Hardware & Technical Friend wants to get into PC gaming. Need advice from Australian posters especially, but please, read if you know anything about PC's.

[Deleted member 110222]

Friend wants to get into PC gaming. Need advice from Australian posters especially, but please, read if you know anything about PC's.

He's Australian. What's a good retailer in your country? Preferably one who builds the PC for you, because I won't lie. My friend hasn't got a clue.

That brings me on to my next point. I get why he wants a gaming PC. He's tried mods for Skyrim on Xbox, but wants more. But his knowledge on computers is, no disrespect intended, but it's nonexistent. He doesn't even know basic terms like RAM, CPU, GPU, etc.

I get why he wants one... But really, he's not ready for a PC. I try teaching him stuff, but he doesn't take it in. He just blindly links me to awful pre-builts.

I don't know what to do. I want to be honest, and I'm afraid that means telling him that he doesn't have a clue about computers, and that he needs to learn. I mean I have told him that. But he refuses to do any research. I get the impression that he thinks there's no difference between a PC & his Xbox.

Help.

 

[DD_Crash]

He & you need it

 

[Deleted member 110222]

He & you need it

Excuse me? What on earth is that supposed to mean?

 

[Asp Explorer]

What does he want to play, how much money does he have to spend, and how big a screen does he want?

 

[dognosh]

Your friend is correct pointing to pre builts,so you should accept that and help him buy one.
If he hasn't a clue,and you can't build him one,there is no other choice

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Your friend is correct pointing to pre builts,so you should accept that and help him buy one.
If he hasn't a clue,and you can't build him one,there is no other choice

Okay, I have miscommunicated. That's my fault. Allow me to clarify.

I've no problem with pre-builts. Actually in his case I'm saying that if he wants to get into PC, he should go for a pre-built.

However, he keeps linking me to models with absolutely terrible specs. Pentiums with Intel graphics, etc.

I try telling him why that won't let him play Skyrim with all the mods he wants, but he doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying. I'm trying to help him, at least, find a build that will actually work. But he keeps going back to "why can't I run it on this $300 PC?"

Like I say, almost every pre-built he links me is something that no way in hell will run Skyrim with the mods that he wants. They won't run anything, really. If they do, an Xbox would be superior.

I think, and I'm not trying to be demeaning here, but I think he drastically underestimates how much a computer for gaming costs. I'm saying this based off how he keeps trying to find something that doesn't have a dedicated GPU at all.

 

[Asp Explorer]

Buy a cheap gaming prebuilt.

Recoil in horror as it struggles to get 1FPS in Half-Life.

Work out why it's a lumpy steamer. Cannibalise the good bits, throw the rubbish in the bin, add 2nd-hand components from ebay, enjoy the experience, and learn a valuable skill.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Buy a cheap gaming prebuilt.

Recoil in horror as it struggles to get 1FPS in Half-Life.

Work out why it's a lumpy steamer. Cannibalise the good bits, throw the rubbish in the bin, add 2nd-hand components from ebay, enjoy the experience, and learn a valuable skill.

Suppose. The problem is I know him well. And he's a valued friend.

Because of how well I know him, I can tell you that he gets stressed, very, very easily.

I don't want to see him waste money. I won't lie. He's not exactly well off. I really, really wish I lived in Australia so I could go help him. Unfortunately, I'm in the UK. So naturally, that makes things tougher.

Then there's also his insistence of NOT asking his own questions on various tech boards around the Internet. I've given him links to various well-known boards, that have global communities full of nice, helpful people, some with decades of experience. I can only offer so much help, as I've only been on PC for a couple of years.

 

[Frank]

I don't know if there are any old computer shops left, but if there are any in Australia I would suggest to your friend that he goes to one of them. He might be able to find one in his local phone directory. I used to know a few shops, and the common thread between all of them was the enthusiasm of the shopkeepers. If he gets a custom computer built by them he should ask if he can sit in on the build. Being able to see the build with his own eyes, and ask pertinent questions is much better than any You Tube video. It'll give him the confidence to replace any component that goes duff, and upgrade anything obsolete.

 

[Hylax]

Try Supertech Computers; Aust Wide delivery. I recommend "The Beast" option. Look `em up on the internet.
No I have no affiliation.

 

[MickyG1982]

Okay, I have miscommunicated. That's my fault. Allow me to clarify.

I've no problem with pre-builts. Actually in his case I'm saying that if he wants to get into PC, he should go for a pre-built.

However, he keeps linking me to models with absolutely terrible specs. Pentiums with Intel graphics, etc.

