Need a little help convincing my parents to let me build a desktop

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BrenRC

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May 7, 2016
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Bear with me, as this is my first thread. I have a nice laptop (which I love oh so dearly), but it isn't great for games and large Blender projects, etc. I have a recently redone contemporary room, so I thought what else I might like to add. Obviously, my own desktop, maybe the monitor could be hung on the wall across my desk (perfect distance). On to the real problem.

Okay. So I'm going into high school next school year. I love to build stuff and fly RC planes, and also play games. What can I say, I'm creative! I live in a mid-upper class family/community, so money isn't too much of an issue (I plan on paying for all of it, as I have a few hundred saved up right now). When I proposed my desktop building idea to my parents, they said I could, but pointed out one problem (by the way my oldest brother said he would help me figure everything out, and he has built his own). That one problem is that they don't want me to stop being my creative and intuitive self. Honestly, I totally agree with what they are saying (I love making things!), and I'm positive that a fancy new gaming pc won't stop me from being creative, as I love to make things (I know, I said it again). It's just that my parents want reassurance, which I totally get and request if I were in their shoes. The problem is that I don't really know how to reassure them that I won't just spend all my time playing games instead of doing some really cool and creative things. Any ideas? (really though, I am sure I will keep being creative and whatnot, they just need to be sure somehow). Any advice would be appreciated!
 
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Getting a foot in the door, as you mention young man, peripherals can be brought in one at a time turning your 'creative' computer into a time sink for gaming marathons. How soon will you abandon your stated intentions to hang with your gaming buddies? Would you build a many core Xeon type workstation or do you think that the fastest chip you can afford is the way to go? Would you be willing to get an HP or Dell workstation second hand? One with a Quadro graphics card? Sure that would be slower for gaming but you can already do that on your laptop. This would certainly help you with your 3D efforts. But in the end are you going to be a games developer or graphic designer?

I've always found that the more capacity I have in my machine...
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detroitwillfall

detroitwillfall

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Sep 27, 2014
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tell them u love them and all they provide to you. and that this is a small investment long term into your creative and educational learning process.

also that youd be willing to work off, and be in debt to them for said amount.

when i asked my dad for a schooling pc, he knew it cost some money but he also knew the greater good that would potentially come.
 
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BrenRC

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May 7, 2016
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"build a nice computer and install a cad program like creo onto it then use it for building your ideas and gaming."

This doesn't help at all.... You are telling me what I plan to use it for, when that's not in question.
 
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BrenRC

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May 7, 2016
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Great advice, but their counter would probably be something along the line of:
"If you aren't doing anything different, then why would you want to build a new pc?"

To which I could respond:
"First off, building a PC is a great way to learn about computers. Also, you are already aware that I'd be able to run games better, but I can already run them on my pc, so I wouldn't really be playing more. Another thing to point out is that I like to mess around in Blender, which can get pretty congested if you will. With a better and faster pc, I'd be able to create larger things and render them much faster, which would result in me creating more stuff, virtually and non-virtually, as I often design stuff in 3D rendering software first. Finally, I don't actually want to build a full on gaming pc, although it would be used for that (btw guys they are aware that I would game on it). For example, I want to use a keyboard we have laying around, which is not for gaming, and mouse that I already have, which is not for gaming, and a headset that I already have, which is not for gaming. I don't want a fancy mousepad or anything such (even a 1920x1080 monitor is standard, so even designed for gaming)."

Does that sound good? Thanks in advance.
 
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frapport

frapport

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Dec 2, 2015
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Getting a foot in the door, as you mention young man, peripherals can be brought in one at a time turning your 'creative' computer into a time sink for gaming marathons. How soon will you abandon your stated intentions to hang with your gaming buddies? Would you build a many core Xeon type workstation or do you think that the fastest chip you can afford is the way to go? Would you be willing to get an HP or Dell workstation second hand? One with a Quadro graphics card? Sure that would be slower for gaming but you can already do that on your laptop. This would certainly help you with your 3D efforts. But in the end are you going to be a games developer or graphic designer?

I've always found that the more capacity I have in my machine the bigger and more complex projects I take on. I got my first computer when I was an adult. It was the family budget not my parents that held the purse strings so I always made sure that I got the most bang for my buck. I had an Amiga back in the floppy disk era. Added RAM first, a half a meg to bring it to 1 meg. A third floppy drive. Shoestring stuff but a huge difference. By the time I got to the big box models, PC's had caught up. I'll always remember when I got my big box upgraded to 10 megs and added a 500 meg drive and demoing that in a mac shop by running up my bbs, getting a couple of graphics programs going and then opening my desktop publisher.

Point is, building your own and upgrading it is an education in itself. My son is a pure gamer and he at least learned the lesson that a balanced build works better than 90% of store bought and rivals custom workstations offered at premium prices. And because you are doing your own research as well as interacting with people farther down the path than you, you get to ride on their shoulders.

A budget makes sure that you get what you need and stay farther from the temptation of what you want. Do you need a GPU on your CPU, not unless you aren't running a separate GPU for its advantages. Building your own should paralyze you at times. Good training for when you have a real budget to work with in your own life and there are no controls or limitations to stop you from doing the exact wrong thing because you can. Experience is the best teacher, and screwing up, or not, when you're are young is way better than when you are supporting a family. Having this skill set in your back pocket is also a plus.

You appear to be quite articulate for one so young. If I was your parent I would hobble you a bit so you get more out of the experience, commitment is a personality trait that should be encouraged. I know you are going to game. It's part of being a kid. (supposedly until age 22, males weigh a proper breakfast with it being a good day to die - equally) That looks an awful lot like 'stupid' at times. Having survived my son's ascent from that to adulthood has made me more confident and I realize why Grandparents are so loved by children, it's not their first rodeo. Allow suggestions from your parents and ask Tom's denizens for advice on which machine will be the most bang for the buck with an eye to upgrading and present and future use.

Multiple screens are also the cat's whiska's. I have a PLP, with a 1200x2560x1200 setup.
 
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