Looking to move to a mini-PC

[tomw1]

Hi, I currently have a full size PC from when I used to game at uni (4 years ago now), it has an i5-3570k and a GTX 970. It's now too big in my spare room and I mainly play xbox one X at my desk instead, but still need a decent PC for logging into work sometimes and some browsing/word processing tasks etc.

So I've been looking at the below mini PC build on here but I'm just concerned with if it will be OK- as my main monitor is 27" 4K, and secondary monitor 24" 1080p - can this even do dual monitors, and will it cope? Again, not gaming, just within windows 10.

Case
CiT MTX-007B Mini ITX Case 180W
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i5 Six Core Processor i5-8400 (2.8GHz) 9MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME H310i PLUS R2.0: Mini-ITX, LGA1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs
Memory (RAM)
8GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2400MHz (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
Integrated Intel® HD Graphics
1st Storage Drive
500GB Samsung 860 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Processor Cooling
STANDARD CPU COOLER
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 4 x USB 2.0 PORTS AS STANDARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence

Thanks,

 

[Oussebon]

What's the budget? What does that cost?

What do you need to store on it?

Do you use any specific software on it?

 

[tomw1]

What's the budget? What does that cost?

What do you need to store on it?

Do you use any specific software on it?

Budget is 600, that cost 550. I only really need to store programs and documents, and some Dropbox files.

I specifically use a virtual desktop connection for work so no major processing on the PC I’m connecting from. Other than that just web browsing and word processing and spreadsheets.

Thanks

 

[Oussebon]

The CiT case is vesa-mountable. Were you planning on using that feature and mounting it on the back of a monitor, assuming the stands aren't in the way>?

Maybe a NUC would save you even more space:

Case
Intel NUC Ultra Small Form Factor Case i5/SSD (NUC8i5BEK)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i5 Quad Core Processor i5-8259U (2.30GHz, 3.80GHz Turbo)
Motherboard
Intel NUC8i5BE Ultra Small Form Factor (HDMI/USB-C DP1.2, USB 3.1)
Memory (RAM)
8GB Corsair 2400MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
INTEL® HD GRAPHICS (CPU Dependant) - 1.7GB Max DDR4 Video RAM - DirectX® 12
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB ADATA SX6000 Pro PCIe M.2 2280 (2100 MB/R, 1500 MB/W)
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Sound Card
Intel® HD Audio via Headphone/Mic Jack
Wireless/Wired Networking
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-9560 M.2 (1.73Gbps, 802.11AC) +BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 4 x USB 3.1 PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 8 to 10 working days
Price: £582.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-nucv-pc-i5-ssd/rbxyb6Pr8d/

Also wifi so potentially one less cable there.

 

[tomw1]

The CiT case is vesa-mountable. Were you planning on using that feature and mounting it on the back of a monitor, assuming the stands aren't in the way>?

Maybe a NUC would save you even more space:

Case
Intel NUC Ultra Small Form Factor Case i5/SSD (NUC8i5BEK)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i5 Quad Core Processor i5-8259U (2.30GHz, 3.80GHz Turbo)
Motherboard
Intel NUC8i5BE Ultra Small Form Factor (HDMI/USB-C DP1.2, USB 3.1)
Memory (RAM)
8GB Corsair 2400MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
INTEL® HD GRAPHICS (CPU Dependant) - 1.7GB Max DDR4 Video RAM - DirectX® 12
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB ADATA SX6000 Pro PCIe M.2 2280 (2100 MB/R, 1500 MB/W)
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Sound Card
Intel® HD Audio via Headphone/Mic Jack
Wireless/Wired Networking
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-9560 M.2 (1.73Gbps, 802.11AC) +BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 4 x USB 3.1 PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 8 to 10 working days
Price: £582.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-nucv-pc-i5-ssd/rbxyb6Pr8d/

Also wifi so potentially one less cable there.

Hi, I wasn’t - the main reason I picked this case was it is still small and it allowed me to select non-laptop processors, I’ve seen a lot of praise for the price point vs performance of the 8400. It’s definitely an option though that case is tiny - Do you think either of them would be up to the task of running dual monitors with one at 4K ? (60hz)

Thanks

 

[tomw1]

Ah it looks like that ultra small motherboard only has 1 hdmi output whereas the other has a dvi too, maybe that was what I saw before

 

[Oussebon]

Ah yes, fair point.

