How can I build a $4k gaming PC for my 11-year-old on a budget?

G

guitervampheart

New Member
My 11-year-old wants a gaming computer. He's thinking around the $4k mark.

What's some some budget ways to get a reasonable one? Secondhand, build yourself, etc.

And ideas he can earn money? Petsitting, mowing lawns, etc.
 
Do some research, pick parts (maybe some secondhand ones if you want) & build it together . tbh it's not that hard ok, doing a project w/ an 11yo is always gonna be rough, but building a PC? Easy. He'll learn about computers & components, know how to fix stuff when needed, and help his friends w/ theirs.
 
You know, it might be possible to find an Alienware laptop on the Dell outlet at a pretty good price – that’s something to consider. But deep down, I truly feel you need to teach him the difference between wants and needs. As for my own kids, they ain’t getting a 4K computer at 11, lol.
 
You should teach him the value of a dollar spending $4000 on a gaming PC when you've got no money is a terrible idea. Instead, get him to accept that a $750 PS5 dos pretty much the same thing and is a luxury for a kid his age. And if he puts that $4000 into stocks under your name, he can watch it grow 10% a year and have enough for a decent car by the time he's 17.

Hell, by then the government will probably have 1% deposit home loans for first home buyers.
 
My 14 year old son recently built his own computer. He did some research and ordered the parts online. He spent $1100 and now has a good gaming computer that he can upgrade when he has more money. He earned the money by saving some birthday money and doing odd jobs for us and his grandparents.
 
Your son’s PC more expensive than mine, and I do quite a bit of gaming. Get a cheap one you can upgrade; it’ll give him small goals as he saves toward an upgrade, and he’ll most likely look after it better. After spending time together working on it and him saving.

Just spend the money on motherboard and power supply. Throw an older GPU in, and a low spec CPU, to get him by. Can give some pointers I’m learning about it, but I am some sort of enthusiast. Overall, it’ll cost you slightly more this way. But knowledge is invaluable: for both financial and skill set. It’ll also be much cheaper than $4,000.

Find out what games he likes and you can build something toward that goal. That way he can still play, or pay to upgrade, and enjoy the improvements he makes whilst becoming tech savvy.

If not and you just want to do it once, and still be upgradable for the near future do your research on CPUs and GPUs. Find out what you’lll need to achieve what your son wants off the bat. $2,000–$2,500 should cover it. Unless you want to buy a laptop there’s plenty of options.
 
So my 12 year old at the time built his very first PC for around $900, then sold it a year later for $1,200. Now he’s on his third upgrade, and it cost about $3,000. If you and your son are into tech stuff, just hop on YouTube, watch a few videos, and build it together. You’ll save some cash or get way better specs for your money.
 
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