Need some help ordering a new imac.

8GB RAM

Base HD - use external if you need it

 

Based on what you use your computer for now, the base model is fine. However I always recommend that people think about what they may want to do with their computer if they had a better one. Meaning, if you started to gain some interest in making movies or a video blog or doing some creative design, you would want to think about that too. So I usually recommend people get something that is just a couple steps above their current need.

I would say get the 16gb ram and step the processor up one notch. Otherwise the base model is enough for nearly every general computer user.

 

Ask her. She may want something bigger.

 

I'm not sure how taxing Sim's 3 is on video cards?

But it you look at this video card rating score (see link below) the 2.9GHz Imac with the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M scores a 46 overall,where the base 2.7GHz Imac with the NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M scores a overall rating no higher then 83.

If you can afford the extra $600 i would get the 2.9GHz with 16gigs ram and 1 TB fusion drive (unreal the difference a ssd makes!)

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Games-on-Laptop-Graphic-Cards.13849.0.html

ps: yes the Imacs use laptop video cards