Desktop Replacement - Recommendations Wanted

d3moliti0n · 17 Jun 2021 at 23:25

Hi there,

I currently have a capable gaming desktop, though it could do with an upgrade in terms of the CPU/RAM/motherboard. But it's not always comfortable and relaxing to come home from work (having been sat at a desk all day) and have to sit at a desk to play PC games, ideally I'd rather chill on the couch or in bed.

I'm looking into buying a semi-desktop replacement, and my budget is around £1000 ($1400 US, as I live in the UK). I want something that should comfortably be able to max out or at least deliver close to high end graphics for most current and upcoming PC games. The laptop wouldn't actually be taken out of my house, and would probably always be plugged into the mains (so I can game for longer periods of time).

Is this possible with my budget? And if so, could anyone provide some recommendations please?

Thank you for your help.

Nirurin · 17 Jun 2021 at 23:50

I wonder... if you'd be better off (if you're not going to leave the house) going down some other route. Such as streaming games to a handheld device (think a nintendo switch, streaming games from your powerful PC).

Gaming in bed or on the couch with a laptop is (imo) less comfortable than using a desktop, simply because using a laptop trackpad is a chore. And if you're using a proper mouse, you probably have a little lap-desk thing set up, at which point you're not really lounging anymore.

Personally, I'd stream the games to your main tv from your PC, and lie back and use a controller.

Which is basically what console-players do too. So I'd just wire my PC up like a console, and have the benefits of a huge PC game library and the benefits of lying back with a controller to play them.

Plus, this would cost you... way less than £1000.

(Obviously if you needed a laptop for portability etc I wouldn't suggest this, but in your case this just seems like a much better option)

Nirurin · 17 Jun 2021 at 23:52

Or, if you needed it to be 'portable' due to other people using the TV at the same time, then I'd go the handheld route. You can get handheld PCs (which are basically switch clones) that would then stream games from your PC with very little latency. (If you're on a local network, it'll basically feel like you're playing it directly on the PC).

Ragnarok88 · 18 Jun 2021 at 12:41

Gaming laptops always seem to be a lot more expensive than the desktop equivalent and they also have the downside of being less easier to upgrade.

Same as @Nirurin said, I would consider sticking with a desktop setup and just stream games when you're in another room. If you use Steam, I believe Steam Link would be worth a look.

Minstadave · 18 Jun 2021 at 12:55

Ragnarok88 said:
Gaming laptops always seem to be a lot more expensive than the desktop equivalent and they also have the downside of being less easier to upgrade.

Same as @Nirurin said, I would consider sticking with a desktop setup and just stream games when you're in another room. If you use Steam, I believe Steam Link would be worth a look.

Currently it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to get Laptop with a 3060 or a 3070 compared to getting a discrete GPU. The laptop variants are slower admittedly.

Going pre-built desktop is a little better.

GreyHam · 19 Jun 2021 at 18:45

What about a small form factor pc to sit in a media cabinet? Itx builds are a fun challenge

GPU would be the hardest part to source but if you already have one this might suit you well. Have a look at the meshlicious, the sg13, and the node 202 for some different styles

harmattan · 21 Jun 2021 at 16:26

I've been down this road more times than I can count... I have a good desktop, but want a gaming laptop to be "more mobile and flexible". Invariably what happens is the laptop ends up sitting unused, a near-total waste of money. The only time it's made sense was when I was travelling weekly across the country from NYC and Menlo for work when I'd have long stints away from my desktop, or when I actually went whole hog and splurged on a top-spec laptop and replaced my desktop wholesale (using an external monitor). However, on all occasions when I had a desktop I could access, it was a complete waste.

Censeo ceterum, £1000 (maybe 1660ti, or 2060 level GPU of you're lucky) won't get you anywhere near max settings in most newer games. Your better off saving money and getting a Switch or a PS5/xBox to sit on the couch and game.

jigger · 21 Jun 2021 at 16:52

I’d probably sit tight until Intel get their graphics cards to market. I’m expecting aggressive push on performance to price.