Need help building a smalll PC after PS4 disappoints

cYcLIc

cYcLIc

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So I went to Rage today and I was completely bored by the Xbox One and PS4 graphics. I'm definitely not buying a PS4 this year. I'll wait for a price drop and more games.

I have already set the money aside for the PS4, but I've decided to rather build one of those small mini PC's that look like this:

url.jpg

Now I have a Lenovo A720 with the following specs:

i7-3610QM (2.30GHz, 6MB Cache)
Windows 8 64
8GB (DDR3)
27" HD AntiGlare with Mult-touch (1920x1080)
GeForce GT630M 2GB

I didn't get it for gaming. It runs the games I play on medium-high, but I want more. The idea is to build a small PC that will be more powerful than the A720 that I can hook up to the HDMI In of the A720 and play games on HIGH. I'm not a fan of full-size towers because of the space they take up which is why I got the A720.

lenovo-all-in-one-desktop-ideacentre-a720-front-back-1.jpg

My questions:
-How powerful can you make those mini PCs? I'm willing to put 10k into the machine.
-Do people game on those things?
-Any companies make pre-built ones for gaming?
-Where can I get one or have one built?

Edit: Forgot to mention that I do already have a 1.5 year old full-size gaming PC in the study. So don't recommend a full-size PC. I'm looking for a bedroom solution with the A720.
 
Last edited:
CyCliC said:
I'm not a fan of full-size towers because of the space they take up which is why I got the A720.
Click to expand...
Powerful graphic cards and small cases are seriously bad news....they generate too much heat. It can be done sure, but it'll really screw things over in terms of both budget and power.

For 10k you can build a pretty decent box & you've already got a nice screen.
 
HavocXphere said:
Powerful graphic cards and small cases are seriously bad news....they generate too much heat. It can be done sure, but it'll really screw things over in terms of both budget and power.

For 10k you can build a pretty decent box & you've already got a nice screen.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I'm trying to avoid a full-size tower. It's going to mess up my minimalistic modern bedroom setup and you know the ladies love minimalistic.
 
CyCliC said:
Yeah, but I'm trying to avoid a full-size tower. It's going to mess up my minimalistic modern bedroom setup and you know the ladies love minimalistic.
Click to expand...


Sounds nice. Pics please?
 
CyCliC said:
Yeah, but I'm trying to avoid a full-size tower. It's going to mess up my minimalistic modern bedroom setup and you know the ladies love minimalistic.
Click to expand...
Yip. I read the post. I just wanted to alert you to the trade-off your making here. e.g. Small cases don't always support full sized GFX cards.

NomNom said:
You can also just get a small Pc case, such as a Micro-ITX one, will give you better cooling than a Mini-ITX one.
Click to expand...
Much better...
 
CyCliC said:
Yeah, but I'm trying to avoid a full-size tower. It's going to mess up my minimalistic modern bedroom setup and you know the ladies love minimalistic.
Click to expand...
Yip. I read the post. I just wanted to alert you to the trade-off your making here. e.g. Small cases don't always support full sized GFX cards.

NomNom said:
You can also just get a small Pc case, such as a Micro-ITX one, will give you better cooling than a Mini-ITX one.
Click to expand...
Much better...
 
CyCliC said:
Yeah, but I'm trying to avoid a full-size tower. It's going to mess up my minimalistic modern bedroom setup and you know the ladies love minimalistic.
Click to expand...

You need a minimalist gaming PC for your bedroom?
 
CyCliC said:
Yeah, but I'm trying to avoid a full-size tower. It's going to mess up my minimalistic modern bedroom setup and you know the ladies love minimalistic.
Click to expand...

1. WTF?
2. What else is minimalistic in your bedroom?
3. Keep telling yourself :D
 
Open it up and take a look but I'm guessing the chassis will only support a low profile card which severely limits your options.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121768

This is the best small form card around now but I doubt it'll fit into your case. I see the screen has a separate HDMI so building a separate PC and concealing it all minimalistically is going to be your only bet here. If you're willing to splash out we can recommend something very nice.
 
NomNom said:
You can also just get a small Pc case, such as a Micro-ITX one, will give you better cooling than a Mini-ITX one.

Here's a nice one:

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29&products_id=10813

http://www.coolermaster.com/product/Detail/case/mini-tower/CMP-102.html
Click to expand...

Still too big and not really what Im looking for, but it looks like I may have no choice. Thanks for the links.

adsl2 said:
Sounds nice. Pics please?
Click to expand...

Of my room? Lol! No, I'm uncomfortable with that. It's just a normal room with modern design and all cables hidden etc etc. The house is neo-modern.

HavocXphere said:
Yip. I read the post. I just wanted to alert you to the trade-off your making here. e.g. Small cases don't always support full sized GFX cards.
Click to expand...

That's a bummer. I would have thought that if they can make mobile GFX hardware, they could make something high-end that would work in a compact PC. Something between a mobile and full-size.

Crowley said:
You need a minimalist gaming PC for your bedroom?
Click to expand...

I need something that is small and powerful. That's the just of it.

Aqua_lung said:
maybe wait for the steam box? before building a gaming rig?
Click to expand...

Will Google. Thanks

Tim182 said:
1. WTF?
2. What else is minimalistic in your bedroom?
3. Keep telling yourself :D
Click to expand...

Lol! Loving number 2. The ladies thing was obviously a joke guys. Seriously?!

cerebus said:
I see the screen has a separate HDMI so building a separate PC and concealing it all minimalistically is going to be your only bet here. If you're willing to splash out we can recommend something very nice.
Click to expand...

Guess that's what I'll have to do. If I cant figure it out, I'll be forced to get a PS4 and then just upgrade the GFX in my gaming PC.

Edit: Did a Google on the SteamBox (thanks Aqua_lung) and it is exactly what I'm looking for. I'll be waiting on that.:D
 
Last edited:
CyCliC said:
Of my room? Lol! No, I'm uncomfortable with that. It's just a normal room with modern design and all cables hidden etc etc. The house is neo-modern.
Click to expand...

Ja, it sounds like one of those houses on Top Billing. Almost as if an interior designer designed it. :p
 
Why do you need another gaming rig for your bedroom though? You system in the study not enough?

Do you intend to sit on the bed with a mouse and keyboard or what's the idea here?
I just don't get why you need a computer in your BEDROOM, mate :p

If you're looking to get your porn collection into the bedroom maybe buy a AC Ryan?
 
CyCliC said:
Guess that's what I'll have to do. If I cant figure it out, I'll be forced to get a PS4 and then just upgrade the GFX in my gaming PC.

Edit: Did a Google on the SteamBox (thanks Aqua_lung) and it is exactly what I'm looking for. I'll be waiting on that.:D
Click to expand...

The Steambox has some pretty impressive specs and size actually so yeah. Comes in configs with up to GTX Titan (and probably Rx series when that hits in a few days). They're not mucking about. And performance should be better than Windows PCs. I'm thinking of dual-booting Steam OS when it hits, it seems like a promising idea. And the controller is pretty innovative as well.
 
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