Gaming Computers & Teenagers - Help

Hi all, 

This is not a work related post nor the usual Friday afternoon light hearted post but it I thought there might be someone on here that could help... 

My teenager is wanting to build a gaming computer. This is all very well and good and actually to be encouraged however I think he is over 'spec'ing it and I'm not even sure that he will manage to build it without some serious help. I say this because he says the computer he has at the moment (the one he asked for a year and a half ago; which he spec'd himself) is rubbish. That it can't even cope with microsoft and school work without running slow and crashing. Also the fan sounds like it is about to take off. 

The other issue is that the graphics card which is one of the most important things - so I am told - oh and is missing from the current computer; remember the one that he himself spec'd. Anyway, the graphics card is constantly sold out and he can't get hold of one without paying an over inflated price. 

Anyway, is there anyone on here that might be able to help me with: 

1. the spec of the parts he requires and whether they are correct; 

2. where one might get a graphics card that is not overly priced; and 

3. maybe point him in the right direction for help to build and explaining what is needs/doesn't need (apparantly coming from his parents it falls on deaf ears).

Thanks in advance and Happy Friday.

Carole 

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Replies

  • I'm told by the Gamer in my house, who has done exactly this, and built it himself, much to my delighted amazement, one of the best things to do is check out uk.pcpartpicker.com, type in all the bits of kit your son wants to build his computer, and it will churn out the best places and cheapest prices available online for those parts. 

    That's a start anyway. When you get stuck at the next hurdle come back and I'll ask him more. If only I could plug him directly into thte ethernet and you could just 'log on'. ;-)

    Guide price 700 - 1200 for a starter. Josh got his graphics card for 260. 

    • Hi John

      Thanks. This is the website my boy is using so at least he is starting in the right place. I got him to do a spreadsheet for me with what spec is recommended (by the highest running games) and then set out next to the recommeded spec the one he is looking at. 

      I am told that everywhere is sold out on the graphics card. They are bought up immediately and then certain 'scoundrels' (my word not his...) up the price and sell them on. 

      I think he has his spec'd at 2000. I don't know if that is becuase of the inflated prices of certain pieces... 

      Thanks for the heads up...

      • Yeah, it took us absolutely ages to get certain parts. Demand is definitely outstripping supply at the minute. In the end we paid slightly ovder the odds for certain pieces, just to secure them, and that was after a few deals fell through. There are online retailers only too willing to commit to saying they can deliver at a certain price only for it to fall through and them then blame the distributor. If there's anything else we can help with Carole, just give us a buzz. 

  • I won't be much help with exact specs for gaming computers, but I had a similar dilemma a couple of years ago. My old laptop wasn't coping with my photo editing software, so I started the hunt for a new computer/laptop, after loads of research (bearing in mind that I know very little about computers), I came to the conclusion that I needed professional help. I spoke with the team at Aberdeen Tech Rescue, who listened to what I needed and recommend building a custom machine for me. Best of all, it worked out cheaper than all the computers I looked at online and I'll be able to upgrade the current machine as and when needed.

    Long story short - I can highly recommend the guys at Aberdeen Tech Rescue, they would be able to give advice on what specs your son's computer might need and quite possibly also supply the needed parts for him to build his own.

    Might be worth having a chat with them. https://www.techrescueonline.co.uk/

    Aberdeen Computer Repair Shop with Data Recovery Lab
    Aberdeen computer repair shop repairing laptops, PCs, iPhones, Hard Drives & Macbooks with Data Recovery Lab. City centre shop with parking outside.
    • Thanks Iska. This might well help at least with what he needs/ wants to get. They might be able to point him in the right direction. 

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