Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Compact gaming PC?
I have a high end gaming pc at home, but I need something I can bring to work with me because bringing my pc with me to and from work just isn't viable. I had thought about a laptop but I just don't want to spend a ton of money on something that I'll only use at work, and I'm not trying to run anything crazy, just games like h1z1 and WoW .
I could be wrong but I assume I could build a compact gaming pc for way cheaper with just as good if not better specs than buying an expensive laptop. I'm open to ideas though, and I'm not looking to spend over $600 (if that's even possible).
Comments
Perhaps the Zotac PCs might suit your needs? Like this one: http://www.zotac.com/products/mini-pcs/zbox/intel/product/intel-1/detail/zbox-id45-plus.html
It will def. run WoW, but not sure about H1Z1...perhaps Zotac soon will be coming out with a similar specced machine but with an upgraded i5 or i7 CPU instead.
Building a compact gaming PC yourself is probably way harder than just an ordinary gaming desktop machine. I imagine there are quite a lot of little technical compatibility-issues and heating issues you need to be aware of. But def. a fun project! Be sure to post your experiences here
---------
no sig
I'm a paramedic and I work at multiple ambulance bases, so I need something I can easily take with me. I guess a laptop would make the most sense, but I can't really justify spending 1k+ on a gaming laptop that can run the games I want to play.
Or what about trying something like this:
https://liquidsky.tv/
What needs to fit in that budget? Do you also need peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, surge protector)? Or just the case and everything that goes inside it?
How often are you planning on moving it? There's a huge difference between a computer that you have to move several times per day (where a laptop would be recommended) versus one that only gets moved once per week (where a compact desktop would be viable).
I was a paramedic years ago myself. I let the license go when I became an RN. So I know exactly what your talking about.
IMO you would be better off buying a laptop. Doesnt even need to be a real expensive uber gaming laptop. But the portability is what you need. Getting a laptop that will play WoW and games of that ilk wont be hard. You can get away with a $700-$800 laptop that will let you play many many single player games, and MMos like WoW or GW2.
I use my basic laptop in hotels to game some on games like that. Cost me around $700. Nothing great or badass, but it does the trick. Bring along an HDMI cord and an xbox 360 wired controller and your in business for most of the SP games. Plus you can play WoW on the KB whenever you feel like it too.
It all boils down to what your willing to spend. Getting something that will do the trick a few nights a week doesnt have to break the bank. You may not be maxing out graphics, but playing on med. settings a couple of nights wont kill ya either.
Like Quiz said, unless you already have a spare monitor and other peripherals and a spare OS license and you don't mind moving the PC + monitor + KB, etc. around, a laptop will still be your best bet.
You CAN play games like WOW on $600 laptops at better quality than you might think.
This ASUS X555LB-NS51 is not bad at all for games (2.2 GHZ i5, 8GB ram, Nvidia 940M for $599 (on sale @ Newegg):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232376&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10440897&PID=3067296&SID=
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
Depending on your priorities, you could try a cheap Kaveri laptop:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834314813
20 W TDP for the APU means you're not going to have heat problems. And 6 GCN CUs for graphics and a quad core CPU with turbo up to 3.2 GHz isn't bad, either.
Carrizo is due out this quarter, which should be a substantial improvement in integrated graphics. Laptops based on it could be months away, though.
Very interesting .
I had not seen those before. Considering buying one for an HTPC now. I especially like the vesa bracket.
Thanks for the link.
I have peripherals.
I would only be moving it twice a week, and that's not a problems.
Will this run games like H1Z1, and most MMO's?
In that case, you probably had the right idea on getting a compact desktop in the first place. If small form factor is a heavy priority, you could try this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163208
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113359
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128663
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231654
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226688
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416776
That comes to $605, including shipping and before rebates. I'm leaving out an optical drive, as the case requires a half-height optical drive, which limits your options a fair bit. You can just install Windows at home by borrowing the optical drive from your desktop, and likely won't subsequently need it.
