Please reinvent the PC!

It's really bizarre how people prefer laptops over proper machines. In my last workplace there were a lot of laptops even when the work required better hardware. Someone told me there that people thought of laptops like a status symbol. I actually had 2 computers and 3 monitors when working there. One crappy computer with Windows XP and all the company software to access stuff from databases and to read emails. The other computer was a expensive workstation with 2x 6core xeons and 2 quadro GPU:s. That computer had windows 7 and wasn't compatible with the company stuff. I used that computer to do my actual work using Maya, Photoshop etc.

There was however some change slowly happening. The software used in engineering stuff is pretty damn expensive so getting some proper expensive hardware as well is only logical. The IT department did at one point get some pretty sick workstations for people who made FEM calculations. I think those computers had like 2x 8core xeons (Sandy Bridge E), 64gigs of memory and large SSD drives.

Nvidia has claimed that it's Pascal (formerly Volta) series cards would be a lot shorter due to the 3D memory. Maybe that will change things a bit in the future.

"obzen" wrote:
It's not a problem of design, appearance and what not, but function. Nobody wants a desktop anymore, even a sexy open-platform desktop, except for gaming, because frankly, there is no need for one. If you want power for gaming and work, you get a desktop. If you want good looking power, build an m-itx / m-atx beast that take 1/4 the size of a regular tower, and will look good next to the hi-fi. People have been trying to sell custom desktops forever (Alienware, Dell, HP...), and nobody bites. Enthusiasts would rather build and upgrade them themselves, and casuals just don't need them and would rather have a tablet, console or notebook.

The home management PC has been done before. Often too expensive, too complicated and largely superfluous (why get a robot to turn on the lights when you can do it yourself). Sure, you can build your place around a centralised computer system (alarms, AC, voice commands, robo-butlers), it's usually the domain of the enthusiast or the rich geek, we aren't quite there yet for mass appeal.

And BTW, I wouldn't want my gaming PC doing all that stuff in the first place. Hell, I'd want to isolate that sucker waaaay away from the internet, and not have someone mess around with my household appliances.

true that...

but thin client home server networks tied into home automation is still one of my pipe dreams tho :D

I would build my house with that in mind from the get-go, but it does require some technical knowledge (for troubleshooting, setup, usage), and of course, money. Not something Average Joe can deal with. Along with solar panels, geothermal, good insulation, fiber optic internet, ect... I need to settle and find a plot of land first :)

I use this for development and gaming:



You can only play my game with Intel 4000 HD graphics though: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=11453

If everyone needs a 250W GPU to enjoy VR it kinda defeats the energy savings of having VR in the first place.

Might as well go outside and play.

That's what is great about the Nvidia GTX750. It is the first PC gfx card in ages that had been designed to be energy efficient. Using the new Maxwell architecture it has a TDP of 55 or 60W (Ti version), and plays current AAA games properly at 1080p.

Thanks, will it run Elite Dangerous > 75 FPS?

http://techreport.com/news/26795/palit-passive-geforce-gtx-750-ti-is-silent-but-deadly

With the right settings sure, the 750 should be okay at 75fps I would imagine, based off of benchmarks.

I looked at building a more compact tower a few months ago while i was rotating out parts on my mid-size ATX, but it just was not worth it to me. Many of the mini motherboards had various limitations that just bothered me. If it wasn't an absent usb 3.0 port it was ram with a maximum that could only reach 1333mhz - without bumping up the cost that is.

Honestly, it is just nice to have a dedicated work station that is easily and affordably upgraded.