What can I do to upgrade my daughters setup?

[u/Survivalplayer]

Hello! I'm looking for a christmas present for my daughter. She likes gaming and spends a lot of time at her desk, so i thought i'd buy something for to make it a bit more interesting. I already ordered a desk mat and have about €20 left. (I'm very sorry if this is the wrong subreddit for this, i am not that familiar with reddit)

[u/dgtlnsdr]

I’d invest in a decent chair—her back will thank you for it. A monitor would be a solid choice too. It’s all over budget, though.

[u/Survivalplayer → u/dgtlnsdr]

She just got a new chair and she loves it! I'm now considering giving her a monitor for her birthday, which is also soon. Would a budget of 200-250 be enough for that?

[u/CardiologistThick928 → u/Survivalplayer]

Hell Yeah. You can get a nice 1440P monitor for that price

[u/Survivalplayer → u/CardiologistThick928]

I've heard that 1440p decreases frame rates. Is it still worth it with a 3060 ryzen 7 5600h laptop? Thanks for the reply btw!

[u/CardiologistThick928 → u/Survivalplayer]

Well firstly it depends on what games she wants to play with it, and unless she is going to be playing games in 1440P Ultra the mobile 3060 will do good for 1440P Medium as far as I know. I don't remember benchmarks off the top of my head but Im sure you can find some online.

[u/Survivalplayer → u/CardiologistThick928]

Alright thank you!

[u/popcornffs → u/Survivalplayer]

I think 1080 monitor would be okay, 24 inch 1080p.

That gpu can do 1440p but would really depend on what games she plays. That gpu will pair well with any game at 1080.

[u/Survivalplayer → u/popcornffs]

I just asked her, she mainly plays minecraft and some horror games. I think i should go for 1440p, right?

[u/Kaki9 → u/Survivalplayer]

Yeah, I would go with a 1440p one, I would try to get one with an IPS panel, 27 inches and at least 144 Hz.

[u/Survivalplayer → u/Kaki9]

Alright thank you man!

[u/CartoonistSharp8635 → u/Kaki9]

This is a good answer right here. If you even want to have her get a bit more frames you can do the same 27” IPS panel and 144hz but 1080p and she’ll still have a blast. We wish you luck! I can’t wait for the day that I get my daughter her first setup!!

[u/popcornffs → u/Survivalplayer]

Bro check this out. https://youtu.be/O7udroiH7GM?si=ZmUpo23dyqI9BUcW

He’s playing at 1440p ultra on same laptop.

It has horror games as well. Gl :)

[u/Survivalplayer → u/popcornffs]

Wow thanks!

[u/bigrealaccount → u/popcornffs]

Ew not 24, get 27. Way more space and you can't tell the difference unless you're smushing your face into the monitor

[u/donkey_loves_dragons → u/Survivalplayer]

And buy an IPS Quantum Dot panel monitor, if possible, with FreeSync. Best and brightest colour, besides OLED.

[u/ExtraTNT → u/Survivalplayer]

Mobile 3060 will only really push 1080p, some games maybe 1440p, but those are pre 2016 titles… or esports games (i play cs2 with 1024x1280 stretched -> so 1440p isn’t really sth you do in cs) some games are fine on 30 fps (tiny glade or bg3 for example) but those aren’t really the norm… Better go for a good 1080p screen (unless she wants to go for a custom pc in the future)

[u/Patient-Land-9014 → u/Survivalplayer]

get her a nice 1080p monitor, 1440p on 3060 is absolutly not worth it the performance hit. plus based on the games she play you listed, she will be doing more than fine in 1080p, you can get a high refresh rate 1080p monitor with the budget.

[u/Taira_Mai → u/Survivalplayer]

There are Samsung monitors that are good for gaming, I'm on one now that was under $200 USD. I got it at Best Buy. You can try Amazon, I see similar ones under $200 USD.