Note that the ASUS® PRIME H310i PLUS R2.0 would not be suitable for 4k either as apparently it is HDMI 1.4:

Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DVI-D/D-Sub ports
- Supports DVI-D with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
- Supports HDMI 1.4b with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 25600 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
- Supports D-sub with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
https://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/PRIME-H310I-PLUS-R2-0/specifications/

 

[Oussebon]

They have the Fanless PC here:L

PCSPECIALIST - Custom Computers and Laptops Built to Order

PCSpecialist is a manufacturer of high quality custom computers and laptops. Configure your ideal computer in just a few simple steps with a broad range available.

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

Which apparently has displayport and means you could use a 4k monitor

｜｜ASUS United Kingdom

www.asus.com

Bit more expensive, but fanless and thus silent I suppose.

You may want to check this thread out:

New mini PC gets really hot to touch

Recently purchased a mini PC from here (spec below) and the top of it gets extremely hot to touch. Is this to be expected/normal? I generally leave machines and devices on 24/7 pretty much in our office.

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

 

[Oussebon]

Or one of the gaming SFFs in the Node 202

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/misc/case_images.php?view=8695

As long as you go with the B360I mobo.

Has wifi, and more upgrade options (including support for a dGPU should you ever decide you want to dabble in a non-console title). It'd be a brave man/woman who put a high end GPU in that case, at least without some extra fans/modding, but certainly something mid-range would be doable.

However since PCS force the Noctua cooler in this build, that is a bit more expensive than the fanless PC still:

PCSPECIALIST - Top Spec Custom PCs & Laptops Built to Order

Manufacturer of performance custom computers and laptops. Customise your ideal gaming PC or laptop using our advanced configurator.

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

 

[tomw1]

They have the Fanless PC here:L

PCSPECIALIST - Custom Computers and Laptops Built to Order

PCSpecialist is a manufacturer of high quality custom computers and laptops. Configure your ideal computer in just a few simple steps with a broad range available.

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

Which apparently has displayport and means you could use a 4k monitor

｜｜ASUS United Kingdom

www.asus.com

Bit more expensive, but fanless and thus silent I suppose.

You may want to check this thread out:

New mini PC gets really hot to touch

Recently purchased a mini PC from here (spec below) and the top of it gets extremely hot to touch. Is this to be expected/normal? I generally leave machines and devices on 24/7 pretty much in our office.

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

Or one of the gaming SFFs in the Node 202

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/misc/case_images.php?view=8695

As long as you go with the B360I mobo.

Has wifi, and more upgrade options (including support for a dGPU should you ever decide you want to dabble in a non-console title). It'd be a brave man/woman who put a high end GPU in that case, at least without some extra fans/modding, but certainly something mid-range would be doable.

However since PCS force the Noctua cooler in this build, that is a bit more expensive than the fanless PC still:

PCSPECIALIST - Top Spec Custom PCs & Laptops Built to Order

Manufacturer of performance custom computers and laptops. Customise your ideal gaming PC or laptop using our advanced configurator.

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

Thanks for all your help! Not too keen on fanless myself, just the idea of passive cooling only just doesn’t sit right with me, I’m not surprised at that post

Im going to look into the ‘gaming’ cases in your second config with the B360I though thank you! Any reason for that £120 node 202? I see there are cheaper box shape cases that are still pretty small and allow me to put in the upgraded motherboard.

Thanks

 

[Oussebon]

The motherboards are all Mini ITX so any mobo on offer will fit into any case on offer.

With regards to the price, while it isn't the cheapest, the price includes the PSU (it has a SFX PSU - not a proprietary one, just SFX rather than ATX) unlike the other cases where the PSU is a separate fee. A 350W PSU is £23, and a 450W PSU is £41. So actually it's the same kind of price as one of the ~£70-80 cases if you were to buy one with a 450W PSU.

I picked the Node 202 as it has by far the smallest footprint (stood vertically).

The other cases in terms of footprint are actually not much smaller than some of the more compact ATX cases. if you decide you buy one of those you might as well just buy a compact ATX case and rebuild your current PC into that.