Options for relaxed gaming players
Options for relaxed gaming players
I've relied on an iMac running Mac OS X for most of my time over the last eight years. Previously, I owned a custom-built PC for gaming six years ago, but after college it became too outdated to justify the cost, so I sold it. Nowadays I mainly enjoy World of Warcraft and Diablo III... They’re entertaining, though I miss many other titles since Mac OS X isn’t heavily supported by big games. As a casual player, I don’t play often—not because I’m a hardcore gamer, but because I find multiplayer experiences frustrating. My Xbox 360 was the last console I owned for about two years, but it ended up being sold recently due to limited use. I also dislike controllers; while I can handle games like GTA with auto-aim, titles such as COD or Halo feel underwhelming. I often end up staring at a wall or moving aimlessly. I’m weighing options for more relaxed gaming. After some research, the NVIDIA Shield Portable seems appealing—it lets you play on the couch or while resting. However, since it’s Android, my game choices would be limited, and I haven’t found Android games to be very refined. I can run full PC titles and access my Steam library on it with GameStream, but that would cost around $200 for the shield plus another $500–700+ for a capable PC. In both scenarios, I’d still need a controller, which isn’t ideal. I’m also thinking about buying a PS3 and repurchasing games I already own, but again, controllers would be an issue. Alternatively, skipping the Shield Portable and getting a gaming PC would let me use a keyboard and mouse, which might suit my needs better. What do you think?
You can obtain one of these and play it from the couch using either a large video output (your PC will be nearer the couch) or a lengthy USB cable (your PC will be beside the TV)...
Casual gaming options include Gigabyte Brix, Intel NUCs, Zotac Zbox, etc. Some models with low-end GPUs like the GT 600 series (GT610-640) work well for casual play but lack support for high-end titles. You can find an E-series from Zotac featuring an 860M that supports more demanding games and Gamestream, though it costs around $550 (as noted by Linus). You’ll likely need to add RAM and storage, raising the price to about $650. It fits your budget and saves space while being compact. Building your own remains a solid choice. You might also fit an Athlon or R7 265 or 750 Ti.
the nintendo ds stands out in my view because it offers so many enjoyable titles that suit quick sessions. for a pc setup, a gaming laptop would be ideal, though they tend to be quite costly. i recommend an itx machine with something like a 750 ti or 660 small, paired with a wireless mouse and keyboard. while playing pc casually can be challenging, I’m confident you’ll discover a solution.
The gaming versions of the brix are okay but they have issues when cooling is concerned. Look in the Zotac E series for gaming which is perfect for 1080p gaming on a T.V. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KX8O...e=UTF8&me= Though personally I'm holding out for an 870m or 880m version of these or the brix. If nothing else drop by Black Friday I may cave for the Zotac.