Mod The Sims - New Laptop Question?

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Sandraryela

21st Jul 2012, 10:25 PM

Hello,

I would like to buy a new laptop and I'm wondering if this laptop is good enough to play Sims 3 + all EPs and some mods?

Thanks so much!

Intel® Core™ i7-3610QM quad core processor
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
8GB DDR3 memory
750GB 5400 RPM storage
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 670M 3GB with Optimus™
DVD Supermulti drive
LED backlit raised tile keyboard
1600x900 TruBrite® display
802.11b/g/n wireless
HDMI output
Integrated 2MP (1080P) webcam

$1200

TheDeadSim

22nd Jul 2012, 03:56 AM

That computer sounds more than capable to run Sims 3 and all the EPs and SPs. I am currently running a quad core processor with 8gb ram 750gb hard drive and a NVIDI GeForce GT 540M (3D Vision) 2GB graphics card and I have all the Sims 2 EPs and SPs installed along with a couple of mods. I haven't found any issues with it and I assume that all the Sims 3 EPs & SPs will not have a problem performing flawlessly on that system.

ajaxsirius

22nd Jul 2012, 09:27 AM

Yes, I it is good enough. That's a nice computer with a nice price tag. May I ask where you saw that at?

ellacharmed

22nd Jul 2012, 04:28 PM

May I also know the Brand and model? What screen size?
Have you google it for reviews and user experiences? Any major complains or product recalls from this company before, for instance?
Is it priced cheaper than other brands having the same configuration? Then, I'd sure would like to know why (yes, I'm paranoid and suspicious of things that are too good to be true, because usually they are hiding something!) ;)

Otherwise, the configuration does look good. :)
Well, except for the HDD - current HDD is at 7200rpms or have an SSD.

CherelleMason

28th Jul 2012, 07:14 AM

TheDeadSim

28th Jul 2012, 08:05 AM

I also have a question. I stuck between two laptops, I mostly pay my sims on medium settings and I have 3 EPs(Pets, Ambitions, and Generations) and plan on getting Showtime. Which one should I get?

First one- Dell $579.99
15.6" high-definition WLED display
AMD Quad-Core A8-3520M Processor with AMD Radeon HD 6470M dedicated graphics
6GB DDR3 memory
750GB Serial ATA hard drive
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Second one- HP $498.00
AMD A6-4400M accelerated processor
2.70GHz, 1MB L2 Cache
4GB DDR3 SDRAM system memory
500GB SATA hard drive
14.0" HD BrightView LED-backlit display
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit with upgrade to Windows 8

The Dell is certainly the best option out of those two. It has a better processor, more RAM, and better hard drive. I myself have had a dell in the past and decided it wasn't great even though it had decent specifications although it had in-home warranty which was really good service. In my opinion even though I don't like Dell computers, it offers a lot better value for money. Hope I have helped.

CherelleMason

28th Jul 2012, 08:43 AM

The Dell is certainly the best option out of those two. It has a better processor, more RAM, and better hard drive. I myself have had a dell in the past and decided it wasn't great even though it had decent specifications although it had in-home warranty which was really good service. In my opinion even though I don't like Dell computers, it offers a lot better value for money. Hope I have helped.

One last question. I'm a college student on a budget, so if I were to go for the cheaper one would I be able to play the sims 3 without lagging. Lagging is a big no for me.

TheDeadSim

28th Jul 2012, 10:47 AM

One last question. I'm a college student on a budget, so if I were to go for the cheaper one would I be able to play the sims 3 without lagging. Lagging is a big no for me.

My old laptop had 4gb ram and 500gb hard drive and 512mb graphics. It ran sims 2 with all EPs and SPs smoothly for the first 1 and a half years. After the first 1 and a half years the performance of the computer started to get slower and slower. By the end of its 3 year life sims 2 took about 15 minutes to start up each time and had some lag issues.

What were the graphics card specifications for both machines?

Talia19

28th Jul 2012, 12:43 PM

Hello,

I also have a question, I would like to buy a new laptop and I'm wondering if this laptop is good enough to play Sims 3 + all EPs and some mods also will it be able to run Supernatural

Thanks so much! God Bless

Dell Alienware M14X Gaming Laptop - Black.

CPU and Memory:

Intel Core i5 dual core Core i5-3210M processor.
2.5GHz processor speed.
6GB DDR3 RAM memory.
500GB SATA hard drive.

Display features:

14.4 inch widescreen display.
High definition display.
Resolution 1366 x 768 pixels.

Graphics:

Shared graphics.
GT650M graphics card with 1000MB memory.

