I'm hoping to build a desktop PC with my 12-year-old daughter as a dad-and-daughter project. She mainly plays Roblox and Minecraft and currently uses an older 27-inch Windows 11 Lenovo all-in-one, which is starting to struggle.
The replacement would need to handle high school work and gaming comfortably for the next four or five years. It doesn't need to be an extreme high-end machine, but I'd appreciate suggestions for a suitable case and power supply, motherboard, CPU, graphics card, CPU cooler, and monitor. I'm planning to compare the parts using a PC-building website, and the budget is around AU$3,000.
3 Answers
The budget can support a fairly high-end PC, but it may be better to build something balanced rather than maxing out every component. A modern six-core processor, 32GB of RAM if the budget allows, a fast 1TB or 2TB SSD, and a mid-range graphics card should comfortably cover current games and leave room for more demanding titles later. Use a parts-compatibility checker, but also verify pricing, warranty coverage, and the power supply’s quality before ordering.
A 1080p IPS monitor running at 120Hz or 144Hz would be a good value choice and will look great for Roblox and Minecraft. A 1440p display is also worth considering because it gives more desktop space for schoolwork and is still manageable for a mid-range graphics card. I’d prioritize an IPS panel with good reviews and avoid choosing a monitor solely because it has a high refresh rate.
Before spending the full budget, I’d check what is actually slowing down the current all-in-one. If it runs Windows 11, it should handle Roblox without much trouble, so an upgrade, cleanup, or storage replacement might be enough. A decent used desktop or gaming laptop could also be plenty for these games. A full AU$3,000 build would be far more powerful than she currently needs, although her gaming interests may become more demanding over time.
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