NUC, Mini PC recommendations

BigMac2000 on 10/03/2022 - 00:24

I am after a small desktop and am interested in the NUCs but have no idea about computers, so ideally i would like to buy something ready to go.

I am after something for word processing, email, browsing the internet, no gaming. My budget is flexible, but around $1000 would be ideal, plus extra spend on a new monitor. I would be looking at 16Gb RAM, 512gb, Windows 10 or 11.

Any recommendations as to what to get ? It would also have to be from a store that can build it for me. I have seen some online stores refer to kits and bundles, but it is unclear if they build them for you… i will need to ask them tomorrow.

Thanks.

P.S Ive seen a thread here on the same topic, and there were some mwave recommendations, however every link i clicked on says out of stock! So hopefully someone can make some suggestions with stock that is currently available.

Computing Computer Small Form Factor Computer

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 10/03/2022 - 01:27
    +2

    There are actually more deals for laptops than there are for NUC's. Availability is also much better.

    Deals for SFFs: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/tag/small-form-factor-computer (not common)
    Deals for laptops: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/tag/laptop (much more common)

    They're also more flexible for WFH arrangements — you can easily move them from room to room, take the whole unit with you to the workplace, they all come with battery included so you don't have to worry about power outages and the operating system is included in the cost. There's even a basic webcam and mic for video conferencing that you don't need to pay extra for.

    NUC's are neat / space saving and all but there's little practical advantage in using one as a home office computer — apart from having a tidy looking work desk when the NUC is Vesa mounted behind the LCD.

    • BigMac2000 on 10/03/2022 - 08:21

      Thanks for replying. Portability isn’t so much of an issue for me. I was mostly looking at what features I can get in terms of a fast and reliable system system for the same price. For a budget of $1000 (max $1200), I was told by friends to look into NUCs as they would generally have more power/speed and reliability than a laptop?

      • shaybisc on 10/03/2022 - 08:41
        +1

        "as they would generally have more power/speed and reliability than a laptop"

        Power, speed -Not in my case. My NUC has the i5-1135G7 which I see in $800 laptops all the time now. Reliability - who knows. Maybe.

      • Krankite on 10/03/2022 - 10:39
        +1

        NUCs are basically laptop hardware in a desktop, any extra power and reliability will come from the thing being permanently on mains and not being shifted around.

        If you aren't building your own system you'll be looking for SFF (Small Form Factor) this is the same concept as a NUC but from HP/Dell already setup and configured. This deal was around yesterday ozbargain if you don't mind a refurb machine.

  • shaybisc on 10/03/2022 - 08:36
    +2

    I got a NUC PAK11PAKi5 last year but that involved adding RAM, storage and Windows myself. I see that there are heaps of NUC bundles out there but for some reason they are all 10th generation. Probably because Intel 10th gen CPUs were so bleh and they've got heaps available.

    I'd get this Asus bundle with the much better Ryzen 4700U. I'm not sure if that has Windows though.

    https://www.scorptec.com.au/bundle/branded-systems/nuc-&-min…

    Have you considered a Mac Mini M1? You would have to go over $1,000 to get 512GB.

    • BigMac2000 on 10/03/2022 - 09:15

      Thanks. I will have a look at the Asus.

      Not a Mac user, so haven’t considered the Mac mini.

      I noticed too alot of 10th gens around - is there a problem with the 10th? Seems harder to find 11th gen.

        • BigMac2000 on 10/03/2022 - 10:19

          Interesting.

          I am more tempted to look at laptops now, because the 11th gen NUCs are hard to find. The ASUS you mentioned doesn’t include operating system, i would have to factor that cost plus the cost for scorptec to assemble for me.

          So now I am back to considering laptop options with 16gb RAM, 512GB.

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