Operating system and software:

Microsoft Windows 7 Premium.

TheDeadSim

28th Jul 2012, 02:54 PM

Hello,

I also have a question, I would like to buy a new laptop and I'm wondering if this laptop is good enough to play Sims 3 + all EPs and some mods also will it be able to run Supernatural

Thanks so much! God Bless

Dell Alienware M14X Gaming Laptop - Black.

From the specs. you have listed that laptop should have no troubles at all with Sims 3 or Supernatural. The Dell Alienware laptops are designed for gaming and if they couldn't meet certain expectations then I doubt it would be labelled as a Gaming Laptop. Note: the Dell Alienware range doesn't offer you best value for money but they are nice computers.

CherelleMason

28th Jul 2012, 09:00 PM

My old laptop had 4gb ram and 500gb hard drive and 512mb graphics. It ran sims 2 with all EPs and SPs smoothly for the first 1 and a half years. After the first 1 and a half years the performance of the computer started to get slower and slower. By the end of its 3 year life sims 2 took about 15 minutes to start up each time and had some lag issues.

What were the graphics card specifications for both machines?

Dell- AMD Radeon HD 6470M graphics, 1GB dedicated video memory

HP- AMD Radeon HD 7520G Discrete-Class graphics and up to 2036MB total graphics memory

Thanks for the help.

TheDeadSim

29th Jul 2012, 02:15 AM

Dell- AMD Radeon HD 6470M graphics, 1GB dedicated video memory

HP- AMD Radeon HD 7520G Discrete-Class graphics and up to 2036MB total graphics memory

Thanks for the help.

Well the HP has a better graphics card then the Dell but they should both be fine cards to work with Sims. It is strange that the Dell, which has better ram and better processor, has the less capable graphics card where as the HP has similar gaphics card and doesn't have as much RAM or the faster processor.

My opinion: The dell will give you the best overall performance out of the two and should play sims without trouble while the HP is likely to give roughly the same gaming experience but everyday computing won't be as fast as the Dell. I cannot tell you for sure which is the better graphics card but I think the one with the Dell along with it's higher specs might be worth the extra money. Most systems which are cheaper will have cheaper graphics cards in them that aren't designed for gamers and won't give you the best experience. I hope I have cleared things up a bit.

ellacharmed

29th Jul 2012, 03:59 PM

...Which one should I get?

First one- Dell $579.99
AMD Quad-Core A8-3520M Processor with AMD Radeon HD 6470M dedicated graphics
....
Second one- HP $498.00
AMD A6-4400M accelerated processor
My answer: neither. Both are onboard graphics (or dedicated with choked specs to be made cheaper - the 6470M). Won't work with Sims. And the only APU I've seen reported that runs is on this forum section and that member claims to have discrete graphics with his APU system. All other APUs I've seen are when Simmers posted their DxDiag reports and complaining of crashings and lags and other issues.
By the end of its 3 year life sims 2 took about 15 minutes to start up each time and had some lag issues.Sims 3 take a faster toll on weaker machines than Sims 2 would, because the game engine has differed by so much. With Story Progression and Map View. Most under-equipped machine nowadays would crash even with the base game on patch versions newer than 1.22 (aka the Gen EP patch).

Dell- AMD Radeon HD 6470M graphics, 1GB dedicated video memory

HP- AMD Radeon HD 7520G Discrete-Class graphics and up to 2036MB total graphics memory.Well the HP has a better graphics card then the Dell but they should both be fine cards to work with Sims. I'm sorry. But I have to disagree again. With the way AMD is numbering their graphics cards these days, it is better not to rely on the model numbers alone. Check the specs! The HD 7520G while yes, having better specs also have shared memory (thus comparable to all the integrated/onboard chipsets). The HD 6470M has a 64bit dedicated memory bus width. Which in restrospec, the reason I say no to all these is that Sims historically have shown that a minimum of 128bit memory bus width is required. All the Reds on the wiki are from those with less than 128bits. The 128bits choke on later patches, especially with more and more Expansion Pack addons. The Greens are those with minimum of 256bit memory bus width.
Take note this bus width requirements has nothing to do with the video memory that is advertised as 1GB or 2GB these days. That's a different memory, which I don't even take into consideration when preparing the SysReq Wiki.

Here's my sources and supporting data.
- http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-7520G.71728.0.html
- http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-6470M.43075.0.html

TheDeadSim

29th Jul 2012, 04:24 PM

In reply to your post ellacharm3d, I had checked the same website before I had replied and both cards appeared to have similar rankings. I think one was 3% and the other was 4% but you appear to have far greater knowledge on graphics cards then I do. I'm glad you have corrected me anyway.

