Buying a gaming PC for your child: a parents' guide

First: which games does your child want to play?

Do not start with the parts, start with the games. Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox and EA Sports FC run well on many PCs; for Fortnite, see our guide which PC do you need for Fortnite. New, graphically demanding games need a stronger graphics card. So ask your child which games they play now, which ones they would like to play and whether they play online with friends.

Also look at the screen your child will play on. A Full HD screen (1080p) needs less power than a higher-resolution screen (1440p). A screen that shows 144 frames per second or more (144 Hz) makes fast games smoother, but also asks more of the PC.

What budget is realistic?

A good gaming PC costs roughly between €1,000 and €2,000. Below that you quickly compromise on new games; above it you mainly pay for extra image quality. The table is a guideline; component prices change every day.

Budget	What you roughly get	Good for
± €1,000	Entry-level graphics card, 6-core processor, 16 GB memory, SSD	Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox and esports games at 1080p
± €1,500	RTX 5060, RTX 5060 Ti or RX 9060 XT, 16 to 32 GB memory, 1 TB SSD	Most new games at 1080p, many games at 1440p
± €2,000	RTX 5070 or stronger, faster processor, 32 GB memory	New games at 1440p on high settings

Gaming PC or console?

A PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch is cheaper to start with and works straight away on the TV. A gaming PC costs more, but also does more: your child can do schoolwork on it, use Word and PowerPoint, edit videos or learn to code. You can replace parts later instead of buying a whole new device, and playing online on PC usually needs no subscription, while on consoles it does for many games.

If your child mainly plays with friends who have the same console, that may tip the balance. If they also want to build in games, use mods or stream, a PC is the better choice.

The 4 parts that really matter

You do not see the power supply and the cooling, but they matter: a decent power supply with an 80 PLUS label and good cooling keep the PC quiet and stable. You find these parts under Specifications on every product page.

Graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce RTX or AMD Radeon RX): the most important part for games. It decides how good and how smooth a game looks.
Processor (AMD Ryzen or Intel Core): the brain of the PC. For gaming, a 6-core processor is enough; more cores help with streaming and video editing.
Memory (RAM): 16 GB is the minimum for gaming. With 32 GB there is room to keep Discord and a browser open next to the game.
Storage (SSD): games are large, so take at least 1 TB. An NVMe SSD loads games quickly.

What else do you need?

A gaming PC is the computer itself. On top of that, count on a screen (24 or 27 inch, ideally 144 Hz), a mouse, a keyboard (usually AZERTY in Belgium) and a headset with a microphone to talk to friends. Check what you already have at home; anything missing is under Peripherals.

What exactly comes with the PC, such as Windows or Wi-Fi, is listed on the product page under Specifications.

Parental controls and screen time

Agree on the rules before the PC arrives: how long your child may play, until what time and whether they may buy things themselves. After that, these free tools help:

Microsoft Family Safety: create an account for your child in your Microsoft family group. It lets you set screen time, age filters for apps and games and approval for purchases.
Steam Families: link your child's Steam account to your family. You limit playtime, choose which games your child can access and approve purchases.
PEGI age ratings: every game has a label (3, 7, 12, 16 or 18). Fortnite, for example, is PEGI 12 and Minecraft PEGI 7. You can look up a game's label on pegi.info.

Warranty and help after the purchase

Every COZO gaming PC comes with a 2-year warranty from the day of delivery. If there is a defect, report it with the form on Warranty & RMA; we review your request and arrange repair or replacement of what the warranty covers. As a consumer you also have a 14-day cooling-off period on our ready-made PCs, see Returns.

Questions about the first start-up or which games will run? Email us and we will help. Who is behind COZO, you can read on Advice from COZO.

Giving a gaming PC for Saint Nicholas or Christmas

A gaming PC is a big gift. Rather decide together with your child which model it will be, so the PC suits the games they really play and the screen they already have.

Do not order at the last minute. How quickly a PC reaches you differs per order and we do not promise a fixed delivery date for a particular holiday. Read Shipping & delivery or email us if the PC needs to arrive at a certain time.

What is included? A gaming PC is the computer itself. You need your own screen, mouse, keyboard and headset; what exactly comes with the PC, such as Windows, is on the product page under Specifications.
Set up the rules. Create your child's Microsoft family account beforehand and agree on screen time and purchases, so the PC is ready to use.
Not sure? Send us the games and the budget and we will give personal advice, without obligation.

Our suggestions between €1,400 and €1,900

Below are gaming PCs from our range that are in stock now, each with a different graphics card. Price and stock update automatically. For more choice, see our gaming PCs around €1,500 and all gaming PCs, or build a PC yourself in the PC Builder.

Frequently asked questions

From what age is a gaming PC suitable?

There is no fixed age. Look mainly at the games: the PEGI label (3, 7, 12, 16 or 18) tells you what age the content is suitable for. With Microsoft Family Safety you set screen time and age filters for younger children.

How much should a good gaming PC for a child cost?

For most children and teenagers, €1,400 to €1,900 is a good budget for gaming at 1080p, and at 1440p if you adjust the settings. If your child mainly plays Fortnite, Minecraft or Roblox, it can be cheaper.

Is a gaming PC better than a PlayStation or Switch?

That depends on what your child wants. A console is cheaper and simpler. A gaming PC costs more, but your child can also do schoolwork on it, you can replace parts later and playing online usually needs no subscription.

Can my child also use it for school?

Yes. A gaming PC is a full Windows computer: Word, PowerPoint, Teams, coding and video editing all run smoothly. An Office licence is available under Software.

How do I set up parental controls on Windows?

Create a Microsoft family group at family.microsoft.com and add your child's account. Have your child sign in to the PC with that account. In Microsoft Family Safety you then set screen time, age filters and approval for purchases.

Can the PC be upgraded later?

Yes. A desktop is made of standard parts: you can add more memory, an extra SSD or a different graphics card later, if the power supply and the case allow it. COZO does not offer an upgrade service for a PC you have already received; the parts are available under Components.

What if something breaks?

You get a 2-year warranty from delivery. Report a defect with the form on Warranty & RMA. We review your request and arrange repair or replacement if the defect is covered by the warranty.