Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

by jatt159
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Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

★★ Novice

I'm getting a new computer since the sims 3 doesn't run on my computer anymore and I'm wondering if this laptop will run it:

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-gaming-laptops-and-notebooks/dell-g3-17-gaming/spd/g-series-17-...

Message 1 of 11 (2,477 Views)

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Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

[ Edited ]

@jatt159  Whether you're buying an SSD (solid state drive) or HDD (hard disc/mechanical drive), 256 GB is not quite enough for TS3 and all the content you'd want to accumulate.  The players who keep their games on drives that small have to constantly shuffle files around to keep enough free storage—about 35-40 GB—for Windows 10 to operate comfortably.  And if you plan on using the computer for other tasks that take up a lot of space, 512 GB might not be enough, either.  (It works fine for me, but I also have two external drives for backups and large files I don't need all the time.)

 

I started browsing newegg.com for laptops that would run TS3 with all packs on high settings, and here are a few models I found:

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834235071

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834154939

 

Both of these are on sale right now, although it looks like that ends in 8 hours.  (The site always has something on sale, so there may be other models similarly discounted soon.)  Of the two, I prefer the second—MSI makes great gaming computers—but either one would be fine.  They both have the same Nvidia 1050 ti.  The first has a processor with a faster base clock speed, but it's also older and quad-core, whereas the second has a newer six-core processor that's designed to handle a heavy workload.  The first has a faster hard drive, but the second comes with 16 GB RAM, which isn't necessary for TS3 but is useful for future-proofing.

 

There are also a couple of slightly cheaper models with i5-8300H processors; an i5 wasn't ideal for playing TS3 on a laptop before, but this new generation seems to hold up fine.  I say "seems to" because I'm not totally sure there's enough data yet from players, but there's also no indication of an issue with this processor.

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834235023

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834155024

 

And just because I found it, here's MSI's version of the Dell you linked, with a faster (7200 RPM) mechanical hard drive and 16 GB RAM, currently on sale for $200 less:

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16834155022

 

P.S.  You don't have to delete your posts.  If you'd like to edit, click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the text field.  Or just leave it; I'm not going to mind.

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I don't work for EA. I'm just trying to help fellow players with their games.

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Message 9 of 11 (2,320 Views)

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Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

@jatt159  Yes, that computer will handle all TS3 expansions on high settings.  You would need to install the game on the larger HDD rather than the 128 GB SSD, and redirect your Documents folder to the HDD as well.  With a powerful Nvidia 1060, you'd also need to take steps to limit your in-game frame rates, as TS3 has no fps limiter of its own.  These steps are usually fairly simple to address.

 

I will say though that you could probably get the same computer for less money from a different manufacturer.  Dell computers are generally overpriced for their hardware, and they're often not as well-made as some other brands.  If you haven't bought this laptop yet, and you'd like help picking out a different one, just post your budget and confirm that you're in the U.S., and someone can find a couple of better options for you.

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I don't work for EA. I'm just trying to help fellow players with their games.
Message 2 of 11 (2,456 Views)

Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

Hero (Retired)

@jatt159  I have owned many Dell laptops and they seem to last forever. Dell laptops may be conservative in performance but seem to out last other laptops. Dell service is better then most. Although I don't normally use the laptops for gaming I usually buy a model with a gaming video chip. The Dell you selected should run the Sims games without issue.

Message 3 of 11 (2,426 Views)

Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

★★ Novice

@puzzlezaddict Great thank you!

Message 4 of 11 (2,401 Views)

Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

★★ Novice

If anyone knows where I can get this laptop for cheaper, please link it. My price range is up to about $1300

Message 5 of 11 (2,390 Views)

Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

@jatt159  Are you looking for exactly the same specs as in the computer you linked?  Specifically, do you want an Nvidia 1060 6 GB?  What about the small SSD?  You wouldn't be able to install the game on a 128 GB drive; it would end up on the much slower 1 TB mechanical drive.  If there are other specs you'd like, please let me know.

 

I found much cheaper laptops (around $800) that would run TS3 on high settings with no issue, mostly with the same processor and an Nvidia 1050 ti.  If TS3 is the most demanding program you'd run on this computer, they would do fine.  But if you want higher specs for other reasons, I'd need to browse a bit more.

 

On the other hand, if you want to stretch your budget, I could customize a CyberpowerPC laptop for you.  With the same processor and graphics card (i7-8750H and Nvidia 1060 6 GB), it looks like you could get 16 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD for $1200.  (Again, if you'd like different specs, let me know.)  CyberpowerPC gaming laptops have a great reputation.

——————————————————————————————————————————

I don't work for EA. I'm just trying to help fellow players with their games.
Message 6 of 11 (2,379 Views)
Highlighted

Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

[ Edited ]
★★ Novice

@puzzlezaddictNvidia 1050 would be fine. How high does the drive have to be to run TS3? Also, where have you found cheaper laptops?

Message 7 of 11 (2,343 Views)

Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

[ Edited ]

@jatt159  Did your post get eaten by the system?  I just got a notification that you'd mentioned me in a post, but it's not showing up either in this thread or on your recent activity (your profile page).

 

If you deleted the post, don't worry about it.

 

Edit:  Never mind. Give me a minute.

——————————————————————————————————————————

I don't work for EA. I'm just trying to help fellow players with their games.
Message 8 of 11 (2,342 Views)

Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

[ Edited ]

@jatt159  Whether you're buying an SSD (solid state drive) or HDD (hard disc/mechanical drive), 256 GB is not quite enough for TS3 and all the content you'd want to accumulate.  The players who keep their games on drives that small have to constantly shuffle files around to keep enough free storage—about 35-40 GB—for Windows 10 to operate comfortably.  And if you plan on using the computer for other tasks that take up a lot of space, 512 GB might not be enough, either.  (It works fine for me, but I also have two external drives for backups and large files I don't need all the time.)

 

I started browsing newegg.com for laptops that would run TS3 with all packs on high settings, and here are a few models I found:

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834235071

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834154939

 

Both of these are on sale right now, although it looks like that ends in 8 hours.  (The site always has something on sale, so there may be other models similarly discounted soon.)  Of the two, I prefer the second—MSI makes great gaming computers—but either one would be fine.  They both have the same Nvidia 1050 ti.  The first has a processor with a faster base clock speed, but it's also older and quad-core, whereas the second has a newer six-core processor that's designed to handle a heavy workload.  The first has a faster hard drive, but the second comes with 16 GB RAM, which isn't necessary for TS3 but is useful for future-proofing.

 

There are also a couple of slightly cheaper models with i5-8300H processors; an i5 wasn't ideal for playing TS3 on a laptop before, but this new generation seems to hold up fine.  I say "seems to" because I'm not totally sure there's enough data yet from players, but there's also no indication of an issue with this processor.

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834235023

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834155024

 

And just because I found it, here's MSI's version of the Dell you linked, with a faster (7200 RPM) mechanical hard drive and 16 GB RAM, currently on sale for $200 less:

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16834155022

 

P.S.  You don't have to delete your posts.  If you'd like to edit, click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the text field.  Or just leave it; I'm not going to mind.

——————————————————————————————————————————

I don't work for EA. I'm just trying to help fellow players with their games.
Message 9 of 11 (2,321 Views)

Re: Will this laptop run the sims 3 with all the expansions?

★★ Novice
@puzzlezaddict Great thanks!
Message 10 of 11 (2,310 Views)