Question My 10yr old son wants a gaming computer for Christmas, and I'm lost!

[Justin512]

Hello,

My son has been asking for a gaming computer for a couple years now, but I cannot justify spending thousands of dollars on a computer for a 10 year old.

So the last couple of nights after he has gone to bed, I have sat up and researched how to build an entry level gaming PC. I've found everything is cheaper to build, rather than buy it. But, every video I watch and every website I go to they promise one price but when I go and price it, I'm right back at around a thousand dollars.

With 2020 being such a... "great" year, I would like to get him what he is asking for but I can't break the bank. I am just looking for something that we can build together, and will let him play his Minecraft and Fortnite. It doesn't have to have the best graphics, or the most memory. I just want to be able to upgrade it as time goes on. I understand that gaming PC's by nature are expensive, but I would like to stay around $500 or lower if possible.

I am not too worried about the peripherals, as he already has a monitor, and being a 10 yr old boy he will most likely destroy any keyboard and mouse I buy.
Sceptre 30-inch Curved Gaming Monitor 21:9 2560x1080 Ultra Wide Ultra Slim HDMI DisplayPort up to 200Hz Build-in Speakers, Metal Black (C305B-200UN)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TXM7K4T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Can someone point me in the right direction?

Any and all advise will be much appreciated!

Justin

 

[USAFRet]

Not looking to open a can of worms here, but what should I look for in the spec sheet or on the box that will let me know what GPU will be compatible with my setup?

Any semi recent system will be compatible with any semi recent GPU.

Budget for this?

Also, the specific power supply matters. Enough power, good quality, proper connectors.

 

[Floef]

It's not intended as controversy, just a few opinions that needn't clash.
I felt I would be remiss if I didn't point out the change in the landscape of the internet for kids.

Also just making sure you know that that setup is for a Micro PC, not the usual towers you may be familiar with when you think of a PC.

 

[USAFRet]

A GTX 1650 would work well.

PCPartPicker Part List

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER 4 GB TUF GAMING OC Video Card ($173.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $173.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-11-19 20:53 EST-0500

 

[Justin512]

You could also just wait until the need arises honestly, depending on what he's going to play that integrated gpu may do just fine.

Good point. He will just be playing Minecraft/Fortnite, which I cant imagine would be too labor intensive, but if I have the funds available and everything is already open and on the table... might as well.

 

[neojack]

that monitor is high res. I built a PC last year for a nephew, from scrap parts. got him a Phenom II X6 and a rx480. he is still very happy with his computer.

i recommend the RX480. they are cheap used (like 100$) that the best perf/price ratio for a gpu able to run games confortably at his resolution
if you go for a dedicated GPU, swap the 3400g for a ryzen 3100
the numbers are deceiving, the G series are a generation late, the 3100 is actually way faster. about same price or cheaper

 

[King_V]

Wow. I didnt expect this to turn into such a controversial post lol

I really appreciate everyone that has taken the time to offer their advise, comments, and build recommendations. You all have given me A LOT to think about.

I like the idea of mixing some old with new to save some money and possibly get a better system at a lower price, but I honestly dont think I know enough about computers to know if I am getting ripped off or not.
I will more than likely buy all new.

I do have one more question, if you all would be so kind.

If I was able to scrape up some more money, what part should be the first thing I should replace on the build lists in these threads. I have pasted one here as an example.

From Flayed's post
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G 3.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($140.99 @ Best Buy)
Motherboard: ASRock B450M PRO4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 4 Blackout 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-3000 CL16 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX500 480 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($42.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill RANGER-M MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX (2017) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.94 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($108.78 @ Other World Computing)
Total: $485.67

I'd maybe be a little fussy and go for the MX500 rather than the BX500. Or a Samsung 860 EVO. I don't know if the DRAMless nature of the BX500 would ever be a noticeable issue with your son's usage, but I'm picky about that. They'll add $11-13 to the price, based on today's prices.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6yKcCJ/samsung-860-evo-500gb-25-solid-state-drive-mz-76e500bam

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/ft8j4D/crucial-mx500-500gb-25-solid-state-drive-ct500mx500ssd1

Prices fluctuate pretty frequently at this time of year, though.


