Are these laptops suitable for grad school and playing The Sims 4?

I’m considering purchasing a laptop that can handle my master’s program and also allow me to play The Sims 4.

I’ve been told it might be overpriced. I’m looking for something durable that won’t break the bank but will last me a long time. Ideally, it should be light enough for frequent campus use and powerful enough for The Sims 4. What do you all think? Any recommendations?

That’s definitely overpriced for a laptop with those specs. You could find something better suited for your needs and more cost-effective.

Maddox said:
That’s definitely overpriced for a laptop with those specs. You could find something better suited for your needs and more cost-effective.

What alternatives would you suggest?

@Suki
If you’re not looking to play high-end games, a MacBook Air could be a good fit. It’s lightweight, has a solid build, and offers great battery life.

@Suki
I’d recommend the MacBook Pro with an M4 chip. It handles games like The Sims 4 easily and is excellent for academic tasks. Check out these reviews: Link1 Link2

Maddox said:
That’s definitely overpriced for a laptop with those specs. You could find something better suited for your needs and more cost-effective.

This laptop isn’t aimed at gamers, but it’s a fair price for 32 GB of RAM. I got a similar deal for $1200.

— LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE —

Total budget: $1,700 USD

I’m looking for something portable with great battery life that can last 5-10 years. I need it to be lightweight, as I spend a lot of time on campus. Preferred screen size is 14”-16”. I’ll be using it for grad school and playing The Sims 4, which should run smoothly on it. I value build quality and durability but don’t need many additional features like a touch screen or fingerprint reader.

@Suki
The MacBook Pro M4 is well-regarded, but make sure the software you need for your master’s program is compatible with MacOS. The Ideapad Pro 5 (AMD) might be a good alternative with solid specs and a good price. Here’s a custom configuration I recommend: Link

@Indy
I prefer buying locally from stores like Best Buy or Costco due to their return policies. I’m also concerned about heat issues with MacBooks when running games.

Suki said:
@Indy
I prefer buying locally from stores like Best Buy or Costco due to their return policies. I’m also concerned about heat issues with MacBooks when running games.

The newer MacBooks with Apple silicon chips are much more efficient and handle heat better than older models. They should run The Sims 4 without any issues.

Suki said:
@Indy
I prefer buying locally from stores like Best Buy or Costco due to their return policies. I’m also concerned about heat issues with MacBooks when running games.

Check what’s available at MicroCenter. They often have a good selection and competitive prices. The new MacBooks are worth considering due to their improved performance and thermal management.

Suki said:
@Indy
I prefer buying locally from stores like Best Buy or Costco due to their return policies. I’m also concerned about heat issues with MacBooks when running games.

I recommend checking out reviews and performance tests for how well recent MacBooks handle games like The Sims 4. They’ve significantly improved over the years.

@Suki
The Sims 4 isn’t very demanding. Most modern laptops with decent integrated graphics should be able to run it smoothly without needing a high-end GPU.

Consider an M series MacBook. They offer excellent performance and battery life, but check software compatibility if you’re using specific applications for your studies.

Hollis said:
Consider an M series MacBook. They offer excellent performance and battery life, but check software compatibility if you’re using specific applications for your studies.

It’s true that MacBooks are great, but ensure the programs you need for your degree will run on MacOS. Many academic programs are optimized for Windows.

Dell might be overpriced for what it offers. Consider brands like Lenovo, which provide good performance at a lower cost. The Ideapad 5 Pro is highly recommended for its value.

Always check detailed reviews on sites like Notebookcheck before making a purchase. They provide in-depth performance data and comparisons.

Look for laptops with better price-performance ratios. The GTX 4050 might not be necessary unless you plan on more intensive gaming or graphic tasks.

What’s your field of study? Depending on your specific needs, different laptops might be more suitable.

Uma said:
What’s your field of study? Depending on your specific needs, different laptops might be more suitable.

I’m studying to become a physician assistant. The program may require specific software, so I need a versatile and powerful laptop.