Hey everyone! I'm 17 and I've been gaming on a laptop with just 4GB of RAM for years. My mom and I are planning to buy my first gaming setup early next year, but I'm a bit nervous about building a PC myself since I'm not familiar with all the parts. I'm leaning towards purchasing a pre-built gaming PC instead.
I want a setup that can handle gaming content creation, specifically for games like Minecraft Java Edition with mods, Roblox, Phasmophobia, and other Steam games, as well as support PCVR. My budget is under $900, and here's what I'm looking for:
- Where's the best place to buy a PC? (I'm okay with online, but my mom prefers to pick it up in person since we're based in Chicago.)
- What should I know about gaming PCs before making a purchase?
- What specific setup and components should I consider? (This includes monitor, keyboard, and mouse.)
- Any additional advice you have would be much appreciated! Thanks a ton!
7 Answers
For a more custom approach, look at a Ryzen 7 5700X with a 9060 XT and 16GB of RAM. If you can stretch your budget a bit, go for a 1440p monitor. Just remember, it's all about balancing quality with your budget.
You might want to save up a bit more before buying. Getting a job could help you expand your budget for a better setup later on!
It's great that you're asking for advice! I bought a PC without knowing much and ended up regretting it because it didn’t even have a GPU. So definitely do your research first!
With your budget, you might want to check out used PCs. They can give you more bang for your buck. You can also visit local electronics stores and pick out your accessories there while checking out the PCs in person. Just make sure you see it running properly!
Totally agree! If you're getting a used PC, just have them show you it working first. It’s super important!
Consider the PowerSpec G526 from Microcenter. Combine it with a decent 1080p monitor from Sceptre, which should leave you enough for a basic keyboard and mouse. That setup would be solid for gaming and content creation!
$900 is tight for content creation, but it's doable! Just know that while you might face some issues playing AAA games or while streaming, you can still enjoy many games with that budget.
You might also consider a laptop like the Victus 15.6” with an RTX 2050. It has 4GB of VRAM and 16GB of RAM, which is a significant upgrade. Plus, it's portable and doesn't require much setup. But be aware that laptops tend to perform worse than desktops with similar specs.
I’m not so sure about laptops. They generally cost more and can overheat easier than desktops. Plus, you can get better performance in PCs for a similar price!
But let the kid enjoy! A good mom is helping out, and having a decent PC now can open up new gaming experiences!