I've already mentioned my somewhat hyper-cautious nature (then immediately refuted myself ) regarding the power supply.


I know I've seen some occasional listings for Windows 10 at $99.99. If you, a spouse, or other family member happens to work as faculty in a school district that has such an arrangement with Microsoft, the Windows 10 Education version license (it's actually akin to Windows 10 pro) can be had for $14.99. My ex-wife purchased the license for our son's new PC last Christmas. If such is available to you, that will free up another chunk of money toward hardware.


A video card would be the upgrade I'd make if more money comes into the budget - but, again, on sale vs not on sale makes a difference, and this changes every few days.

 

[MorganPike]

From the time of intel 486 DX2

Sweet. I remember the DX2 66 was my second upgrade. My first pc was a 286 given to me by an older brother. Awesome times.

 

[MorganPike]

Wow. I didnt expect this to turn into such a controversial post lol

I really appreciate everyone that has taken the time to offer their advise, comments, and build recommendations. You all have given me A LOT to think about.

I like the idea of mixing some old with new to save some money and possibly get a better system at a lower price, but I honestly dont think I know enough about computers to know if I am getting ripped off or not.
I will more than likely buy all new.

I do have one more question, if you all would be so kind.

If I was able to scrape up some more money, what part should be the first thing I should replace on the build lists in these threads. I have pasted one here as an example.

From Flayed's post
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G 3.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($140.99 @ Best Buy)
Motherboard: ASRock B450M PRO4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 4 Blackout 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-3000 CL16 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX500 480 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($42.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill RANGER-M MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX (2017) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.94 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($108.78 @ Other World Computing)
Total: $485.67

A dedicated graphics card. And switch the cpu to a Ryzen 5 2600, on sale for $150 last I checked. Check to see if you can get a better main board deal due to cpu change. And make sure the power supply is sufficient. The gpu will add an additional load.

My opinion of course.

How about this?

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/zCjgnL

Use Win 10 as is until you get around to buying a key later. $600 including a 1660 Super, 16GB and an M.2 drive. Nice system right there.

Edit: Ok, the case looked to good to be true and when I checked, it was! lol

So drop that system back to 8GB, a case that's true, and it's an easy upgrade to 16 later on if needed. Plan on buying a couple extra fans for the case as the first upgrade. Shortly after Christmas. But this keeps you at the $600 mark with a real gaming computer for Christmas.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Bsbxgt

1660 Super running at 2560x1080...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW3VuMpFvI8


And a bit of quick advise. Make use of pcpartpicker that some others and myself have linked to. Very useful. As I think someone else said, pricing is constantly fluctuating, sometimes on an hourly basis.

If I had just a little more money to spend I'd go with the a better power supply. Like the CX version listed by Flayed. The CX would give better headroom for future upgrades, but any significant upgrades would need a power supply replacement anyway. Hard to say exactly what the future will bring.

 

[Karadjgne]

Lol, got all of you beat. First pc I tinkered with was a Commodore Vic20, took 15 minutes to load Spaced Invaders from a cassette player. That was in 1981.

 

[USAFRet]

Lol, got all of you beat. First pc I tinkered with was a Commodore Vic20, took 15 minutes to load Spaced Invaders from a cassette player. That was in 1981.

ummmm......I still have my VIC20. Still in the original box.
And it still works.

 

[StrikerX67]

holy jesus. When did everyone just completely disregard previous gen components simply because the next gen came out?
I was able form a gaming pc for 200 dollars with a used optiplex and a gtx 970. Literally ran most games perfectly fine.

 

[bignastyid]

If you must build your own this guys YouTube channel talks about cheap sub $500 gaming builds. This is his specialty.

https://www.youtube.com/c/OzTalksHW/videos

OEM rig at this price point is probably going to be cheaper and better than building yourself.

