How to Convince My Parents to Let Me Build a Gaming PC

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AgentLOL

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Nov 16, 2014
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I HAVE THIS QUESTIONS SOLVED, BUT I HAVE LEFT THIS THREAD OPEN IF ANYONE WANTS TO FREELY COMMENT OR TALK ABOUT SOMETHING :):):):):)



So, I'm 13, and its nearing my birthday. Right now I'm using a Mid-2012 Macbook Air to game, really only play Minecraft at 60FPS, and that's the only game cause' my parents think gaming is a huge time buster, leaving me with no console, except for the Wii with Mario games. That's my intro.

So, I first wanted to get a pre-built PC. Seeing how pricy they were, thought of building my own PC. Yearning to actually play other video games (my parents don't approve of violent video games sadly), I put together this really good PC for about $1,400, without peripherals. (Don't ask if they really have the money for that, cause my dad uses a giant iMac). So, I approach them ask my dad (he usually manages everything with electronics). He says that you will only save $50 by building, I won't let you build one, but rather purchase one, as it takes forever. They said that a $800 computer is good enough for school work. I explain that I want these components, and my dad realizes its for gaming.

So that pretty much ended the argument with a NO, and since then, been trying to convince him. I just don't know what's the right time to ask my dad. He owns a office and said that he would grab one from his office that's new, and left to go to the mall. Man, he just won't understand. While everyone else (my friends) sit back and play on their supercomputers and Xbox Ones, I get to sit here playing just Minecraft on my horrible laptop. With that being said, hopefully you read this all and give me a suggestion, and thanks for reading!

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/B4T9yc
 
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I want to play the game "The Crew" at high settings. That isn't necessarily violent, yet takes a lot of performance. I hate HP for all their random software, and their laptops are WAAAY too heavy. I can learn about a computer through actually building one. This isn't about saving money (well partially, in a way). I'm not looking for a laptop, those are too heavy and bulky. PC's can fit under your desk with much more things.
 
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Have you considered working with your parents to get a pc using grades as an incentive? As a parent of a teenage child, we use the xbox/pc as punishment/reward for good grades. Try and work a deal out with your parents, get good grades and they buy a pc. Grades go down, PC is taken away. You could even work in getting improvements based on semester grades. Reach the goal and they agree to get you an upgraded part.
 
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You could try buying a barebones computer which is already basically assembled with the exception of a couple of parts. Then, get your parents to do a solid arrangement around playing games - my grandparents since I was about 8 or 9 (16 now) only let me play what I had (a PS3 and now a PS4) on the weekend and despite them saying only for an hour a day I end up playing for over 12 hours, which worked sometimes when I had a PS3 but I can't now with a PS4 as my projector basically can only used when it's nighttime 😛

So yeah the barebones idea came from when I wanted to build my PC which cost me $1200 plus tax, and my granddad proposed to me that I get barebones where the difference is that you pick out whatever parts you want and it's already assembled when it's shipped to you. It's worth a shot if you're unable to convince your parents of a computer, seeing as they'd likely be the ones paying for it. My computer's cost came out of my own bank, but if you can't afford to pay for most of it then you're out of luck with convincing your parents. Anyways, what I would do is propose to your dad about the barebones idea and see what he says.
 
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Your parents are correct. Your post proves they are correct. They want you to focus on school. You want to play games. If you do what your parents want, then earlier in life you'll be able to do more of what you want.

Don't try to overcome the situation. Adapt to what your parents want. In other words, grow up a little bit.

BTW, whatever computer your dad has is not relevant. It's his money. Your dad knows what money he has to spend on things. Maybe he doesn't have an extra $1500 for a computer for you. You want to play certain games at high settings. Be willing to settle for playing games at mid-range settings or even low settings. It's better than having nothing.

You know how much homework you have. You know your responsibilities. Your dad is a business man, so you know something about plans.

Draw up a detailed plan. Start with the thesis - I want a computer I can use for school work and for playing video games. Show a comparison between a pre-made system and a parts list you purchase and assemble. Show that you will save money.

Draw up a schedule that shows the time you will spend on homework, chores and other responsibilities, and video game playing. The kid version of such a list is usually 10 minutes of responsibilities, 10 hours of video games. I suggest you make this an adult list heavy on time for responsibilities with reasonable time for video game play.

In your plan, as jbell2825 mentioned, build in a grades guarantee. If you don't make your grades, you put aside the computer instead of your parents having to take it. Place it on a table in the living room until you bring your grades back to the agreed level.


 
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HI AgentLOL,

You have three issues here:
1) Computers are expensive, especially if you want good gaming rigs.
2) You're 13 with virtually no income and rely on your parents
3) Your parents don't want you gaming

These issues are going to stop you from obtaining a decent gaming computer. Your parents don't want you gaming, so won't provide you with anything other than what's needed for school tasks, and you can't buy your own rig because it costs too much. You could afford consoles, but your parents have outlawed them. The few gaming desires they've fulfilled were apparently only due to placating your tantrums/whining. You are currently in no position to bargain with your parents.

If you want to persuade your parents that gaming is not going to impact your schooling/etc, you need to prove to them that you are a mature individual. Stop arguing/whining for games and game-related stuff. Ask nicely and accept that "No" means no. A good way to show improved maturity is to raise your grades. School isn't going anywhere. Even once you're an adult, college is just additional schooling without parental oversight. Trust me when I say that developing good study habits now will pay for itself 10-fold later in life. Once your grades improve, then maybe you can talk them into letting you have a console. Pitch a last gen console like a PS3 or 360 for lower cost of entry, but great catalogs (including Minecraft). Offer to only play it during set times such as on weekends and stick to those restrictions while maintaining your grades. Again, maturity is the key. Don't argue for more play time or whine about "what's fair", even if they kick you off early. If you play your cards right, maybe you can work your way into some semi-regular gaming while showing your parents it's not that big of a deal. You're looking at the next year or two working up to this, but it's better than not having anything until you're 18 and move out.

