• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Going desktop-less?

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
I stopped gaming on the desktop and realized I don't really need it. Have had it sitting in the garage for a couple of months now.
 
vi edit said:
You've never used an Air then. They are stupid fast for basic computing needs. The SSD response is just insane for application loading, clicking on things, navigating around ect. And in 8 months of use, I don't think I've ever heard the fan on mine.

It's a shame that the thunderbolt storage options are so criminally expensive. A thunderbolt display, MBA, and a couple TB NAS hooked up to it is almost the perfect combo.
Click to expand...

Still not faster than my desktop. I don't like 13" displays either. Can't play games.

I use my phone for mobile stuff. Different wants and needs I guess.
 
A top of the line laptop can usually play MOST games.

However, you can't build a complete gaming PC for $399; you can't expect to get the same performance out of a laptop for that either.
 
Only time I use my desktop is to game occasionally. I'm laptop/tablet 99% of the time and 5% of that 99% is using my laptop/tablet/smartphone to control my desktop.

I've built desktops for both of my brothers and father. Since getting laptops, they never use their desktops anymore.
 
Re: Gaming

Xbox & PS3 hooked up to 100" projector with power reclining seats complete with beer holders = win.

Desktop gaming what?

😀
 
alkemyst said:
A top of the line laptop can usually play MOST games.

However, you can't build a complete gaming PC for $399; you can't expect to get the same performance out of a laptop for that either.
Click to expand...

You can get pretty close to a decent gaming PC for $399, but it requires know-how that is common on AT but not so common in the wild. It also requires that you already have a windows license that you can use/re-use. And finally, it helps to have a Micro-Center in range lol, which not everyone is lucky enough to have.

I'll test build something here, just MC prices :

PhII X4 960T + Gigabyte Mobo Combo $90
8GB DDR3 30 (120)
OCZ 60GB SSD 60 (180)
Cheap Case 20 (200)
Usable 500W PSU 30 (230)
DVDRW 15 (245)
550ti 1GB 105 (350)
KB/Mouse 10 (360)

So 360, but that assumes that you have something that you can use as a monitor such as a TV with HDMI. That's not a fair comparison to a laptop which comes with the LCD. Getting a used 17" LCD on CL for 30 bucks would fit, but buying a new screen at MC would push the total over the top. 550ti will play BF3 at 1680x1050 pretty well with a couple settings turned down from max.

Not the most practical setup either with that SSD, as that sort of assumes that someone would already have a spare 500gb drive or whatever to put excess crap on. If someone didn't have that, then get a $60 500gb drive instead (or the slightly better deals that are finally trickling in on drives).
 
Arkaign said:
You can get pretty close to a decent gaming PC for $399, but it requires know-how that is common on AT but not so common in the wild. It also requires that you already have a windows license that you can use/re-use. And finally, it helps to have a Micro-Center in range lol, which not everyone is lucky enough to have.

I'll test build something here, just MC prices :

PhII X4 960T + Gigabyte Mobo Combo $90
8GB DDR3 30 (120)
OCZ 60GB SSD 60 (180)
Cheap Case 20 (200)
Usable 500W PSU 30 (230)
DVDRW 15 (245)
550ti 1GB 105 (350)
KB/Mouse 10 (360)

So 360, but that assumes that you have something that you can use as a monitor such as a TV with HDMI. That's not a fair comparison to a laptop which comes with the LCD. Getting a used 17" LCD on CL for 30 bucks would fit, but buying a new screen at MC would push the total over the top. 550ti will play BF3 at 1680x1050 pretty well with a couple settings turned down from max.

Not the most practical setup either with that SSD, as that sort of assumes that someone would already have a spare 500gb drive or whatever to put excess crap on. If someone didn't have that, then get a $60 500gb drive instead (or the slightly better deals that are finally trickling in on drives).
Click to expand...

You don't need that SSD for a budget gaming rig. MC sells a cheapo case that comes with a 450 or 500 watt psu for $35. Gets decent reviews.
 
vi edit said:
Re: Gaming

Xbox & PS3 hooked up to 100" projector with power reclining seats complete with beer holders = win.

Desktop gaming what?

😀
Click to expand...
I enjoy gaming on my 360, but there are some instances where desktops are just flat-out better (MMO's, any game that allows third-party content/mods/addons)
 
vi edit said:
Re: Gaming

Xbox & PS3 hooked up to 100" projector with power reclining seats complete with beer holders = win.

Desktop gaming what?

😀
Click to expand...

I have gamed quite a decent amount with a PC hooked up to a 106 inch projector with reclining seats and beer holders .... However, 1080p is kinda limiting IMO.

I prefer to do most of my gaming with my 3 x 21.5 inch screen eyefinity setup...
It does tax the CPU a bit to run at 5760x1080, but things tend to work pretty well with a pair of 6870s in crossfire...