Example Best Buy :

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberp...570-1tb-hdd-240gb-ssd/6430866.p?skuId=6430866

I would not say anything from Cyberpower is better than building it yourself. Cyberpower and ibuypower are best avoided. Build quality and component selection is, more often than not, very poor.

 

[USAFRet]

If you must build your own this guys YouTube channel talks about cheap sub $500 gaming builds. This is his specialty.

https://www.youtube.com/c/OzTalksHW/videos

OEM rig at this price point is probably going to be cheaper and better than building yourself.

Example Best Buy :

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberp...570-1tb-hdd-240gb-ssd/6430866.p?skuId=6430866

Not even a little bit.

Cheaper, maybe. For a reason. Cyberpower in well known for going cheap on parts that most people don't notice. What motherboard? What PSU? etc, etc.

Building it yourself brings many benefits:

1. Absolute control over the parts selection.
2. Absolute control over the assembly.
3. Better individual parts warranty.
4. Father-son bonding afternoon, of putting it together.

 

[USAFRet]

1 - You have a warranty, and Best Buy is convenient for most
2 - That PC has a keyboard, mouse, legit OS - things nobody includes in their DIY price lists
3 - It has a standard case that can hold upgrades
4 - It has a 4.4 star rating with 83 reviews, implying there aren't a lot of failures

You can't build that system for under $499. You can get close, PCPartPicker shows $466.91 without keyboard/mouse, no OS, and no Wifi.

Unless he really likes to dick around with his PC, he probably should get the box with a warranty and ability to return it.

1. CyberPower warranty is 1 year. You pay shipping, of the whole box. Individual parts that you buy may have a warranty of 2-3-5-10 years.
2. Yes. And for a system like this, an OS license should be budget in.
3. We're not speaking of the ATX case, but rather the demonstrated lack of quality we've seen in CyberPower systems. Simple things, like the DVD drive not connected. Fans not connected. System simply not booting up at all, right out of the box. And for "upgrades"...be very very careful about what power supply is in there. Usually, it is just barely enough to run the system in its original config. Add something....not gonna work.
4. User ratings like that are mostly useless

Can a CyberPower system be "cheaper" Sure. If initial cheapness is your main consideration, go for it.
As said though...there a re many benefits doing it the other way.

Earlier, I mentioned my grandson, at age 11. That system was also around $500. That one afternoon of putting it together was a great bonding moment. And gave HIM a much much greater appreciation of how it all goes together. Instead of being a black box with some blinken lights, and no knowledge of what goes on inside.
Seeing the look on his face when he pressed the power button for the first time, on a system HE assembled - Literally priceless.


A prebuilt system, especially CyberPower/iBuyPower, is not the automatic GoTo. No matter what price.

 

[USAFRet]

There is zero need to use a refurb Optiplex, or scrounge up an ex-mining GPU.

Building a $500 system for a 10 year old is quite doable.

 

[artk2219]

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/2P62xc

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i3-10100 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($114.59 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B460M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1200 Motherboard ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 8 GB (1 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL16 Memory ($28.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: ADATA XPG SX6000 Pro 512 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4 GB Video Card ($135.47 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX (2017) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.94 @ Newegg)
Total: $498.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-11-19 12:59 EST-0500

Its a decent start but i would double the ram and not get a 1050 ti, those cards have always been junk if you had a power supply with atleast a 6 pin PCIE power connector. You could pick up a used RX 470 for around $80, or you could buy a new RX 570 or GTX 1650 for around $160. Either one of those new cards is well worth the 25 dollar premium over that 1050 ti. That card shouldnt be more than $100 at this point, and even then I would consider that expensive when compared with a used RX 470 or RX 570 if you have a power supply with a pci express power cable, which some 1050 ti's needed anyway.

https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=100007709 8000 601296707&PageSize=96&Order=1

 

[artk2219]

I haven't seen anyone suggest it, but for me if your budget is under or close to 500 I would go with used parts. Also don't understand the people saying to not buy anything that didn't come out like this year. He's 10! He doesn't need it! Just because some new more powerful stuff exists doesn't suddenly make the other cheaper stuff garbage.

