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Idk your budget, but something that has at the minimum an Intel Core i3 processor with Intel Integrated graphics card and 4GB Ram. This would go for about $300-$400 dollars, would be able to play the Sims 4 at very low settings and the Sims 2 Ultimate Collection at comfortable settings/smooth gameplay.

If you can spare some more money, ideally you should get an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, preferably a 6/7/8th generation (generation indicated by the first of number that follows, so for example I have an i5 6200U processor). 8GB+ RAM (more the better) is all suggested. The processors I just mentioned will suit the game fine for medium/high settings but for ultra settings look for one of the i5/i7 with “HQ” at the end. The difference between a processor ending is that 6/7th gen and below processors that end with U are only “dual core” while HQ means “quad core”. If you don’t have the money to grab a quad core/HQ that’s ok, but it leads to my next point.

If you can’t get an HQ processor, try to at least get a U processor accompanied by a dedicated graphics card! Some dgpu’s in a decent price range that work well for sims are the Nvidia GeForce 940m, or MX150 made by the same company! Ultra settings could benefit from a Nvidia GeForce GTX1050 or above (1050,1060,1070,1080). That’s basically it!

The first option is only recommended if you’re on a tight budget. You can get more bang for your buck if you go for a desktop, ie. better processor/graphics card for less money but you use the portability factor. I like to game in bed and also have college to worry about so I need my machine to be portable.

Here are some good laptop choices

If you’re on a really tight budget (ie. first option):
Acer Aspire E 15 E5-575-33BM 15.6-Inch FHD Notebook (Intel Core i3-7100U 7th Generation , 4GB DDR4, 1TB 5400RPM HD, Intel HD Graphics 620, Windows 10 Home), Obsidian Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K1IO3QW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_oHeJAb87X98XF

Have a bit more money to spare:
Acer Aspire E 15, 15.6" Full HD, 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 8GB RAM Memory, 256GB SSD, E5-576G-5762 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075FLBJV7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nIeJAbZFVCXT4

Other pricier ($600+) but better choices:
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5577 Gaming Laptop - (15.6" FHD (1920x1080), Intel Quad-Core i5-7300HQ, 1TB HDD, 8GB DDR4, NVIDIA GTX 1050 4GB, Windows 10 - Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XFG7157/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_iJeJAbCQ911ZA

HP Pavilion Power GTX 1050 Gaming Laptop - 15" Full HD, Intel Core i7-7700HQ , 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD, Windows 10 Home, Black - 15-cb077nr https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075VT9LFD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6KeJAbYG1C2XN

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop, Intel Core i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 15.6" Full HD, 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, AN515-51-55WL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074Q54GSR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wLeJAb9TZ7ZEH

Warning: Novel incoming.

One option for finding floor plans is the archive of Sears catalog houses here.

However, I'm going to take a different approach with the rest of my response, because it sounds like you have a lot of the same issues with gallery houses that I do.

___

The easiest way to get around this is to understand the design process so that you don't need to copy other's plans. I suggest two of my text books from design school:

• The Interior Plan by Robert J. Rengel. Amazon. A used 2011 version can be had for less than $20.
  
  It's a professional book, but it's meant for 1st and 2nd year students so it's not overly technical. I like it because the drawing style is loose and approachable, and it's a very comprehensive. It will walk you through the creative process and will give you planning tools you can use to come up with your own floor plans later on. There are sections on both commercial and residential design, separate sections on individual rooms, and then how those rooms fit together into a whole building. It even talks about furniture placement!
  
  
• A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia & Lee McAlester Amazon. Again, get the old version used. Less than $10.
  
  This one focuses on exteriors and has both photographs of homes in styles throughout history and line drawings showing what elements make those homes an example of that style. Because it separates out the elements, it's easier to adapt them to new buildings.
  
  If you really want to get into it, I think it's worth it to get the books. They'll have a depth of information you just can't get online - especially in terms of picking up the design process and explaining why things work.
  
  ____
  
  In terms of adapting real-world measurements into the Sims...I don't advocate for it. Every time I try, the proportions are messed up visually and/or the room sizes don't translate well for sims furniture and activities. I find that it's much, much better to base room sizes on the furniture layout you want and how much open space you need around those arrangements. In other words - work from the inside out.
  
