[SOLVED] Thoughts on NZXT pre-builts for 14 year old?

Nov 20, 2020
4
0
10
Mom here. Apologies now, though I can't tell you how much I have learned from perusing these threads, it's been very helpful. Am trying to get a PC for my son, he is coming from an off-the-shelf Best Buy CyberPower so I'm confident anything I'm looking at will be better. I've been looking at NZXT - they offer pre-builts, a Starter Pro and a Streamer PC. Thoughts on the quality of the specs here? And I'm wondering if both are upgradeable (later). I realize neither have the latest graphics cards and I think would need more CPU to handle. My price range somewhere in between and of course, less is OK too! He plays R6S and COD and ...?

Not afraid to admit I have much to learn and also not totally opposed to building myself if I knew parts. Are these any good, pls scroll for specs:

https://www.letsbld.com/starter-series

Thank you for your time and advice - MOM
 
Solution
I'd say the Starter Plus at $899 is an acceptable gaming PC, but at $900, a build-your-own is going to be much better.

Here's the exact same build, if you make it yourself:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-9400F 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Adorama)
Motherboard: MSI B365M PRO-VDH Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($54.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Silicon Power XPOWER Turbine 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Team MS30 512 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6 GB Video Card ($229.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT H510 ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.98 @ Amazon)...
I'd say the Starter Plus at $899 is an acceptable gaming PC, but at $900, a build-your-own is going to be much better.

Here's the exact same build, if you make it yourself:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-9400F 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Adorama)
Motherboard: MSI B365M PRO-VDH Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($54.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Silicon Power XPOWER Turbine 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Team MS30 512 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6 GB Video Card ($229.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT H510 ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Cooler Master SickleFlow 62 CFM 120 mm Fan ($7.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Cooler Master SickleFlow 62 CFM 120 mm Fan ($7.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: LG 22MK430H-B 21.5" 1920x1080 75 Hz Monitor ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Redragon S113 RGB Wired Gaming Keyboard With Optical Mouse ($38.99 @ Amazon)
Speakers: Logitech Z213 7 W 2.1 Channel Speakers ($26.49 @ Adorama)
Total: $820.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-11-20 16:53 EST-0500


This build include things the NZXT might not include, like a mechanical keyboard, a monitor, and speakers with a subwoofer, and its still less than their build. (without those, its only $669.90!)
 
  • Like
Reactions: sgood434
Solution
Nov 20, 2020
4
0
10
I'd say the Starter Plus at $899 is an acceptable gaming PC, but at $900, a build-your-own is going to be much better.

Here's the exact same build, if you make it yourself:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-9400F 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Adorama)
Motherboard: MSI B365M PRO-VDH Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($54.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Silicon Power XPOWER Turbine 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Team MS30 512 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6 GB Video Card ($229.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT H510 ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Cooler Master SickleFlow 62 CFM 120 mm Fan ($7.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Cooler Master SickleFlow 62 CFM 120 mm Fan ($7.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: LG 22MK430H-B 21.5" 1920x1080 75 Hz Monitor ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Redragon S113 RGB Wired Gaming Keyboard With Optical Mouse ($38.99 @ Amazon)
Speakers: Logitech Z213 7 W 2.1 Channel Speakers ($26.49 @ Adorama)
Total: $820.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-11-20 16:53 EST-0500


This build include things the NZXT might not include, like a mechanical keyboard, a monitor, and speakers with a subwoofer, and its still less than their build. (without those, its only $669.90!)
Wow, so I really should learn how to build. Yikes. He has a mechanical keyboard and speakers, and I'd be willing to beef this up a little (maybe). I feel like I read that SSD is a must have. And if he could get a better graphics card, wouldn't that change power requirements. How big is the difference in graphics (laughing at myself now). And can anyone tell me what liquid cooling is, and is that necessary?
This is fun! - MOM
 
liquid cooling uses a radiator, liker your car. Its not necessary (especially in a relatively low powered system like this) the Power supply I listed can handle up to middle-high range Graphics cards, but not the current bleeding edge $500+ cards, almost anything below that though.

As for building yourself, it's not hard as long as you can handle a phillips head screwdriver. Everything else just fits in its place. Thousands of YouTube how-to videos are out there.

As you don't need a screen, keyboard/mouse, or speakers, I've propped up the build a little:
a 6 core/12 thread CPU (instead of just a 6-core/6-thread before), slightly faster RAM (really just tighter timings), Bigger SSD, and a faster video card. I also added some 'bling' to the build: the RAM, Case and aftermarket fan all have RGB color LEDs. the Aftermarket heatsink is mostly just for the pretty lights, and is not really any better than the fan that comes with the cpu.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X 3.8 GHz 6-Core Processor ($239.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake UX100 38.82 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B550M-HDV Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($80.98 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix RGB 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory ($89.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Intel 665p 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: ASRock Radeon RX 5600 XT 6 GB Phantom Gaming D OC Video Card ($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Montech X1 ATX Mid Tower Case ($53.69 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $893.60
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-11-20 22:23 EST-0500
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sgood434
Nov 20, 2020
4
0
10
liquid cooling uses a radiator, liker your car. Its not necessary (especially in a relatively low powered system like this) the Power supply I listed can handle up to middle-high range Graphics cards, but not the current bleeding edge $500+ cards, almost anything below that though.

As for building yourself, it's not hard as long as you can handle a phillips head screwdriver. Everything else just fits in its place. Thousands of YouTube how-to videos are out there.

As you don't need a screen, keyboard/mouse, or speakers, I've propped up the build a little:
a 6 core/12 thread CPU (instead of just a 6-core/6-thread before), slightly faster RAM (really just tighter timings), Bigger SSD, and a faster video card. I also added some 'bling' to the build: the RAM, Case and aftermarket fan all have RGB color LEDs. the Aftermarket heatsink is mostly just for the pretty lights, and is not really any better than the fan that comes with the cpu.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X 3.8 GHz 6-Core Processor ($239.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake UX100 38.82 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B550M-HDV Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($80.98 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix RGB 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory ($89.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Intel 665p 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: ASRock Radeon RX 5600 XT 6 GB Phantom Gaming D OC Video Card ($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Montech X1 ATX Mid Tower Case ($53.69 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $893.60
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-11-20 22:23 EST-0500
Thank you so much! This is a life-saver to have something to work from. I appreciate it!