Rant Stuck with P4, Advice Needed!

LOL. Obviously that does not apply if the guy buy's the pc with money he's earned. Then they have no right to touch it. Obviously if the kids a crack addict and we're talking about his stash, then that's different.

 

The point being said, is don't do it without the parents agreeing. Doing so, will result in having his father and mother very very disappointed in him. To say the truth, even today, as I am well over 18, I still tell my father what I am about to buy linked to big purchases or over 100$. He doesn't intervene er say, as now I am over 18, and I have hard earned cash. All he says is that essential that I be sure that this is best money can buy, that I make sure I made my research right and get the best deal, and make sure I have lots of savings to be used to for other things such as investing, and emergency money. And I plan to continue to do so until I finish my university, get a full time job, and live all by myself.

To say the truth, I was in a similar boat as the OP, but my parents doesn't know much about computers, Essentially just the basics. We used to have 1 computer.. the family computer, and it was a pain for me to use it as my older brothers were essentially almost monopolizing it. Then as my oldest brother reached University.. his own dedicated computer was absolutely needed for his program, And thing lead to another after several years and I was stuck with the broken poorly overclock so damaged unstable system, using WIn98 while everyone was using Windows 2000/XP, then my oldest brother purchased a new computer about a year after, and I got his old one (P3, XP, 512MB of RAM, Geforce 4MX), about 5 years old, but working, and that was it.
Then I got my first summer job, I worked really hard to get get the most hours possible, even overtime, at minimum wage and then got my 5 year old computer which I just recently (a few months ago) upgraded to the computer on my signature.
All I did is talk to my father for my first computer. It did require convincing, and pushing for some time, and showed that I was essentially working for 1 reason alone.. a new computer. When I showed that I work hard, showed that what I wanted to do is related to computers (software developer), then he allowed me to get my computer. Although, he doesn't say it, I know from his face he was VERY happy and proud that I asked him before doing a purchase (especially that we were talking about spending 2k on my computer (including speakers, keyb/mouse, monitor, and my 700$ CPU).

 

My dads the same, he thinks I should only ever save my money and never buy anything i want... Urg!!! I just buy it anyway but convince him I've always had it (he's getting on a bit now bless him) Was a bit hard to do it with my last major upgrade, you can't really miss a HAF 932 turning up...

There are many things that you can spend your money on that are much worse than a good computer... One of the guys I live with has got it into his head that he needs to build a recording studio... He doesn't eat, saying 'I have no money' to which I remind him he has several thousand pounds in his account, to which he replies 'but thats my guitar money' and so the arguement continues...

 

Well, that gives me some hope.
If I work hard and explain to him why I want a new computer, I'm sure that, eventually, he will understand.

 

Way too long, didn't read... so update me. How old are you? What are you going to use the computer for? Gaming? School work? Both a combination of productive and leisure activities?

The reason this thread is 4 pages long is because everyone has different opinions about whether or not your Dad is right to not allow you to buy yourself a new computer. The truth is he's got a good reason for not allowing you to buy it. I don't know what that is but I'm sure it's a decent reason. I've heard it mentioned that you're not "of age" yet so I'm assuming you're still a minor and if that is the case your Dad has every right to not allow you to spend hundreds (or thousands) of pounds on a computer.

I can kind of relate to this because I wanted to take up a very expensive hobby at age 14 - RC car racing. I wanted an 1/8th scale nitro touring car SO badly but the short version of the story is that my parents wouldn't allow me to buy it - even though I had the money for it myself. They told me that I could take up the hobby when I was older and could drive myself to the tracks... and I did. Looking back on it now, my parents were 100% right in what they did. It would have been a massive waste of money to take up that hobby when I was 14, and not starting until 4 years later - when I was 18 - allowed me to both have a good perspective on how much money I was spending on it and enjoy it more because by that time I had my own car and could go to the track or races any time I wanted or needed to.

Put simply I think you need to look at this from your Dads point of view. It might be a bitter pill to swallow but I'm guessing that your Dad is right in this case.

 

Back when I was a kid, I was certain that I was wiser than my parents. Now that I'm a parent, I'm certain I'm wiser than than my child.

