Laptop recommendation

[VivianDarkbloom]

Screen size - flexible

Games - The Sims 3 is definitely my most demanding game, I own all the expansions except Showtime, will be buying Supernatural, and weather if it happens. I'd like to play the game SMOOTHLY on moderately-high/high settings now, with some future proofing considered too (I'd like the laptop to last me a good 3-5 years!).

Weight/portability - Doesn't need to be portable, but not *too* heavy/bulky

Battery life - no issue, will be used exclusively in bed (which seems to add to present overheating issues).

Budget - hard to say given tech is more expensive where i am based than in the U.S.A which is where i assume a lot of people answering this will be based, so maybe under $1000 U.S? Mid-range. Don't want to spend Alienware prices, but don't mind getting close to them.

Thanks!

[ellacharmed]

I have to say that expectation is a tad unrealistic.

A laptop with discrete graphics and under USD1000, that can play all TS3 EPs until Seasons (and even beyond)? Not a chance.

If you just go onto newegg.com and select the Laptops and use their Advanced filter - select discrete GPU type, and then select the lowest GPU that has ALL Greens on our wiki, there's usually something else that does not fit, like a CPU less than 2.4GHz or a 5400rpm HDD, and so on...for any laptop that fits that budget.
Unless, of course you're willing to settle for last generations parts. The danger of that is that the OEM manufacturers may stop supplying GPU drivers updates soonish, and then you're either stuck with an outdated GPU driver (causing crashes with future patches) or you have to find a forum that offers a hacked driver version that is from a trustworthy source.

Smaller form factor (15") has issues with overheating. Fits budget with older models.
Bigger form factor (17") is not really portable and has the "desktop replacement" labels, so then why buy a laptop if not bringing it places?
If you need portability, but no gaming on the go, get a Desktop for gaming and a tablet for accessing emails and surfing while at your favorite cafe. :cool:

And if you add shipping, and exchange rates? May end up even costlier...

(eta)
I forgot the usual disclaimer of desktop models in the SysReq wiki versus laptop's models. So, it might be best to NOT choose the first Green row when applying the table to Laptop GPU selection. But perhaps go 1 or 2 rows to select the next higher model as that means the laptop model may still be able to perform as per the Desktop's Green rows (with lower specs).

*Did I just bring everybody around in circles with that paragraph? :lol:

[ajaxsirius]

Yep, expect $1200+. Also don't use your laptop in bed. It's a horrible idea.

[VivianDarkbloom]

Can anyone give me more specific recommendations at all? The cheapest laptops you know of that fit the above? As I said, I am not based in the U.S.A, but I do know you pay a lot less for electronics than where I am based, so I was making a guess re:price. Obviously my guess was wrong.

Other forums seem full of tech-y types willing to help - but they do not play the sims, and seem to vastly underestimate its requirements ;). I am not so good with the technical side myself, so help would really be appreciated.

[Mootilda]

Do you absolutely need a laptop to play the game? You'd actually pay less to get a desktop that will play the game and a laptop which won't play the game, than to try to get a laptop that will play the game.

[ellacharmed]

Yeah, is what Mootilda's suggestion an option? Which I've also mentioned, by the way - will you be gaming on the go - is that the reason for a laptop?
A desktop + a Netbook/Tablet are not feasible options at all?

And what form factor - 14", 15" or 17"?
If 17", any weight consideration to include? Cannot be heavier than ... ?
Is the laptop cooler part of the budget? And if gaming on the go, is the laptop cooler part of the things together with the power brick to be carried around? So that would add on to the weight consideration.

Laptop models are tweaked slightly depending on the region and country, so we need to know country of purchase to ensure model availability. And is shipping from USA or any other country a feasible option or must be local?

Futureproofing to ensure it last 5 years means it must be a good sturdy built with good parts and those are not cheap. What is the absolute maximum for the budget? Including taxes, shipping, etc? The cheapest laptops won't be able to last you 5 years. This is what I mean about expectations. :) Need to balance what you want with what you can afford and what is available out there.
So which is a must in relative to the other? Must be cheap or must last 5 years, as both are mutually exclusive? Which has the higher priority?