Computer stack V mini computer

[Thailand]

My ancient stack has finally given up the ghost!

Mini computers for desktop seem to be all the rage are they good alternatives?

Don't need it to do anything out of the ordinary, not in to gaming.

Any reccomendations?

[JayClay]

I've had two mini PCs (old one is for sale if you're interested...)

 

Hardware wise most of them are basically just laptops without a screen. They are compact,so take up very little space. They work well as generic office/web browsing machines, and the higher end ones are perfectly suitable for gaming or development or other intensive tasks.

 

The only real downside is limited upgradability (ram and storage can generally be upgraded, but CPU and gfx card can't). But as most people never make any upgrades before just buying a new computer, it's not as big a disadvantage as it really sounds.

[KannikaP]

I have got both a tower and a NUC. Both i5 CPUs, 8GB RAM, SSDs, W11 latest.

No difference, but I know which one I like on my desk....NUC wins!

The tower does have room for EIGHT 3.5" HArd drives though.

[Ralf001]

I run a tower, cannot find a NUC with enough grunt.

[McTavish]

I replaced an 8 year old HP laptop with a Lenovo NUC and love it.  I already had a 24" monitor and wireless keyboard and so only needed to buy a camera and speakers.  Best part is the NUC fits in a small recess below the desk top.  And oh boy, it is so fast to boot up!

[KannikaP]

8 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

I run a tower, cannot find a NUC with enough grunt.

They build them with a Ryzen 7. And up to 32GB RAM, and whatever size SSD or M2 you want.

Your needs?

Edited August 10, 2023 by KannikaP

[KannikaP]

14 minutes ago, McTavish said:

I replaced an 8 year old HP laptop with a Lenovo NUC and love it.  I already had a 24" monitor and wireless keyboard and so only needed to buy a camera and speakers.  Best part is the NUC fits in a small recess below the desk top.  And oh boy, it is so fast to boot up!

Which model & price please. PM me if you want to. Where did you buy it from?

[Ben Zioner]

Got an ASUS box sitting next to a Roku, I want them to mate so that I get  the ideal box for a TV addict geezer..

[McTavish]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Which model & price please. PM me if you want to. Where did you buy it from?

Purchased in Australia (ex Gov't) - 120GB/8GB ram - not suitable for gaming.

 

Available with 500gb/6gb  HDD on Lazada for Bt 2,600

 

[KannikaP]

2 minutes ago, McTavish said:

Purchased in Australia (ex Gov't) - 120GB/8GB ram - not suitable for gaming.

 

Available with 500gb/6gb  HDD on Lazada for Bt 2,600

 

Oh, so a second hand one.

[Ralf001]

28 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

They build them with a Ryzen 7. And up to 32GB RAM, and whatever size SSD or M2 you want.

Your needs?

Currently running Dual D2700 Xeons and 256gb ram.

[KannikaP]

Just now, Ralf001 said:

Currently running Dual D2700 Xeons and 256gb ram.

Wow, are you getting ready to control the Thai Spaceport?  555

[Ralf001]

Just now, KannikaP said:

Wow, are you getting ready to control the Thai Spaceport?  555

Primarily playing frogger and stuff.

 

Occasionally doing FEA.

[lopburi3]

I changed to 16GB Ram BMax at 8k three months ago and very happy with it.  

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i3346863493-s13103513797.html?

 

Also bought this 32" monitor for 5.5k - very happy with combo.

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i4359785225-s17384159564.html?

 

Edited August 10, 2023 by lopburi3

[KannikaP]

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

Primarily playing frogger and stuff.

 

Occasionally doing FEA.

Whatever FEA may be, luckily I do not game  (apart from Sudoku) so my NUC is fine for all my business needs.

[PremiumLane]

Minis Forum are good - use the latest processors and get great reviews.

 

You can order directly from them and get it shipped over quickly. Just Google the name for the shop 

[JayClay]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

They build them with a Ryzen 7. And up to 32GB RAM

They go higher than that. My current one is a Ryzen 9 with 64Gb RAM.

