Hi Lam,

The Core2Duo CPU and 4 GB of RAM are good. The integrated GeForce G200 will allow you to run the Sims 3 smoothly at low to medium graphics settings. Although it might slow down a bit with medium graphics settings during some parts of Sims 3 (when there are a lot of people/characters on the screen at once and when there is a lot of highly detailed scenery in the environment your Sims character is in).

A note about desktops or “all-in-one” computers with “integrated graphics” (that do not allow future graphic card upgrades) if I plan to use that computer for gaming. Here is my reasoning from experience… What if the Sims 3 works fine for you on this computer, but (let’s pretend) a year and a half from now the Sims 4 comes out which will require a faster graphics card. You will need to purchase another computer just to play the newer game. Another scenario which might happen is that a new games comes out this year which you are really into. You purchase is and find out that it needs a faster graphics card. You had the computer for less than a year and you need a new one to play a hot game out.

I recommend purchasing a desktop computer that has the ability to upgrade the video card. The way you can tell is when you are building your computer on the HP, Dell or whatever site you are on, it will give you several options to upgrade your graphics card. I recommend purchasing a desktop with an Intel Core2Duo CPU, 3 or 4 GB of RAM and select one of the optional graphics cards that are offered.