I simply don't like the controllers for PS3 or Xbox .... I'm too dependent on mechanical keyboard + mouse
 
Also, I have a long PS2 extension cord for my keyboard, as I haven't found a wireless keyboard that I like, and I use a long usb extension cord for the mouse as I was worried that wireless mice wouldn't work so well with the 15+ foot range between my recliners and the PC ....
 
loki8481 said:
I enjoy gaming on my 360, but there are some instances where desktops are just flat-out better (MMO's, any game that allows third-party content/mods/addons)
Click to expand...

No doubt. But I grew tired of the the constant hardware crunch of PC gaming, installing CD's, and just generally didn't have as much disposable time to commit to gaming like I did in college and through my early 20's. With a wife and two kids I've got like 1.5 hours of free time a day after the kids get tucked in to sleep. With that time I'm either watching a movie/show with her, reading a book, or playing a boardgame with her. At this point all of my gaming is incredibly causal...being a 15 mintue Smallworld round or infinite blade level grind on the iPad.
 
M0oG0oGaiPan said:
You don't need that SSD for a budget gaming rig. MC sells a cheapo case that comes with a 450 or 500 watt psu for $35. Gets decent reviews.
Click to expand...

Yeah I explained that towards the end of the post, though I'm usually helping people build cheap PC gaming setups that already have a decent usable storage drive, so the SSD is nice. But indeed, with no existing drive to work with, a standard 500gb, 750, whatever can fit the budget is the best bet.

EDIT : I'm also a bit of a stodgy old bastard when it comes to PSUs, even for cheap gaming setups. I just hate the super low end power supplies, I didn't see any that came with cases that looked like something I would recommend, so I ended up getting something like this for a buddy a couple weeks back :

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0295037

I find that many people who get into PC gaming end up wanting a beefier GPU before too long, and it's nice to have a little breathing room.

But you're right, I've seen a lot of cheap power supplies pushing mid/low end GPUs just fine, it just makes me nervous as I've also seen literally mountains of dead cheap PSUs in my time.
 
Last edited:
I've considered going to a gaming level laptop with a docking station. I couldn't stand to work on a tiny little laptop screen all the time, but it would be nice to be able to undock and take everything (everything important anyway) with me.

I'd still want a NAS and server that I could RDP into. The NAS is just for long term storage and backup, the server would be for stuff I want running 24/7 like web servers, etc.
 
Arkaign said:
Yeah I explained that towards the end of the post, though I'm usually helping people build cheap PC gaming setups that already have a decent usable storage drive, so the SSD is nice. But indeed, with no existing drive to work with, a standard 500gb, 750, whatever can fit the budget is the best bet.

EDIT : I'm also a bit of a stodgy old bastard when it comes to PSUs, even for cheap gaming setups. I just hate the super low end power supplies, I didn't see any that came with cases that looked like something I would recommend, so I ended up getting something like this for a buddy a couple weeks back :

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0295037

I find that many people who get into PC gaming end up wanting a beefier GPU before too long, and it's nice to have a little breathing room.

But you're right, I've seen a lot of cheap power supplies pushing mid/low end GPUs just fine, it just makes me nervous as I've also seen literally mountains of dead cheap PSUs in my time.
Click to expand...

Agree with you on both points. I guess I was looking at it from the point of view of my cheap friend who just wanted something that worked for a low price point. All he heard was it was cheap lol.
 
i'm getting close to doing it and moving my desktop to the living room and just leaving it hooked up as a HTPC all the time, im almost never on the desktop , i've got 5 laptops in the house
 
Always had both, always needed both. Need two >24 screens at a minimum on anything I'm going to be spending any time with, and the horsepower to be able to deal with media, etc. No laptop - and I've tried transitioning to >$10K-list flagship mobile workstations in the recent past for main home use - have worked as actual desktop replacements. Tablets are still virtually useless to me beyond being nice remotes and glance-at second screens (which is how I use my huddle of iPads).

vi edit said:
You've never used an Air then. They are stupid fast for basic computing needs. The SSD response is just insane for application loading, clicking on things, navigating around ect. And in 8 months of use, I don't think I've ever heard the fan on mine.
Click to expand...

I've heard it plenty. Clearly our definition of 'basic' differs (and I don't game on anything but the DIY), as does the definition of 'insane' for SSD throughput compared to even a cheaper Windows setup (that's in OS X, not Windows - it still puzzles me how my SSD'd ~$700 Probooks can beat my Boot Camped i7 Crudbook Air's to the logon screen even when powered on three-quarters of the way through the Macs booting). Now, my Z2's - proper hardware running a proper OS - that is actually bordering in 'insane' for a notebook.
 
Last edited:
I can't ditch my desktop until we have affordable (sub-$1000) laptops that can run modern games (BF3) at 60FPS maxed out at full HD resolution.
 
Not gonna happen to replace my desktop.
When you can fit all this in a lasptop PM me.. I will switch.


I use a laptop for work and a desktop for everything eles.


IMG_3320.JPG


photo5.JPG


photo1.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top