Gaming PC for my son for xmas

Dean037

Dean037

Dean037

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Joined
28 Aug 2011
Posts
419
Hi everyone , not been around for a while hope you are all well.
my 11 year old son wants a gaming PC for christmas and doesnt want much else apart from football kits :cry:. i am thinking if i get his PC and i get everyone else to buy screen and keyboard and mouse etc also got daughter so budget isnt huge i am not 100% on budget depends on difference on preformance and price i was thinking £350-500.

he wants it for games like spiderman and skyline cities and total war and all sorts.

He wants a viewing window aswel in the case and wants it to be black, also loves the ones with loads a lights etc.

i have built a few PCs in the past but be hard as kids in house and daughter still belives in santa but i a open if i can get a much better system for the money.

any help would be appreciated on ready built systems and a simple one i could build. i know i am asking a lot but help will be great.

Thanks Dean
 
I was worried that wouldn't be enough money , is there no ready builds for 500 mark ? I could look online for 2nd hand builds but don't know what going to get thats the issue. Don't want to risk it.
 
Thanks for all the great recommendations , wonder if worth waiting till December and see if any great offers come up. Maybe even see of son wants to build it with me, he can open all bits individually then we can put together.

Will see if can up budget a bit to closer to 600 , and if it's OK with you all I will ask question again come december and see of any offers etc around.

Thanks so much
Dean
 
Great help everyone thanks so much and I will be back maybe early December as don't want to leave it to late, yes my son is in comprehensive now and knows that santa isn't real unfortunately :eek: so I have spoke to him to make sure and he definitely wants a PC and not a laptop or PS5 . I also think that's the best idea to buy all the parts, he can have fun opening them on Christmas and we can build later on Christmas or boxing day, then I can get my steam account up and running and have a go myself .

I havnt built one in 10 years or so , so will have to find a good youtube vid to follow. Also I will up the budget as suggested as want it to last a couple of years and be upgradable.

Thanks again
Dean
 
Hi everyone thought I would check back incase any good black Friday deals etc you know of, budget I am now thinking £600-650 are there any rebuild symptoms that are really good for him to play total war and gta etc (wants to play with mods etc he says ) or still think building a system will be better.

May start getting some bits if that's the case.

Thanks, looking forward to see what I will be able to get.
Thanks dean
 
Hi everyone , sorry I feel a bit overwhelmed, so would you defently go the self build route ?

I will also need thermal paste as said and operating system.

Been years since built my systems so I will certainly have to watch a few refresher videos.

Firstly would you go amd route over Intel as that's what most recomendations are ?

Is the 7500f the processor or cpu and os that the next generation one.

Are you able to just write what components you recomend so I can understand exactly what items you are referring to and have a look for second hand and see if any out there of that's ok.

Really like the case listed and good offer so going to get the full black one of them ordered along with the psu.

Sorry if stupid questions just been a while.
Thanks dean
 
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Gray2233 said:
Don't be so hard on yourself, there's rarely such a thing as a stupid question and you've not asked one so far.

1. I would go the AMD route, Intel doesn't have much to offer right now on any front.
2. The 7500F is essentially the entry level CPU for the AM5 platform, but it would require you to order from elsewhere on a site some find concerning, however many on here have done so with great results
3. If going AM5:

CPU: 7500F (if buying for £90-100).
Motherboard: B650 (whatever is cheapest).
RAM: 32gb of 5600-6000, aim for the 6000 if it's a small difference but given you're on a tight budget whatever is cheapest.
SSD: Go for an NvME (M.2) variant, at least 1TB such as an SN770, you can find good purchases for £70-80.
GPU: An RX6600 for £150-180, or if you can stretch a 6750XT for £280-300.
PSU: A good quality 650W +, a decent bronze unit would do such as anything from beQuiet, but I'd double check prior to purchase in here first for the PSU especially.
HSF: Thermalright Assassin King 120SE (£15-20, comes with a tube of paste).

It's a bit of a case of shopping around mate, OCUK isn't always the best option but we can't link you other websites.

You can run Windows without a key, you only lose minor functionality. Alternatively, you can get a key for £5-10 online, I'd never pay full price for one, especially in your case as it would murder your budget.
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Thanks for that , AMD it is then, think I will try go AM5 if that's the next generation least hopefully should last a good few years for him.

I will look for processor amd motherboard etc, may get the case listed above and the psu ordered from ocuk as seem great offers at moment amd the ssd below. Then try to find other bits when off work next week.

Team Group G50 2TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive​


If I got that ssd would I not need a 2.5" ssd ? Looks different that's all I never had one of them I had a a ssd for my operating system and a hd for storage. Seems great price

Hopefully this sort of system will play total war style and gta games etc effortlessly.

Thanks dean
 
danlightbulb said:
Generally you'll get better pc for a given budget doing self build than a shop bought one. Might be worth popping in to high street retailer and having a look in person what you can get?




For gaming purposes AMD has been recommended over Intel for some time.

The current generation platform is AM5 and this is the 7000 and brand new 9000 series of CPUs with ddr5 ram.

The older platform is AM4 which is the 5000 series of CPUs and uses ddr4 ram.




Case, PSU, SSD drive and GPU are platform independent and you'll need these whatever CPU you choose.

The motherboard, CPU and ram will depend on whether you go for AM4, AM5, or an Intel platform.

AM4:
B550 motherboard.
5000 series CPU (5600x, 5700x3d etc)
Ddr4 ram

AM5:
B650 or b850 motherboard
7000 or 9000 series CPU (7600x3d, 7800x3d)
Ddr5 ram


I think you'll struggle getting AM5 for your budget but others may be able to help more on AM5.


