Mini Desktop or Upgrade PC

foreright

foreright

foreright

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Joined
19 Jan 2005
Posts
478
Location
Romford, Essex
I've extended the life of my ageing PC running W10 on the ESU programme. I shall soon be faced with how to go forward and whether to chance the W11 upgrade on a non compliant PC, upgrade the MB, CPU and RAM on existing machine or opt for a Mini Desktop. At 74 I am inclined to opt for the easy option whatever that is.
Apart from browsing my needs are simple apart from listening to music via an ageing soundcard, Amp and MA bronze speakers.
Can anyone guide me please to whether the Mini Desktop route would suffice as currently I have 4 RCA plug cables delivering sound output. Hope you understand.
If yes can you recommend the hardware please.
 
foreright said:
I've extended the life of my ageing PC running W10 on the ESU programme. I shall soon be faced with how to go forward and whether to chance the W11 upgrade on a non compliant PC, upgrade the MB, CPU and RAM on existing machine or opt for a Mini Desktop. At 74 I am inclined to opt for the easy option whatever that is.
Apart from browsing my needs are simple apart from listening to music via an ageing soundcard, Amp and MA bronze speakers.
Can anyone guide me please to whether the Mini Desktop route would suffice as currently I have 4 RCA plug cables delivering sound output. Hope you understand.
If yes can you recommend the hardware please.
Click to expand...

A mini-PC or NUC sounds just the ticket. Your audio requirements can be solved with a USB DAC, the details of which I leave to the more knowledgeable.

OCUK sell a variety of NUC boxes from Sapphire. The original NUCs were from Intel but they sold that division to Asus who continue to sell them.
 
Quartz said:
A mini-PC or NUC sounds just the ticket. Your audio requirements can be solved with a USB DAC, the details of which I leave to the more knowledgeable.

OCUK sell a variety of NUC boxes from Sapphire. The original NUCs were from Intel but they sold that division to Asus who continue to sell them.
Click to expand...
Any Pros and Cons re Mini Pc v NUC. Looking at the Overclockers NUC, I assume they are a better spec but without OS. Excuse my ignorance but would I use the onboard sound or for my soundcard via one of the PCEi ports and how does that work. Do you open the case and fit? Thanks for any advice info.
 
A mini PC or NUC would work and You can get USB to phono adapters. Almost everything comes with onboard sound cards these days.

My daughter has an older NUC which is superb, great for anything web based and she can play Roblox no problem. Sound is via a headphone jack or optical.

It’s too old officially for W11 but as mentioned above you can get W11 installed using third party tools (Rufus). It runs W11 no problem although it’s got a decent I7 processor and DDR4 ram with M2 SSD.

Your system might run W11 though it is getting on, if you can do the ‘upgrade’ from W10>W11 you won’t lose everything.

However, even a newer lower spec NUC will be a big improvement on your system.

You won’t be able to install a PCI card in a NUC but depending on the mini PC you could possibly swap it over. Though modern onboard sound is likely superior or on par with a really old sound cards.

You just need to work out how to get the sound connection to your AMP from either an optical out or a headphone jack, or as mentioned a USB DAC.
 
foreright said:
The link supplied by Quartz shows the bare bones units sold by OC. Am I right that after purchasing those units, you have to add memory and OS yourself, as there is no mention of it being provided only it's capacity?
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I believe so. If you ring up OCUK I'm sure they'll set you straight.

The Asus NUC boxes (which they call mini PCs) are worth checking out. I'm not allowed to post a competitor link but they can cheaper than the Sapphire boxes.
 
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