Buying a laptop can I get one to run Sims 3 and cheap?

Hi all,

We'll i need to buy a laptop whislt i'm in America, I have upto 700 dollars spending money and I need one for college but I was hoping to be able to play a few games like sims 3.

Im not any good with figuring at laptops if they can run whatever game so I need some help on a nice cheap laptop that can play a far few games and sims 3 must

You'll want tolook for a laptop with a decent video card, you should be all set. Most laptops with good mobile cards have good enough hardware everywhere else.

Look for:

Nvidia: 8000 series (8200, 8400, etc.), 9000 series, or GTS series (GTS120, etc.)

ATI: 3000 series (3200, 3450, etc.), 4000 series (4650, 4670, etc.)

Try to avoid Intel video chips, they are horrendous. The Sims 3 does support some Intel video cards, but I would advise against getting one. Also, the more RAM the better. You should be able to find a laptop with 4gb of RAM pretty easily.

For $700, you should be able to find a laptop with at least an ATI 3200, or Nvidia 8200 and 4gb of ram. Good luck!

EDIT: I just looked on Best Buy real quick, this one would be perfect for Sims 3

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9172851&type=product&id=1218044029604

I just heard a guy on Techpowerup saying that it runs on his laptop with a 945gm and 1.6ghz core duo (Yonah core) on all low obviously at 1280x800 just fine. I would imagine it dosent take too much to get this to run. I have the same chipset with a 2ghz cpu so I may give it a shot.

I don't know about that 9300M it only has 64-bit for the memory bandwidth and sporting 512MB of VRAM it is going to choke. Personally if you can find a laptop with at least a 8600M GT in you will be find on playing Sims 3. Most newer laptops that would be decent should have the 9600M in it so it shouldn't be that hard finding a decent laptop to play Sims 3 on.xXDrPainXx

The 9300m isn't the best card, but it is lightyears ahead of the standard mobile graphics chip. It will be plenty for the Sims 3, as the Sims 3 has pretty low requirements.