  Say you see a floor plan with furniture on it - a couch, chair and coffee table. It doesn't matter how big those pieces are in real life and it doesn't matter how big the room is, either. Why? Because you know how big that furniture is in the sims and that's all that matters. You need a room that will accomodate a 3x1 tile couch, a 1x1 tile chair, and a 2x1 tile coffee table, plus walking space. You can do a similar thing by translating building facades into 1 or 2-tile windows and doors. I usually work from what minimums I know work in the game and then add space depending on how luxurious I want it to be. Just keeping in mind how much space each item takes up in the game is immensely helpful.
  
  __
  
  I like to harp the most central part of really good design: build for your clients' reality.
  
  Don't build a house for humans. Build a house for Sims. Maybe it's just me, but it annoys the crap out of me when I see fake garages and storage rooms in TS4 houses. It's a waste of potentially useful space and family funds. Also, Embrace the weirdness and don't forget about cool things like bubble blower lounges and rocket ships! If your sim has a weird hobby, don't forget to dedicate space for it.
  
  One last thing! Minimize your corridor space! It's dead space so please, please don't make long rambling hallways. Looking at good plans will help you avoid that. Our professors nagged us on this all the time.
  
  _____
  
  Ninja Edit: I thought it might be helpful to list out my process steps, so here it goes.
  
  

1. Make a written list of spaces and equipment needed based on the family who will be living in the house. Be sure to include hobbies and activities. This is meant to force you to think about details. For example, how many kitchen applicances you want will change the size of your kitchen - so decide early!
   
   
2. Draw a bubble diagram (loose circles) to figure out room placement and room relationships. How do you want the house to flow?
   
   
3. Start adding shape to the rooms. Include doorways, windows, furniture.
   
   
4. Use sims furniture size and walking space requirements to determine total tile dimensions for each room. Then add together for the whole building. Note: I draw plans inside out. Then build it in the game outside in.
   
   
5. Choose a lot size based on the house size and desired yard size. So this is where I start building in the game.
   
   
6. Refine room dimensions based on exterior details you want. Make sure that the windows and doors will space properly on the facade. Make small changes based on furniture sizes, activities, etc.
   
   I know it's a lot of front-end work, but it saves so many issues down the road. You never have to run out of room, or have too much of it, or have to go back and re-do stuff if you plan a little.

Car boot sales are awesome. Not been to one for a long time, I always come home with armfuls of tools I will never use :D

​

Great find though. Sims 2 is most definitely the best of the bunch.

​

My books on 3D modelling; https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TW91PKH https://www.amazon.com/dp/1077426879

you really need a dedicated graphics card. If you absolutely
need a laptop something like this will be a bit better suited for games like the sims.

If you don't have to have the portability, checkout /r/buildapc, a desktop will give you a better bang for your buck.

That laptop might be able to run TS4 without any problems, but it will struggle with TS3, especially if you plan on using many DLCs (expansions).

Here you have a better option.
Here there’s another one which is also quite good.
And another one rather similar.

In this comment you can find the ideal specs for TS3 + expansions.

Sims 4 is pretty pricey to have as just a building simulator. Especially since the base game has fairly limited choices, and you'll probably find yourself wanting some expansion/game pack for more content. Modthesims does have a lot of great custom content though.

If you decide to, you can buy game codes on Amazon and save a bit compared to buying through Origin. The base game is $40, and some of the expansions are discounted too.

http://www.amazon.com/Sims-4-PC-Mac/dp/B00EFRN2IQ

I'll kick off the thread, as I actually have a question for all you savvy folks.

I finally sprung for a gaming laptop yesterday- this one, an Acer, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CTHLX8C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 that I had been eyeing for a while.

Hours later I noticed this MSI on sale as well- with a markedly better graphics card and a promo price that was better than the one I had purchased... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R6B94C7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_x9SBDb3M7DK24

The Acer I bought has a 4.1 GHz Intel Core i7, while the MSI has 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, so I'm consoling myself in that it has a quicker processor. It also has twice the RAM (16gb vs 8gb.) The graphics card difference has me feeling like it might be in my interest to return the Acer (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 "Overclockable Graphics with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM") and get the MSI ( NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 .)

I'm aware of the recommended and minimum specs for running the game, but I'm wondering which feature is more important... is TS4 + all DLC (performance and appearance) more card-dependent, or processor dependent?

Info | Details
----|-------
Amazon Product | Dell 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop (6th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-6300HQ Processor up to 3.2GHz, 8GB DDR3, 256GB SSD, Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M, Windows 10)
>Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. By using the link above you get to support a chairty and help keep this bot running through affiliate programs all at zero cost to you.

It's on Amazon for $25 today. So bummed I paid full price thinking it wouldn't drop for ages but hopefully you'll be able to benefit from it.

