Gaming laptop / desktop - need help!

[Loueytb3]

DS1 wants a computer “to play games on” for Christmas. He has SEN so doesn’t really have any concept of money or what is required but on further questioning, he wants to use it to play games like Apex Legends and Fortnite. He’s angling to play Call of Duty but it’s an 18 and he’s 15 (16 in 3 months) so I’m holding out for the moment. There seems to be a massive variation in cost of laptops and I’m totally out of touch with what he actually needs to play those games. I had in my mind I could spend around £500-600 (which is still £££ more than I wanted to spend) but I’m struggling to find anything that looks reasonable for that price. So can anyone advise what spec I actually need, or even better, recommend a laptop or desktop that can play those games on it? Although a desktop is likely to be more once you’ve added the monitor in, I can ask relatives for the monitor. I also wonder if it is better to get a desktop in the long run if he wants to watch Netflix etc on it because the screen will be bigger.

Desktop will be better value - generally more performance per £ than a laptop - and If you choose one that has a current generation CPU etc is likely to be upgradeable for the next few years.

At your price-point, unless there's a really good reason for getting a PC specifically - I reckon an XBOX Series X or even Series S is much better value, unless you want to start looking at second hand, or, potentially finding an outrageously good bargain somewhere.

Looking at the market right now - you're looking at spending around £700 for a PC that outperforms an Xbox Series X - for that money you could have the Xbox, and a 32" Gaming Monitor.

Of course, a lot depends on what his mates are using, and whether he wants to play online with them etc.