Choosing a computer for your child – DIY in 5 Ep 199

Опубликовано 4 июня 2023, 13:00

Computer shopping can be fun, but when shopping for your children the need to balance school requirements with a child’s personal wants can be a nightmare. In this video we at Kingston will run through some common kid-friendly configurations you may want to look for, and help you understand some of the related jargon. The goal is to not only help you choose a computer for your child, but get you ready to choose the appropriate one.
These days child PC users fall into three categories: gamers, students, and creators. There will be some overlap, of course.

Gamers
Kids need play to mentally and socially develop, so it’s understandable they could approach you with a request that their home computer should be able to play games. If this is the case, find out which specific games and genres they’re interested in. Each game has a recommended GPU, CPU, RAM, and hard drive specs. Gamers will need a dedicated GPU, so purchase the GPU with the highest specs recommended by the games you researched. You can find this information on game developer’s websites. We recommend a minimum of 16GB RAM, but suggest gamers choose 32GB of RAM or more if possible. RAM helps a computer perform complex tasks like running games. We also recommend an SSD with a minimum capacity of 512GB to store bulky game files.

Students
Looking for a student PC is probably the easiest of the three categories. Check with the school to see what operating system, or OS, they recommend. There may be specific mandatory software that only works with a PC or Mac. If there are no requirements, an inexpensive Windows laptop or Chromebook will likely suffice to provide your child with the ability to get their work done. Generally, a student is required to log into a specific website, and everything is done in the cloud, which streamlines things. If this isn’t the case and other requirements exist, you should choose the machine that will enable your child to use all curriculum-required software. To spec a PC for students, adjust the previously-discussed gaming PC’s specs down. 16GB of RAM will be more than sufficient. Look for a cheaper SSD with less capacity. A GPU is unnecessary, as an integrated graphics solution will be fine unless your student requires 3D modeling software or something of the kind: check with the school. Mac users can simply get a Mac Mini with the M2 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. Cost-effective and perfect for students. All that’s needed is a monitor, mouse, and keyboard.

Creators
Kids who are creators: photographers, videographers, and up-and-coming YouTubers/Twitch streamers, will need computers that can handle more heavy lifting. Chromebooks are not an option here! For PC users, mirror the gamer’s build, but with a little extra storage and memory. A creator will likely need as much as 1TB of SSD storage for their photo, video, or audio work. Also, a minimum of 32GB of RAM for editing and/or game streaming is a good benchmark, particularly if your child will be running games and recording/streaming at the same time. The dedicated GPU will be useful for editing work.
Mac users should get the same Mac Mini. However, we recommend a 32GB RAM model, and a 1TB hard drive with an M2 processor. Following these steps, you can ensure your young creative will be happily working away for at least the next few years without any tech issues.

Summary
Kids differ in all things, and their computer needs differ too. Gamers need at least 16GB of RAM, probably 32GB, and a 512GB SSD with a dedicated GPU. Kids focused on using computers for study will need either a Chromebook, Mac, or PC. Check with the school for specific software requirements. Finally, budding artists, video creators, and live streamers will need an augmented gamer setup with extra RAM and storage. Shop around, compare specs, read reviews, and fret not. You can do this, and propel your little one on their way to success. Thanks for watching!
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Timecodes:
0:00 Intro
1:16 Gamers
2:31 Students
3:49 Creators
5:05 Summary