Question Cheap even used laptop pc for streaming and playing movies?

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Muckster

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Dec 13, 2013
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I was using an old laptop to power my projector and it just died. I usually build my own PCs with gaming in mind, but in this case I just want something basic. It just needs to be able to stream movies from Amazon/Netflix and also be able to play some videos I have on a flash drive using VLC. I'm open to building a small PC or perhaps buying a cheap laptop or I could maybe even go with something used, although I'm not familiar with the used market. Any thoughts or suggestions on what I might pick up cheap? I suppose I need windows 11 considering they will stop suporting WIn 10 in 2025. Thanks!


EDIT: USA resident. Buying US, local or online.
 
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I have had pretty good luck with Newegg on refurbished/used laptops. Often, they are more oriented towards office class, but that shouldn't matter.

This would seem a shoe in for something like a NUC or similar super small form factor. For instance, Dell has a line of very SFF Optiplex that may be a cheap way out.

In particular, In-Win does an ITX case called the Chopin that is really good for a mainstream "standard parts" build and could use some of the AMD integrated graphics options, 7xxx or newer, or Intel.
 
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punkncat said:
I have had pretty good luck with Newegg on refurbished/used laptops. Often, they are more oriented towards office class, but that shouldn't matter.

This would seem a shoe in for something like a NUC or similar super small form factor. For instance, Dell has a line of very SFF Optiplex that may be a cheap way out.

In particular, In-Win does an ITX case called the Chopin that is really good for a mainstream "standard parts" build and could use some of the AMD integrated graphics options, 7xxx or newer, or Intel.
Click to expand...
If I search Amazon for "laptop" and sort by chepeast, I'm seeing a few around or under $200. I'm leery of renewed, but some renewed go for less than $100. Hard to tell if they have windows 10 or 11.

I see one SFF Optiplex for $232, but Win 10.

I threw a NUC together once. Lasted about 4 months. Never again.

I built a unit around a In-win case. Still running strong. Very compact design. Again, the problem is even a cheap build still needs me to purchase windows.

I guess just about anything will play a VLC video, right? Seems just about anything SHOULD work.
 
lantis3 said:
Used laptop

https://www.ebay.com/itm/303417557813?_skw=hp+elitebook&epid=27050761314

Use Rufus to install Windows 11

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz6rXjfd9M4
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link. I'm not ready to commit to "used" just yet. I'd rather spend... i donno... under $250 on something new, if possible.

Regarding upgrading windows...

I've built several PCs over the last 2+ decades (often with Toms Forum help!). But I always just bought a home version of windows. Recently I read where you can legally just use windows without a license an certain features don't work. Is that true?

As for Rufus, I'll bookmark that until I need it. I actually have another PC that needs to upgrade to 11, but the updater says I can't... but I still think I can.

Thanks for the links. Anyone else have suggestions for new laptops or something smaller than a full tower desktop, let me know. Thanks for your suggestions.
 
lantis3 said:
A new or used mini PC is good enough. No need to build. 16GB ram mini pc is recommended though for the future.
https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-Windows-Computer-Business-G3/dp/B0CQ4XQ2WG

I personally owned a 32GB 5700U mini pc from GMKtec, very satisfied. New model has been updated to 5825U, same price
https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-Mini-PC-Ryzen7-5700U/dp/B0CD7Y4C5Y

Add a small screen if needed.
https://www.amazon.com/MNN-Portable-15-6inch-Ultra-Slim-Speakers/dp/B0B9NNWXVP
Click to expand...

Lantis3...

I like your first link, that GMKtec Mini PC. Just need HDMI out and a USB or two for wireless logitech and a flash drive. Best part is, I don't even need the monitor you linked if I can get it working with my projector. It's got wifi and windows 11.

from description:
【4K Dual Screen Display】Mini desktop computer is equipped with Intel UHD Graphics(max 750MHz), supports 4K video playback and AV1 decoding, connect the pc with a projector as a home theatre, enjoy a variety of entertainments. Two HDMI 2.0 ports allows you to multi-task efficiently on two 4K@60Hz displays.

All for $127.99.

Your second link, at $330 seems more than I need, but I could spend more than $128 if there's a good reason to.

The $128 comes with 8GB DDR4+256GB N100, but there's an upgraded version for $144.49 which buffs me to 12GB DDR5+256GB N97.

I mostly build highest end gaming desktop PCs, so I never have to think about processing speed when doing simple desktop tasks, streaming, moving files, etc. Am I going to have any of those issues with a PC this cheap?

I appreciate you saying you had good luck with the other GMKtec. I know nothing about this brand. Can you or anyone else tell me more about it, perhaps based on the hardware?

Anyone have any reason to doubt this PC for my needs? Anyone have something similar?

Really apprecaiting this feedback. Good finds.



*Bonus question. My wife likes to play the Sims 4. Would this run that just fine?
 
