Beginners (I’m completely lost!)

[Laummatt]

Hello all,

My almost 14 year old is desperate for a gaming PC - and I’m about as clueless as they come.
I’ve read through a few threads and I’m still none the wiser but there seems to be a wealth of knowledge here, so where do I/we start?
Money isn’t limitless, he’s 14 after all. I’d like something he could continue to upgrade and improve over time (is that possible with all computers?!)

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hello all,

My almost 14 year old is desperate for a gaming PC - and I’m about as clueless as they come.
I’ve read through a few threads and I’m still none the wiser but there seems to be a wealth of knowledge here, so where do I/we start?
Money isn’t limitless, he’s 14 after all. I’d like something he could continue to upgrade and improve over time (is that possible with all computers?!)

What's your max budget? For an entry level system you'd be looking around £1200 at the moment due to high demand and low stocks

 

[Laummatt]

Ok, we’d thought £1k so it’s not massively different.
Didn’t realise there was a supply problem here too. We could stretch to that, what would that look like?

 

[SpyderTracks]

Ok, we’d thought £1k so it’s not massively different.
Didn’t realise there was a supply problem here too. We could stretch to that, what would that look like?

Unfortunately the stock issues are worldwide due to pandemic logistics issues, brexit and still low manufacturing volumes due to general silicon shortage, it's a crazy time and prices are up and down on a daily basis, but it's the most expensive time in history to be buying a PC.

I lied also, this would be the lowest I'd go, it's a really solid base that gives room to upgrade the GPU to around a 3070 which is a substantial improvement. This would suit 1080p 144Hz gaming, and you'd be looking around £150 - 200 for a suitable monitor. The expected lifetime of the build would be 7 - 10 years with a GPU upgrade or two in that time, unless something really unforeseen comes along that no ones expecting.

Case
CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Six Core CPU (3.7GHz-4.6GHz/35MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B550-PLUS WiFi (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 - HDMI, DP - VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3000MB/sR | 1600MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 750W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
NOT REQUIRED
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Google Chrome™
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 14 to 17 working days
Price: £1,306.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/WC6nC2Jq2u/

 

[anthonytdoyle]

What games does he mostly play, because atm graphics cards are over priced, you could get a 5700g cpu and no graphics card and save some money, once yoyr son isnt playing the latest at high settings ect

 

[Laummatt]

He currently only has access to his Xbox so games from there but keeps telling me that xyz that he wants is better on a pc. His friends are starting to migrate to pc too.
if we got him the game card you mention he could upgrade? From my extremely limited experience from uni I seem to remember building pcs and most was possible to upgrade most elements?

 

[anthonytdoyle]

if you buy from pc specialist youll be able to upgrade. if he plays games like fortnite, Id recommend the 5700g cpu and graphics card and in a year or so he could save money for one which would improve speed. The 5700g is slower then the 5800x cpu but has an integrated gpu so you can save on an external one till later

 

[SpyderTracks]

if you buy from pc specialist youll be able to upgrade. if he plays games like fortnite, Id recommend the 5700g cpu and graphics card and in a year or so he could save money for one which would improve speed. The 5700g is slower then the 5800x cpu but has an integrated gpu so you can save on an external one till later

it wont be able to power games like warzone, or battlefield. And even on tge lighter games like fortnite you have to reduce settings all the way down for it to be playable.

Its an option bit its not a good option for most games

 

[anthonytdoyle]

I’d like something he could continue to upgrade and improve over time (is that possible with all computers?!)

As for upgradibility, All self made ones are up-gradable but some companies make their own parts so you cant upgrade, Pc specialist don't make their own parts so you can upgrade with parts you buy yourself
Id recommend
Case
LIAN LI LANCOOL 215 GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G Eight Core CPU with Radeon™ Graphics (3.8GHz-4.6GHz/20MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B550-PLUS WiFi (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NONE, I ALREADY HAVE A GRAPHICS CARD
1st Storage Drive
1TB Samsung 870 QVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (up to 560MB/sR | 530MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 750W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 100 V3 Series High Performance CPU Cooler (AMD)
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
NOT REQUIRED
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 14 to 17 working days
Price: £1,016.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/jqDPeQsVss/

 

[anthonytdoyle]

it wont be able to power games like warzone, or battlefield. And even on tge lighter games like fortnite you have to reduce settings all the way down for it to be playable.

