Help for a mom looking for a killer Xmas present?

Hi there,

I know nothing about PCs or gaming, but my son loves everything gaming related so I want to surprise him for Xmas with an awesome machine. Well, awesome and between $800-1200.

I'd prefer to start on the low end and upgrade components (if that's possible).Any of your machines would be a huge step up from what he's using now (a laptop which he tells me gets about 3fps :) ).

So it looks like I need to pick between the Vanquish I or II. I was also looking at the basic Eclipse but it's a little above my price range. Can anyone help me decide between these models? Will he be happy with a Vanquish I for a year or two until we can afford to upgrade?

Also - could you clarify if these have WiFi connectivity? Thanks! I'm so tired of reading about GPUs, Intel vs. AMD, graphics cards, etc, etc. - please help a mom out! Thanks!!

If the laptop your son currently uses only gets around 3fps in games, then yes, even Vanquish level 1 will be a huge improvement.

Hi mdmom23... The level 1 or 2 will game decently but it does depend on what he plays, the monitor resolution and if he needs high in game graphics settings.   The entry level Vanquish lvl 1&2 will play well on a 1080p or less monitor/tv with graphics set to medium on some games.   So many different games with different requirements it's tough to answer.   

They are both excellent gifts.    

I do understand tough budgets, but buying low and updating in a few months just means buying the same parts twice. But, the wallet does tend to dictate.

Edited by bprat22 - 28 Nov 2015 at 3:29am

Hey, and welcome to the forums. Buying your son a nice gaming desktop is an amazing christmas gift idea. I wish my mother would have thought of that back in the day when I first got into the PC gaming scene.

So let's start with the first part of your question. Which one to buy. As Bprat pointed out that lvl 2 offers an ssd with a slightly larger power supply, and a better GPU. If you can afford it in your budget, then hands down get the lvl 2. The difference in performance between lvl 1 an lvl 2 will definitely be very noticeable.

Now with that said, I'd like to talk about why I don't think either is a very good option and how you should be looking at possibly the level 3 (at least).

You talk about buying low, but allowing your son to update later. Save up a little money, buy a new part. Great idea. I think it would be excellent for any new PC gamer, as it gives you the ability to customize your own system (a pride thing), learn about different parts, brands, etc.. find what you like from aesthetics to performance. But the problem with that is, when buying the lvl 1 or the lvl 2, we're very limited. The GTX 960 is a great card, and for it's price, it's an amazing card to buy a second one of and sli later on. You can get the performance of a $550 card, by buying 2x $250 card in sli. Save a little and get roughly the same performance (IE 2x GTX 960's vs a single GTX 980).

But let's look at the power supplies. upgrading to more than one card (while doable on a 600w) it isn't exactly ideal. So we are basically limited the ability to upgrade. On top of that, the H110 chipset motherboard being used only supports a single gpu. So, upgrading future GPU's is out of the question, unless you want to buy a GTX 970 or higher later. But then you're just throwing that GTX 960 you just bought out the window as you have no way to use it (in your current build... can always save it and put it in a different pc or sell it I guess). But you see the issue here. Buy cheaper with the idea of upgrading later and we've already hit a few walls. You'll need a new motherboard, a bigger psu, and another GPU. Price is now more than what it'd cost to have just bought the lvl 3 or lvl 4. While the purchase is cheap now, in the long run, it'll end up being more expensive.

With the lvl 3, you get a motherboard that can support another GPU, with a power supply that is definitely able to support dual GPU's. We get a larger SSD, better cooling, a better chipset/motherboard... just overall better. It will allow you to upgrade in the future for less (both financially and stress).

I do get a budget. Sometimes, even when you want something nicer, it just can't be done. Assuming you still need to buy a keyboard, mouse, and possibly a monitor. that $1200 on a pc is really just part of a $1500 total set up. So adding on the cost of the lvl 3... well I get it. But, we need to look at the set up:

Between the lvl 1 and the lvl 2. Definitely, hands down, the level 2. It's not even a comparison.

But a personal recommendation is get at least the lvl 3. Buying cheap to upgrade later can (and with the lvl 2 will) cost you way more in the long run. The lvl 3 will let him dominate 1080p gaming on high settings with a lot of games no issues at all. While the GTX 960 in the lvl 2 is an absolutely amazing card, that GTX 970 will just destroy 1080p for him. And later down the road that $350 GTX 970 will drop in price, so saving and upgrading with be easier. And dual GTX 970's in the level 3 will cost way less than upgrading a level 2 to support another video card.

But, that's just me. I'm just trying to point out the big picture and down the road views here.

i get what Meller is saying and he's right when it comes to an upgrade path; however, this mom's obviously on a strict budget.  i'm looking at her situation and son's needs and a level 2 w/o upgrade path looks perfectly fine for 1080p gaming.  if the son wants/needs something more powerful a few years from now then the best bet anyway would be to get something entirely new at the point.  there will be marvelously new tech out at that time anyway.  and let's be honest, a level 3 out the door is more like $1500 (way over her budget).  she's also facing the prospect of needing a wi-fi card. 

......... 

better advice would be to save that $400-ish you would have her spend on a level 3 and put it towards a real single card graphics upgrade (980ti) in the future if her son decides to move up in resolution rather than up selling her on the idea of sli'ing 2x970's.  he can either sell the 960 at that point or keep it as a backup.












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Edited by Snaike - 01 Dec 2015 at 7:19am

db188 / Meller... the personal attacks have been removed.

They not productive in helping the OP in her quest to find a machine for her son.

Please remember that this is a "Digital Storm" forum. Should you wish to find a corner of the internet to continue your personal discussion, please feel free.

Originally posted by Snaike db188 / Meller... the personal attacks have been removed. They not productive in helping the OP in her quest to find a machine for her son. Please remember that this is a "Digital Storm" forum. Should you wish to find a corner of the internet to continue your personal discussion, please feel free.

Don't worry about it Snaike. This is why I go afk from the forums for months on end. This just isn't the place it use to be. Hopefully we've helped with whom ever needed the help.

If I don't see you guys again, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.