit old, and it's easier for me to keep track of one person's request per thread. (That's just me; there's nothing wrong with posting in existing threads in general.)
For under $800 U.S., you could get a gaming laptop that would run all Sims 4 content on ultra graphics settings. An Nvidia 1650 graphics card can run all current packs together on ultra, with some room to spare. It's not clear whether a 1650 would run all current and future packs together on ultra, since we don't know what those future packs will be like, but it'll probably be a close call either way. Still, the GPU should always be able to handle at least a mix of high and ultra settings. The next card down, an Nvidia 1050, would handle ultra settings now, but only barely, and it's only barely cheaper than a 1650 is right now.
Since you're interested in photo and video editing, you'll probably want at least 512 GB storage. There are plenty of gaming laptops with a single 256 GB solid state drive, and while that's more than enough for Sims 4, it may not be for you. Of course, you could get an external hard drive, or (in most models) install a second internal drive, but that drives the overall cost up, and it's inconvenient.
All these laptops have only 8 GB memory. While that's enough for Sims 4, you may want to add another 8 GB, especially if your video editing seems to be a bit slow. That would depend on the kinds of projects you have though, and in any case, the tasks would still get done. Memory is cheap, maybe $40 for a matching 8 GB RAM stick, and can be added any time you want. Gaming laptops with 16 GB already installed tend to be more expensive, usually $1,000 and up. So it's usually better to get the other hardware you need and add memory yourself if you want it.
These two laptops have all the same hardware: 1a 1650, an Intel i5-9300H (more than strong enough for Sims 4), and a 512 GB solid state drive. Their only meaningful difference is their screen size. They're $740 and $750, respectively.
https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Ideapad-i5-9300H-Processor-81LK00HDUS/dp/B07VC55LF5/
If you don't mind waiting, these two are available for pre-order, and are both $700. The first one is the same as the Acer above, except with a 15" screen; the second has a slightly stronger processor and a combination 256 GB SSD/1 TB HDD, in case you want a lot of storage.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1561720-REG/lenovo_81y4001wus_l350_15_i5_10300_8gb_256gb.html
In case you don't mind using external hard drives, or installing a second one yourself, this laptop is $800 and has a significantly faster graphics card than the others. It does only have a 256 GB SSD. But if the storage is not a problem for you, then your video editing may benefit from the faster GPU.
This model laptop definitely comes with an empty 2.5" drive bay for upgrades; the SSD will be in the M.2 slot.
https://laptopmedia.com/highlights/inside-asus-tuf-fx505-disassembly-and-upgrade-options/
If you have more questions, please feel free to ask.