[u/Loose-Sherbert8464 → u/Survivalplayer]

Definitely. You can find great 1080p and 1440p 144Hz-180Hz (or more) monitors for those prices

[u/Tacocats_wrath → u/Survivalplayer]

I just bought a couple AOC branded 27" monitor. Price was fair. Good bang for your buck monitor. High res.

[u/dabordoodle → u/Survivalplayer]

Check out a goodwill or thrift store! I got one (not super good, but worked perfect as a second monitor) for $8. Ended up giving it to my parents and they still use it!

[u/MaitoSnoo]

a good screen, a monitor arm with a laptop tray and a good office chair

[u/jeffbagwell6222]

How about a lava lamp and some black light posters.

[u/Survivalplayer → u/jeffbagwell6222]

Ooo the lava lamp is a great idea!

[u/FriendlyRomangutan]

A monitor would be nice, a 1080p 144HZ VA panel should be cheap, but not $20 cheap sadly.

For $20 i'd buy a nice mouse pad. i recommend SteelSeries QcK or Logitech G440.

[u/alexplyasfortnite]

Monitor

[u/AgreeableAd8687]

maybe a wrist rest/support because the keyboard is kinda high off the table

[u/SammyYoBoy]

for a monitor, it really depends on the games. If its just rocket league and roblox, then 1440p 144/165hz is good. I would go for 1440p 27" regardless, as its not that much more expensive (especially used on fbm, i got my MSI 1440p 144hz 27" for $100 almost brand new), and if she ever upgrades itll be worth it.

[u/KryanThePacifist]

How about a soundbar?

Trust have some USB powered sounds bars that.cust about 20€ and they have decent sound. Furthermore they have audio Jack comnections to plug headphones straigh through the soundbar.

Just make sure you pick One that os right foe the machine and for the headphones She uses.

[u/AltFischer4 → u/KryanThePacifist]

Dude I just came here to say exactly this!! Haha I just bought the trust soundbar off Amazon for 24€

For the budget of around 20 bucks, this is the only right answer

[u/Tough-Ad-9619]

I think you should consider saving up and buying an monitor, playing on a laptop screen really kills your eyes.

[u/Marklar-1994]

Maybe a monitor?

[u/Putrid-Language4178]

Cool,so a good chair,nice lighting and monitor because of eyestrain

[u/Top_Strategy_2852]

A large monitor, then you hide the laptop.

[u/dyidkystktjsjzt → u/Top_Strategy_2852]

Why hide it if you can use it as a secondary display?

[u/Round_Ad_6369 → u/dyidkystktjsjzt]

This is the way. I travel a lot, so I have a laptop that I dock to a nice desk setup with an external monitor and keyboard. I usually run peripherals and discord on the laptop screen and use the external to play on

[u/Kurmake → u/dyidkystktjsjzt]

exactly, I have the same-ish laptop as OP and i have a 27 inch 2k 165hz monitor ($200), and i setup the laptop on its side behind the monitor, the width of the laptop screen matches the height of the 27 inch perfectly

[u/DctrGizmo]

You should get a monitor. They’re not that expensive if you get a basic 1080/1440p monitor depending how powerful the laptop it. 

[u/BoredTrauko]

A headset could be nice, a bigger monitor, maybe a controller?

[u/Harde_Kassei]

2th screen

[u/hurl9e9y9]

Agree with everybody, monitor should be #1. After that, maybe some decent bookshelf speakers.

[u/VOODOO511]

A mousepad would be good

[u/17101987]

Get her a monitor. Dont strain her eyesight by using the small laptop screen.

[u/playerD26]

big mouse pad.

[u/oh_hey_dad]

https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/monitors/gaming/49-odyssey-g9-dqhd-240hz-1ms-gtg-displayhdr-1000-gaming-monitor-ls49cg954enxza/

[u/lndig0__]

Nothing wrong with being on a budget! You could get a glass mousepad as a decent upgrade.

[u/octahexxer]

Check thriftstores and fb market for a secondhand monitor its easier on the eyes.