CherelleMason

30th Jul 2012, 12:46 AM

Ok thanks, I've found another computer I may be getting tomorrow. Should I go for this one?

Hp Pavilion Dv6-7138us

High-performance Next Gen AMD A10 quad-core processor
memory- 6 GB
hard drive capacity- 640 GB
video graphics- AMD Radeon HD 7660G Discrete-Class graphics with up to 3060MB total available memory

TheDeadSim

30th Jul 2012, 04:53 AM

ajaxsirius

30th Jul 2012, 05:09 AM

The 7660G is not a discrete GPU. It's part of the AMD Trinity APU, an integrated solution. A relatively good one compared to Intel HD 3000 and better than HD 4000 iirc, but still an integrated solution.

I don't recommend playing TS3 on these setups either, but there was a thread earlier in these forums with a guy who had one and said it ran well. He couldn't provide enough data for me to know for sure though and I don't have one myself.

Edit: I found a nifty website with a list of mobile gpu solutions (see bottom of page) with lots of technical info in tabular form. Might help you make a decision.

http://compare-processors.com/rank/notebookgraphics.php?AMD+Radeon+HD+7660G=on&Intel+HD+Graphics+4000=on&cp=Compare

ellacharmed

30th Jul 2012, 06:05 AM

@TheDeadSim,
no. Use discrete/dedicated, avoid onboard/integrated graphics. You got it turned around! :)

@CherelleMason,
AMD Radeon HD 7660G Discrete-Class graphics is still onboard/integrated graphics. That is just their marketing spin to get people to think this laptop has discrete graphics.

I'm also trying to advise people to avoid APUs for the time being, until we get more reports on it from the people who already bought it. If you're in the market for new machines, don't buy the APU systems. Especially if you're also planning to use that same laptop to play SimCity next year. It won't work. Rather, it may work while it's new, but not for 3-5 years if that's what you had in mind. If you need a machine to last 3-5 years, get a desktop! Weak machines like "entry-level" laptops need to be replaced almost every year if you plan to play Sims on it for @4hrs a day, everyday, for the whole time it remains functional. That's a gross generalization, of course, because if you play more like 6hrs a day and even more on the weekends, the "entry-level" machines may not even last a year.

How many times do you come across threads whose posters claim they just bought the laptop yesterday or last week and already, these "entry-level" laptops are crashing and stuff?
In Simming, you get what you pay for. Literally! Cheap equals "entry-level" equals not meeting requirements equals not able to play Sims.

And don't be fooled by the so-called "gaming", hyped-up, super-expensive Alienware laptops either. Some of them also has mid-range discrete graphics that have Yellow Maybes in the SysReq wiki since AMB/PETS/SHT. Mid-range discrete graphics for laptops are usually "crippled" versions of the cards to make them run less hot and be cheaper and smaller to manufacture to be put on a laptop. Mid-range discrete graphics for laptops are more on par with entry-level discrete graphics for desktops.

So, like I've been saying - check and compare SPECS. Look at the numbers. You don't have to understand what the numbers are supposed to do. Just pick a Green card (on the wiki) and compare with a card you plan to purchase. If it is lesser, expect less performance. If the numbers are higher, you can expect better performance, but still depends on what CPU and RAM the system has.

That's a great site find, @ajaxsirius! Thank you.

I use these websites to check for hierarchy/benchmark when answering questions on forums.
- http://cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
- http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php
- http://www.tomshardware.com/ (links would change each month, and these are Desktop models)
--> Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: mmm YYYY
--> Best Graphics Cards For The Money: mmm YYYY
- http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html
- http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html

TheDeadSim

30th Jul 2012, 06:43 AM

@TheDeadSim,
no. Use discrete/dedicated, avoid onboard/integrated graphics. You got it turned around! :)

Thanks for the helpful information. :)
I am guessing the "class" they added onto the end is what makes it legally 'okay' to include the word discrete as well?

CherelleMason

10th Aug 2012, 05:34 PM

Hey Guys, it me again. I decided to do more research before getting a computer so I've built this one on HP.com. Let me know what you think...

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
AMD Quad-Core A10-4600M Accelerated Processor (3.2GHz/2.3GHz, 4MB L2 Cache)
2GB AMD Radeon(TM) HD 7730M Graphics
8GB 1600MHz DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
750GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
15.6-inch diagonal HD BrightView LED-backlit Display (1366x768)

ellacharmed

10th Aug 2012, 07:55 PM

How much is this one?