I'm sure that doesn't help you at all, but maybe you just need to sit down and have a drink with your father while the two of you have a reasonable, mature conversation about why you would like to spend your money to upgrade your computer.

 

Heh. I think it would be a lot easier if you just read my first post actually, but Ok...
-I am going to use this pc for almost everything: school work, gaming, making music, etc.
-I have the money, my dad won't allow me to buy it.
-It boils down to 4 basic opinions on these 4 pages:
1. "Go talk with ur dad"
2. "Get a job!"
3. "Kill ur current pc!"
4. "Put a new pc in ur old pc! Muhahaha!!1!"
-I don't want to spend more than 1k on my system.
-RC cars may be cool, but you can't really call them productive, can you? (unlike the computer I want).

Part about looking from my dad's pov certainly is true.

 

Those fiddly *******s are the source of most my manual skills and troubleshooting ability. I had to virtually strip my entire car down and reassemble it in less than 30 minutes in between runs back when I competed in RC drifting, because I wasn't very good at not crashing. They're more specialised than a computer but by no means less productive.

There's a bit of involved with RC as well. Anything to push your car to the limits of legality while trying to eke out an ounce more grip. A highly creative hobby, which requires a lot of manual and analysis skills to be truly successful at.

 

I must say: That's very nicely put.
Could come straight out of a book or something. (which it doesn't, does it?)

On topic:
I agree with talking to my father. I just need to find the right moment. (Getting the right timing is so hard ) He's always so damn busy. And when he's in the sofa, quietly watching TV, I don't feel like disturbing him...

 

Hehe. Didn't mean to offend anybody...

 

I was just opening your mind a bit. I have had a **** evening so I'm not in the best frame of mind to talk to people with 'problems', I spilt cherry tango on myself this evening >_<

 

You're absolutely right. I owe quite a lot of my CAD and design ability to being involved with RC, from designing new (often discontinued) parts to be machined from old broken ones to designing whole new prototype bodies and chassis. I would say that I owe my mechanical ability to the hobby as well, but in truth that comes from growing up having a Father who was a mechanic, and helping him with anything from simple brake pad changes to entire engine rebuilds since I was about 7.

The last RC car chassis that I designed and built (it's actually incomplete) took me over 100 hours to rough out in AutoCAD and another month or so on and off to refine and fine tune. It took about 6 months to get it to the stage it's at in the build right now (rolling chassis, 4WD drivetrain installed etc), 80% of which was hand machined. It's lighter, stronger and faster with better handling than any production electric powered 1/10th scale chassis I've seen. Not productive? Au contraire!

And for the record, I wasn't comparing taking up RC to your situation Pliqu, I was saying that I can relate to what you're saying because I went through the same thing when I was young but for a different reason.

 

Right, I'm stepping in here. Sorry OP. Every time the question of your age has been asked you have ignored the question. I don't blame you for not posting it, but a ball park figure would be helpful, if you are 13/14 then in all likelihood a killer machine is overkill. I am almost 27 and now a parent to 2 kids. Without wanting to sound like an old man preaching on about things in "my day" but we had 1 machine that all of us had to use, it didn't get upgraded and we had to make do.
The other thing you haven't made clear and again I don't expect you too, (I wouldn't) is your home situation. When I was a kid things were very tight money wise, I didn't realise until I got older just how damned expensive everything is when you run a house and have a family. When I was younger I had the "my money is mine and I will do what I want with it"mentality.
My parents stopped me, and now I am much more frugal with my cash. I still spend it, but I make sure that I have got the best deal available for everything I buy, I also make sure that everything I choose is the best choice, not the best component, but the most "cost effective"at the time. For example my new CPU, AMD 555 BE is not an amazing proc, but it can be core unlocked to 4 cores and overclocks well, moves up the CPU benchmark from around ranking in 200's to around the 80's on core unlock only. for a 70 quid proc that is good.
I have so much respect for the lessons that I was taught as a kid, even more when one parent managed to run a house and ensure that me and my brother got what we wanted.

I'm sorry to say OP that you need to reason with your dad, and don't just go behind his back, that will cause a lot of mistrust and animosity. More to the point Christmas is coming, who knows what Santa will have in his sack...

 

@ dancingbear: Played.

