LAN Rig Advice
LAN Rig Advice
I discovered this impressive mini-PC from Intel, actually offering a variety from basic components to i5 models. It seems to be their top choice, though I might be wrong. http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel-nuc...5000-200mh It’s referred to as a NUC, the concept being purchase the core unit along with your own RAM, storage (such as SSD or hard drive), and connectivity options like WiFi or Bluetooth. For this setup with 8GB RAM and a suitable storage device, you’d spend around £350-400, possibly less if storage isn’t essential. This sparked my thought about using it for a super compact, portable LAN gaming station. At its compact size of 4x4x2 inches, it’s quite lightweight. My main question is whether it can handle most games at a decent frame rate—around 30 FPS would be ideal for most titles, not aiming for 1000 FPS. The processor is a dual-core i5-4250U clocked at 1.3GHz, which reaches up to 2.6GHz, with the Intel 5000 graphics built-in, and it uses the Intel QS77 Express chipset. I’m hesitant about buying it without knowing if it would function properly, but if it did, Linux might be a great fit. A Steam OS could also work nicely. Overall, just wanted to gather some opinions. My friends love LAN parties, and this would make things much easier since my current rig is too bulky to transport. This small case with a mouse and keyboard would be perfect. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
I wouldn't purchase those compact NUCs for gaming. They work well as small PCs for office and multimedia, but they're not ideal for gaming. Most games won't run smoothly or at all. You'd mainly find them with older titles or very low-res versions, and even then many games would be too slow or unplayable. I'd opt for a basic box with the A10 7850K. You could save money by using just the 7700k and lowering the HDD cost to something more affordable. It's possible to bring the price down to around $450 and get a much better setup. With a NUC, you pay extra for the tiny size, but it's worth it if you don't need that ultra-small form factor. Consider building your own system with something like the Coolermaster Elite 110 instead.
I followed the same approach I took. I reduced all my parts to an ITX case. It fits well on my desk and is easy to move around.