Barebones / Mini-PC

[Pushead2]

To the tech crew on CP,

My GF's CPU took the plunge & it's time to replace the ****er.

We already have an SSD with Windows 10 or 7 already on it (can't remember), so she was looking at this Asus Mini-PC, but I just think that it's way too much money for a mini-pc / barebones unit. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...it_dp_v_nS_ttl

She's a web-developer, so I know she's looking for something that can code with, stream netflix and the occasional web browsing.

Does any one have any tips to something cheaper? Especially since we have the SSD drive and purchasing memory isn't that difficult or pricey.

I saw this one on eBay. Seems cheap for what they're selling for new and it has decent reviews.
http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/262240332192

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

To the tech crew on CP,

My GF's CPU took the plunge & it's time to replace the ****er.

We already have an SSD with Windows 10 or 7 already on it (can't remember), so she was looking at this Asus Mini-PC, but I just think that it's way too much money for a mini-pc / barebones unit. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...it_dp_v_nS_ttl

She's a web-developer, so I know she's looking for something that can code with, stream netflix and the occasional web browsing.

Does any one have any tips to something cheaper? Especially since we have the SSD drive and purchasing memory isn't that difficult or pricey.

I saw this one on eBay. Seems cheap for what they're selling for new and it has decent reviews.
http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/262240332192

The Asus looks like a good unit. I'd recommend 16 gigs of RAM because Windows 8 and 10 require close to 8 gigs to run properly.

The HP looks like junk to me. It's an old i5 with four gigs of RAM plus it's used. I've had problems with brand new computers and components in the past so personally, I'd never purchase used because it might last 3 years or 3 weeks.

Does she absolutely need a mini? You could build a powerful tower for $600.

[Pushead2]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The Asus looks like a good unit. I'd recommend 16 gigs of RAM because Windows 8 and 10 require close to 8 gigs to run properly.

The HP looks like junk to me. It's an old i5 with four gigs of RAM plus it's used. I've had problems with brand new computers and components in the past so personally, I'd never purchase used because it might last 3 years or 3 weeks.

Does she absolutely need a mini? You could build a powerful tower for $600.

She wants a mini-pc due to their size and you know how women are - I can't change her mind.

She's hardly on the CPU at home because she codes all day at work, so I feel anything over $300 would be an absolute waste you know? She'll maybe use it 2hrs total for the week. That's if she takes on a side job coding.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

She wants a mini-pc due to their size and you know how women are - I can't change her mind.

She's hardly on the CPU at home because she codes all day at work, so I feel anything over $300 would be an absolute waste you know? She'll maybe use it 2hrs total for the week. That's if she takes on a side job coding.

How about this?

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Bareb.../dp/B00HYEU0C8

$398 but it's got a faster processor than the ASUS that you linked.

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The Asus looks like a good unit. I'd recommend 16 gigs of RAM because Windows 8 and 10 require close to 8 gigs to run properly.

The HP looks like junk to me. It's an old i5 with four gigs of RAM plus it's used. I've had problems with brand new computers and components in the past so personally, I'd never purchase used because it might last 3 years or 3 weeks.

Does she absolutely need a mini? You could build a powerful tower for $600.

You do not need 16 gigs of ram unless you are going to do ram intensive applications like encoding/compiling etc. Windows 10 does not even "require 8 gigs to run properly". The amount of ram your OS "needs" is directly related to what you are doing and what your display resolution is.

For example, I am running THREE 1080p monitors, 13 chrome (ram hog) tabs open, including one chromecasting a 1080p movie to my tv, a discord instance (voice comm) and a whole slew of lesser programs like coretemp, msi afterburner, nvidia geforce experience and I am using 2.1 GB.

Taking out all of that and only looking at windows processes, win10 is only using 207mb of ram at the moment, the rest is mostly google chrome.

8gb is 100% fine and more than she will ever need unless she is going to actually be compiling code on the machine.

There are lots of good barebones mini pcs on amazon and newegg, just open them all up and compare what you are getting for the money, making sure they have all of the inputs etc that you need.

edit: dont buy the POS ebay one~

[Miles]

An i3 NUC might get the job done (i5 is another $100 but might be only $50 difference for last year model - 5th generation). The larger one holds a 2.5" SSD while smaller only does an mSATA drive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-146-_-Product

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by hometeam

You do not need 16 gigs of ram unless you are going to do ram intensive applications like encoding/compiling etc. Windows 10 does not even "require 8 gigs to run properly". The amount of ram your OS "needs" is directly related to what you are doing and what your display resolution is.

