Your child wants a gaming PC for Christmas, but graphics cards, RAM and frame rates mean nothing to you. You don't need to learn any of it. This guide explains what matters in plain English, how much to spend, how to keep them safe online, and what to expect on Christmas morning.
Skip the reading: try our 4-question PC Gift Finder →
Ordering for Christmas?
Order a Gaming Club PC by Monday 14 December for Christmas delivery. Every PC is built and tested by our team and arrives with Windows 11 installed, ready to play.
In this guide
- The 30-second version
- Gaming PC or console?
- What the parts actually mean
- How much should I spend?
- What else will they need?
- Age ratings and parental controls
- Christmas morning checklist
- Common questions
The 30-second version
- Start with what they play. Roblox and Minecraft need much less power than Call of Duty or the newest big games. Ask them, or have a quiet look at what they play now.
- The graphics card matters most. It's the part that decides how smooth and good-looking games are. Everything else just needs to keep up.
- Budget around £1,100 to £1,300 for a PC that plays all the popular games well for years. Less is fine for lighter games; more buys top settings.
- Remember the screen, keyboard and mouse. A gaming PC is just the box. A headset is handy for chatting with friends.
- Set up parental controls before Christmas Day. It takes about 15 minutes and it's free.
Gaming PC or console?
A console (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch) is simple, cheaper up front and plugs into the TV. A gaming PC costs more but does more, and it's what many older children and teenagers ask for.
| Gaming PC | Console | |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Huge choice, including lots of free games (Fortnite, Roblox, Valorant) | Strong exclusives; most big games on both |
| Online play | Free | Usually needs a monthly subscription |
| Homework and creativity | Yes: schoolwork, coding, video editing, streaming | Mostly games and TV apps |
| Upgrades | Parts can be upgraded later, so it lasts longer | Replaced every few years |
| Cost | Higher up front, plus a screen if needed | Lower up front |
If your child plays with friends on PC, wants to stream or make videos, or is getting into computers generally, a PC is the better long-term present.
What the parts actually mean
You'll see these on every PC listing. Here's what each one does, in everyday terms.
Lots of colourful lights (RGB) look great but don't make games run faster. Kids love them though.
How much should I spend?
Match the budget to what they play. Spending more than they need doesn't make lighter games better, and spending too little can mean the games they want stutter.
| Budget | Good for | Our PCs |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £1,200 | Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, EA FC, Valorant at smooth settings | TGC AXE, TGC Spark |
| £1,200 to £1,700 | All the popular games, plus Call of Duty and GTA V at good settings | TGC Blaze |
| £1,700 to £2,300 | The newest games at high settings, streaming, room to grow | TGC Volt, TGC Nova |
| £2,300+ | Top settings in everything, high frame rates, serious streaming | TGC Titan |
Not sure which band they fit? The PC Gift Finder asks four simple questions and recommends one PC, with live prices and stock. You can spread the cost with Klarna or Clearpay at checkout.
Find the right PC in 4 questions → See all Gaming Club PCs
What else will they need?
If they're upgrading from a console or a laptop, they may already have some of these. If not, buy them with the PC so everything's ready on the day.
- A screen (monitor). A 24 or 27 inch gaming monitor at 144Hz or more is the sweet spot. "Hz" is how many times a second the picture updates: higher feels smoother. Gaming monitors
- A keyboard and mouse. Gaming versions are more comfortable and responsive, but any USB keyboard and mouse work. Keyboards · Mice
- A headset. For hearing the game and chatting with friends. Gaming headsets
- Somewhere to put it. Gaming PCs are bigger than you might expect, roughly the size of a small suitcase. A sturdy desk and a comfy chair make a big difference. Gaming desks
A TV can work as a screen using an HDMI cable, but a proper monitor is sharper and more responsive for gaming.
Age ratings and parental controls
Check the age rating
In the UK, games carry PEGI age ratings (3, 7, 12, 16 or 18). They're based on content like violence and bad language, and since 2026 also on things like in-game spending. Games with "loot boxes" (paid random items) are now rated PEGI 16 by default, which is why EA FC 27 moved from 3+ to 16+. Platforms full of games made by players, like Roblox and Fortnite, now carry a "parental guidance recommended" label instead of a single age. The Games Rating Authority explains each rating.
- Minecraft: PEGI 7
- Fortnite: parental guidance; Battle Royale is PEGI 12
- Roblox: parental guidance (games inside it carry their own guidance)
- Call of Duty and GTA V: PEGI 18
Set up parental controls (free, about 15 minutes)
- Windows (Microsoft Family Safety): give your child their own child account on the PC. You can then set screen time, block unsuitable games and websites, and approve purchases, all from the Family Safety app on your phone. Microsoft's guide
- Steam: where most PC games are bought. Steam Families lets you choose which games they can see and when they can play. Steam's guide
- Fortnite and Epic Games: set chat, friend requests and spending limits with a PIN. Epic's parental controls
- Roblox: link your own parent account to theirs to manage chat, spending and screen time. Roblox's guide
Tip: keep the PC in a shared room if you can, and agree screen-time rules before the box is opened. It's much easier than afterwards.
Christmas morning checklist
Before Christmas
- Order by Monday 14 December for Christmas delivery.
- Check the box when it arrives, but keep it sealed and somewhere cool and dry.
- Optional: set it up quietly on Christmas Eve. Windows and any games they want can take an hour or more to download, so doing it the night before means they can play straight away.
- Have your Wi-Fi password handy, or an internet cable if the router is close.
On the day
- Plug the screen into the graphics card (the lower ports on the back), not the ports near the top. This is the most common setup mistake, and it makes games run badly.
- Plug in the keyboard, mouse and power, switch on, and follow the Windows setup.
- Sign in to (or create) their Microsoft account and turn on Family Safety.
- Install Steam, Epic Games or Roblox, and their favourite games.
Stuck on the day? Get in touch and a real gamer on our team will help.
Common questions
Will it play Fortnite / Roblox / Minecraft?
Yes. Every Gaming Club PC plays these well. The more powerful ones run them at higher settings and frame rates. The Gift Finder shows exactly which games each PC handles brilliantly.
Is it ready to use straight out of the box?
Yes. We build and test every PC and install Windows 11 Home. Plug it in, connect a screen, keyboard and mouse, and follow the short Windows setup.
What if something goes wrong?
Every Gaming Club PC comes with a 3-year warranty: the first year covers parts with collect and return, plus a further 2 years labour (UK mainland).
Can it be upgraded later?
Yes, that's one of the big advantages of a PC. Graphics, memory and storage can all be upgraded as games get more demanding.
Can I change the parts?
Yes. Every Gaming Club PC has a "Customise this PC in 3D" button where you can swap parts and see the live price. Or build one from scratch.
Can I spread the cost?
Yes. You can pay over time with Klarna, Snap, Float or Clearpay at checkout.
Ready to choose?
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Start the PC Gift Finder →
