Hi All,
we've the following deals for ASUS Vivo products today;
ASUS VivoMini PC PN40 Celeron N4000 2GB RAM 32GB eMMC Win10 Pro S: $199 (was $349)
https://www.mwave.com.au/product/asus-vivomini-pc-pn40-celer…
ASUS VivoStick TS10 Stick PC Intel Atom 2GB 32GB EMMC HDMI Win 10 Home: $169 (was $199.95)
https://www.mwave.com.au/product/asus-vivostick-ts10-stick-p…
Limited time or while promotional stock lasts.
Steam links ha. They were practically giving them away for free.
Can that CPU really run a resource hog like Win10 comfortably? Partner wants a little computer just for internet, study, word processing etc. Thought this might do the job.
Better off buying one of those ex lease Dell Optiplex PCs
Yeah but they are huge compared to this tiny thing that can just mount on her monitor and free up desk space. Quite the conundrum
The CPU would handle basic stuff ok, but 2GB RAM and 32GB eMMC is the real killer.
Yeah I figured wait for another SSD deal and slap a 250gb or something in there. But RAM definitely isn't great.
If you're already going to fork out extra for upgrading the RAM and storage, you may as well spend a little extra and get an i3 NUC for $100ish more. They usually pop up during the regular Ebay deals.
@dav3: I thought NUC's needed it all? Like BYO Ram, HDD and OS. OS alone would blow that right out. I guess I could go with Linux though.
@Fergy1987: As I said, if you're already replacing half the hardware it might be worth just getting something that's a higher spec, at least it will be usable.
As for the OS, people here keep mentioning there are cheap/free ways to obtain Windows 10.
Also, a quick google if you're looking at the first option :
The big difference between Windows 10 S and any other version of Windows 10 is that 10 S can only run applications downloaded from the Windows Store. Every other version of Windows 10 has the option to install applications from third-party sites and stores, as has the majority of versions of Windows before it.
You'll struggle with 2GB of RAM and 32GB soldered on storage with Windows 10. Maybe ok with Linux or Android, but definitely not W10
I thought about these a little while ago. Needed something compact for W10 and Office. Ended up getting a Lenovo Tiny with i5.
Waaaaay better.
^better deal here
Don't even know why you'd want win 10 pro on a machine with 2gb ram / 32gb storage. This is not a pc for prosumers. Win 10 starter and cheaper price would have made more sense.
Celeron? Atom Yeahh nahhh
The problem of these micro "PCs" is the processor.
They don't run high definition videos smooth, if you are planning to have it connected to your TV, you will get pissed at it at some point.
I cannot find one performance review of this model so it says everything.
I would prefer to spend a little bit more and have one that is at least i3
Just for internet, homework, and basic things it will do the job tho.
The CPU in these things will run high def video just fine as long as you use something like Kodi/LibreElec
Are those vivostick's any good? Run alright?
For the mini PC, you can add a 2.5" drive to it easily. It has a bay for it. It also has a slot for a M.2 SATA SSD.
Can also upgrade it's ram. Takes 2400mhz DDR4, and has two slots available.
Looks like a great little non-windows HTPC, and capable of 4k output (no HDR).
EDIT: I'd buy one if my original Asus chromebox ever dies. It's been going 24x7 for about 5 years.
Im guessing Netflix won't stream 4k on these…
IIRC, Netfix 4k is HEVC. The mini PC has HD600 series GPU, which should decode h265 in hardware (both 8/10 bit). So yes, it will. Just no HDR.
Oh okay. I was reading something about Netflix not liking less than 3gb of memory on the video card for 4k as people with 2gb were not able to get 4k. HDR would be due to the HDMI port I'm guessing
That may well be true, about the ram. I was talking only from a decoding perspective, in which it's certainly capable of 4k. Depending on which OS you wanted to run, 4 or 8gb ram would be recommended.
Now windows update has created 7gb reserve storage for future updates.
You'd be insane to buy one of these over an nVidia Shield for media PC use.
Source: Have both, haven't used my media PC since buying the Shield.
