WTB: Entry level gaming PC for young teen

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josephhinvest

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#300735 30-Sep-2022 15:45

My daughter turns 14 soon and would like to build (preferably) or buy a gaming PC.
Her birthday is late October and with Christmas shortly thereafter so I am trying to see if there’s a way to combine both, and gifts from family ($) to get together an entry level gaming PC.
I’d like to get to get reasonable 1080p performance for Steam based games. Definitely do not need 4K.
There’s some pre built machines from PB Tech that look… fine. There’s one today in the $1300 range that looks adequate. I’d like it to be upgradable over coming years as the budget allows.
I don’t have a preference for cpu architecture or GPU brand. What gives good bang for the buck?
If anyone has something for sale, or indeed advice please let me know. $1k to $2k would be ideal.

Thanks,
Joseph

josephhinvest

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#2975571 30-Sep-2022 15:49

Prebuilt systems like this from PB look pretty good. Any glaring deficiencies?

GoranZ

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#2975573 30-Sep-2022 15:50

I got this for my 13yo in August .. I see its sold out now but this is the sort of thing I would be looking at

https://playtech.co.nz/collections/limited-run-gaming-systems/products/wildcat-limited-edition

PB seems to have some similar

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/WKSGGPC10212/GGPC-RX-6600-Gaming-PC-AMD-Ryzen-5-5500-6-Core-16G

Shapenz

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#2975599 30-Sep-2022 17:06

I have a 6 month old Zotac 3060 12GB from CL you can have for $400 if you happen to find a cheap box without GPU :)

K8Toledo

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#2975679 30-Sep-2022 21:56

josephhinvest: My daughter turns 14 soon and would like to build (preferably) or buy a gaming PC.
Her birthday is late October and with Christmas shortly thereafter so I am trying to see if there’s a way to combine both, and gifts from family ($) to get together an entry level gaming PC.
I’d like to get to get reasonable 1080p performance for Steam based games. Definitely do not need 4K.
There’s some pre built machines from PB Tech that look… fine. There’s one today in the $1300 range that looks adequate. I’d like it to be upgradable over coming years as the budget allows.
I don’t have a preference for cpu architecture or GPU brand. What gives good bang for the buck?
If anyone has something for sale, or indeed advice please let me know. $1k to $2k would be ideal.

Thanks,
Joseph

What games does he play?

tangerz

625 posts

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#2975686 30-Sep-2022 22:20

josephhinvest: Prebuilt systems like this from PB look pretty good. Any glaring deficiencies?

I'd say lift your sights just a little. The Ryzen 3 4100 is a pretty under powered CPU, the A520 motherboard is limiting, the RTX 3050 is overpriced for how it performs and the case looks to have poor airflow, (as do most of their cheaper pre-builts!)

Maybe look at this:

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/WKSGGPC50086/GGPC-RX-6600-XT-Gaming-PC-AMD-Ryzen-5-5600-6-Core

The Ryzen 5 5600 is probably the best budget CPU at the moment, the B550 motherboard (even if low end) should be better than the A520, the RX 6600XT is a great "bang for buck" GPU and the case looks to have at least reasonable airflow...

Reanalyse

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#2975689 30-Sep-2022 22:24

josephhinvest: Prebuilt systems like this from PB look pretty good. Any glaring deficiencies?

Looks good to me, make sure you get a NVMe drive for the onboard M.2 connector to boot from, really speeds up the boot time.

Jase2985

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#2975692 30-Sep-2022 22:36

Reanalyse:

josephhinvest: Prebuilt systems like this from PB look pretty good. Any glaring deficiencies?

Looks good to me, make sure you get a NVMe drive for the onboard M.2 connector to boot from, really speeds up the boot time.

will make little difference in day to day stuff, might take 5-10 seconds off the boot time. but how often are you doing that?

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K8Toledo

1014 posts

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#2975695 30-Sep-2022 23:12

josephhinvest: My daughter turns 14 soon and would like to build (preferably) or buy a gaming PC.
Her birthday is late October and with Christmas shortly thereafter so I am trying to see if there’s a way to combine both, and gifts from family ($) to get together an entry level gaming PC.
I’d like to get to get reasonable 1080p performance for Steam based games. Definitely do not need 4K.
There’s some pre built machines from PB Tech that look… fine. There’s one today in the $1300 range that looks adequate. I’d like it to be upgradable over coming years as the budget allows.
I don’t have a preference for cpu architecture or GPU brand. What gives good bang for the buck?
If anyone has something for sale, or indeed advice please let me know. $1k to $2k would be ideal.