Honestly I agree, you could buy a used optiplex 7020 or 9020 with a core i7, upgrade the power supply, and throw in a video card and he'll be set for the next two years or so for like 380 dollars, and thats if you dont look around some more or make a few offers.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-OptiP...518543?hash=item217debaf0f:g:IckAAOSwqMdcnpnd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/XFX-RS-RX-...sh=item2af446c961:g:dVcAAOSw2uherEJ2&LH_BIN=1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SEASONIC-6...457602?hash=item2af5806042:g:o8kAAOSwpsJfmDqG

 

[artk2219]

I3 10100 is faster than your Gen 4 Optiplex , also no NVME support. this is a very bad advice you re giving,

What, to get a 10 year old a cheap computer they can destroy and or learn from and replace it in a few years? He's 10. This isn't high school. This isnt college. Its a kid. Honestly even those 4th gen parts are fine up until like an RX 5700 \ 2060 Super, he wont care about NVME, he wont care about much of anything except fortnite, roblocks, valorant, or whatever easy to run game he's playing, and frankly that config is powerful enough to play even modern games at 1080p medium. Not everyone needs the newest stuff if there are perfectly servicable parts that can be had for a good bit less. After he gets older, if he grows into the need for a more powerful computer, you could build it together and make it into a project you could both learn from, or maybe that never comes to pass, and he prefers to play on a console, in which case you have less money that was left on the table from this venture.

 

[artk2219]

The OP said he wanted a gaming PC that he will upgrade later .not a PC his kid can destroy . sorry.

Besides , that 480GB SSD is for sure end of life near TBW end. never buy more than 2 years used SSD.

Fair enough on wanting to have one to upgrade later, but kids do destroy things, and soda and other sugary drinks do not discriminate between new and used hardware. As for an SSD being end of life, eh, if you planned on upgrading stuff anyway thats not the end of the world, especially since 480gb doesn't hold alot of games these days, but i get your point as well. Honestly even without going the prebuilt route there are still a ton of used B350, B450, B360, Z370 etc motherboards out in the world that would also give you the option of NVME and have tons of great CPU options available to you. Just look around on your local facebook market place or craigslist and you could find quite a few options for a decent price, you warranty coverage may vary, although some manufacturers waranty the part and not the person (MSI has a three year warranty on the part from the date of production on the serial number), so you may not be out anything. But as usual, your mileage may vary, and its all on how willing you are to take the risk and look around, but there are tons of options out there, you could even buy some used and some new parts and save a bit at the end while having an end product functionally no different than if you had bought all new components, or have a higher spec machine than you would have if you had bought all new components.

 

[artk2219]

so This whole thing is to save $100 ? why bother ? and you forgot that a 7 years old power supply is also at end life , not to mention possible Motherboard component failing.

so you will need SSD , new power supply , how much you saved ? $100 ??

Get a new machine , clean looking new case , NVME , Options , faster RAM , etc

and windows is not a big deal buy a $5 defect pc you will have the sticker on it lol

Again, i get it, fine if you dont want a used powersupply you could replace it with a new 430w for like 5 to 10 dollars more, you could also just wait until the SSD craps out, if it craps out, to replace it, in the end its kind of a moot point honestly. You are correct in that its older used equipment, so the lifetime may or may not be limited, but its also just an option, and frankly id rather have 16gb of older ram vs the 8GB in the previous config you sent, and this would also get you a licensed copy of windows. But i digress, this isn't about either of us, its just about giving the OP options, and there are 10000 ways to skin that PC for a 10 yeard old cat.

 

[artk2219]

Wow. I didnt expect this to turn into such a controversial post lol

I really appreciate everyone that has taken the time to offer their advise, comments, and build recommendations. You all have given me A LOT to think about.

I like the idea of mixing some old with new to save some money and possibly get a better system at a lower price, but I honestly dont think I know enough about computers to know if I am getting ripped off or not.
I will more than likely buy all new.

I do have one more question, if you all would be so kind.

If I was able to scrape up some more money, what part should be the first thing I should replace on the build lists in these threads. I have pasted one here as an example.

