To Dell or Not to Dell- Sims 2 Computer

[eduardo88]

My girlfirend wants to design a computer solely for the purposes of playing Sims 2 at the maximum level. Being a computer geek it is difficult to design such a low level computer. Would it be better to buy a Dell or build a custom machine? It only needs to run the Sims 2 at the highest level, nothing beyond that.

[Lespaul20]

If sims 2 is the only requirement then a Dell might be pretty hard to beat for a low to mid range computers.

[Masaki 7-11]

The cheapest Dell I found is selling for $349, using Newegg, I designed a budget computer for $352.93.
Here is a comparison:
.....................................Dell........................................................... .Newegg
OS.......................Windows Vista Basic................................XP Home or Windows Vista Basic
CPU.......................Sempron 3600+............................................Athlon 64 X2 3600+
Ram....................2x512MB 667MHz DDR2.................................2x512MB 667MHz DDR2
HD..............................250GB............................................................160 GB
Optical Drive..............DVD/CD-RW.........................................................DVD
Graphics...................Geforce 6150..................................................Geforce 6100
Case.......................Silver Dell Case..............................................Black Antec Case

The Dell comes with a set of 2.0 speakers and a keyboard/mouse set. A computer made on newegg can be customized with a large variety of cases, and can make upgrades to the computer cheaper than when buying off Dell. Either way the prices are pretty similar, so it will depend on which you like better aesthetically and in specs.

[hitchface]

Does she need a monitor? That'll chalk up another 150 bucks alone.

[eduardo88]

She will already have a monitor. Thanks Masaki that was most helpful. However can you tell me which is a better procerssor, the sempron or the athlon? I just never had been asked to design such a low level computer, so I have been at a loss to whether there is any gain to a custom machine. Thanks Everyone!

[Staren]

The Athlon is the better CPU. The Sempron is AMDs anwser to the Celeron.