Fixed components:
Case - £35
PSU - £90
Ssd M2 drive 1Tb - £48

That's a total of £173. Leaves you £423 from a £600 budget.

You can pick up a 5600x for about £50-60 used.

A used b550 motherboard you'll have to look around but anywhere from £60-80 used or £100 ish new for peace of mind.

Ddr4 ram 16gb maybe £20-25 used but can pick up new for just under £30. I would get 16gb now you can always add more later.

You'll need a CPU cooler - air cooler will do search for "ARCTIC Freezer 36 CO" £18. Just check height for case. It comes with paste.

That's around £200 ish leaving you around the same for the GPU.
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Going to defently go AMD and want AM5 of I can, if have to go slightly over budget so be it but can't go to far over so will sit and work it all out.

Don't fancy getting second hand but can have a good look about for deals etc

I will write down all components and have a good look about when off work and can look properly.

Appreciate all the help everyone thanks
 
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Hi everyone , right I have been having a look around and I think a AM5 Build will be pushing the budget a bit much. So unfortunately going to have to be AM4.

Also don't have time to look for all the parts etc as working 12
hour shifts, and not on certain sites to even look. I understand 2nd hand I would get a lot more for money but don't really want second hand want new so brand new and boxed for him and have warranty etc.

I also understand that AM5 would be the best way to go to future proof however it is my sons first ever gaming pc so if lasts him a couple of years then when he is 14/15 we can spec and build him a better one from there if used etc as I expect.

Will the AM4 systems listed play the likes of total war and gta and skyline cities 2 and other city builders on high setting ?

And is the radeoom rx6600 a great card for the am4 system

Sorry to waste some of your time I thought I may be able to stretch budget but after thinking about it won't be able to. Really appreciate time and effort thanks again.

Thanks dean
 
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Would that card play the games I said like skyline cities 2 and gta and total war and city builders at high ok ?

Also I will look around but to be fair OCuk has some great offers currently.

Will the 5700x3d be a better cpu than the 5600 ?

I have decided on case and was going to buy the Asus tuff 850w psu to be safe , alsomg woth the g50 2tb ssd so has plenty storage. Was also thinking would 2x16gb corsair vengeance be better than just 2x8gb

Just seen them antech case that is very nice , thinking that or kolink observatory

Thanks dean
 
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It will be fine for my son I am sure, will go for the 5700x3d processor as want best possible system for budget.

Also you think it's woth getting the larger 850w psu for the build over a 650w psu ?

You not think I will need a cpu heatsink at all ?

Going to order some bits now like the case psu, 2tb g50 ssd, gpu as good price here.

Thanks dean
 
OK the 650w will be fine, I will sort that next week and order cpu motherboard and psu and heatsink.

Ordering case, ssd, ram , gpu now. Don't supply codes for delivery etc is there that you know of.

Thanks dean
 
Craig_d1 said:
link your forum account to account you set up for the shop..you have over 100 posts so as you're buying a few bits, delivery s/b free
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Thanks for that didn't relise had to link account, or had been a while as my address etc was also missing. Thanks again, will let you know how I get on ordering the rest mid week.

Thanks dean
 
Thanks for all that, I already ordered the antec case as agree it will be a lot about looks for my son and for him to show off and that case looks great, also ordered the 2tb ssd as wasn't much more, also got gpu and corsair vengeance ram 32gb as has rgb so he will like that. I am aware may be slightly over budget but he will love it and be a great first gaming pc for him.

When I am off I will look for cpu and motherboard and psu and heatsink.

Thanks again great help.
Dean
 
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Also I will need WiFi for my board as no hardwires yet but getting house rewire soon and will be eventually.

Thanks dean
 
Threepwood said:
what will you connect to with the wifi if you won't have a router? a mobile? better to use a wired connection from to the mobile from the PC ,if so unless you just can't get mobile reception from that area, wifi dropouts are a real pain with mobile>wifi > pc, my youngest was forced to do that once, it was terrible until he used Mobile?usb>PC,
tbf he had a great mobile connection right next to his PC
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Morning, not sure qhat you mean I have a router and have WiFi in my home, going to connect the PC to WiFi if I can for now until my home is rewired and I can connect direct into ether ports.

Thanks dean
 
Also some goodies arrived today case gpu ram and ssd (can't belive how small the g50 ssd is)

Is there no way to put pictures up direct from mobile?

What is the best motherboard for the case I punched the antec m-atx , and I will be ordering the best cpu so that must be the 5700x3d.

Also need to order the quiet psu and a heatsink will look back to see qhat was recomended and paste.

Think that's about it, must admit once parts arrived I was a bit jealous haha havnt had a proper set up in years so once together I will download steam on his computer and have some games and who knows maybe build my own once house sorted.

Thanks dean
 
If I should have realised was mini atx and not just atx , should it make much difference and will more than likely have to pay to return I imagine.

Is the Gigabyte B550M AORUS ELITE AX a better board.

Or

GIGABYTE B550M DS3H AM4 Motherboard​



Dean
 
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That nobody still says pre order is it new or just no stock ? Any idea when will be back ? Still looking for cpus as want the 5700x3d if I can.

Cheapest I can find the 5700x3d is around the £199 mark but if better for gaming I would rather that than the 5600

Thanks dean
 
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I am not desperate so will wait to see what happens then, need the moBo and cpu and the heatsink amd psu.

Will keep eyes out thanks
 
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