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I actually also bought bmax n100, but I use it as a NAS.
https://www.amazon.com/Bmax-Lake-N100-Desktop-Computer-Bluetooth5-2/dp/B0CXDTSJCC?th=1
I went with it because it had a discount at the time.

You should be able to find some unboxing videos on YT for both, I guess.

If a product has good rating and even on Amazon's Choice list, in most cases you shouldn't have to worry too much.

I purchased both mini pc this summer. I don't have idea which brand is bigger, but GMKtec's packaging was extremely good and the whole build has a very high quality feeling.

I don't play games, but I think n100 can absolutely play sims 4 without problem.

The only disadvantage of mini pc is that the built-in wifi distance usually is short.
 
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lantis3 said:
I actually also bought bmax n100, but I use it as a NAS.
https://www.amazon.com/Bmax-Lake-N100-Desktop-Computer-Bluetooth5-2/dp/B0CXDTSJCC?th=1
I went with it because it had a discount at the time.

You should be able to find some unboxing videos on YT for both, I guess.

If a product has good rating and even on Amazon's Choice list, in most cases you shouldn't have to worry too much.

I purchased both mini pc this summer. I don't have idea which brand is bigger, but GMKtec's packaging was extremely good and the whole build has a very high quality feeling.

I don't play games, but I think n100 can absolutely play sims 4 without problem.

The only disadvantage of mini pc is that the built-in wifi distance usually is short.
Click to expand...
Alright Lantis, you seem to have more experience with these mini-PCs than anyone in the room. If I said about $200 is my max, what would you go with? Or what upgraded version would you go with? Or are you saying I just don't need to spend that much for what I need?

The projector I'm using has a sort of Amazon firestick that came with it. I'm able to stream and it can even open videos via a flash drive. But it's SLOW. It takes about a minute to go from clicking on a video to playing that video off my flash drive. That's what I'm worried about. Having some kind of PC that is sluggish. (With the "firestick" I also hate that I have to create a google account and read and unreadable amount of information telling me how my privacy is being compromsied and then being told unilaterally that it's updated a month later).

I have a wifi extender in the room over from the place I use the projector, so I think I'll be okay with the wifi. Still, from your experience, what do you guess the range is?

I'll do my homework. Just trying to get as much info out of you while I can. :)
 
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Beelink has been on the market for several years now and should be a good choice.

Same Beelink MINI S12 PRO, 16GB + 1TB SSD $199
https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-3-4Ghz-Desktop-Computer-Support/dp/B0DFH2WVFP?th=1

A little over $200, personally I'll go with this because GMKtec's high quality feel, well, maybe because of the color. 😛
https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-Preinstalled-Computer-Ethernet-G3/dp/B0CXPNHHNW
and it comes with 2.5Gbe ethernet.

Wifi range for mini pc better within 30ft same room I would say.
 
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lantis3 said:
Beelink has been on the market for several years now and should be a good choice.

Same Beelink MINI S12 PRO, 16GB + 1TB SSD $199
https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-3-4Ghz-Desktop-Computer-Support/dp/B0DFH2WVFP?th=1

A little over $200, personally I'll go with this because GMKtec's high quality feel, well, maybe because of the color. 😛
https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-Preinstalled-Computer-Ethernet-G3/dp/B0CXPNHHNW
and it comes with 2.5Gbe ethernet.

Wifi range for mini pc better within 30ft same room I would say.
Click to expand...

This should give me enough to look at, but I'm always open for more ideas.

My situation is such that I will have to use wifi, not ethernet.

** ALSO.... an IMPORTANT I forgot to mention is NOISE. How quietly do your GMKs run? The projector itself is kind of loud when the sound is off and I'm just browsing the internet. I would definitely pass on any model if the noise was too loud. And/or I'd be willing to buy quieter fans to replace whatever came with the computer. I'm a little worried especially because these compact designs can heat up fast.
 
Muckster said:
Thanks for the suggestion and your shared experience with it. (seems to be significantly cheaper on Amazon, unless I've got my models wrong).

Is it quiet?
Click to expand...
I have a variant of this one:
https://www.newegg.com/p/1VK-01TK-00018
(I paid maybe 1/3 that current Newegg price)

The only time I hear it is the fans ramp up a little during Windows Updates.
Other than that, not.
 
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Hey guys, miss me? I had a bunch of "life" stuff happening, but I'm back to finally make a decision on this mini pc. First, for the money I'm just gonna buy new and it will be a mini PC not a laptop. To recap, this will be a PC for powering a projector so it needs to be able to play 4k and stream HD off amazon/netflix. (I'm never certain what those services actually stream but it's better than standard def). Windows 11 is a must as are good USB ports for an external HDD I'll be using.

Anyway I really appreciate the help I'm getting here. It seems I should go with GMK or Beelink as they are the better known brands. Again, a Recaping from Lantis3, USARet and others...

#1. Beelink Mini S12- $195.00
https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-3-4Ghz-Desktop-Computer-Support/dp/B0DFH2WVFP?th=1
1 tb storage, stats don't list bluetooth, but it says BT5.2 in title. It says OS for Operating system. How do I know if that's windows 11 or 10?