At this point, you take what you can get. If you get a crap PC, then thank them for their generosity and look up some old-school games like Oregon Trail. Being 13 sucks because there's a lot you can't do, but you're also at the age where you should start seeing more responsibilities. Maturity is the key to this stage of your life. Embrace it and hold on for the next 5 years.
 
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I've realized that grades are really decided during the first month or so of school. After that, it's really hard to raise your grade a whole letter without bonus points. So I have pretty good grades, mostly B's, which the exception of 1-2 classes having A's. And my dad instead just wants to get a pre-built. He believes it doesn't save money (even though it saves loads), and I have no time to show him that it actually does because he just doesn't want to admit the fact that's its more expensive. I've literally given up on whining, that never works and you don't get exactly what you want most of the time. You guys are telling me to get consoles. It isn't completely about the money. It's that he won't get parts, but rather wants it pre-built.

About the grades. Whatever I get, all A's, all B's, doesn't matter at all to them. All they want me to do is work harder. So grades doesn't do much good. I'm really waiting for college so I can get stuff that I've wanted for so long.

I've looked at barebones, most containing ok parts, not really optimized for gaming in any way. Except for MSI's Mini ITX's, which are too small for what I would like, as I am not taking this to LAN parties. I mean Rasberry Pi is more for really tiny/basic computers, Arduino is more robotics. I would rather use more costly components and build a PC that way than to just use the Rasberry Pi.
 
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It isn't completely about the money. It's that he won't get parts, but rather wants it pre-built.
Click to expand...

Then you need to show him you are capable of building a PC.
As referenced in an earlier post of mine.

Take several broken ones, build a working one.
Repeat
Repeat.

Hey...the boy actually knows what he's doing !

I came home one day, and my son and his friend (then age 11) had 3 gen 1 Xboxes all taken apart, spread out on the living room floor.
Each was differently broken.
They made one fully functioning XBox out of those. With zero prompting or assistance from me.

This Christmas, my 10 year old grandson (and siblings) will be getting a new PC. The 10 year old will put it together.
Hotrod gaming PC? No...$400 or so. But it is what it is, and they will get major brain power actually building it.
Why? Because the 10 year old has displayed major interest in doing this.
 
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He does not yet know that this will be his PC. All he currently knows is that he is helping granddad build a PC.
Once built, it goes back in the packing box for the case. I just got the keyboard/mouse today. The PSU the other day.

When the box opens on xmas morning, I'm expecting eyeballs to fall out the front of his head.
 
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You mentioned your dad owned an office? How many PC's does he have work? See if he has any broken ones, or ones that are run down that you can have. See what parts you can salvage from them. Depending on what you have to work with, you might be able to put together a decent pc and then buy the upgrades you need.

As for grades, its been my experience that the whole semester makes a difference. If you can at least show him progress in your most recent grades that might make a difference. I know with me and my children grades come first and if my child could show me that having a gaming PC was motivation to improve his grades, I would consider it a decent price to pay.

What would your parents say if you made a deal with them in regards to improving your grades and having a PC as a reward? If money isn't the issue and grades are as important to them as it sounds (true with most parents) try to make a deal. They don't have much to lose in making a bargain with you.
 
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Well, you fine sir are a fine parent indeed. I thought picking apart an Xbox was illegal, or that's what my friend told me. It's more about my dad believing that the time/savings ratio isn't worth it. He'd rather save time then saving money. He thinks it's like $50 savings only, when it's actually $500. 10 times the amount my dad thinks of it to be.

Well, that child of yours is gonna get a fine gift he didn't expect!
 
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It should be easy to show him the savings. Have your did pick a PC prebuilt, then price out the same PC on pcpartspicker and show him the difference in cost. Can't argue with hard numbers.

 
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They would say "Get all A's on your next report card or you don't get anything." That's about as far as I've gone in grade bargaining. That's not exactly feasible, getting all A's in EVERY SINGLE SUBJECT. Grades is pretty much all they ask for, and I think the grades they ask for is too much to ask for. All A's. I mean, sure, a tiny minority of the whole 7th grade magnet can actually do that. Who? The super nerds and people who have parents teaching them higher grade material then what they are learning in school. I know a parent who's teaching mid-highschool/college lvl math to one student.
 
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For him and his time, building may not be a good deal. For you, different story.
Build something. Show him.
 
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My dad has his way of things. I haven't found the right moment to show him. He's either watching TV, on his computer, in his office, sleeping, or eating. He doesn't like being disturbed during any of those times. And when he knows I'm right, he'll admit it. But he says "That's how the cookie crumbles!" and leaves with that. I don't know how to counter that. That's an ability only parents have I guess.
 
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Then that leads to deeper issues, which cannot be fixed or addressed in here.
 
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When they see multiple B's, all they think of is "Hey, why do you have a B? As long as you have that B, you won't get a thing!" Last year, I made it all A's with the exception of English throughout the whole semester, until the final one, where i got 2 B's! They still wouldn't do a thing. I mean, that's just plain rude in my perspective. How would you like to be put through this!
 
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I guess I found somewhat multiple solutions that I could use. Waiting till it hits 7' o clock for my dad to come home. I don't think my mom/dad would want to see me prove something to them via purchasing something. They always say that whenever I want something, I have to pay for it. WELL DUH! How else are you gonna get it? By getting something from my dad's office?
 
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