I'm trying to help my 12-year-old get his first proper gaming PC. I've been out of the loop for a while, so I'm not really sure what specs to aim for. I'm open to buying second-hand parts or an entire second-hand PC since I don't think he needs the absolute latest hardware. He mainly plays Rocket League at a high level, but also dives into games like Fortnite, BeamNG, F1, and occasionally Call of Duty. He has a Gigabyte M32Q monitor, so the PC needs to handle decent frame rates at 1440p. Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Considering he’s been using a PS5, you’ll definitely want something comparable. Look for a setup that can handle 1440p gaming smoothly.
You're right on track with considering second-hand, especially for RAM since prices have skyrocketed lately. I’d recommend building on a DDR4 platform like AMD AM4, which is more affordable right now. If you can snag an AMD X3D chip, that'd be ideal for gaming. Also, look for a second-hand 4060 ti GPU with at least 16GB of VRAM; it's a solid choice without breaking the bank. Just be sure to avoid GPUs with 8GB or less.
First things first, what's your budget? That really helps narrow down the options.
I’m looking at around $700 to $800. If we can get decent frame rates for less, I’m all about it! But I also want to ensure it won’t be obsolete in a couple of years, so some room for upgrades would be great.
I’ve heard the 5600X is a decent budget chip, but is it powerful enough for games like BeamNG?