Mini PC+GPU dock vs standard PC

[phinix]

I'm wondering if this is worth to build.
Right now I have ITX pc with 9070XT in NR200.
I dont play games so often like in the past, so was thinking if it would be worth to buy some good mini PC for every day use, then add gpu dock and keep that disconnected in a cupboard, just to plug it in when I would like to play games.
Performance wise - how are those gpu docks? Are they good? I guess there will be some drop but shouldnt be huge, right?

 

[sandys]

They are just fine, I have a couple I use with Handhelds but seems a waste of time when you have a 9070 in an ITX build, what are you really saving?

Your cheapest option would be a miniforums DEG 1 or 2 you could put your 9070XT in and connect with occulink which is the best interface for GPU performance.

performance drop is game dependant, generally not too bad.

 

[phinix]

They are just fine, I have a couple I use with Handhelds but seems a waste of time when you have a 9070 in an ITX build, what are you really saving?

Your cheapest option would be a miniforums DEG 1 or 2 you could put your 9070XT in and connect with occulink which is the best interface for GPU performance.

performance drop is game dependant, generally not too bad.

I was thinking I could simply reduce amount of hardware running all the time I use my pc. GPU basically.
In average in last couple of months I played a game once for few hours. Using pc for 6 hours a day, but gpu being used once a month. I dont know.. maybe just looking for some change
Plus, I like minimalism

I was an anthusiast of minimalistic PCs, was so happy when ITX become standard, then ssd came in, but since then they do not do anything in that direcion. I can get SFF PSU, but look at rest of it - GPUs - pcbs are smaller, like itx size small, but then you have a radiator with size of fridge why technologically they cannot create better cooling, more power efficient cards. Years and years and max we can do is itx build, sff psu and ssds instead of regular 3.5 hdds. wooooow...

 

[sandys]

Fair enough, there are companies like minisforum and khadas doing good stuff with mini PCs but really if it is just casual, you could ditch your GPU and give Nvidia a monthly sub for a 5080 over the cloud when you fancy it and just have something really small like a mind 2 or whatever they are launching this month. Or be ultra minimalist and ditch the PC altogether for an app on the TV, tablet or phone.

But sufficed to say when you are not using the 9070XT it doesn't use fans and does really use any power.

I'll also add, I use a 9070XT In a eGPU dock on my handheld and it has great performance even though my handhelds have a terrible interface via Thunderbolt and only hit ~27-30Gbps of the potential 40Gbps and games still run great.

A 3dmark compare when I tested my eGPU on my desktop, it was about 12% loss, should be noted as there was a GPU in desktop already, 9070xt was only on 8x lanes, the desktop TB implementation gave about 32Gbps which is decent.

Occulink would be better as it would hit 64Gbps no overhead.

Desktop

Result

www.3dmark.com

and on one of my handhelds

Result

www.3dmark.com

 

[phinix]

Fair enough, there are companies like minisforum and khadas doing good stuff with mini PCs but really if it is just casual, you could ditch your GPU and give Nvidia a monthly sub for a 5080 over the cloud when you fancy it and just have something really small like a mind 2 or whatever they are launching this month. Or be ultra minimalist and ditch the PC altogether for an app on the TV, tablet or phone.

But sufficed to say when you are not using the 9070XT it doesn't use fans and does really use any power.

I'll also add, I use a 9070XT In a eGPU dock on my handheld and it has great performance even though my handhelds have a terrible interface via Thunderbolt and only hit ~27-30Gbps of the potential 40Gbps and games still run great.

A 3dmark compare when I tested my eGPU on my desktop, it was about 12% loss, should be noted as there was a GPU in desktop already, 9070xt was only on 8x lanes, the desktop TB implementation gave about 32Gbps which is decent.

Occulink would be better as it would hit 64Gbps no overhead.

Desktop

Result

www.3dmark.com

and on one of my handhelds

Result

www.3dmark.com

Hmmm.. I may look into Nvidia Geforce now.
I play 4K, so would need highest option, but still - £200 annual cost, would be £600 for 3 years - I buy new gpu every 3 years for around same amount.

 

[sandys]

You don't have to sub for the whole year just when you want to play.

It is fine with 4K120 is you have a good enough internet connection.