A couple years back I bought an Intel NUC (NUC6CAYS) along with an 8GB memory kit. I got this for streaming online shows on a 49" TV which I run at 3840x2160. The biggest incentive was that it came with Windows so I wouldn't have to buy it separately.
Unfortunately, it just isn't keeping up as smoothly as I'd like. For those who use Netflix, you know when you first log on there's usually a video running to advertise a new show. Well, too often, just that video loading slows my performance such that I have to wait for it to get rolling before I can bypass it and pick what I want to watch. During this time, my mouse arrow is slow or is stuttering, but once I actually pick a show and watch it, the streaming is good, although sometimes it seems to take a too long to "back up 10 seconds". I use a wireless combination mouse/keyboard so this might be more an issue about USB ports and the NUC, but I really think the overall problem is just processing speed. That's really my first question. Is this NUC (with 8GB mem) good enough for smooth hassle free steaming? Is this simply a case of me no buying a powerful enough PC for the task?
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/nuc/mini-pcs/nuc6cays.html
Which leads me to my actual question which is.. what's that cheapest way to build a PC that can be used for streaming and loading web pages absolutely smoothly? (Win 10) A smaller case would be nice, especially one that's designed for a horizontal resting postion, rather than a vertical tower of some sort.
The only caveat is that my wife likes to play Sims 3 with a bunch of expansion packs. This game was released in 2010 but hangs regularly on the NUC.
Unfortunately, it just isn't keeping up as smoothly as I'd like. For those who use Netflix, you know when you first log on there's usually a video running to advertise a new show. Well, too often, just that video loading slows my performance such that I have to wait for it to get rolling before I can bypass it and pick what I want to watch. During this time, my mouse arrow is slow or is stuttering, but once I actually pick a show and watch it, the streaming is good, although sometimes it seems to take a too long to "back up 10 seconds". I use a wireless combination mouse/keyboard so this might be more an issue about USB ports and the NUC, but I really think the overall problem is just processing speed. That's really my first question. Is this NUC (with 8GB mem) good enough for smooth hassle free steaming? Is this simply a case of me no buying a powerful enough PC for the task?
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/nuc/mini-pcs/nuc6cays.html
Which leads me to my actual question which is.. what's that cheapest way to build a PC that can be used for streaming and loading web pages absolutely smoothly? (Win 10) A smaller case would be nice, especially one that's designed for a horizontal resting postion, rather than a vertical tower of some sort.
The only caveat is that my wife likes to play Sims 3 with a bunch of expansion packs. This game was released in 2010 but hangs regularly on the NUC.