Thanks,
Joseph

What games does he play?

For longevity futureproofing and bang for buck, you'll want a high quality second hand PSU (example XFX, Corsair HX series) ~750W preferably single rail. These will long outlast cheaper models purchased new, e.g. Coolermaster, Thermaltake, Enermax or Zalman ZM etc.

Motherboard go ASUS for quality (Sabertooth/TUF/ Prime/ROG). ASUS boards are rock solid and great for overclocking.

Octacore CPU Broadwell i7-5xxxK if 2nd hand, otherwise Ryzen if new.

Ex-lease OEM units at PB Tech make a bargain for business use & last for years particularly HP EliteDesk/ProDesk.

However they have heavily locked down BIOS's, propriety motherboards & form factors notably PSU.

System configuration at purchase is pretty much what you'll be stuck with for the next few years.

fritzman

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#2975696 30-Sep-2022 23:30

My son has just retired his i7-6700k/Z170X rig, but taken his 3060Ti card to the next PC.
Has a 256Gb M.2 card, 32Gb 3200Mhz GSkill Trident Z-Neo ram and semi modular 1000W Corsair psu.
Cpu has the original air-cooler and the whole thing is in a nice clean, well ventilated white (windowed) case which also has a blu-ray writer installed (I have about 15-20 blank discs that would be included).
He played all sorts of games using a 32” tv as his monitor, and it would be back up to that sort of spec capability with the 3060 card above.
PM if you need/would like more info.
If suitable and we can agree on price, not sure where you live but I’m driving from Tauranga to Stanmore bay in 2 weeks.

I even have a 24" monitor or two that could be added.

Sons Rig: Asus TUF Gaming X-570, Ryzen 9 3900X, G.Skill neo 2x16Gb 3600's, Sabrent Rocket 1Tb M.2, Win10 Pro, Phanteks case, EVGA G5 850W.

NAS: DS1819+ - 52Tb in Raid6

My rig: HP Elitebook X360 Lappy with a 2Tb SN850.. woohoo.. I've retired!

Heat under fritzman (152-0-0)

Jase2985

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#2975796 1-Oct-2022 13:14

K8Toledo:

josephhinvest: My daughter turns 14 soon

What games does he play?

Daughter

josephhinvest

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#2975973 1-Oct-2022 15:30

GoranZ:
I got this for my 13yo in August .. I see its sold out now but this is the sort of thing I would be looking at

https://playtech.co.nz/collections/limited-run-gaming-systems/products/wildcat-limited-edition

PB seems to have some similar

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/WKSGGPC10212/GGPC-RX-6600-Gaming-PC-AMD-Ryzen-5-5500-6-Core-16G

Ok good info thanks. I’ll look at the other playtech systems.

Cheers,
Joseph

josephhinvest

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#2975974 1-Oct-2022 15:31

tangerz:
josephhinvest: Prebuilt systems like this from PB look pretty good. Any glaring deficiencies?

I'd say lift your sights just a little. The Ryzen 3 4100 is a pretty under powered CPU, the A520 motherboard is limiting, the RTX 3050 is overpriced for how it performs and the case looks to have poor airflow, (as do most of their cheaper pre-builts!)

Maybe look at this:

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/WKSGGPC50086/GGPC-RX-6600-XT-Gaming-PC-AMD-Ryzen-5-5600-6-Core

The Ryzen 5 5600 is probably the best budget CPU at the moment, the B550 motherboard (even if low end) should be better than the A520, the RX 6600XT is a great "bang for buck" GPU and the case looks to have at least reasonable airflow...

Ok, good information thanks!

Cheers,
Joseph

K8Toledo

1014 posts

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#2976006 1-Oct-2022 17:17

Jase2985:

Daughter

Haha yeah my bad.

I read "gaming" + "young teen" and automatically assumed son. I noticed about an hour later it was OP's daughter..

Must be showing my age.....