Starter PC for Teenager, loves programming and computer science

[Godno145]

I am looking for some advice and guidance.

We are looking at buying our 16 year old a PC, looking at £500 budget (obviously) cheaper the better, haha!

He does not need monitors or keyboard etc...

He loves programming and computer science, he has created a few of his own basic games. I built my own computers around 20 years ago, (started with 286 and 386s with Windows 3.1, if anyone else remembers them!), therefore the plan is to buy a basic (but good enough) starter PC, but then overtime upgrade components and improve.

He does play some games on his current PC, but nothing that needs a lot of power, (he has a PS5), I think over time he will transfer to a PC gamer.

Any advice, suggested PCs would eb gratefully welcome!

Thanks

 

[Godno145]

Do you know if he has any interest in AI or tinkering with an LLM locally as that might help other people with good recommendations - or considerations for future.

Thank you, I have just asked him about AI and LLM, this has just led to an hour long conversation and I have no idea what he said! But, he has done very little in terms of these, but clearly has an interest.

His current PC, I will upload specs later, but it is an old PC, one that was passed on from my brother in law about 10years ago, I have added ram to make it 2GB, no graphics card, HDD i added a 128 SSD out of a laptop that the power port melted on and there is a 512gb (I think) HDD. But ideally, I would like to keep this one running so for me and my work.

 

[Godno145]

Thank you for all the suggestions so far!