OK, the minor offspring (14 going on 15) wants a gaming PC for crimble. She has a Mac Book air for home work and surfing the web, but even for playing 'Ark survival evolved' (whatever that is) she needs to use our Mac as her Air isn't powerful enough. What do I need to spend for a BASIC windows gaming PC. I want plug in and play. If I get one this will be my first Windows machine at home in 20 years. I want as close as gravity reliability as is possible with a devil machine. Any suggestions on something cheap and cheerful from Amazon. Do not mention the 'W' place, I don't frequent Mr Walton's stores.
I need to expand. I think most of the games she's interested in are online games, but apparently most aren't MAC supported.
Please note. I know nothing about gaming. I wasted the summer of 82 when I was 13 years old playing computer games. I got to the end of summer and realized I'd missed the whole summer and I've never played computer games agains.
We recently had a pc built for education (ahem) for our boys. Had it built to the recommended Minecraft specs found here: https://help.mojang.com/customer/en/portal/articles/325948-minecraft-system-requirements
I think the problem lies in Apple not wanting to play nicely with Java.
Anyway, this build has handled what we've thrown at it- online stuff, fallout, sky rim etc.
I'm sure better advice is forthcoming!
Edit: Without peripherals, this build was just shy of $400
Sounds like you really want a console.
Says the guy who probably has a PS2 in the basement somewhere and hasn't had a gaming PC since Doom 2.
A streaming device like the Steam Link might be the way to go here:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/353380
Run the game on the Mac that is already capable of playing it, play game in another room.
Google "best gaming computer under $x.xx" and pick one?
I'd say 600 is a good price point.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J9D4MVW/?tag=besttop10ti09-20
1988RedT2 wrote:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J9D4MVW/?tag=besttop10ti09-20
Ugh, dodgy chinese power supply, obsolete AMD CPU, 3 generation old base model video card. Nobody should buy that.
If my nephew was 14 today, for my $450-500, (if I wasn't building a machine myself), I'd get an Alienware alpha or similar steam-oriented PC. If you get the steambox version, you don't even have to break your streak of not having a Windows machine (although SteamOS might rule out games she might want to play, League of Legends comes to mind for example).
Check out alienwear or corsair. Best performance per dollar would be a custom build.
Budget and gaming don't coincide unless you're building your own.
alienware has already been mentioned
http://www.ibuypower.com/
moparman76_69 wrote:
Budget and (blank) don't coincide unless you're building your own.
Hmm... I wonder where I have heard that statement before 
.
Also, you could easily get one of these yahoos here to build you one but not before Xmas. I also vote steam machine.
Ouch, you guys are scarring me. I was hoping for 'The XYZ123 from best buy for $399 is such unreal value for money you'd be dumb to buy anything else.'
I guess I'll have to find out what she wants to play and take it from there.
This may not happen for Pagenmas and have to wait until her Birthday in March instead.
Thanks for all the help though guys.
ihayes
New Reader
12/17/15 7:55 a.m.
You could always check out the outlet part of the Dell website? Alienware plus scratch/dent plus regular coupon deals (my company also has some sort of deal with them, I think as part of the service agreement they have with Dell).
But like most of the others here I haven't speced out anything like that recently so can't tell you what to look for...
Ark Survival Evolved is available for PlayStation 4. Could be the easy answer.
It is a bit expensive but should handle a lot of different games (nothing cutting edge) pretty well.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6ZP3K30695
Still need a monitor or an old flat screen TV though.
Cheaper version but OK.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220837
Add RAM to ramp it up but apparently these is no way to improve the graphics as there isn't a PCIE slot.
Adrian_Thompson wrote: Ouch, you guys are scarring me.
Good. There's a lot of people looking to make a buck off gamers that don't do the homework. I've had to steer a lot of friends in my gaming group around it over the years.
singleslammer wrote:
Cheaper version but OK.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220837
Add RAM to ramp it up but apparently these is no way to improve the graphics as there isn't a PCIE slot.
Whats the real down side for this?
In reply to Adrian_Thompson:
It has mediocre graphics now and will only become worse and worse as you can't upgrade to something more powerful later.
Adrian_Thompson wrote:
singleslammer wrote:
Cheaper version but OK.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220837
Add RAM to ramp it up but apparently these is no way to improve the graphics as there isn't a PCIE slot.
Whats the real down side for this?
It's like showing up at an autocross on the cheapest pep-boys tires, and you can never change them.
This seems like a better choice:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883230030
Maybe someone more up on processors and GPUs can comment. Has pretty good reviews.
This is also a solid choice if you are willing to throw a used graphics card in it. We can help you find the right card for cheap.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883221200
singleslammer wrote: Maybe someone more up on processors and GPUs can comment.
Ugh, dodgy chinese power supply, obsolete AMD CPU, 3 generation old base model video card. Nobody should buy that.
Push comes to shove, I can help you build something. It's not that hard. Then you can pick out quality components and have something upgradable, so it's useful life will be much longer.
But the true "easy button" is a console. The downside being that all it does is play games (well, and stream and stuff these days, but still). Plus, you guys don't have a lot of TVs, and it would take one up.
