Here's a separate question:
I'm thinking about getting a "mini-PC" for myself, but only one that can play games really well, especially "modern-day" video games.
What's a very powerful one that I can get?
I'm willing to spend up to $1,000 but maybe just mention anyone that's great or the best out there, idk.
Why a mini pc? If you're after a cheaper PC, I highly advise buying a used one, like off eBay. There's very, very capable machines on there for like $200-300 with fuckimg RTX 3080's in them, from people who got into PC gaming during the pandemic that decided they don't have time for it anymore, or from cryptobros dumping old graphica cards now that crypto crashed, or from the steady stream of rich assholes who build a new PC for every generation of GPU and sell the old one.
If it must be a mini PC, you should expect about laptop level performance. They generally use laptop components and draw comparatively less power as a result. They're fine for office work and saving space, and you can get one that plays modem games, but you won't be getting a great value for the money in terms of game performance.
I usually would reserve a mini PC like that for HTPC use, running Kodi and serving up pirated content including emulated games and anything similarly modest, with newer games being more of a bonus.
I got a full sized Dell Optiplex 790 that came with the most powerful CPU it can handle (3rd Gen i7). Bought a 1050ti and a new power suplly. It was 100 dollars more than this Mini PC but it can run most modern games at medium settings.
There's very, very capable machines on there for like $200-300 with fuckimg RTX 3080's
Wait I fucked up
You can get a System76 Meerkat if you're interested in what a "mini-pc" could provide.
https://system76.com/desktops/meerkat
If you want to play the latest released proprietary video games then you're going to need a dedicated graphics card which mini-pcs are not.
So mini-PCs aren't good when playing the latest games on high or ultra graphics?
Not at all. Though $1000 bucks can still get you a decent enough graphics card if you're saavy enough.
I recommend always to build your own pc, that way you may be able to pick a smaller pc case if you want and also pick your own parts.
You also can avoid paying the windows tax that way which could help stretch ur budget.
I recommend grabbing a AMD graphics card if you are considering GNU/Linux gaming or a solid Nvidia card if that is not the case (windows can use all of its proprietary features).
You can upgrade desktop PCs, right? Beyond just the RAM and memory?
You can change any part you want. The only real limitation is that typically if you replace the CPU you might need a new motherboard that has the right socket type for your new CPU.
CPU, Ram, Graphics card, you can add a lot of components with PCIE expansion like Wifi cards for faster wifi than onboard motherboard chips support. I have an expansion card for more USB C ports for example.
If you have any sympathy or inclination for the right to repair movement, building your own computer is worth looking into. Mini ATX builds can be very small and still fully capable
For sure. My first desktop computer was a pre-built and a couple years later I changed the graphics card myself but it didn’t have much modularity beyond that and ram because of the power supply and motherboard. My second computer I paid somebody that I knew to assembly it for me, but there are websites online that provide this service as well for an extra fee. That ship of Theseus computer is still running with only the case, motherboard, and power supply being original.
There are youtube tutorials that walk you through the whole process of building a PC, it’s essentially like legos so it’s pretty straight forward if you follow along. Connectors are shaped to only go a certain way, components like ram and the cpu are asymmetrical with notches to aid placement, and things like where usb headers and power connectors go is straight forward as well.
And hell, my next “desktop” will probably just be a steam deck with a dock depending on how the next version looks compared to my aging desktop. Tons of options out there!
Wait...
You can pay someone to assemble your own desktop or laptop?!
Yup! I found somebody local through connections at school, but I’ve seen craigslist posts offering the service and there are some websites online, NZXT for example. Custom built laptops used to be more popular, there was a brand called Sager, not sure if they’re still around offering custom laptops. I believe System 76 is doing something similar with their laptop modules.
Yeah, I believe so. NZXT started making computer cases and then offered custom PC building at some point. It’s generally extremely pricy which is why I went with finding a local nerd willing to help me for some money and weed.
I actually recommend against buying new parts for a PC, as there are many very good used PC's for sale for very cheap. It's also more environmentally responsible to use some rich dickhead's "old" computer than to buy new. Last gen cards are still extremely capable.
The only caveats I would add would be that you might consider a partial PC that has good parts and then complete it (ie buying your own storage, NVMe drives are amazing) and that you should never use the Windows installation that is on there, because people will put malware like cryptominers on them. Do a fresh installation of Windows or Linux every time, completely wiping the drive, so that there is no chance of them stealing your Robux.
While I moved the internals of my aging (and kinda gross, the previous owner smoked in the house) gaming PC to a small form factor PC and purchased a small form factor graphics card (GTX 1050ti) it's not great. I can play fallout 3 and 4 but not 76.
I MAY have a pair of old 2 TB HDDs sitting on the outside of the case with SATA cables ran out to them and powered from a sata power supply I got off of Amazon because I didn't want to let go of the space and I'm not in a position to spend much money on it. I do have 2 SSDs inside, one for Linux and one for winblows (easier to install mods for games)
While I personally am not a fan of the subscription model nearly everything is turning to, I did have a great, GREAT experience with google stadia. It was the way I played cyberpunk and I have absolutely zero regrets and at launch, it was the best option I've heard.
I've recently gotten an Nvidia shield for the living room and I plan on getting starfield on steam and playing through GeForce now. I don't know from personal experience how well a mini PC would handle it but I would guess it wouldn't have too many issues. My Linux side (Linux mint) is playing games on GeForce now really well now, I've only recently noticed.
Of course I'd usually recommend to use GoG for games, but it isn't synced with GeForce now. Maybe one day I'll have a computer that'll handle the games I want to play but until then I'll stream 🤷
I have several 🤦 I'm not about to tell you how to live your life! Lol.
Minisforum has some good stuff hovering around the $1K USD range. For example: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/miniforum-neptune-hx99g
Combination of space and power consumption. They tend to use very little power and can fit anywhere, so I use one with four 2.5 gig NICs as an opnsense gateway, which can handle a 2.5 gig internet connection no problem while blocking ads and using squid, to which I just attach a switch and an old AP for wifi. It's fanless too, just a grill-style metal body to efficiently dissipate heat with no moving parts.
I'm thinking of finding a used one to make a Kodi box for family, that I can stick a shitload of storage on with a VPN to make it easy for them to pirate. My stepfather is dipping his toes into ganes so a nicer unit might be worthwhile - just an unassuming box that sits under the TV.
Even mainstream Dell Optiplexes are much tinier now. Have a client that needed a new PC after she managed to electrically damage her old one, it fits neatly under her monitor as a stand so she's got all her leg room back, she can easily reach the power button and USB ports, and it does so without taking up any more desk space. Many proper mini PC's can even mount to the back of a monitor.
Since normal office work no longer really needs faster computers per se, space savings and lower energy consumption have been taking priority. I even use SoC's like Raspberry Pi's to do shit like run my patched robovac, because they use so little power and the jobs it does are just so undemanding.
