Budget Gaming PC
Discussion
Morning all, I’m looking at a gaming PC for my 9 year old as his current one won’t run the latest release of Minecraft, plus he’s getting into coding and doing a bit of YouTube stuff too.
A friend has suggested this from Costco and then we upgrade the graphics card as and when required:
https://www.costco.co.uk/TVs-Electronics-Security/...
Any thoughts on it please. It’s to be used for homework, Minecraft, Roblox, Visual Studios and some basic video editting with something like bandicam.
He needs a pair of monitors too but that might have to be next month!!
A friend has suggested this from Costco and then we upgrade the graphics card as and when required:
https://www.costco.co.uk/TVs-Electronics-Security/...
Any thoughts on it please. It’s to be used for homework, Minecraft, Roblox, Visual Studios and some basic video editting with something like bandicam.
He needs a pair of monitors too but that might have to be next month!!
First thing to do is Google that specific amd on board graphics chip against the current version of Minecraft.
That's not a gaming pc. No pc with on board graphics is. That's a minimum spec pc.
Problem is cards are expensive right now.
If he wants to have ray tracing you'll need at least an Nvidia 20 series card.
That's not a gaming pc. No pc with on board graphics is. That's a minimum spec pc.
Problem is cards are expensive right now.
If he wants to have ray tracing you'll need at least an Nvidia 20 series card.
It isn't a bad spec for the money, and it should run Minecraft fine - Minecraft is old and the requirements are quite low -
https://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/require...
The 5600G onboard graphics are okay, about the same as a GT 1030.
It will be better when you put a real graphics card in it, but at present they cost more than that PC.
You might want to Google Cyberpower PC themselves - it's not a manufacturer I have heard of.
https://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/require...
The 5600G onboard graphics are okay, about the same as a GT 1030.
It will be better when you put a real graphics card in it, but at present they cost more than that PC.
You might want to Google Cyberpower PC themselves - it's not a manufacturer I have heard of.
I've got a 5600G system, and they're perfectly decent CPUs.
Looking at the spec, it says 1 x VGA and 1 x HDMI, which isn't ideal if you're buying monitors now (you'd ideally have two digital outputs rather than one analogue).
There's good logic to adding a GPU later, but it's not obvious if the PSU has enough power to run one, so you may need to budget for that as well.
Looking closely at the picture (because info is limited) there appears to be only one DIMM fitted. If the is the case and you're going to game at all, plan on adding another as it will give the built in graphics a healthy performance boost.
Hotukdeals is a fertile ground for looking for this class of machine if you want to examine other options.
Looking at the spec, it says 1 x VGA and 1 x HDMI, which isn't ideal if you're buying monitors now (you'd ideally have two digital outputs rather than one analogue).
There's good logic to adding a GPU later, but it's not obvious if the PSU has enough power to run one, so you may need to budget for that as well.
Looking closely at the picture (because info is limited) there appears to be only one DIMM fitted. If the is the case and you're going to game at all, plan on adding another as it will give the built in graphics a healthy performance boost.
Hotukdeals is a fertile ground for looking for this class of machine if you want to examine other options.
grumbledoak said:
It isn't a bad spec for the money, and it should run Minecraft fine - Minecraft is old and the requirements are quite low -
I thought the same mate. Seems Minecraft has come on some...https://www.pcguide.com/software/system-requiremen...
MrBig said:
I get that it’s not ‘proper’ gaming PC, but he’s not playing high end games and I don’t have £2k for a proper gaming setup. I’m sourcing a graphics card from a friend so that side of it’s covered. This is for a 9 year old starting out after all.
You could buy the bits for about the same, and help him build it...grumbledoak said:
You could buy the bits for about the same, and help him build it...
Well that was a consideration but I wouldn’t know where to start. Happy to do it but will need to find somewhere to get some decent guidance. The Costco PC comes with the benefit of 2 years warranty though…
MrBig said:
Well that was a consideration but I wouldn’t know where to start. Happy to do it but will need to find somewhere to get some decent guidance.
I am sure we can find volunteers to spend your money! 
Start here -
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list
Choose a CPU - search "5600G" and Add.
Then motherboard, memory, storage, power, and a case.
Paste the resulting link back here for comment.
e.g. one I made earlier
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/n9RwTJ
ETA: I literally made this one myself a couple months ago. It's not for MrBig's kld.
Edited by grumbledoak on Wednesday 29th December 15:36
grumbledoak said:
I am sure we can find volunteers to spend your money!
Start here -
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list
Choose a CPU - search "5600G" and Add.
Then motherboard, memory, storage, power, and a case.
Paste the resulting link back here for comment.
e.g. one I made earlier
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/n9RwTJ
32GB of RAM seems a bit excessive. You'll also be needing a mouse and keyboard and an OS. And some speakers ? Start here -
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list
Choose a CPU - search "5600G" and Add.
Then motherboard, memory, storage, power, and a case.
Paste the resulting link back here for comment.
e.g. one I made earlier
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/n9RwTJ
Add those bits on and you are not that far of a £1000, which is double the OPs original opening gambit.
xeny said:
I've just done a 5600g build, and once you cost in things like a legitimate Windows licence, it is hard to hit the budget of that Costco system. You tend to end up with a better spec but no so much of a cost saving.
This is true, but you have helped your nine year old build his own PC.
MrBig said:
Apologies, I did say that I would be upgrading it.
If it's a 'modern' GPU that you're acquiring from a friend, then check the power requirements, as some of these pre-built systems may only provide a PSU with enough power to cover what they've put into the system.So if they've put a basic, non-modular 350w PSU in (at this price it won't be a 1000W 80 Plus Titanium Digital PSU) and it's running at 90% utilisation, then adding a 100w GPU in is not going to work...and you won't want to be sourcing and fitting a new/ more capable PSU if the unit is under warranty.
Also, you may want to check what the warranty position is if you do put a 2nd hand GPU in - just in case it does blow the PC up.
Edited by mmm-five on Wednesday 29th December 18:37
If it was me, I'd be buying a used PC with decent specs. I5 with a SSD and 8gb ram minimum. Around £250.
GPU from Cex. Used but 2 yr warranty.
£250 for the PC and £250 for a decent GPU?
Any old monitors will do if he's gaming in 1080p. Probably could get 2 for £50 on eBay/Facebook Marketplace.
Will be able to game not only Minecraft, but whatever else he gets into without breaking the bank.
GPU from Cex. Used but 2 yr warranty.
£250 for the PC and £250 for a decent GPU?
Any old monitors will do if he's gaming in 1080p. Probably could get 2 for £50 on eBay/Facebook Marketplace.
Will be able to game not only Minecraft, but whatever else he gets into without breaking the bank.
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