Are Intel NUC units any good for gaming?

[m654321]

I'm looking for a replacement for my gaming laptop (Asus G750js), which died recently.

I don't want to spend a 4-digit sum on such a computer again (!!), but at the same time wondered what the Intel NUC mini-computers are like as a gaming alternative. Like laptops they suffer from the disadvantage that they can't be upgraded like PC towers.

These Intel NUC units come in i5 and i7 versions, but I notice that they seem to have only 2 cores instead of the more usual 4 found in gaming laptops & PC towers. Would this be enough for gaming (my son routinely plays CS-GO, whereas I prefer the gentler Supertuxkart)?

Also what about the installed Intel Iris graphics - is it up to the job? Additionally, I wondered if these minicomputers (which come with a fan) might suffer the same potential fate as gaming laptops, e.g. the overheating problem and consequent breakdown, as they are not as well ventilated as gaming PC towers ...

As always, many thanks for all your feedback  8)
Mike

[supergamer]

The graphics are the limiting issue. Unless you can possible run an external graphics card, you are going to be limited to lower end games. I updated a laptop had a 8300h and 8gb of ram with a 1050ti and 256gb ssd to 32gb of ram and added another 1gb western digital ssd. That was a total cost of under $1100 in US dollars. I had to give that computer to my youngest daughter for her advanced video class in college and it works great for her. I then was required to buy another one for my wife's photography to edit pics for her side business and just added the extra ram stick to make that system a 16gb system. Your going to have to decide as there is no way around the heat buildup and a tower is the best. The decision is going to be on your type of gaming and how intensive you want it to be compared to the amount of money your going to spend. A laptop is going to be better having better graphics if you compare it to having to run an external graphics card and the additional price of that.


This is the laptop and additions I did. I hope this helps you in your decision.


https://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-nitro-...Id=6212602


https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6820232156


https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6820250088

[m654321]

[member=6935]supergamer[/member]
Many thanks for your detailed reply - much appreciated  8)

Yes, the issue is really the gaming, as my office/admin needs are
fine with my trusty Dell ... need to think on it a bit more
before coming to a decision - thanks again for your thoughts.

[TheDead]

Heya!

Like mentionned in another thread, I would definitely go nVidia for video.
Speaking for older products, Intel has a tendency to drop product line support sooner then the competition.
Intel supports seems to be "ok" and included in ubuntu distribution based distros.
Installing nVidia proprietary drivers will give you maximum speed though.

I have not played with integrated + added card video switching on Linux but I'm guessing this could be done so you can test both if your new PC has them.

Cheers!