Help me build my son's first gaming PC

[HampTheToker]

His 8th birthday is coming up, and he's tired of consoles. He wants a PC. Our budget is about $650.

What would XDA do?

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[senseijtitus]

Check this out. The price includes keyboard, mouse, monitor and 2.1 speaker. If you don't need those, price can be reduced.

[PCPartPicker part list](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/cmn9xY) / [Price breakdown by merchant](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/cmn9xY/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD - Ryzen 5 1400 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/72wqqs/amd-ryzen-5-1400-32ghz-quad-core-processor-yd1400bbaebox) | $146.68 @ OutletPC
**Motherboard** | [Asus - PRIME A320M-K Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6FvZxr/asus-prime-a320m-k-micro-atx-am4-motherboard-prime-a320m-k) | $51.98 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [G.Skill - Aegis 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/XJYWGX/gskill-aegis-8gb-1-x-8gb-ddr4-3000-memory-f4-3000c16s-8gisb) | $87.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Cb...b-35-7200rpm-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm006) | $59.99 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [Zotac - GeForce GTX 1050 2GB Mini Video Card](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/G3H48d/zotac-geforce-gtx-1050-2gb-mini-video-card-zt-p10500a-10l) | $116.89 @ OutletPC
**Case** | [Deepcool - TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3MPfrH/deepcool-case-tesseractsw) | $36.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Power Supply** | [Thermaltake - Smart 600W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6R...modular-atx-power-supply-ps-spd-0600npcwus-w) | $24.99 @ Newegg
**Optical Drive** | [Lite-On - iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6fJwrH/lite-on-optical-drive-ihas12414) | $10.99 @ Newegg Marketplace
**Operating System** | [Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/wtgPxr/microsoft-os-kw900140) | $89.89 @ OutletPC
**Monitor** | [AOC - i2267Fw 22.0" 1920x1080 60Hz Monitor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/bmbp99/aoc-monitor-i2267fw) | $79.99 @ Amazon
**Keyboard** | [Logitech - MK120 Wired Slim Keyboard w/Optical Mouse](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/w7Lypg/logitech-keyboard-920002565) | $13.39 @ OutletPC
**Speakers** | [Logitech - Z213 7W 2.1ch Speakers](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/KcQypg/logitech-speakers-980000941) | $24.69 @ SuperBiiz
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $774.46
| Mail-in rebates | -$30.00
| **Total** | **$744.46**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2017-12-30 03:52 EST-0500 |

 

[BIGWORM]

The most important two questions to ask when building a pc: what games are trying to be played, and are they trying to be played with all the bells and whistles? Usually, there's 3 questions, but you've already posted your budget.

 

[HampTheToker]

The most important two questions to ask when building a pc: what games are trying to be played, and are they trying to be played with all the bells and whistles? Usually, there's 3 questions, but you've already posted your budget.

2. All of them.

3. Yes.

Eventually, we'll both want to play VR games, but today is not that day, lol.

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[BIGWORM]

2. All of them.

3. Yes.

Eventually, we'll both want to play VR games, but today is not that day, lol.

You have any peripherals already? Mouse/keyboard/monitor/speakers?

 

[HampTheToker]

You have any peripherals already? Mouse/keyboard/monitor/speakers?

Mouse, speakers, and a decent enough monitor for now. I may be able to get a decent keyboard for cheap from a friend, so mostly I'm only focused on the tower itself.

 

[garwynn]

Mouse, speakers, and a decent enough monitor for now. I may be able to get a decent keyboard for cheap from a friend, so mostly I'm only focused on the tower itself.

Any other preferences on size, upgrades? At that price point you may be able to find a great deal after the holidays on PCs off the shelf that are discounted to clear them out. I used to suggest going to older/used hardware and cleaning it up but I've largely gone away from that this year since there are few reasons not to buy a current gen motherboard. One of the mods found a steal at Costco that was essentially a $1100+ tower marked down. You're not going to beat that building your own in many cases - advantages to bulk purchases.

I'll put together one on PCPartPicker here in a little bit (At that price point you're best off going AMD Ryzen) but I'll also take a quick run around a few online shops and see if there's any standout deals that may offer you alternatives to consider.

 

[BIGWORM]

I'll put together one on PCPartPicker here in a little bit (At that price point you're best off going AMD Ryzen) but I'll also take a quick run around a few online shops and see if there's any standout deals that may offer you alternatives to consider.

Was gonna do that myself, but go for it! ?

 

[garwynn]

Was gonna do that myself, but go for it!

Whynotboth.gif ? (Seriously, more than one option is hardly a bad thing to have here.)

Edit: Okay, here's my list. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/2ZnqYr
No CD/DVD drive. Plenty of places to get Windows 10 for a decent price.
If you can squeeze any extra money put it into a 240GB+ SSD. Other than that this should handle anything at 1080p.

 

[BIGWORM]

Whynotboth.gif ? (Seriously, more than one option is hardly a bad thing to have here.)

Edit: Okay, here's my list. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/2ZnqYr
No CD/DVD drive. Plenty of places to get Windows 10 for a decent price.
If you can squeeze any extra money put it into a 240GB+ SSD. Other than that this should handle anything at 1080p.

Speaking of OS, I was able to get a Win 7 key over the phone from MS a few years ago for 40, then upgraded to 10 for free. Wouldn't hurt to give them a call, either.

Ditto on the no cd/DVD drive. A majority of media consumption is through USB thumb drives, including OS installs. I haven't touched my DVD drive in some 4+ years, now.

I'm just getting settled into work for the day, but I'll see if can compile a pc part picker as well. =)

 

[HampTheToker]

No need for a DVD drive. Internet and flash drives are superior, but I have a spare drive that I could use. I also have a 1TB HDD and 750GB HDD that I plan on using, so I could skip a HDD and budget for an SSD instead.

I'm going to dual boot Linux, but I haven't settled on a distro yet.

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[HampTheToker]

https://gizmodo.com/report-all-intel-processors-made-in-the-last-decade-mi-1821728240/amp

#ReasonsForRyzen

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[HampTheToker]

Alright, so here's where I'm at...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($196.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI - B350 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard ($65.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Aegis 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB OC Low Profile Video Card ($158.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Deepcool - TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Raidmax - Scorpio 635W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($33.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $667.89
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-01-03 22:09 EST-0500

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[Droidriven]

His 8th birthday is coming up, and he's tired of consoles. He wants a PC. Our budget is about $650.

What would XDA do?

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The pcpartpicker website has a forum also, you can get very sound advice for building a rig there, it's what they specialize in. XDA members are knowledgeable about PC and know what's going on, some of us extremely knowledgeable, but those guys over there live, eat and breathe PC the way XDA does with android and the various mobile devices.

Just my two cents.

 

[dakunclear]

Is that 650 CAD or US cause that will make a huge difference on what you can get.....

 

[HampTheToker]

Is that 650 CAD or US cause that will make a huge difference on what you can get.....

US.

Still haven't pulled the trigger yet. Wish I had, though. Nvidia cards are selling like crazy and DDR4 RAM prices are ridiculous.

Damn Bitcoin miners.