Have you read reviews on the HD 7730M card?
And the AMD APU A10-4600M is clocked at 2.3GHz (our recommended for Sims with ALL EPs is more than 2.4GHz at this time, especially if you're planning on getting Seasons). Sims appear to ignore multiple-core Processors and the overall rating for this laptop (well, as most laptops with Sims, really) might be low-med. So the lagging might be inevitable.
You can use the built-in Turbo Boost to have it reach 3.2GHz, but I'm unsure how that would translate to heat and battery life.

There does not exist a laptop that won't lag on Sims, anyway. Not without mods.

CherelleMason

10th Aug 2012, 10:49 PM

The computer is $862.42 already pushing my budget. Should I go Intel or AMD?

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
3rd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3210M Processor (2.5 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz)
NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GT 650M Graphics with 2GB GDDR 5 video memory
8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
750GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
32GB mSSD Hard Drive Acceleration Cache

This one is 880.71. My limit is max limit is 900.

ellacharmed

11th Aug 2012, 06:42 AM

Did you compare the models
- A10-4600M vs i5-3210M in the cpubenchmark link
- GT 650M vs HD 7730M in the videobenchmark link?

Which has higher benchmarks and is placed higher in their respective hierarchy charts? Only you can justify if the extra performance justifies the cost.
The Intel i5-3210M also has a mSSD cache "drive", which may explain the extra cost, too.
And Intel vs AMD? Depends...there's no straight Yes or No answer on this one.

Personally, I won't ever purchase a HP/DELL/ACER/TOSHIBA laptop again if my sole intention is to game on it. But since you're using it primarily for school, a true 17" "gaming desktop replacement" would be too heavy to carry all around campus.
Having said that, if my hands are tied, I'd go for the $880 unit. Reports on the AMD APUs for Simming have been very mixed, at best.

dvsv

17th Aug 2012, 03:57 PM

ellacharm3d,srry to disagree but u're wrong and maybe don't know much about graphics cards...
Integrated graphics does not "degrade" over time,this is crazy!
You can play TS3 even on a HD3000 on mid 768p(works fine here ,same performance after ~2years,3x EPs and tons of mods!),HD4000 works even nicer and maybe u can max everything@900p on a AMD Trinity or Llano class IGP.
And in the long term,it's more safe to play on a good IGP system(like Llano/Trinity) for hours cuz u dont' have much discrete components(like BGA VRAM chips,GPUs and VRMs) that can be a source of problems and heat(google for Geforce 8M bga problems)
You don't need 256bits for the gpu mem bus,and just for information:5Ghz GDDR5 64bits>2ghz 128bits GDDR3 >700Mhz 256bits GDDR!
I.e:Geforce 7900GS is a 256bits bus card and much weaker than even a 7660G integrated graphics for TS3 or every game...

Edit:Here i play TS3 + World Adventures,Ambitions,Late Night,Generations and maybe like 5GB+ of mods on a I5-2410m/6GB/GT 540M laptop,runs w/ everything maxed@900p +4xAA/16xAF on the discrete graphics or @768p Medium on the integrated(HD3000) one,same performance even after 1.5~2yrs.

Srry for my english and please,edit your wiki :(

ajaxsirius

17th Aug 2012, 05:36 PM

Integrated graphics does not "degrade" over time,this is crazy!

This is where I stopped reading.

ellacharmed

17th Aug 2012, 09:10 PM

@dvsv,
I'm sure your insight is useful to all those Simmers who have crashes when playing Sims 2 and Sims 3 with their IGPs. How do you explain all the crashings away? Bad weather? Not the full moon?

Integrated graphics does not "degrade" over time,this is crazy!And if wishes were diamonds! All my electronics seem to have an internal timer on when their warranty is up and would fail weeks after that.
In a perfect, ideal world where hardware do not degrade, we won't ever have to replace our cars ever, or still have the first PC ever invented in working condition today and able to play Sims 3. But wait! Isn't the first PC ever in a museum somewhere? Hmm...I wonder why that is? Where would I slot in the game DVD in that mainframe, though?
And, I'm sure your sentiments of hardware and electronics lasting forever after is a great joy to all Car, Computer and Electronics manufacturers worldwide. :)

Not only do hardware and electronics degrade over time with use, but a person's needs and requirements change. Thus why, the Car and Electronics industry is still thriving and able to provide jobs and supply goods and services since the invention of the steam engine. It is called Innovation! But let's not get into a debate over what does or does not "degrade", I've digressed too far as it is.

The wiki and your English is fine (although we are not a Chat room, proper spelling out of all words is appreciated for our non-native-English-speaking members). But, please check your facts. ;)