gaming pc advice needed

[Matt1959]

First of all, I am being completely honest here - this isnt a business related enquiry but I do know there is lots of expertise here relating to PCs generally and I'm hoping someone can help me!

I want to buy my 13 yr old son what he calls a gaming computer and he has informed me of the model that will best suit his needs bless him. This machine below is £390 from Amazon. Is it any good? can I buy an equivelant cheaper elsewhere? should I be buying from Amazon? Any other pointers for a frazzled and IT illiterate dad who wants to please his demanding son lol

thanks!

Cyberpower Infantry GT Gaming Desktop PC (AMD A8 5600K FM2 3.6GHz Processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, Windows 8)

 

[Matthew.Riding]

Do you know what games he is looking to play?

 

[Matt1959]

Hi Matthew, yes its the likes of Cubeworld and Loadout....

 

[Matthew.Riding]

It should be fine for them types of games, price wise I don't think you could get it much cheaper unless you were to build it your self even then with shipping can work out costing a bit more

 

[Jeff FV]

My son (similar age to yours) is a "gamer" (not sure what that means, other than he spends hours sat at his computer playing a whole host of games (minecraft is one of his favourites, but there are many others).

A year or two ago he saved all his birthday & Christmas money, did some odd jobs etc., and bought his own computer. It wasn't a 'gaming' computer, but he was happy and it works well.

He used his Christmas money this year to buy a graphics card: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0087YADCG/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1which, despite a bit of trauma in fitting it (physically installing it was fine, but we had a day of problems loading drivers etc.), has made a huge difference to his 'gaming'. He tells me he can now play games he couldn't do before, games are faster, better looking etc. so adding a graphics card might be worth considering?

I write not as an IT expert, but as a fellow dad who has been there, seen it, done it etc.!

J

 

[Matthew.Riding]

when it comes to gaming a graphics card will make a massive difference. Matt1959 I did have a quick Google for the rig your son has said he's interested in it comes with a mid ranged card which will play most games at low to medium setting.

Jeff being abit of a gamer myself its bit of a life style, in my eye just the same as some one who spends there spare time watching football or going to matches

 

[JamesSco]

Its not by any means a top end machine. It is only a 3.4Ghz machine despite the Amazon title stating otherwise. They do include this information on the small print.

It also appears to not have a graphics card other than the integrated one. If you are looking for a short term machine for current games then this will probably just about swing it on most games. But it won't last and it will struggle with some top end games especially any new ones that come out.

Try a company called Cougar Extreme (You will have to google them as i cant post links). They allow you to customize every aspect of the build and they offer great value for money. I've had 4 computers from them and highly recommend them.

I've run through the system you are referring to on Amazon on the cougar website and the price comes out at £370 odd. This also includes a 2gb graphics card which the Amazon system does not have

 

[InTheCloud]

Hi Guys,

Here's my input after a lifetime of gaming,

Go for a good base. Look for a cheap tower with an Intel processor (i3 and above) and a decent non Intel HD graphics card. This will give you the most longevity. If your son gets into upgrading his computer. he can do so with ease and gradually add new hardware, i.e Graphics cards, RAM. The rig you mentioned above wouldn't last too long and wouldn't really warrant any upgrades over time. I did the same when I was a young lad and really got me interested in computers. This should keep him going a while medionDOTcom/gb/prod/MEDION+AKOYA+P2306+DR+PC+%28B-Stock%29/410018746 (medion are reliable and very easy to upgrade. Also come with a long warranty and great customer service)

 

[Matthew.Riding]

Sorry you are right didn't read it properly Its an APU with Radeon HD 7560D integrated

 

[Matt1959]

great replies, thanks for all the advice. I kind of wondered about the longetivity of the machine I mentioned so good to see that aspect mentioned....

Well done to your Son, Jeff - earning your own stuff is how it should be

 

[Matt1959]

ok had a chat with son and we are asking if we can upgrade my wifes computer to play the stuff that he wants. Wifes PC is ACER ASPIRE X1301, 3 gb, and has a Nvidia graphics card...

 

[JamesSco]

The X1301 is designed for everyday computing and won't get you far with any games.

The processor is an AMD Athlon II X2 215 which is the slowest available processor in that range. For playing some decent games you ideally need a decent Intel Quad Core Processor.

In respect of your question Matt, can the computer be upgraded? Yes it can but the processor is the most expensive part of the computer, the most recent ones can cost upwords of a grand. Therefore you would be better off buying a whole new computer. Least this way you would have two usable computers.

You would also need to upgrade the existing systems graphics card. The one you currently have is a 256mb card. You will need a decent 2GB to keep you going for some time.

 

[Elliottc26]

Hi,

Gaming PCs are expensive. It's all about power, speed and HD monitors. I built my own Intel Core i7-920 high-end gaming PC (for Flight Simming), which cost £1,800 in 2008 - the graphics card was about £200 (medium card) on its own - the top cards are £400 each and some run 3 of them at the same time!!

The low-end (starter) systems begin around £630, such as this with Windows 8.1: http://www.novatech.co.uk/pc/range/novatechblacknta30.html

Or there's the starter from Alienware for £600 (better spec but you'll need to buy a HD monitor): http://www.dell.com/uk/p/alienware-x51-r2/pd?oc=d00ar201&model_id=alienware-x51-r2

Of course, the former can be upgraded later on with better graphics card, etc.,. This is why consoles are so popular, such as PS4 for £380 (Battlefield 4 online in multi-player is loads of fun!), gaming PC's are for serious people.

 

[LocalGuy]

That does look like a good gaming PC for the price. At the low end price point the things you need to look at are ram, 4+ GB is a must, yours is 8 which is great. Then an ok processor, don't need to be brilliant but just a medium level one. Then possibly an SSD hard drive, they give huge performance boosts. I would only get a 128GB one then buy your son an external hard drive for anything large on not needed 100% of the time such as photos and music etc.

 

[Matt1959]

thanks for all replies. We are thinking of having one built or buying secondhand and replacing or upgrading compenents as required.....