Question Advice on buying a Mini PC ?

[slm-pc]

hi, i want to buy Mini PC because i like its size and i want to play Football Manager 24 but is it possible to play it for many hours, maybe 8 hours daily. Is that practical?

I read they overheat. Also Im multitasker I could open 2 browsers, each one with like 20 tabs, and Excel with 10 sheets. The sheet not always but the browsers always.
Also I could play music while browsing or playing fm24 while the browser is open.
My budget is $500-600 preferably, but i could increase that a little.

**The imporant question: is a Mini PC practical for my needs? If so, then please suggest one.
**
thanks in advance

 

[Eximo]

For the money, generally no. A laptop has the same hardware and portability.

Some of the newer models that have AMDs 780M graphics is somewhat practical as a multipurpose gaming system, but you would also want at least 32GB of memory for all your other tasks.

This one is $600, no memory, storage, or OS.

https://www.newegg.com/aoostar-gem12-r7-8845hs/p/2SW-00AK-00016?Item=9SIBEPXKAH1628

Laptop with the same processor, under $600

https://www.newegg.com/p/2S3-0005-004J1?Item=9SIA24GKB10639

If you shop around you can potentially find a better deal through aliexpress and the like.

 

[oetzi1977]

Hi, without opening a new topic:
Is there any suggestion about buying a mini pc just for streaming? It's going to be used as a very basic media center, mainly using Brave browser and some Live TV apps.

Thanks!

 

[Eximo]

Quite common to do so with Raspberry Pi and purpose built streaming boxes.

Generally I would say go for the biggest embedded GPU you can afford in a Mini-PC, the aforementioned systems would more than work. But any relatively modern mobile APU is going to have enough to handle streaming.

 

[LordVile]

You could just get a used M1 Mac mini which would run FM24 just fine

 

[Priscus]

I bought a 'Dream Quest' from Amazon do use just that: ie for streaming, (Music and Video/ live TV)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D12DM5SN?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

I had intended not to move on to Windows11, but the device was offered with very deep discount, so I went for it.

It does the job fine, and I do appreciate its compactness. It gets warm, rather than hot. I guess it stabilises and is losing heat to stay in equilibrium at temperature which I have not measured, but would describe as warm to the touch.

Device does not score the best customer ratings on Amazon. I do not use it for gaming, or any other demanding tasks. Mine has been OK so far. Bit of a punt: how it performs long term a bit of an unknown.

 

[Priscus]

ps

Would love to hear from anyone building their own mini PC.

Usually that has been my chosen option. Probably cost me more to self build, but I derive some satisfaction which is not attained with an off- the -shelf purchase.

I do like the general idea of these minis: many features of my desktop machines, such as optical drive are now rarely used, and a USB plug in drive will suffice instead. So, in theory, at least, I could build a mini with all its advantages, and with the connectivity to meet any of my requirements.

I would though, build the casing with good thermal contact to a finned heatsink.