Ideas needed for good low-cost spec for kids to learn about PC Building

Flyball1788 · 4 Sep 2025 at 14:33

I'm thinking of running a school club for UK Year 6 pupils (age 10ish) for them to build computers from the ground up and whilst I've far too many years building my own, this is a very different remit from what I normally do and thought people here might have some good out of-the-box ideas consider all cards to be on the table.

Only restrictions are that it must be as cheap as possible and give as much opportunity as possible for the kids to get to grips with what the components are and how they work together. To that end, I've come up with the following list of requirements:

Built from components not barebones (i.e. separate mobo, CPU, RAM, storage, PSU, case)
Must be usable when complete (i.e. includes OS, kbd, mouse etc.).
Monitor not necessary, but ideas for options would be good.
Discrete graphics not necessary but must have ability to support it.
Must have at least 2 x USB2 spare after kbd/mouse/etc. (USB3 preferred), HDMI, WiFi (any grade)
No restriction on case style.
Performance not critical - minimum spec of streaming videos and running office apps.
Must be upgradeable (spare RAM slot(s), discrete graphics support, support for better CPU, bigger storage etc.)

So - anyone got any bright ideas?

sx_turbo · 4 Sep 2025 at 14:36

Need to find a secondary school or college that has an abundance of old equipment

Probably want to use computers from a CAD class or something as they are more likely to have support for discreet gpus.

Start of the 6 weeks holidays would be best though to speak to them as this is when they do most their upgrades

Flyball1788 · 4 Sep 2025 at 14:38

sx_turbo said:
Does the school not have a graveyard of old machines they've changed out??

Good idea, but nope. Everything's chromebooks these days

However, other sources of such beasts might be possible I guess... Thanks for the thought

Tetras · 4 Sep 2025 at 18:53

Cheap used office PCs is maybe the best option from a cost perspective, but they tend to have proprietary parts and upgrading is awkward.

If you wanted full PCs that would be very pricey.

This guy likes grabbing an auction bargain (..to be determined):

RandomGaminginHD

Tech videos for the budget gamer. Channel art by Dazarazmataz https://www.youtube.com/user/zZDazZz

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tamzzy · Saturday at 01:37

Honestly would go with an AM3+DDR3 build.
Cheap as chips and still works with windows 10.
And more importantly, these use PGA rather than the LGA of intel/AM5...better for ham-fisted year 6 pupils as PGA is less prone to damage.