For example, I am running THREE 1080p monitors, 13 chrome (ram hog) tabs open, including one chromecasting a 1080p movie to my tv, a discord instance (voice comm) and a whole slew of lesser programs like coretemp, msi afterburner, nvidia geforce experience and I am using 2.1 GB.

Taking out all of that and only looking at windows processes, win10 is only using 207mb of ram at the moment, the rest is mostly google chrome.

8gb is 100% fine and more than she will ever need unless she is going to actually be compiling code on the machine.

There are lots of good barebones mini pcs on amazon and newegg, just open them all up and compare what you are getting for the money, making sure they have all of the inputs etc that you need.

edit: dont buy the POS ebay one~

I guess the people at Microsoft has misinformed me because I was told directly that I'd need a minimum of 16 gigs for my system to function properly, so I have 32 gigs w/SSD drives.

But then again, I'm producing audio synced to video with tons of plugins running so maybe 8 gigs is fine for less intensive applications.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by hometeam

You do not need 16 gigs of ram unless you are going to do ram intensive applications like encoding/compiling etc. Windows 10 does not even "require 8 gigs to run properly". The amount of ram your OS "needs" is directly related to what you are doing and what your display resolution is.

For example, I am running THREE 1080p monitors, 13 chrome (ram hog) tabs open, including one chromecasting a 1080p movie to my tv, a discord instance (voice comm) and a whole slew of lesser programs like coretemp, msi afterburner, nvidia geforce experience and I am using 2.1 GB.

Taking out all of that and only looking at windows processes, win10 is only using 207mb of ram at the moment, the rest is mostly google chrome.

8gb is 100% fine and more than she will ever need unless she is going to actually be compiling code on the machine.

There are lots of good barebones mini pcs on amazon and newegg, just open them all up and compare what you are getting for the money, making sure they have all of the inputs etc that you need.

edit: dont buy the POS ebay one~

There is a working version of coretemp that works with win10? I had this on win7 but it would not work on win10 and I have not been able to google down a version compatible with win 10.

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

There is a working version of coretemp that works with win10? I had this on win7 but it would not work on win10 and I have not been able to google down a version compatible with win 10.

im using the same version i was using on win 7.

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by hometeam

You do not need 16 gigs of ram unless you are going to do ram intensive applications like encoding/compiling etc. Windows 10 does not even "require 8 gigs to run properly". The amount of ram your OS "needs" is directly related to what you are doing and what your display resolution is.

For example, I am running THREE 1080p monitors, 13 chrome (ram hog) tabs open, including one chromecasting a 1080p movie to my tv, a discord instance (voice comm) and a whole slew of lesser programs like coretemp, msi afterburner, nvidia geforce experience and I am using 2.1 GB.

Taking out all of that and only looking at windows processes, win10 is only using 207mb of ram at the moment, the rest is mostly google chrome.

8gb is 100% fine and more than she will ever need unless she is going to actually be compiling code on the machine.

There are lots of good barebones mini pcs on amazon and newegg, just open them all up and compare what you are getting for the money, making sure they have all of the inputs etc that you need.

edit: dont buy the POS ebay one~

It's Dane. He's a reerun. Basically read what he posts and do the opposite, and you'll probably do fine.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by hometeam

im using the same version i was using on win 7.

Interesting. I could not get it to run on either on my desktop or laptop on WIN10. Going to have to investigate this further---I like the program a lot and have not found anything that i like as good to replace it.

Thanks for the info!

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

Interesting. I could not get it to run on either on my desktop or laptop on WIN10. Going to have to investigate this further---I like the program a lot and have not found anything that i like as good to replace it.

Thanks for the info!

Lol not sure man, never had any issue coming from win 7

I am running Core temp 1.0 RC6 64bit

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

It's Dane. He's a reerun. Basically read what he posts and do the opposite, and you'll probably do fine.

So what PC would recommend for someone running Cubase 8.5 Pro with 200 streaming 24 Play instruments, 40 Waves SSL plugins, Arturia synths, convulsion reverbs, Lexicon S/R effects, multiple 2 TB SSD's while syncing to video?

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

There is a working version of coretemp that works with win10? I had this on win7 but it would not work on win10 and I have not been able to google down a version compatible with win 10.

Originally Posted by hometeam

im using the same version i was using on win 7.

Are you using it as a gadget or in some other application? Are you using some kind of Win8 enhancement for Win10?

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So what PC would recommend for someone running Cubase 8.5 Pro with 200 streaming 24 Play instruments, 40 Waves SSL plugins, Arturia synths, convulsion reverbs, Lexicon S/R effects, multiple 2 TB SSD's while syncing to video?

Intel Core i7 6700K with 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM. And since you're into sound, add an ASUS Zonar Essence STX II Sound Card. You're welcome. :P