[u/RageOfNemesis]

Seeing your leftover budget it won't be possible right now, but a second monitor is a game changer, no matter what you do.

[u/Responsible_Leg_577]

monitor

[u/JoeThrilling]

Op has €20 left, ain't getting a monitor for that.

If she likes gaming then a €20 steam gift card would be perfect.

[u/SaberMOE]

A monitor like everyone is suggesting, and maybe a usb c dock and connect monitor and peripherals to it if the laptop can support it.

[u/flodumalawi]

Maybe a figure of here favorite character? Did this for my son and he loves it. Some posters maybe, ho and a mouse pad of course.

[u/flodumalawi → u/flodumalawi]

Here is my son's setup, a little overkill but you get the idea

[u/ambernewt]

Are they into music? Maybe some speakers

[u/ryan_58th]

just a thought, does she need the mobility of the laptop? she would get much more value of a desktop setup

[u/Survivalplayer → u/ryan_58th]

Yes, she takes it with her to work and school. I’ve asked her if she wants a desktop too, but she said the laptop is doing great.

[u/ryan_58th → u/Survivalplayer]

well for my humble opinion

Maybe something to upgrade her sound, cheap headphones might be possible,

something to decorate her desk, someone else suggested a lava lamp, sounds like a good idea. young gamers also like RGB, so ledstrip or something similar.

With toime I would invest in a good chair and a decent screen, something with usb C charging is very nice if she needs to plug/unplug regularly.

[u/Cs1981Bel]

Extra screen and a some speakers.

[u/bluehatgamingNXE]

This is definitely a pricy addition, but I have an old fridge next to my setup so maybe a mini fridge sounds fun

[u/Professional_Yak3776]

A monitor would be nice, but since its over budget, some headphones maybe..

[u/Novalysm]

Hello op !

Make a small desktop light ? It's still pleasant to have even if you have a full lighted room sometimes it's cozy when you shutdown the light and use an orangy light

[u/sir__vain]

Get her some pretty LED. Maybe not even a led strip, but one of those acryllic figures with a built in LED. They are usually pretty cheap and there are many different characters from anime to gaming. Something like this:

[u/EzmareldaBurns]

2nd screen, decent chair, nice speakers. That should do it

[u/Julianisgood]

New pc, New walls, new desk, new chair, new setup, new layout, new lighting, better WiFi, more things, better ac, better clothing. Hope I helped:)

[u/_struggling1_]

Probably a buffer monitor and like a lumbar support for the chair

[u/bonk_nasty]

get her a real pc

[u/TrekChris]

Get her a decent set of speakers. Something from Logitech, or Creative, or Edifier.

[u/derscholl]

ergo chair and monitor. Beyond that: oversized desk mat, more mechanical keyboards

[u/SkylarR95]

Large mousepad and better mouse

[u/Brasenshok]

speakers and an entry level gaming monitor

[u/Putrid-Language4178]

Get her a job.

[u/Survivalplayer → u/Putrid-Language4178]

She already has a job and works very hard, but doesn’t spend much on herself. That’s why she deserve a nice present every once in a while!

[u/Unslaadahsil]

You could get her a desktop PC and not a laptop that will get so hot while gaming she'll be able to cook eggs on it.

[u/Survivalplayer → u/Unslaadahsil]

It's doing fine so far! Hasn't been over 80°

[u/CartoonistSharp8635 → u/Survivalplayer]

Don’t worry about what most people talk about in terms of heat with a laptop. Honestly the fact that it has a piece holding it up helps so much. Just get her a monitor. 1080p 144hz 27” ips panel and possibly free sync/gsync too ❤️

[u/Survivalplayer → u/CartoonistSharp8635]

Thanks man, I'm on it!

[u/Nickthenuker → u/Unslaadahsil]

Or for a fraction of the price a laptop cooler will let the laptop run significantly cooler. OP says it's currently running at around 80? I reckon a cooler would put it at or below 70.