From Flayed's post
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G 3.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($140.99 @ Best Buy)
Motherboard: ASRock B450M PRO4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 4 Blackout 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-3000 CL16 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX500 480 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($42.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill RANGER-M MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX (2017) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.94 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($108.78 @ Other World Computing)
Total: $485.67

I would agree with USAFRet, a dedicated gpu would definitely help, I would also upgrade the RAM from 8gb to 16gb, 8gb is a bit borderline for now. Other than that, that build should last for several years. Also if you have a windows 7 or 8 key you can use that key to activate windows 10, alternatively I've bought a few copies from the link below and they've all worked in the past.

https://m.vip-scdkey.com/software/microsoft-pc-10-pro-oem_1227-20.html

 

[Justin512]

Any semi recent system will be compatible with any semi recent GPU.

Budget for this?

Also, the specific power supply matters. Enough power, good quality, proper connectors.

Budget is unknown as of now, I might be able to come up with an extra $200 - $250. I know that might change the game a little but as of right now its still an unknown.

 

[artk2219]

Budget is unknown as of now, I might be able to come up with an extra $200 - $250. I know that might change the game a little but as of right now its still an unknown.

You could also just wait until the need arises honestly, depending on what he's going to play that integrated gpu may do just fine. It's also easy enough to add one later. So if you find out in a month or twelve that you need one, you could just throw it in at that point.

 

[MorganPike]

For everyone recommending a PS5 for $500, where exactly do you buy one?

Buy something like this, having a warranty on the whole pc will be helpful if any problems arise. You won't get that with a do it yourself.

A solid little pre-built gamer for under a grand...

https://www.newegg.com/skytech-st-arch3-0-0054-ne-archangel/p/N82E16883289048

You're going to have a hard time finding an 'entry level gaming' pc for $500. Sorry. The good news is, we're at black friday sale time now. The above pc is on sale for $750 right now and took me all of 30 seconds to find.

You could consider buying a unit with integrated graphics for now and doing a power supply/dedicated graphics card upgrade later on. Leaving you with a little extra cash in your pocket right now for other Christmas shopping. This you could do for under $500.

You'd need to be careful with this however to make sure the mb and case allow for later upgrades.

Also keep in mind that, regardless of what some may say, integrated graphics do not offer an entry level gaming experience. You may be able to load and play some games a 10 year old may be interested in, but games with any graphical fidelity will not run well on any integrated graphics. This could turn into a major 'Christmas Day' disappointment for a 10 year old.

I took another look...

https://www.newegg.com/skytech-st-blaze-ii-2600-1650-8g3-500g/p/1VK-005B-000H6?Item=1VK-005B-000H6

Only $550 right now. In your price range maybe? Certainly an entry level gaming pc. Although I'd still prefer to see the child get the one I mentioned earlier, this is not a bad choice at all. Certainly for this price.

 

[Karadjgne]

At 10 years old, performance isn't a word, it's an expectation. That being said, he'll have very little to base judgement on other than pc vs Xbox for graphics and fluidity. So any pc introduced will have to at least equal the Xbox, or beat it, or the pc will go relatively unused.

Prebuilts are fine for beginners, but are not fully upgradable as such. You can't replace the motherboard as windows is locked to that, it's not a retail version. Bios is also limited to the cpus that are available for that series, so if the top model has an intel i5-10600k, you won't be putting a i9-10900k in there when he gets older.

My suggestion is an intel 10600k, a cheaper non overclock able motherboard, 16Gb of 2666-3200MHz ram and the best gpu you can get, with appropriate psu. Storage a 1Tb Crucial P1 and a 1-2Tb WD hdd. You setup windows install/download locations, AV and malwarebytes subscriptions for auto updates.

That's about as tinker proof as it gets, requiring minimal intrusion or 'fixing' and able to handle just about anything upto and including current games. You can get Watchdog type programs even free versions like Spybot: Search and Destroy that will whitelist almost all known 'bad' sites, preventing inadvertent visitation.

Just don't forget to get headphones with a mic, Discord is a must nowadays.