The case is very small, too: 6.93" x 8.74" x 10.87". That will comfortably fit in a backpack. You might even be able to comfortably fit two of them in a backpack. And the fully assembled desktop (excluding peripherals) would come to about 10 pounds.
But you do pay a considerable price premium for that form factor. If you're willing to accept something somewhat larger and heavier, you can get the same performance for considerably cheaper:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113359
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132139
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231654
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147122
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226688
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151266
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416776
That comes to $518, including shipping and before rebates. And this time, I included an optical drive. That's the same chip as in the laptop I linked above, but with the full GPU enabled and clocked much higher, so it will give about double the performance of the laptop.
It's larger than what I linked above, of course: 13.86" x 6.89" x 15.26". And it will be a little heavier, too, likely around 15 pounds once everything is installed.
That, however, leaves room in your stated budget for a discrete video card. In that case, swap out the APU above for a CPU without graphics together with a discrete video card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113379
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202081
That comes to $570, including shipping and before rebates. That will keep essentially the same CPU performance as my previous desktop build, but roughly double the GPU performance. And it still fits your stated budget comfortably. Any games that don't run decently on that are not going to find much of a market in the near future.
So this kinda changes things up a bit, but I just came in to a decent amount of money so I'm willing to spend more money if it will be worth it in the long run. I would also like a new monitor. I guess the max I'm willing to spend now is about $1500.
Also, I think I want to go with the bigger case.
For $1500 you can build a beast of a system. But are you really going to want to haul a full sized PC around, along with a monitor + extras every week.
Couldnt you do that with the PC you have now?
Just asking.
You are moving out of the easily portable range very quickly and into the realm of PITA just to play WoW 2 days a week away from home.
If you dont mind lugging a 15+lb PC with peripherals around every week then no worries. But I think you will tire of that very quickly and wish you had gone compact or a laptop.
Just my 2cp
Well I'm not against a laptop, that would be way more practical for taking to work. I guess I just need some suggestions, I don't want to spend more than 1500ish but if there was something that was too good to pass up I would consider spending more.
You could build a SFF PC that is easily portable and beats a laptop on a $1500 budget, but you also need the mouse/keyboard and hookup to the monitor/TV - that's not a huge deal if your moving it once/twice a week, but it's still something.
$1,500 can buy a pretty nice laptop too. If you already have one PC, I'd get a laptop to compliment it. If this is your only computer, it's a toss up.
I already have a PC, so I'm leaning more towards a laptop. I just need some suggestions on what to buy that would be the most bang for my buck.
If he is a paramedic then odds are he is stationed at a "base" for 12-24 hour shifts, maybe as long as 48 hrs if he is associated with a fire dept.
I did that kind of work for years. Having been there IMO his best bet is a laptop. He can afford to have a nice laptop and have the portability that goes with it.
My opinion is a laptop all the way. You already have a desktop PC at home. And like I said, I have been there doing exactly what you are, for 7 years actually , and if it were me a laptop would be high on the list.
Plus he will be going out on emergency calls. Many night very frequently for several hours or more at a stretch. Some night you sit there all shift, others you are busy busy. Being able to close the lid and slid the laptop in a bag while you are headed out on a last minute call near end of shift will be nice. Having to spend 20 minutes packing up a full sized pc won't be feasible imo.
Take a look here. http://www.sagernotebook.com/home.php
You can easily find a gaming laptop within your budget that will play the hell out of modern games. And you dont have to lug a bunch of shit around. A backpack or a laptop bag and you are good to go.
Edit : not saying to necessarily buy a Sager. But you can see what some of the options are in a laptop around your budget.
As far as my job goes, I'm stationed at a base for 24h shifts for 2 days a week, we may be busy all day or we may run as little as one call a day so there is a lot of potential for hours of down time. I guess the reason I'm leaning towards a laptop now is because I could play it at the bar, or on the couch, or even take it downstairs in my room at night. Where with a compact pc I would have to leave it in one spot.