#2 . Beelink Mini S12 also comes in at $179 with a 500MB storage, but otherwise looks similar to the link above.
Is the only difference between #1 and #2, that #2 has a smaller hard drive?

Looking at stats for #1 and #2, under Base/Burst Frequency, #2 says "0.8GHz - 3.4GHz, TDP 6W", while #1 says "0.8GHz - 3.4GHz, TDP 25W". I'm confused about how they can be so different in the wattage but be otherwise veyr similar. Can anyone explain what this means?

And I think this is a newer model?

#3. Beelink Mini PC- $199

Pricewise, any of these would be fine. I'll be using an external hard drive, so the internal hard drive storage isn't important to me. 256,512, 1TB... doesn't matter.

#4. GMKtec Mini PC N100 (green) - $209.99
https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-Preinstalled-Computer-Ethernet-G3/dp/B0CXPNHHNW?th=1

GMKtec I think use DDR5 instead o DDR4, but otherwise it seems very similiar to the beelinks. I'm leaning belink only because I read other (unconfirmed) reports online that the GMKtec's can be a little louder. Other GMTecs seem to have less system memory (12gb) but this one and the beelinks all seem to have 16gb.

Anyway, been typing this over an hour and getting cross eyed. I really apprecaite the help so any last recommendations or criticsims of the above is much appreciated. Anything around the $200 mark is fine.

Anyone know if the above mini pcs are fanless or not? Just thinking about the heat and the noise. In terms of gaming, is it fair to say they would all perform about the same being they are all using the same CPU with onbard graphics?

And finally, one last twist. I (with the forums help) built my own mini PC in 2019. How does it compare to the above mini pcs? The mini's look similiar, but I don't follow the recent tech. Which would be better for light gaming, one of the minis or my 2019 build?

[PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Ms8C29)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD Ryzen 5 2400G 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/FGPKHx/amd-ryzen-5-2400g-36ghz-quad-core-processor-yd2400c5fbbox) | $135.00 @ Amazon
**Motherboard** | [Asus ROG Strix B450-I Gaming Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/kbx2FT/asus-rog-strix-b450-i-gaming-mini-itx-am4-motherboard-strix-b450-i-gaming) |-
**Memory** | [TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/z3VD4D/team-t-force-vulcan-z-16-gb-2-x-8-gb-ddr4-3200-memory-tlzgd416g3200hc16cdc01) | $26.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Intel 660p 512 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6YtQzy/intel-660p-series-512gb-m2-2280-solid-state-drive-ssdpeknw512g8xt) | $76.98 @ Amazon
**Case** | [In Win Chopin HTPC Case w/150 W Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/7zfmP6/inwin-case-bq696blk) |-
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/wtgPxr/microsoft-windows-10-home-oem-dvd-64-bit-kw9-00140) |-
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| **Total** | **$238.97**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](https://pcpartpicker.com) 2024-11-12 17:05 EST-0500 |

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/pshopper/saved/8bR6RB

Thanks for all the help. Sorry I was away from the thread for a while.
 
lantis3 said:
Beelink has been on the market for several years now and should be a good choice.

Same Beelink MINI S12 PRO, 16GB + 1TB SSD $199
https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-3-4Ghz-Desktop-Computer-Support/dp/B0DFH2WVFP?th=1

A little over $200, personally I'll go with this because GMKtec's high quality feel, well, maybe because of the color. 😛
https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-Preinstalled-Computer-Ethernet-G3/dp/B0CXPNHHNW
and it comes with 2.5Gbe ethernet.

Wifi range for mini pc better within 30ft same room I would say.
Click to expand...
Hey Lantis3, sorry to be away so long before replying. I just posted again just above this one, but your recommendations really are the core of this thread and I'm thankful.

I was actually leaning towards the beelink only because I heard rumors it was a little quieter than the GMKtecs. Still, build quality matters. What makes you say the GMKtec is a better build? Just the feel? And are you just referring to the case itself? The components seem very simliar to the Beelink.

I won't be using ethernet. Only wifi for streaming. Bluetooth might come in handy for speakers but my main soundbar plugs into the projector itself.

Anyway, if you're still around, I would apprecaite your final advice before I finally make the purchase.

Thanks
 
USAFRet said:
Looking at the Bee-Link site gives more details


#1 - "Beelink MINIS 12 PRO Mini PC has pre-installed with W11 Pro system"
https://www.bee-link.com/products/beelink-mini-s12-pro-n100?_pos=2&_sid=3813130bd&_ss=r
This goes for all the others as well.
Click to expand...
USAret,
What's meant by the "lower power" of this model verses other models?
https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-3-4Ghz-Desktop-Computer-Support/dp/B0DFH2WVFP?th=1

"low power"

"the standard TDP of the processor is 6W."

I'm not sure what this is referring to, but "low power" seems to be something to stay away from.
 
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