I'm the opposite. Give me the windows ui anyday over the NVIDIA. I've been trying to get used to the Shield since my nuc died and can't get used to it. Decided to build a mini itx i3 htpc running a 3gb 1060. Got all the parts from a mix of eBay sales and Amazon which surprisingly has been cheaper on some computer components than even eBay after discount. Was looking at the pre-built current i3 nuc running an Amd card but it's only 2gb and no one seems to stock it here. The barebones nuc has a Level Shifter/ Protocol Converter (LSPCON) chip which converts DisplayPort* 1.2a to HDMI* 2.0. Only thing I'm waiting for now is the 9th Gen i3 to be sold here.
@Sammyboy The only thing that was really keeping me with a Windows HTPC was non Dolby/DTS surround sound, where I had multichannel compressed and FLAC going out as mutli-channel LPCM over HDMI. The Shield can handle that, whereas my other Android boxes could not. The Shield can do everything with Kodi that the PC could with Kodi or Mediaportal, plus has access to proper streaming apps vs having to use a browser on the PC.
I have run a dedicated server for 20 years, with email and phone system that also has 5 DVB tuners, so there is no need for tuners in my clients. The OS doesn't really come into it now that Android supports all multichannel sound, and considering the use is so dedicated with just a program, such as Kodi(+ web browser on pc which is a pain), and streaming apps?
I am due to pull the cold HTPC from the lounge room. But before I do, what are you finding the Shield cannot do that requires a Windows based HTPC? The Shield config for me was pretty much, just plug it in and install Kodi. What configuration are you having issues with?
PS Being able to talk to a Google Home and have the TV and AMP power on and start media playing on the shield is also pretty cool, and not at all possible on the HTPC.
I would rather stream Asian drama off a dodgy website rather than install a dodgy app on the shield. Took me a while to get the shield working with my network. Had to change the whole way I had my network configured. That was a pain. Occasionally I've had some subtitle issues on the shield. Also navigating around on a windows ui using my Logitech k830 media keyboard is a lot easier than the controller or remote on the shield.
Lastly and most importantly I can quickly switch out and check ozbargain using the htpc!!!
Better off with a raspberry pi?
Lol, they are just fast enough for a basic Kodi install for watching local network media(not 4K). RPi3 is heaps better than RPi2 was, but it is still fairly slow - the HDMI CEC remote is handy tho. They were OK for media players that were not used much, but mine all have other jobs now such as Home Assistant, DNS, and 3D Printer network servers. They are also not compatible with any online streaming services.
Anyone who has ever bought a PC with 32 Gig drive would probably never buy another one again.
This is not criticism of this particular model (ASUS is a top brand), but of the whole idea of a $200 PC with 32 Gig drive, 2 Gig RAM, and a slow processor.
Windows keeps warning of low space every time you boot (nothing major but very annoying as you check just in case it's some other problem).
I have no idea what they are meant for - it won't even load the browser without almost (or literally) freezing.
32GB Should be enough for a HTPC, and others have said they take 2.5" devices.
Yes and no. They are sluggish in the extreme.
You'd be better off putting that money towards a dedicated media player such as Amazon's Firestick, ROKU, etc.
Ps. Not sure about this particular model, but most of these modular models are enclosed with no way to open or expand them, other than the ethernet and standard USB port(s) they come with for external drives, printers, keyboards, etc.
Edit: as far as these HTPCs I'd be very weary it doesn't become a $200 paperweight.
One way to see if it's any good would be to read some user reviews (ASUS is a very well known brand, I'm sure there's a review out there somewhere).
Amazon US is an excellent source of reviews for pretty much everything you can buy online, trouble is you'd need a VPN to access it.
In the end it really depends on what you use it for I guess, but my view of these HTPCs in the $200 price range has been forever shattered by my own personal experience with one of them (well my dad bought it, I'm the one who had to 'deal with it').
In the end he found he was better off using a Linux laptop than one of these things (which is saying a lot since he's in his seventies and Ubuntu is not as easy as Windows) but this thing was so slow and limited in storage as to make it unusable, so he gave it to me (lol 'thanks dad').
Edit. Deleted
I had a look at the specs, and they're not too bad, not your typical $200 PoS.
Might actually be ok as a basic HTPC.
is it gonna be any good for Pfsense? can i add extra ethernet card in it? Anyone?
Wouldn't you be better off looking for an itx board?
That MiniPC seems like a good thin (streaming) gaming client… but some could argue that an nvidia shield or even Steam Link can do the job.