Its an option bit its not a good option for most games

for a budget build i feel its a good option

 

[AgentCooper]

if you buy from pc specialist youll be able to upgrade. if he plays games like fortnite, Id recommend the 5700g cpu and graphics card and in a year or so he could save money for one which would improve speed. The 5700g is slower then the 5800x cpu but has an integrated gpu so you can save on an external one till later

If heading that route, I wouldn't advise a 5700G. It's almost an extra £150 more than the 5600G for virtually no gain.

Both will hold their own at 720p but @SpyderTracks is right, 1080p will have to be dialled down to it's barest bones to make modern titles playable.

 

[SpyderTracks]

for a budget build i feel its a good option

I think it's more important to set expectations of what the current prices are at for a suitable build. To me the integrated graphics option would be terrible for a teenager coming from console, it would be a worse experience in every regard.

The OP has said they're willing to increase budget as didn't understand the market.

To the OP, an integrated CPU is certainly an option, but you have to be aware of the poor experience it will offer for most games, it's not designed for a gaming PC, they're designed for an entry level system for people playing basic things like Minecraft or basic pixel style games. It won't be powerful to run most modern titles and certainly not AAA titles.

For PC gaming, anything below 60fps is not considered acceptable and severely affects the user experience. Especially if you're coming from a console, it would be a very poor experience and makes no sense.

skip to 13:20 in this video:

 

[Laummatt]

Thank you all for your replies. I’m going to look through these carefully and see what we can do. I appreciate all your input and will most likely be back with further questions!

 

[Laummatt]

Hello all,

I messaged a couple of months ago and you were all so helpful but we’ve continued to bounce around whether a 14 year old ‘needs’ a computer - over Xbox etc.

Anyway, he seems very set on buying a computer

I’ve literally gone through the tool on the site to build a computer and it’s come up with this.

What changes would you make?

He wants it for gaming, I’d rather buy decent but entry level and the capability to upgrade when he wants to (and can pay for it himself).

I’m a little reluctant to spend so much money on a teen - ohh how I wish he’d asked for the latest Xbox now! But seems wasteful to buy stuff he neither needs or wants so here we are…

Case
PCS 3601 CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i5 Six Core Processor i5-11400 (2.6GHz) 12MB Cache
Motherboard
GIGABYTE B560M DS3H (rev. 1.0) : LGA1200, DDR4, USB 3.2
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2666MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660 SUPER - HDMI, DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2200 MB/R, 1500 MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 450W CV SERIES™ CV-450 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS 802.11N 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KK3-00027]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Monitor
AOC 21.5" E2270SWHN LED Monitor. 1920 x 1080, 5MS
Keyboard & Mouse
PCS GK180 88-Key RGB Mechanical Keyboard + PCS GM150 RGB Mouse
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 13 to 16 working days
Miscellaneous
Created Using Jargon Free Configurator
Price: £1,110.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z590-pc/sDzFvSh2Jg/

 

[Laummatt]

Ahh the clever system has linked it up! Thanks… now I can compare. But any other input would be gratefully received!

 

[Martinr36]

So what budget are we talking, I'd advise against the above system as intel is definitely not the way to go, be warned prices are still flying high

AMD Vs Intel

So some of you aren't aware of the reasons why so many people are heading away from Intel to AMD, so thought it would be important to lay that out for people to refer back to. A lot of you will go to cpubenchmark or userbenchmark to find performance metrics for CPU's. These sites are complete...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

 

[Laummatt]

Ahh thanks for the heads up.

We were wanting it around £1k mark, where he could upgrade himself. I realise this doesn’t get a great gaming system that many want. Maybe it’s worth holding off a while? I’m def in two minds about it…

I really appreciate your input.

 

[AgentCooper]

Ahh thanks for the heads up.

We were wanting it around £1k mark, where he could upgrade himself. I realise this doesn’t get a great gaming system that many want. Maybe it’s worth holding off a while? I’m def in two minds about it…

I really appreciate your input.

Maybe you could get him an Xbox this year to cover his gaming, then bank and do a bit more saving to get him a decent and upgradable PC in the next year or two.

 

[Laummatt]

That’s the original plan. We wanted him to save up too.
Do you think prices (I believe it’s certain components) will remain high? Or is that a ‘how long is a pieces of string?’ question?

 

[SpyderTracks]

That’s the original plan. We wanted him to save up too.
Do you think prices (I believe it’s certain components) will remain high? Or is that a ‘how long is a pieces of string?’ question?

It's been ongoing now for about a year, it's anyone's guess, there are multiple causes along with COVID and silicon shortage