[Seeking Opinion] Anyone using mini pc? I wanting one unit later this year, any advice?

[u/RnckO]

My objective for wanting one :

1. Because I can't bring my desktop rig balik kampung & I am retiring my 8 years old laptop.
2. Aiming to get one this year so it can be put to use during next year CNY.

My target usage :

1. Just for watching YT at 60fps
2. Play Yugioh Master Duel (Steam)

My knowledge about IT hardware is shallow, this is my extent of expectation when I came up with these shopee item list :

1. Avoid 4 cores. Go for higher, six, eight or any is ok.
2. RAM 12 or 16 gb. (cuz 8gb alrd makan by Windows system)
3. Processor having 3.0Ghz. (which is basic desktop level performance)
4. Any AMD/Nvidia graphic should do. (its just Yugioh, not 3A titles)

Portable Monitor :

I am not sure whether touch screen or not I should get.... any opinion?

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Budget wise I think I would like to keep it below RM1.5k

I am open for other options if you have. (I heard things like Dell refurbish laptop)

[u/gregyong]

mini PCs are basically Laptop SOCs.

You might as well get a 2nd hand laptop if you're getting a 2nd hand mini PC.

I would build my own mini-ITX Ryzen system. They can be had for cheap. Last December, I got a Ryzen 7-5700X+motherboard+32GB Ram for RM1200 only,

You could aim to get an equivalent 8000G Ryzen + motherboard + SSD + mini ITX case for under RM2000. The IGP should be as good as a GT1650

[u/GeniusGamer_M → u/gregyong]

I recently built a 8600g PC for my WFH colleague with a b850m Mobo and 1x16gb ram in a cheap compact matx PC case. Cost me about RM2.2k PC only. I would have given him dual channel 2x16GB ram and a Jonsbo C6 case, an even smaller better quality case, if the 2.5k budget didn't include a monitor.

He does alot of work using excel and tons of browser tabs. I can easily add on another stick in the future when the company gives the budget. The reason I went with 8600g cuz he's still a young adult who will probably use that PC to play games outside work hours anyway, so why not just give him a little performance boost 😉.

[u/SupremeLeaderMat]

For 1.5K there are not a lot of options in the market. Prebuilts from companies such as hp are adequate for basic streaming and doc scrolling, but for gaming, not so much.

[u/PigsAlsoCanFly]

The below one is fake i9...

[u/RnckO → u/PigsAlsoCanFly]

Ok, duly noted. Cuz I am also having trouble as there's no brand to search review from...

[u/PigsAlsoCanFly → u/RnckO]

That's one brand that is quite famous for mini pc.. search for Beelink

[u/RnckO → u/PigsAlsoCanFly]

Oh I mean the fake i9.

Looked into Beelink and Gmktec but theirs are definitely priced higher at around 1.2k - 1.4k

Which is the reason why I come to Reddit to search other opinions.

[u/SL0WRID3R]

If you game, avoid mini PC. Been there and regretted.

You can make a mid-form factor which ar emuch powerful than that tiny mini PC with about the same rate.

And the size is about a bit smaller than a cabin luggage bag.

[u/RnckO → u/SL0WRID3R]

I don't heavy game. I am not intending for it to be gaming. Just able to login and do some daily mission and I am done.

It won't be turning on unless I balik kampung which is like... 2-3 times per year and that means the rig is just gonna ever be turn on for like 10+ days per year.

And the only game I play is Yugioh Master Duel on Steam. Which is similar to the pokemon tcg card game simulator. (like yeah, I can play if from phone but its not exactly pleasant with phone's small screen)

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On side note, any idea where I should look into regarding form factor? Like any shop here that do it? or this one is pure DIY?

[u/SL0WRID3R → u/RnckO]

DIY will give you the best experience -- you built it, you play with it. You will enjoy it more.

Since you are on casual gaming, you can go with AMD built. get those CPU with integrated graphic (AMD graphic still better than Intel on IGP level)

get a budget B550M mobo, an AMD 5700G, 2x8GB RAM kit, an SSD, a 500-550W PSU, a case and Win11.

[u/Additional_Bit1707]

Terrible idea OP. You get a better laptop for the price of it plus a good monitor. The most important part is that the laptop is easier to carry around than the two I just mentioned.

If all you want to do is the two activities you mentioned on your OP, just buy a tablet. It's cheaper, run both programs well and you can store it easier.

[u/RnckO → u/Additional_Bit1707]

Bro, U got experience with any windows tablet?

Cuz ...I believe it if can run steam and Yugioh, it should also play YT just fine.

Problem is I am not sure at what price point I should be expecting it. Cuz I dun wan android/iOS lol.

[u/Additional_Bit1707 → u/RnckO]

I misunderstood that you were playing the game on your android phone from another comment here. I had no experience with Windows tablets. Sorry.

[u/RnckO → u/Additional_Bit1707]

I have the game on my phone but I only really turn it on for login bonus rather than actual gaming with it.

I can play with it if I want but that is definitely not the experience I wanted when I am on vacation.

(game with it once on data when I forgot to pay the internet bill and it's terrible. Small screen + a game that has wall of text to read = miserable)

[u/eddxtrastrange]

I got an old alienware that I got for cheap to as my media server that connected to the TV in living room. Specs really old I can't remember exactly but it's 4 cores i5, 8gb ram, SSD and some generic GPU. More than enough. So I would suggest you get those pc 2nd coz brand price doesn't make any sense

[u/RnckO → u/eddxtrastrange]

Mind to share a bit on what games you had run on that laptop and their performance?

Cuz to my understanding, i5 4cores got like 2.8-3.2 GHz performance alrd. Shud be ok? Just not sure how will it fare with win11.

[u/eddxtrastrange → u/RnckO]

It's those small slim desktop not a laptop. I don't run any games on it just playing media and hosting files. If Yu-Gi-Oh the only games you plan to run not need anything higher. In fact dual core would do fine