please help buying a new computer

[mycki]

Hello fellow simmers i need your help, I am getting a new computer as a gift for graduation i have the Sims 3 base game, WA, Gen, Late night, ambitions and pets. i want to know if this computer can handle it here are the spec.

Alienware M14X R2 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3610QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.3GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
6GB DDR3 at 1600MHz
English Keyboard, M14X R2
14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight
2 GB DDR5 NVIDIA GeForceGT 650M using NVIDIA Optimus technology
500GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
Personalized Nameplate Trigger
Alienware Command Center Software, M14X
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit Service Pack 1, English, w/Media
Slot-Loading Dual Layer DVD Burner, DVD+-RW
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Intel 2230 Wireless-N
Wireless Display Application and Driver
Alienware M14X 150W A/C Adapter
Placement, M14X R2

also i am looking to add on weather if it ever comes out (LOL). i also have mods and 800mb of cc.

[mycki]

Anyone?

[Nukael]

Those are very, very good specs. I can't give a recommendation on mobile graphics cards, because I only use desktops. If you really, really want to speed up the Sims, I suggest installing everything from the Sims (your My Documents folder included) onto an SSD drive. They are crazy expensive, but they load very fast. And because the Sims need to dynamically load everything, it speeds it up considerably.

[whiterider]

The 650M isn't great. You want to be looking at the second number to judge the performance - that number can be anything from 1 to 9, so the 650 is middle of the field. Then, because it's mobile, you downgrade it a bit simply because mobile GPUs are always less powerful than their full desktop counterparts, so you're looking at the high end of low end with that GPU. An x70M or x80M would be a better choice.

[ajaxsirius]

Alienware products are also notoriously overpriced for what you get, and their customer service isn't great either.

Edit:

The system you suggested in the first post seems to be a $1300 system when I tried to configure it at Alienware's (Dell) website.

Check out this system from Malibal computers:
Display: 15.6" 1920 x 1080 FHD LED Backlit Matte Display
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-3210M, 3MB L3 Cache, 2.5-3.1GHz
Memory: (8GB) 8192MB, PC3-12800/1600MHz DDR3 - 2 SO-DIMM
Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 670M (Fermi) 1.5GB GDDR5
Hard Drive: 500GB 7200rpm 2.5" SATA 300
Optical Drive Bay: 8X Multi DVD+/-R/RW RAM Dual-Layer Drive
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium; 64-bit
Wireless: Internal 802.11B/G/N LAN and Bluetooth Card
Cooling: Stock OEM Thermal Compound, CPU & GPU
Keyboard: English: US & Canada
Power Cord: US & Canada
AC Adapter: Full Range AC-in 100~240V, 50~60Hz, 120W, DC output 20V, 6A
Branding: None
Build Time: 5-7 Business Days (Estimated Time)
Warranty: LIFETIME Ltd. Labor and 1 Year Parts Warranty with 24/7 Support (USA)
Extras: Standard Black Carrying Case

Total: $1,179.00

To me seems like a much better fit for gaming, and there's plenty of room for useful upgrades such as SSD or better quality screen or bigger hard drive if you have the budget for $1300.

http://www.malibal.com/

[mtthwjef]

if i was you i would not touch a Alienware item full stop as you are paying over the odds for the name and considering Alienware went bust over a year ago and was brought out by dell.

i would back getting ssd for you laptop 100% i have upgraded my pc to run on 3 ssd's and the speed on both gaming and the loading is so much better.

where in the world are you as to advise on a really good laptop would need to know where in the world you are and also you top price for one

[mycki]

Alienware products are also notoriously overpriced for what you get, and their customer service isn't great either.

Edit:

The system you suggested in the first post seems to be a $1300 system when I tried to configure it at Alienware's (Dell) website.

Check out this system from Malibal computers:
Display: 15.6" 1920 x 1080 FHD LED Backlit Matte Display
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-3210M, 3MB L3 Cache, 2.5-3.1GHz
Memory: (8GB) 8192MB, PC3-12800/1600MHz DDR3 - 2 SO-DIMM
Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 670M (Fermi) 1.5GB GDDR5
Hard Drive: 500GB 7200rpm 2.5" SATA 300
Optical Drive Bay: 8X Multi DVD+/-R/RW RAM Dual-Layer Drive
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium; 64-bit
Wireless: Internal 802.11B/G/N LAN and Bluetooth Card
Cooling: Stock OEM Thermal Compound, CPU & GPU
Keyboard: English: US & Canada
Power Cord: US & Canada
AC Adapter: Full Range AC-in 100~240V, 50~60Hz, 120W, DC output 20V, 6A
Branding: None
Build Time: 5-7 Business Days (Estimated Time)
Warranty: LIFETIME Ltd. Labor and 1 Year Parts Warranty with 24/7 Support (USA)
Extras: Standard Black Carrying Case

Total: $1,179.00

To me seems like a much better fit for gaming, and there's plenty of room for useful upgrades such as SSD or better quality screen or bigger hard drive if you have the budget for $1300.

http://www.malibal.com/
thank you for your reply, but i only have a dell gift card .