Advice Needed for My Son's First PC Build
Asked by
CreativeCat99
I'm looking for some guidance on building my son's first PC. He's a light gamer who loves Roblox and Minecraft, but his current laptop is really struggling with those games. We're hoping to create a setup that will allow him to explore Steam games as well. We're trying to keep the total cost under $1500 and we live in Canada. Here's the initial build I've put together: [PCPartPicker Part List](https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/PTXrFZ)
Answers
You can often find used Ryzen 3600 CPUs for a good price on Facebook Marketplace, which could help keep costs down. Just be careful about older parts being available at higher prices lately. Also, have you thought about checking for any second-hand full desktop PCs where you can practice building? It’s a good way for him to get hands-on experience without breaking the bank.
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If your son is mainly into Minecraft and Roblox, you might want to look into an '8000G' CPU to save some cash on the graphics card for now. You can always upgrade later when he's ready for more demanding games. This could keep the current build simpler and more affordable while still getting him gaming-ready!
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I think the original build you posted could use some tweaking. I'd suggest going with an AM5 platform and a more powerful GPU like the 9060 XT—it's a much better choice for gaming.
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The build looks decent, but I'd recommend aiming for something like a Ryzen 5 5500 with an RTX 5060 Ti for a smoother gaming experience. Plus, you could use a 4k TV as a monitor if he has one available. It's a great way to save some money on a display! Also, consider using a free OS like Bazzite instead of Windows if he just plans to game.
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Have you considered if your son can reuse the Windows key from his laptop? If so, this build I found might be a good fit under $1500 without the Windows key. Check it out here: [PCPartPicker List](https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/HNLRWc). It features an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and a decent GPU, plus some good RAM for future-proofing.
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GamerGalaxy22: I really like this suggestion! It seems well-rounded for both gaming and future needs.
ChillCoder88: Definitely a solid build. You can’t go wrong with those specs!