Help Me Find a PC - Small Form Factor or Laptop - under $500

Tones5 on 21/04/2025 - 16:43
Last edited 21/04/2025 - 17:33 by 1 other user

Hey all, my current laptop won't be upgradeable to Windows 11, so figured it was time to upgrade before EOFY. So, wanting to get something new that is better than what I have today

I have a Macbook Pro (M2) from work which I use for work, and for general web based stuff on the couch.

The only purpose of my new PC as follows:

  • Sometimes you need something with Windows to do something specific
  • Some light gaming, typically indie games or old games, no triple AAA high graphic stuff. Most intensive would be like Northgard, or AOE 3 Remake.
  • Emulation, DS, GBA, N64 kind of stuff, nothing major.
  • To exist as a personal computer in case I never need one and don't have my work one available.

The current specs of my current laptop are:

It's an ACER
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6200U CPU @ 2.30GHz 2.40 GHz
Installed RAM: 8.00 GB (7.88 GB usable)
Graphics: Nvidia 940MX
System type: 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Storage: 250 GB SSD

I don't know much about computers, I just want something that will perform better than I already have, I don't want a hulking gaming PC tower, so a small form factor PC or laptop is ideal

I hope this is enough information, look forward to your help

Find Me A Bargain Computer Laptop

Comments

  • oscargamer on 21/04/2025 - 17:14
    +2

    Gmktec N97 sold by Gmktec on Amazon for $249.99

    You will need to add KB, mouse, monitor

  • tenpercent on 21/04/2025 - 17:24
    -2

    Help Me Find A

    www.google.com.au

  • OverThinker on 21/04/2025 - 17:50
    +1

    these are powerful and cheap https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005008665910432.html?aem_p4p…

    • Tones5 on 22/04/2025 - 20:28

      This looks great, what should I know, what am I not seeing here, why are these so cheap?

  • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2025 - 17:52
    +1

    You can go with marketplace. Find a laptop with a 2060 or better and you'll be golden.

    SFF machines with GPUs are hard to find because they were never sold in volume. You might be able to find a HP/Dell tower (that is still pretty small) that takes full height GPUs and stick a 3050 6GB in.

    You could go with a AMD SFF machine that would play the games you want now, but don't expect any futureproofing. A dedicated GPU is still way faster (unless you're spending a lot more).

    Depending on what you mean by small form factor you could go with something like this (the code still works) that would likely play the games you want now and that would give you plenty of futureproofing because you could slap a GPU in there later on. The GPU in the AMD SFF machine is slightly faster though).

    Personally I'd just set an alert for Techfast ITX deals though, and try snatch one before they sell out. They're over budget but it'll have way more power than you need for years.

    • Tones5 on 22/04/2025 - 20:26

      This is helpful thankyou.

      In terms of these small AMD powered things, why is not future proof? What kind of limitations would I hit? I

      In terms of marketplace, any PC for sale that has a 2060 or greater will cover me you're saying?

      • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2025 - 22:05

        GPU limits. The iGPU tops out somewhere around a 1050 or 1650 (in Nvidia equivalent) depending on what you buy. Which is fine, but it's one of those things where a little more money moving up to a 2060/3060/4060 will last a lot longer. Particularly when you get into DLSS.

        If you see yourself not playing any newer games, the AMD machines would be great. But you can't upgrade the GPU. The 5600G though you can whack in a $300 GPU that'll play pretty modern games at some point, if gaming becomes more of a thing to you.

        CPU-wise though, you'll be good for a long time.

  • joka on 21/04/2025 - 18:27
    +3

    Surely you also need it for something other than what you stated? Wink wink

  • SYLTB on 21/04/2025 - 19:09

    ThinkPad

  • Deridas on 21/04/2025 - 20:13
    -1

    You aren't going to find anything SFF under $500 that's any decent.

    Just get any laptop that is on sale at that budget, that would be my advice.

  • Tones5 on 22/04/2025 - 20:27

    These are all very helpful, great ideas thank you all!

    These amazon/aliexpress small machines, whats the catch? They seem perfect and great value for money.

    Are they safe? Do they have to run linux or something, what am I missing?

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