I have a six year old who wants to get into modding and gaming.

meghanchevalier13

Commendable
Apr 20, 2016
4
0
1,510
he wants to get into modding and some gaming. what would be the best to start out with? can i buy one already built? should i build one? someone please help! thanks in advance!!
 
Solution

I might start with looking at some videos about the process.
Google will find you some.
Here is one link, I nave not watched it though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIF43-0mDk4

I do not know your budget.
But...
six? that is first grader age. a bit early to get into "modding" and "gaming". you may want to stick to educational programs or educational learning games.

either prebuilt or something you build yourself for cheap would work. it can be low power and budget oriented. by the time he outgrows learning games it will be time to replace the computer with perhaps something better.
 
My grandson was about that age.
He is heavy into minecraft and did some modding.

My suggestion is to take this as an opportunity to do a joint project.
A great way to bond.

Use the cheapest G4400 skylake as a start using integrated graphics.
It can grow, but it is perfectly adequate for minecraft.

Let him pick the case since most any will do.
 

meghanchevalier13

Commendable
Apr 20, 2016
4
0
1,510



he's advanced. we've done learning games he has already grown out of them. i am trying to figure out where to start out at for him whether building one or buying one built. I'm not looking to replace the computer so soon. the one that we will start out on will last couple years then if he's still interested in it then i can upgrade what needs to be upgraded.
 

meghanchevalier13

Commendable
Apr 20, 2016
4
0
1,510


ok great thank you! thats a good start. Im not too knowledgeable with this whole computer stuff except for my basic laptop/pc. what would be the next step? I'm so lost lol
 

ThePurpleJay

Honorable
Apr 11, 2015
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10,710


6 year old? Modeling and gaming? Damn, Daniel!! Your six year old must have a pretty high IQ. If your six year old wants to get into modeling and gaming, teaching him how to build a PC might be a better start for him, especially when you have a smart youngster trying to get into technology. If you start him off by building one, he'll know the parts INSIDE the PC, (DIY) which is more important than knowing the parts ON the monitor (Prebuilt).
Teach him how to build. He'll be the smartest one in his class, if he isn't already is.

 

I might start with looking at some videos about the process.
Google will find you some.
Here is one link, I nave not watched it though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIF43-0mDk4

I do not know your budget.
But I estimate that the parts for a good starter build will be about $600.
Add for monitor, peripherals and windows.
Here is a post I made on that some time ago:

------------------------------ budget skylake build ---------------------------
For a budget gaming build, I like to recommend that one builds for future expandability.
That means paying a bit more up front for some parts that allow for an easier future upgrade.
A good rule of thumb is to budget twice as much for the graphics card than for the cpu.

Let me start where you might not expect:

1. Buy a good 500w psu or better. 500w will run a card as good as a GTX970. 600w will run a GTX980ti.
Future graphics cards will be built on smaller 14nm so they should not need more power than today.
I would normally suggest Seasonic 620w: Expect to pay around $65.
Look for a tier 1 or 2 quality unit on a list such as this:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware/f/135081/t/45344.aspx?Redirected=true

2. Buy a Z170 based motherboard. Z170 will allow you to install a overclockable cpu and even permit a future Kaby lake processor upgrade.
You should find one for under $100. Lesser lga1151 chipsets will work for the truly budget constrained but at the expense of future upgrade optiions.
Here is a M-ATX example: ASRock Z170M Pro4S for $99: http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

3. I suggest a I3-6100 @3.7. About $130. If you are truly budget limited, you can buy a g4400 dual core for $60.
In time, you can upgrade to any I3/I5/I7 cpu that you want and market theoriginal processor.

4. The intel stock cooler will do the job. Skylake runs cool.
If you want, you can use a cryorig H7 cooler with a 120mm fan. $35. It will be quieter.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4UF2DZ6565
One can always add a cpu cooler later.

5. For ram, speed is not important. Buy a 8gb kit of 2 x 4gb DDR4 1.2v 2133 speed ram.
About $40 for this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148858
Heat spreaders are marketing and generally useless.
Faster ram is not worth it for skylake:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1478-page1.html

6. Cases are a personal thing. Buy one you love. Most will do the job for <$50.
Here is a silverstone PS08 for $35; It fits a smallar M-ATX motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163223

7. The graphics card is the most important component for gaming.
I like the GTX750ti and EVGA as a brand.
Here is a superclock version:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
You could go stronger in the video card if your budget permits and your games need it.
On the other hand, you could build using the integrated 530 graphics which is quite good and see how you do.
By deferring on the graphics card, you will get a better idea of what you really need.
Integrated is fine for sims, but not fast action games.
8. Lastly, I will never build again without a SSD for the "C" drive. It makes everything you do so much quicker. 120gb will hold the OS and a handful of games.
With 240gb you may never need a hard drive at all. Defer on a hard drive until your ssd approaches 90% full.
Currently, I like samsung 850 EVO best.

-------------good luck------------





 
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