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[Closed] Computer decision making help please?

allanoleary · 2021-10-05T20:07:44Z

I'm looking at 2 new computers in the near(ish) future. 1 for daughter and 1 for me. Priority is daughter's one. She is 11 soon and wants a computer for gaming. She won't be playing big RPGs or online shooters or anything that really pushes the machine. Minecraft mainly, although I will probably get her Xbox gamepass for PC as well. As price is a big factor it will be a Windows PC. She's decided she wants a desktop which I agree with as she will need either a laptop or Chromebook next year (depending whether she gets into her 1st choice school). I'm just not sure whether to get a tower or an all in one. The all in one looks better and takes up less space (in short supply in her/mum's house). The tower would be slightly higher spec for the cash and I assume would be more upgradeable if she starts doing more system intensive stuff? I'm pretty set on SSD internally plus an external SSD if she wants/needs more storage. Budget about £600 A computer for me isn't as important. My laptop works, just runs slow and I use it very little, but that is partly because it is 5 or 6 years old and has a HDD and it runs so slow. I'd use a faster machine more. I've always used Windows but as I'm not a huge gamer the operating system isn't a key factor (I also have Xbox and PS4 if I want to play). I'd use mine for job hunting (until I find one I really like), email, online shopping, music (streaming and owned), movies/TV streaming with some downloads, basic photo and video editing and some social media (mostly do that on my phone). Again I want SSD storage that I can expand externally if needed. I'm not as bothered about future upgrades as my use won't progress much. I've not made my mind up between laptop or all in one, but definitely not a tower. A laptop makes more sense as I can use it anywhere I want and watch TV on breaks at work, but I like the screen size of an all in one for home. Tempted by a Mac as I am entering the Apple universe when I get my new phone, but open to all options. Budget will be max £1250. All help/guidance/tribalism about OS welcomed

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thisisnotaspoon

Posts: 41933

Free Member

#1 consideration right there. The rest is just trying to get OP the best bang for his buck.

3400g
B450 ITX motherboard (because itx looks cool and has built in WiFi).
Any known brand PSU.
Thermaltake Core V1 ITX case (because looks "gaming").
SATA 1TB SSD (because more capacity = less tech support)
8gb of 3200 cl16 RAM (16gb in dual channel would be nice but probably won't make a noticeable difference to an 11yo).
AMD Wraith Spire cooler, because it's cheap , compatible, does the job and has unicorn puke RGB.

Spending more is better. But with graphics cards the prices they are you'd be better off buying an entire console for gaming. Than paying the RRP of a card + scalped margin equivelent to the cost of a console.

Posted : 11/10/2021 1:25 pm

Cougar

Posts: 78654

Full Member

No CPU?

Posted : 11/10/2021 1:36 pm

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