I try telling him why that won't let him play Skyrim with all the mods he wants, but he doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying. I'm trying to help him, at least, find a build that will actually work. But he keeps going back to "why can't I run it on this $300 PC?"

Like I say, almost every pre-built he links me is something that no way in hell will run Skyrim with the mods that he wants. They won't run anything, really. If they do, an Xbox would be superior.

I think, and I'm not trying to be demeaning here, but I think he drastically underestimates how much a computer for gaming costs. I'm saying this based off how he keeps trying to find something that doesn't have a dedicated GPU at all.

It actually depends upon just how much gaming be wants to do, and how long he can wait to do it on pc. At that price point 300 AUD or so he would be looking at a very low end AMD APU based system (around the dual core 7300). It'll game, just not well.

That same price point puts you into some fairly decently specced, refurbished ex government office potatoes however. Now, these bring on some huge compromises too, mainly because most of them are small form factor units. Usually this means that the PSU is none standard and the GPU will also have to be small form factor compatible too.

That said, if he wants to save up for a decent card $324 AUD for an i7 3770, really isn't bad... He just has to save up a few more beer chits for a GPU:

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=201682567995&category=179&pm=1&ds=0&t=1496019688138.

It's not a gamer yet, but it definitely has potential. Australian eBay is probably the best way for your friend to go.

 

[nathanc213]

Okay, I have miscommunicated. That's my fault. Allow me to clarify.

I've no problem with pre-builts. Actually in his case I'm saying that if he wants to get into PC, he should go for a pre-built.

However, he keeps linking me to models with absolutely terrible specs. Pentiums with Intel graphics, etc.

I try telling him why that won't let him play Skyrim with all the mods he wants, but he doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying. I'm trying to help him, at least, find a build that will actually work. But he keeps going back to "why can't I run it on this $300 PC?"

Like I say, almost every pre-built he links me is something that no way in hell will run Skyrim with the mods that he wants. They won't run anything, really. If they do, an Xbox would be superior.

I think, and I'm not trying to be demeaning here, but I think he drastically underestimates how much a computer for gaming costs. I'm saying this based off how he keeps trying to find something that doesn't have a dedicated GPU at all.

Dont underestimate the pentium or intel grpahics. My old lenovo G580 had a pentium and intel HD4000 and that ran skyrim on low-medium at 30FPS.

Firstly Skyrim or Skyrim special edition?

Secondly if skyrim is the only game he is going to play then honestly i think you should convice him to leave it, i cant even think of any mods that would convince me to buy a PC for.

 

[lysan]

Go to dell's site, they got some of the better garanties for their stuff if you want prebuilds.

But the best is to build it yourself. It's not that difficult.

 

[Zeeman]

I prefer to roll my own, however, which part of Aus is he in?

Z...

 

[Insomnia]

Okay, I have miscommunicated. That's my fault. Allow me to clarify.

I've no problem with pre-builts. Actually in his case I'm saying that if he wants to get into PC, he should go for a pre-built.

However, he keeps linking me to models with absolutely terrible specs. Pentiums with Intel graphics, etc.

I try telling him why that won't let him play Skyrim with all the mods he wants, but he doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying. I'm trying to help him, at least, find a build that will actually work. But he keeps going back to "why can't I run it on this $300 PC?"

Like I say, almost every pre-built he links me is something that no way in hell will run Skyrim with the mods that he wants. They won't run anything, really. If they do, an Xbox would be superior.

I think, and I'm not trying to be demeaning here, but I think he drastically underestimates how much a computer for gaming costs. I'm saying this based off how he keeps trying to find something that doesn't have a dedicated GPU at all.

He must understand that a modded Skyrim is among the heaviest a PC could run. A modern console could never handle that much, and a PC with Intel graphics isn't near as powerful as the lowest performing console.

Also, a person that wishes to use mods must understand that it can be extremely tricky to use mods, even for experienced users. And it really requires interest and some willing to learn attitude.

My tip would be a PC for no less than 700 euros. Or a console.
Btw, as I've been modding Skyrim myself with ENBs, I know that ENB runs better on Nvidia components than on AMD.

 

[shadragon]

Go to dell's site, they got some of the better garanties for their stuff if you want prebuilds.

Disagree. Dell for a PC, but not a gaming PC unless you go with Alienware, which is overkill in this case.

Building your own PC is no good if you are ignorant of the hardware and cannot fix the simple issues that come up on occasion as you build it.

A real advantage over consoles is modular design. You can upgrade any PC. It all comes down to price. Name a budget and I can help a bit more. There's lots available.

https://www.centrecom.com.au/desktops