No, seriously, that was very well said and I feel exactly the same with regard to how money is spent and I'm a few years younger than you, and also not a Father.

 

I'm 16, fyi. I'm not planning to buy some killer rig. Just something that will do what I want to do with it (= all the things I stated in my first post/re@Unicorn). I really want to get the best out of my money (it's my money after all...).
I have enough respect for my dad to not do this behind his back, I really want to get this by just convincing him though conversation.
Thanks for your post!

 

Look at the components you are buying, see what price/performace you get out of them. There is a website, cpubenchmarks.net I think, that gives you benchmarks based on performance, or price/performance. Also going down the AMD route and unlocking cores/overclocking can boost performance of a cheap CPU. I would suggest buying a mobo with onboard graphics. It seems your dad has an issue with you gaming (for whatever reasons, but from your early post it looks as if he knows first hand how time consuming they can become, and can drag your focus from where it should be, not suggesting that is the same for everyone, you may not be like that I don't know.) On board GPU would cripple your ability to play games, this may tip the balance in your favour,

I would suggest posting a build advice thread and seeing what the guys here can suggest to lower the price and boost the performance. 1k is a lot of money at 16, Hell I bought a motor bike for less than that when I was 16, and a car at 21 total £700 for the pair... put in perspective 1k is a lot of cash, especially if you can build a rig infinitely better than your current one for 300-400 that you can upgrade as time goes on.
Do you drive, are you having lessons? Maybe he sees this a more useful thing to spend your money on. Try a bartering technique, ask why he doesn't think you should upgrade, hear him out, suggest that you use half of your money on driving lessons and half on upgrading your PC, 500 will still get a good machine... If you don't already, you could offer him some money as "housekeeping money" explain that you appreciate what he does for you to put a roof over your head etc, and offer a bit of your wages to support the house, it would demonstrate some maturity on your part.
I think if you can prove you are mature about what you are doing and can build a good case showing a balance of parts/performance and also a way of spreading your money across more pursuits you may achieve your goals. I know that would work for me when my kids are older.

 

Your dads a chode... no offence, but if thats your money, its your money. He can't nurse you forever.

Ask your all seeing father if he can upgrade your pc with all his wisdom and experience then, when he fails... upgrade it yourself.

Had the same issue, I'd like to point out that me and my father no longer talk though >.< ha.

Best of luck with this.

 

First of all, 1k was the absolute maximum I was willing to spend to get a future-proof pc (if that even exists...). Second, I live in Belgium, so, as a habit, I thought in euros. So it's max €1000, not £1000...

What you said about driving lessons is interesting, tough I think (think, not know) that, here in Belgium, you can only get lessons from 17 up. Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not really informed about this at all.

 

if he is always busy just say 'Dad can i sit down with you on Friday evening and go over something with you please' which should give him enough time to actually fit you in so you are not disturbing his work and not disturbing his free time, and if he asks what you want to talk about just tell him you want to talk about the pros and cons of a new computer for you work and studies

i always respond better to my stepchildren when they talk to and with me about things, than i do when they just land something on me expecting me to just accept it. if you show him you have thought about things in a logical and mature manner you will be much more likely to get the result you are after.

you can even suggest some restrictions on the use of the computer to try and combat his reservations about gaming, such as the having set times which you will be allowed to game, and the agreement that if you grades slip too much (have to take into account certain aspects of your studies will be more difficult than others) that you will give up your shiny new system and go back to one of the spare old ones until your grades improve again

 

I thought the current exchange rate made it about the same anyway in the UK it is 17, but my point was you need to try to demonstrate some maturity to him that you have thought about tomorrow, not just today, hence the saving some for driving lessons and offering some money for the house, even if it is only 10 euro a week or something if you have a job it shows maturity that you see the bigger picture. In all likelihood the offer will probably be rejected but it is the thought that counts. If you earn a wage make it 10% or 5% or something. Your dad will probably see from this you are not blowing your "life savings" on a PC that is more powerful than you need it to be and you have had the foresight to think about tomorrow. I remember when I was 16, If I knew then waht I know now I'd be rich!

I do sympathise and do see both sides on this, I have to justify all my expenditure to my fiancee as we are saving for a wedding.