Laptop Recommendations for The Sims 4

[MewHues]

Hi all, I'm sure this has been asked

multiple times. I recently purchased the Sims 4 and a few packs within the last year. But I have a 2012 MacBook Pro which doesn't support their new graphics and I'm stuck with Legacy Edition. I really want Tiny Living and access to The Gallery again, as well as the upcoming packs! 

I'm looking to purchase a new laptop solely for The Sims. I don't have too many mods, but I do enjoy CC. And I am working my way to having all packs (right now I'd say I have about half??? Maybe even less.) What are some laptop recommendations? I don't want a Mac again (I just don't think it works as well on them). I'm not sure about price range but I don't think I would want to spend over $800. Somewhere around $400-$500 would be my sweet spot, or even cheaper.

I'm not the most informed about laptops and what exactly is needed for The Sims 4 to work, so recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[puzzlezaddict · Accepted solution]

@MewHues  I understand you'd like to get a cheap laptop if possible.  But if your goal is to play with most or all packs (eventually) on high or ultra graphics settings, the decent options start over $600.  The dropoff between laptops at that level and those the next level down is pretty significant, and it doesn't actually save much money, either.

As an example, this laptop's hardware can run all current Sims 4 packs on ultra settings, although only barely.  Future packs may be more demanding, but the graphics card should always be able to handle high settings without any trouble, maybe a mix of high and ultra.  (We really don't know what the game will look like in a year or two.)  It has a small hard drive, but if this laptop is only for Sims, 256 GB is plenty.  It's $650 at Target, with a $50 gift card that I'm sure you could spend on something useful.

https://www.target.com/p/hp-15-6-34-pavilion-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i5-9300h-nvidia-geforce-gtx-10...

The HP store offers the same one (except with a larger screen) for $630:

https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-pavilion-gaming-laptop-17t-5xx64av-1

This one is similar to the one above, except it has a hard drive twice the size, and more importantly, an Nvidia 1650, a much faster graphics card.  The Nvidia 1650 may or may not quite be enough to run all current and all future packs together on ultra settings.  Target is offering it for $750 with a $50 gift card included.

https://www.target.com/p/hp-15-6-34-pavilion-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i5-9300h-nvidia-geforce-gtx-16...

HP offers a similar model, except with a significantly stronger processor, not that Sims 4 would ever use that much power; and a 256 GB hard drive:

https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-pavilion-gaming-laptop-15t-7lu82av-1

This model from MSI ("coming soon" to this particular store) has the faster Nvidia 1650 and a 256 GB hard drive, plus the same processor as in the first HP.  It's $700.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1542057-REG/msi_gf63_thin_9scx_005_gf63_i5_9300h_8gb.html

If you're willing to get an open-box model from Best Buy, the versions of this model rated "excellent" are around $650.  I don't know if any are available near you, but it's worth checking out.  This Asus has a 1650 and a 512 GB hard drive.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-15-6-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-165...

If you have more questions, please feel free to ask.

[puzzlezaddict · Accepted solution]

@MewHues  I understand you'd like to get a cheap laptop if possible.  But if your goal is to play with most or all packs (eventually) on high or ultra graphics settings, the decent options start over $600.  The dropoff between laptops at that level and those the next level down is pretty significant, and it doesn't actually save much money, either.

As an example, this laptop's hardware can run all current Sims 4 packs on ultra settings, although only barely.  Future packs may be more demanding, but the graphics card should always be able to handle high settings without any trouble, maybe a mix of high and ultra.  (We really don't know what the game will look like in a year or two.)  It has a small hard drive, but if this laptop is only for Sims, 256 GB is plenty.  It's $650 at Target, with a $50 gift card that I'm sure you could spend on something useful.

https://www.target.com/p/hp-15-6-34-pavilion-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i5-9300h-nvidia-geforce-gtx-10...

The HP store offers the same one (except with a larger screen) for $630:

https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-pavilion-gaming-laptop-17t-5xx64av-1

This one is similar to the one above, except it has a hard drive twice the size, and more importantly, an Nvidia 1650, a much faster graphics card.  The Nvidia 1650 may or may not quite be enough to run all current and all future packs together on ultra settings.  Target is offering it for $750 with a $50 gift card included.

https://www.target.com/p/hp-15-6-34-pavilion-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i5-9300h-nvidia-geforce-gtx-16...

HP offers a similar model, except with a significantly stronger processor, not that Sims 4 would ever use that much power; and a 256 GB hard drive:

https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-pavilion-gaming-laptop-15t-7lu82av-1

This model from MSI ("coming soon" to this particular store) has the faster Nvidia 1650 and a 256 GB hard drive, plus the same processor as in the first HP.  It's $700.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1542057-REG/msi_gf63_thin_9scx_005_gf63_i5_9300h_8gb.html

If you're willing to get an open-box model from Best Buy, the versions of this model rated "excellent" are around $650.  I don't know if any are available near you, but it's worth checking out.  This Asus has a 1650 and a 512 GB hard drive.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-15-6-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-165...

If you have more questions, please feel free to ask.

[MewHues]

Thanks for all of the options! I knew my price range was probably too low for what I am wanting. I honestly didn't even really know what a reasonable price was, which is also why I wanted recommendations. I didn't want to drop $1000 on something when my needs could fit something a few hundred less.

Definitely going to look all of these options over and figure out which one I think would work best for me. Thanks for your suggestions and taking so much time into helping!