Troubleshooting Buying a New Computer?

Umm, excuse me. Macs run Windows, too.

 

Yeah but don't most Macs cost an arm and a leg and one of your gonads? :rotfl:
Especially the Intel Macs?

 

No. An entry level iMac--which is capable of running TS3, once Windows is added--can be had for $1199+tax, and features a 250GB hard disc and 1GB of RAM. The RAM can be upgraded to 4GB at any time. And the computer has a 20" display! In addition to that, it's nearly silent and is better supported than most PC counterparts

Oh! And when bought by a qualifying student, they get $50 off the machine.

 

What would be the ideal computer you would recommend to play the Sims 3 AND future expansion packs? I don't know much about the inner workings of computers and, don't trust sales people (they always want to sell you stuff that you don't need.). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I prefer the iMac--the $1499 model would work well for you in this situation--but considering I'm biased to Mac vs. PC, I'll let someone else comment on the PC portion

 

I would suggest something with a cpu of 3.0 MHZ (like a Core2Duo), 2-4 GB's of good fast ram, the motherboard will need to support PCI-express x16 or 2.0 video cards, a 500 - 750 GB hard drive with at least a 7200 rpm speed and a 16 mb cache in it, either something like the Nvidia 8800, 9600 or 9800 gt video card or an ATI 3850 or above video card, as far as sound goes so long as the motherboard supports Dolby 5.1 which will be all you'll need (integrated sound chip) and a power supply somewhere around a 500 -600 watt power supply which will help you if you ever decide to upgrade any more , all throwed in a case with plenty of fans to keep it cool during the summer months should last you as long the Sims3 keeps going.
In other words steer clear of the HP, Dell, Compac,Acer and anything else you'd buy pre-built.
Basically figure this : how much do you want to or can spend on a pc?
Will you just need the tower part or everything to go with it? (mouse ,keyboard,monitor, etc)
I would highly suggest you go to one the websites where you pick out the parts and they build it for you like Cyberpower or if you're in the U.K. a site similar to that.
If you need help feel free to ask!

 

TY all

Thank you everyone! I will be looking around for computers with the specs you all listed, perhaps I will find someone that would build it for me, lol.

 

Core I7 system is a bit wayyyyyyy to much overkill for the casual gamer!
But if that person played a lot of games like Far Cry2, Crysis, Fallout 3,etc then it would be a great system.
But it wouldn't stop me from building a system based off of it!

 

Ok, I have been looking around and came across this, would you please take a look and let me know if this is what it would take to play the Sims 3?
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Mega_Special_IV/



I really appreciate your time and help.

 

Heck yeah it will !
It may be a tad overkill but what the heck right?
I would check around about a few things first.
You should check and make sure that the memory and the motherboard are compatible with each other.
Some motherboards are kinda quirky about what memory they will take.
You might go over to this forum and ask if they are.
www.bjorn3d.com and yes you might see my name there.
Just tell them you are buying a gaming computer and not what game you gonna buy it for as they're kinda diehard gamers over there and not simmers.
I would assume you have the operating system already or are you buying it from somewhere else?
Monitor , speakers, keyboard and mouse you have those too?
I would also make one tiny suggestion that you get a floppy drive if ever you need to make a raid boot disk if you ever have more than one hard drive.
They would probably also recommend a different case and power supply too .

 

In a world where technology is "dated" in six months, overkill doesn't exist It's why I with with the highest spec iMac I possibly could.

(Sorry, I had to keep the Apple influence in here somehow )

 

Thank you all for being so helpful, I really appreciate every post.

 

I want to get a new mac or pc but...i guess i'll wait until my father lets me get one for my 21st birthday present or something =)

 

Hey there. I've played The Sims franchise on PC since it first came out until the day my laptop crashed about 2 years ago. I saw that The Sims 3 was coming out and I felt that all familiar twinge of excitement. I've since decided to get a Mac with much prodding from my wife and was so happy to know that The Sims 3 would be available for it. So my Mac's on its way but I've got one question for you Mac players out there. I frequented Sims sites for my downloadable custom content for PC, but would those same sites and same files work on the Mac version of The Sims also? Or are there Mac only sites out there that I would have to get all of my custom content?