 

Of course they are laptop-spec CPUs but I'm fairly certain tha the increased cooling should allow them to give a bit more performance than the average laptop.

 

(edit. Bold font nothing to do with me...)

Edited August 10, 2023 by JayClay

[KannikaP]

56 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Got an ASUS box sitting next to a Roku, I want them to mate so that I get  the ideal box for a TV addict geezer..

Amazon Fire TV Max with a program from UK called ZOO TV, £35 a year.

More TV than you can watch in 48 hours a per day, 14 days a week.

Stick can be moved between monitors or TVs, and Zoo can be installed on your Android. Brilliant.

In fact thinking about it, why need the Stick?

Edited August 10, 2023 by KannikaP

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

Don't need it to do anything out of the ordinary, not in to gaming.

Any reccomendations?

Intel NUC.

 

 

 

 

[KannikaP]

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Intel NUC.

 

 

 

 

Which one though?

[OneMoreFarang]

7 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Which one though?

It depends on what you do.

For most people the most basic model with do the job.

Tell me/us what you (want to) do with your computer, and I will give you a recommendation.

[KannikaP]

11 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It depends on what you do.

For most people the most basic model with do the job.

Tell me/us what you (want to) do with your computer, and I will give you a recommendation.

I was asking for the OP.

I have an i5 jobbie, 8GB RAM, 256 SSD, 6 years old. Perfect as a media centre and general computer use on my 65" Samsung. (I know my cables need tidying up!)

Edited August 10, 2023 by KannikaP

[OneMoreFarang]

11 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

I was asking for the OP.

I have an i5 jobbie, 8GB RAM, 256 SSD, 6 years old. Perfect as a media centre and general computer use on my 65" Samsung. (I know my cables need tidying up!)

If I would buy a new PC (NUC, or others), I would buy 16GB RAM or more. If there is not enough RAM, then that makes a dramatic difference. The CPU is very seldom used to the max. 

And with an existing PC it is easy to see how much RAM is currently used.

 

Just a sample:

 

 

[JBChiangRai]

I have 4 of these little mini's, 3 of them have 4K TV's/projectors as screens.  All intel Ix with intel's 7th gen or later graphics (needed to offload 4k processing from the CPU).

 

They are supposed to do HDR but they won't.  Actually, I don't like HDR, mostly the pictures are too dark.

[Ralf001]

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Whatever FEA may be, luckily I do not game  (apart from Sudoku) so my NUC is fine for all my business needs.

https://www.simscale.com/docs/simwiki/fea-finite-element-analysis/what-is-fea-finite-element-analysis/

[KannikaP]

Just now, Ralf001 said:

https://www.simscale.com/docs/simwiki/fea-finite-element-analysis/what-is-fea-finite-element-analysis/

Whoooa, far beyond my comprehension. 

But do YOU know what a tango rhythm is in 7/4 time? Yes, I am into my music. 

[Stocky]

I have a 5 year old Asus Vivomini VM45 that runs as a media box with my TV, been very happy with it. When the aging desktop finally gives up the ghost will likely replace with whatever Asus mini-PC is then current.

[ozimoron]

8 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

I run a tower, cannot find a NUC with enough grunt.

Really? I have a ASUS mini with Ryzen 7, 32 Gb RAM and 1Tb m2 drive. Unless you need a graphics card I don't see how that can be possible.

[ozimoron]

My daily driver is an Apple mac mini m2 with 16 Gb RAM and 512 Gb storage. I also have an ASUS mini PN51N running Ubuntu which I mainly use for coding. No way would I ever buy a laptop again, even if I travel, bringing a monitor isn't really a hassle give that I save 5 Kg by having a mini instead of a laptop.

Edited August 10, 2023 by ozimoron

[spidermike007]

Just got a new Mac Studio M2. It is amazing. Crazy fast. Paired it with an LG 42" OLED C2. The best setup I have ever had. Super pleased. Not cheap. But, really worth it. 

Edited August 10, 2023 by spidermike007