There is also a PC version. Your best bet might be secondhand or charity shops. I see an Amazon listing for a new copy for $80 (ouch, used is about $50).

Amazon is your friend then! 50% off!

The Sims 4 Vampires [Online Game Code] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N10COO0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AwGTybJQJ4Q38

Assuming you're in the US.

Someone else posted below, here is the mouse on Amazon US and here it is on Amazon UK. I'm not sure where you are :) about $30/£24

Looks like Dine Out is 50% off as well!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GW139N0/

They have it here on Amazon

One of the answers says it may work. I think there is a fix to Simcity 4 on windows 10 but I’m unsure, it’s worth a google search though :)

That wasn't uninspired, you just took inspiration from old European manor homes! Hallways are for servants!

Seriously though, they were. The concept of connecting hallways was so servants could move unseen through the house and just appear where they were needed. No need for the nobs to see the peons. If you're interested, I highly suggest At Home, by Bill Bryson, a room-by-room historical perspective over the evolution of a western home.

mouse - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steel-Sims-Gaming-Mouse-DVD/dp/B00KQJS8SG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420751402&sr=8-1&keywords=sims+4+mouse

mat - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steel-Series-Sims-Gaming-Surface/dp/B00KQJS8TA/ref=pd_bxgy_vg_h__img_y

:)

For that budget, I think something like this . I don’t think the specs are good enough to play on high though, only low I believe.

I could be wrong, I’m only reiterating what others told me during my search.

This is the computer I have:
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-15-6-Inch-Quad-Core-i5-6300HQ-Processor/dp/B015PYYDMQ

Sims 4 runs like butter on Ultra settings on my laptop. Quad core i5, 8GB RAM, GTX 960M with 4gb vram, 256GB SSD.

sounds like some just recently came off a major sale:

https://simsvip.com/2019/01/30/the-sims-anniversary-sale-save-up-to-75-at-origin/

https://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/al8mo3/origin_sims_4_anniversary_sale_all_expansions/

so may be some time till another sale


Hmm, some stores may have sales on older expansions,
see Target - Walmart - Amazon

Huh. It's interesting that you pay more for your games. We're paying $59.99, equivalent to about £35.

http://www.amazon.com/Sims-4-Limited-Pc/dp/B00EFRN2IQ

I have herd that the Sims Life stories were made for laptops. IGN rated them to be a 7.3 so from what I can tell they are not too bad. http://www.amazon.com/The-Sims-Life-Stories-pc/dp/B000KQ51XA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343257132&sr=8-1&keywords=the+sims+life+stories

Amazon has it - http://www.amazon.com/The-Sims-Complete-Collection-PC/dp/B000BAVN14/ref=dp_ob_title_vg

Amazon is selling it for $59.99 digital download whereas it's $69.99 on Origin: http://www.amazon.com/Sims-Limited-Edition-Online-Game/dp/B00ENQXEX2

edit, nevermind it's the same price on Origin, I just saw the Digital Deluxe version's price at $69.99.

It's only $20 on Amazon right now.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ENQXEX2?tag=isthcom0a-20&th=1

Why not just link to the actual page itself instead of a tweet that leads to a referral Amazon link?

You can get the Acer Predator Helios 300 on Amazon for that.

You can get it cheap on Amazon (in the US)

https://www.amazon.com/Sims-Triple-Deluxe/dp/B0002IW61Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1482447423&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Sims+Triple+Deluxe&linkCode=ll1&tag=epact&linkId=60729cfe12692358c93de9cecb219539

They have it available for preorder on Amazon and it says it will be available at 12 am PST

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop, Intel Core i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 15.6" Full HD, 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, AN515-51-55WL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074Q54GSR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ARiXDbWDEEVHH

This is what I got. I know nothing about computers so all of the tech stuff is gibberish (Simlish) to me.

The Sims 2 - PlayStation 2 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000AOEUPC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hQtYzbJXMT2SG

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EFRN2IQ?cache=e9e0bebbabaf090b6a61d10912c98d36&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1411540082&sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2

You can get the complete edition, used, on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Sims-4-Limited-Pc/dp/B00EFRN2IQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1411864040&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Sims+4

It's on sale at Amazon for $50 US. Only a 10 dollar sale, but not sure how much you were looking for.

https://www.amazon.com/Sims-Triple-Deluxe/dp/B0002IW61Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482455012&sr=8-1&keywords=triple+deluxe+sims

You can get a used set for 3.99 here.

Sorry I don't have that set anymore, I'd let you have it for the cost of shipping if I did.

Seriously. It's $40 on Amazon (the same price as all the others).