im looking to buy a cheap gaming computer for my 13 year old son. Right now he uses an old Toshiba laptop to play minecraft and it lags a little. I've had memory added to it and it helps a little but not enough. He wants a gaming computer to play minecraft and maybe some shooting games. I don't know anything about specs needed for a gaming computer. I would like to spend less than$500.
looking for a cheap prebuilt gaming computer
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Newbbuilder11
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227594
Since he is 13 graphics might not be what he really cares about but gameplay. This computer has great specs, but I would rather build one than to buy one, as you can get better parts for same price, but if you want to save time and money I would recommend this.
TechyInAZ
Titan
No don't get that one, GT 730 is terrible.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227537
Get this one it has a r7 250 which is a lot more powerful and a lot more powerful processor. Get it now before it shoots back up to $650.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227537
Get this one it has a r7 250 which is a lot more powerful and a lot more powerful processor. Get it now before it shoots back up to $650.
Newbbuilder11
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http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/CyberPower_B85_Configurator
Or this, it's more expensive, but also more reliably made, I would scroll down to the graphics cards though and get a R7 250X atleast, for smoother performace.
Or this, it's more expensive, but also more reliably made, I would scroll down to the graphics cards though and get a R7 250X atleast, for smoother performace.
Newbbuilder11
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Onus
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Newbbuilder11's post clearly illustrates the "almost" you can run into when buying a prebuilt. That PC would no doubt perform better than the laptop. It might actually make a "tolerable" starter system. It has three obvious deficiencies, however, which would need to be addressed.
1) Most trivial, its 8GB of RAM is a single stick. The faster (3%-5%) dual-channel mode requires two identical sticks.
2) Most serious, its "350W" Allied PSU-shaped object may be unfit for purpose. Likely capable of 200W-250W (which is enough for this system), it no doubt lacks good filters and protection circuits, meaning it may die for unknown causes (e.g. Mom turns on the vacuum cleaner on the same circuit), and may take other parts with it. It is particularly important to address this issue before...
3) The GT730 is a barely entry-level card for games. It may be fine for games like Minecraft, but if he wants to play shooters, will likely be woefully inadequate. The included PSU-shaped object will not support an upgrade to this.
Incidentally, unlike what the description says, the Pentium is NOT a quad core CPU. It has two cores, and is not hyperthreaded. Fine for many games (especially since it is overclocked; the motherboard choice looks good in this system), it will struggle in newer ones, and any that are well-threaded.
1) Most trivial, its 8GB of RAM is a single stick. The faster (3%-5%) dual-channel mode requires two identical sticks.
2) Most serious, its "350W" Allied PSU-shaped object may be unfit for purpose. Likely capable of 200W-250W (which is enough for this system), it no doubt lacks good filters and protection circuits, meaning it may die for unknown causes (e.g. Mom turns on the vacuum cleaner on the same circuit), and may take other parts with it. It is particularly important to address this issue before...
3) The GT730 is a barely entry-level card for games. It may be fine for games like Minecraft, but if he wants to play shooters, will likely be woefully inadequate. The included PSU-shaped object will not support an upgrade to this.
Incidentally, unlike what the description says, the Pentium is NOT a quad core CPU. It has two cores, and is not hyperthreaded. Fine for many games (especially since it is overclocked; the motherboard choice looks good in this system), it will struggle in newer ones, and any that are well-threaded.
Onus
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- Jan 27, 2006
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If you're at all interested in an outstanding Father-Son project, build the PC yourselves!
I might do something like this:
COUGAR Spike Black Steel / Plastic MicroATX Mini Tower Gaming Case with USB 3.0 and 12CM Cougar Fan
Model #: Spike
Item #: N82E16811553011
$36.99 -$7.00 Instant $29.99
ASUS H81M-E LGA 1150 Intel H81 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Model #: H81M-E
Item #: N82E16813132042
$60.00 -$3.00 Instant $57.00
MSI R7 260 1GD5 OC 1GB 128-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
Model #: R7 260 1GD5 OC
Item #: N82E16814127780
Mail in Rebate Card
$99.99 $99.99
Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply - Intel Haswell Fully Compatible
Model #: VP-450
Item #: N82E16817371045
Mail in Rebate Card
$49.99 -$10.00 Instant $39.99
Intel Core i3-4130 Haswell Dual-Core 3.4GHz LGA 1150 54W Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4400 BX80646I34130
Model #: BX80646I34130
Item #: N82E16819116946
$119.99 $119.99
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK
Model #: F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK
Item #: N82E16820231180
$45.99 $45.99
Western Digital WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive - OEM
Model #: WD5000AAKX
Item #: N82E16822136769
$59.99 -$10.00 Instant $49.99
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Model #: DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS
Item #: N82E16827135204
$19.99 $19.99
Subtotal: $462.93
That doesn't include Windows, KB, or mouse; upcoming deals may make a few things a little cheaper (e.g. the optical drive, probably $15), but this will play a lot better than the pre-builts, and has some room to grow.
If you want to spend a little more, get a 1TB WD "Black" series drive, and 2x4GB of RAM rather than 2x2GB.
I might do something like this:
COUGAR Spike Black Steel / Plastic MicroATX Mini Tower Gaming Case with USB 3.0 and 12CM Cougar Fan
Model #: Spike
Item #: N82E16811553011
$36.99 -$7.00 Instant $29.99
ASUS H81M-E LGA 1150 Intel H81 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Model #: H81M-E
Item #: N82E16813132042
$60.00 -$3.00 Instant $57.00
MSI R7 260 1GD5 OC 1GB 128-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
Model #: R7 260 1GD5 OC
Item #: N82E16814127780
Mail in Rebate Card
$99.99 $99.99
Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply - Intel Haswell Fully Compatible
Model #: VP-450
Item #: N82E16817371045
Mail in Rebate Card
$49.99 -$10.00 Instant $39.99
Intel Core i3-4130 Haswell Dual-Core 3.4GHz LGA 1150 54W Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4400 BX80646I34130
Model #: BX80646I34130
Item #: N82E16819116946
$119.99 $119.99
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK
Model #: F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK
Item #: N82E16820231180
$45.99 $45.99
Western Digital WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive - OEM
Model #: WD5000AAKX
Item #: N82E16822136769
$59.99 -$10.00 Instant $49.99
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Model #: DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS
Item #: N82E16827135204
$19.99 $19.99
Subtotal: $462.93
That doesn't include Windows, KB, or mouse; upcoming deals may make a few things a little cheaper (e.g. the optical drive, probably $15), but this will play a lot better than the pre-builts, and has some room to grow.
If you want to spend a little more, get a 1TB WD "Black" series drive, and 2x4GB of RAM rather than 2x2GB.
Newbbuilder11
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Thank you for your insight moderator, I also stated that they should build a computer since it is cheaper to do that
TechyInAZ
Titan
I'm not competing. I'm also trying to be helpful. I just pointed out there is a better bang for your buck with the build i suggested.
Onus
Titan
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A lot of companies will custom-build computers. Even your local computer shop is probably willing to do it, especially if you buy the parts from them. You might check out YouTube for build videos. It isn't particularly difficult, and only takes a Philips screwdriver and perhaps needle-nose pliers (if your fingers are big) to seat front panel connectors.
Newegg TV in particular has a lot of build videos on their channel.
Newegg TV in particular has a lot of build videos on their channel.
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