PlutonianEmpire
King of the Plutonian Empire
Specifically, I'm looking for a pc desktop or laptop that can run the sims 2 on high settings and cost $1200 or less, and is windows XP. Can anyone help?
Geeky nerd seeks new computer
- Thread starter PlutonianEmpire
- Start date
Sims 2 isn't that intensive of a game. With a desktop you could meet the high end specs with much less than $1200.
With a laptop I don't know the prices. But you should be aware that more power = heavier. Also the usefulness of a laptop as a gaming platform is proportional to battery life.
With a laptop I don't know the prices. But you should be aware that more power = heavier. Also the usefulness of a laptop as a gaming platform is proportional to battery life.
PlutonianEmpire
King of the Plutonian Empire
What would you recommend for sims 2 on high settings?
taper
Meet Tux
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2002
- Messages
- 1,463
From some quick googling, it looks like any pc with a dedicated video card will do ok. Even a 6600GT got good framerates. Are you looking to build or buy? Building your own desktop is a great learning experience, it's usually cheaper than buying a whole system, and your windows install won't be cluttered with all that crapware they usually put on.
PlutonianEmpire
King of the Plutonian Empire
Sorry, but I'm looking to buy.
Ghost Ranger
Prince
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2007
- Messages
- 357
It is also, extremely easy to do (The hard part is the software). And plus, the system is almost guaranteed to be faster, as you can ensure that everything is high-quality. You also won't have to deal with crappy tech-support when your system inevitably fails.
GoodGame
Red, White, & Blue, baby!
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2004
- Messages
- 13,725
I'd say build your own also, especially since the parts you'll need for such a low software goal won't run you much even if you commit a fatal learning abuse. Really you could even go with a kit-based system like a small form factor from Shuttle.
Aramazd
Deity
If you want to buy, I suggest you check here:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=10&name=Desktop-PCs
Here's what I found:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103140
$1074.52 including shipping.
The graphics are a bit weak, but should play Sims 2. If you need some extra juice you could pick up a 2600XT or 8600GT. If your willing to go Vista you could get a wider variety of parts at that price. Do you need XP for legacy support?
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=10&name=Desktop-PCs
Here's what I found:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103140
$1074.52 including shipping.
The graphics are a bit weak, but should play Sims 2. If you need some extra juice you could pick up a 2600XT or 8600GT. If your willing to go Vista you could get a wider variety of parts at that price. Do you need XP for legacy support?
Maniacal
the green Napoleon
*gasps* PlutonianEmpire's risen from the dead!*
*I havn't seen any of your posts for a year or so.
On topic, I have no idea what the Sims needs, but it will probably run quite well on most new pre-built desktops. Okay so I can't really help
*I havn't seen any of your posts for a year or so.
On topic, I have no idea what the Sims needs, but it will probably run quite well on most new pre-built desktops. Okay so I can't really help
Quad core but moderate graphics doesn't make much sense to me for gaming.
PlutonianEmpire, thing you have to decide is between a desktop and a laptop. I think that you can find a $1200 laptop that will have no problem playing Sims 2.
PlutonianEmpire, thing you have to decide is between a desktop and a laptop. I think that you can find a $1200 laptop that will have no problem playing Sims 2.
Ghost Ranger
Prince
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2007
- Messages
- 357
Aramazd
Deity
It doesn't, but in the around $1200 range with Windows XP their isn't that much choice. If he is willing to go Vista, there is a much bigger selection. Looking on Newegg no XP desktops have decent graphics.
List of laptops with XP pro and dedicated graphics:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127033
PlutonianEmpire
King of the Plutonian Empire
What if I buy Vista? Are there utilities or disks that can downgrade vista to XP?
Aramazd
Deity
Assuming you have an XP disc, you can format the hard drive and install XP, but why don't you want Vista?
taper
Meet Tux
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2002
- Messages
- 1,463
I really like Newegg, but it isn't the only place to shop for laptops. I keep coming back to these, but the Dell Vostro under Small Business are a great line. Dell has had some quality issues in the past, but that was mostly in the cheap models aimed at students, the business lines are better overall, and the whole company has improved. I set my sister up with a Vostro 1400 a few weeks ago, and it seems great so far. Good price too.
Anyway, certain Vostros can be optioned with XP(until June 18) and an Nvidia 8400 GS video card. It's not the most powerful card around, but it should handle the Sims 2 just fine. The desktops can get an 8800GT, more than enough.
For the OS, Vista Business and Ultimate versions allow a downgrade to XP Pro with the same license if you already have an XP disc. Not sure if this helps you or not. If you do prefer XP over Vista as much as I do, you can also buy a standalone copy off a site like Newegg. The OEM version is around $90 and the retail is $190. The difference is the OEM lives and dies on one pc, where the retail can be transferred to another machine as long as it's only active on one at a time.
I do highly recommend building it yourself if you get a desktop, you can't call yourself a geeky nerd until you do. Also, don't be suckered in by those shiny quad cores. A dual core is all you need, and you'll save some money.
Anyway, certain Vostros can be optioned with XP(until June 18) and an Nvidia 8400 GS video card. It's not the most powerful card around, but it should handle the Sims 2 just fine. The desktops can get an 8800GT, more than enough.
For the OS, Vista Business and Ultimate versions allow a downgrade to XP Pro with the same license if you already have an XP disc. Not sure if this helps you or not. If you do prefer XP over Vista as much as I do, you can also buy a standalone copy off a site like Newegg. The OEM version is around $90 and the retail is $190. The difference is the OEM lives and dies on one pc, where the retail can be transferred to another machine as long as it's only active on one at a time.
I do highly recommend building it yourself if you get a desktop, you can't call yourself a geeky nerd until you do. Also, don't be suckered in by those shiny quad cores. A dual core is all you need, and you'll save some money.
PlutonianEmpire
King of the Plutonian Empire
And building a computer yourself is cheaper, right?
Any tutorials to get me started?
Also, I don't think we have any XP discs. Where can we buy them?
Any tutorials to get me started?
Two reasons. One, Celestia works better on XP, from what I've heard. Two, installing downloads from the official sims 2 site doesn't work in Vista.
Also, I don't think we have any XP discs. Where can we buy them?
taper
Meet Tux
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2002
- Messages
- 1,463
Yes, it is cheaper. There's tons of online help for system building, Newegg has a nice list of a few, google will bring up many more. Do some reading, pick some parts, come back here, and we'll give our thoughts.
Ghost Ranger
Prince
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2007
- Messages
- 357
Aramazd
Deity
The cheapest way would be to call your old computer's manufacturer and tell them you lost your XP, I believe most let you get a plain XP disc. It's about $20, IIRC, but of dubious legality. (OEM discs are intended for one computer only).
