@thiswebsitesux There are lots of good options for under $1,200, sometimes well under that price. I'm excluding the cheapest ones because while they're okay, you'd be making some compromises that you don't need to, and these aren't much cheaper than the cheapest models in the next-higher tier of machine. I figure it's worth paying an extra $100 or so to upgrade the processor and graphics card; even if those upgrades aren't strictly necessaary, you might notice a difference in performance now and will probably notice in a year or two. Still, if you want to see those cheapest options, just ask.
And just to be clear, all of the computers below should run Sims 4, all packs included, on ultra settings, with plenty of room to spare. The game itself has issues and will slow down here and there, but that's unavoidable on even the most powerful gaming machines.
On that note, this is the first very good option, at $950. It's not exceptional, but it should do just fine and is the cheapest model with this hardware that I saw and would feel comfortable recommending.
This one is only slightly more expensive and has a slightly faster graphics card, plus the same hardware otherwise. I don't think you'll ever need the extra power for Sims 4, but if you plan on upgrading in the future, this one's components should make that easier. (Cyberpower uses the same types of components that people buy when building their own computers, as opposed to OEM components that are often lower quality and usually less interchangeable.) The downside is that you don't have a physical store to go to if you have a small issue that an on-site tech could resolve. It's a trade-off.
https://www.amazon.com/CYBERPOWERPC-Xtreme-i5-11400F-GeForce-GXiVR8060A11/dp/B09DHP9M9G
This one has a significantly better processor than the ones above; this won't matter now but could in a few years if you were looking to upgrade. The graphics card is the same as the second one above, and the other hardware is the same as well. Whether the faster processor, including its ability to keep up with a hypothetical significant upgrade down the line, is worth an extra $100 to you depends on what your plans for the computer will look like in a few years.
https://www.newegg.com/cyberpowerpc-gm61000-gamer-master/p/N82E16883230668
Finally, this one has a significantly faster graphics card than the others, plus 16 GB RAM, which is nice to have if not strictly necessary. (On the other hand, memory is cheap and incredibly easy to install: you could upgrade any of the others for under $50 and about five minutes of your time.) It has the same processor as the first two. I don't actually think you need the extra graphics power, but I figured I'd mention it as an example of how far $1,100 can go.
https://www.newegg.com/abs-ali564/p/N82E16883360194?Item=N82E16883360194
If you'd like to see more options, let me know what you're looking for. And if you have more questions in general, please feel free to ask.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I'm thinking the third one is probably the best option for me. Thank you for being so detailed. I am honestly so excited right now!
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