Raspberry Pi 4 for a secondary/emergency PC?

[steelo]

I am contemplating getting a Pi 4, setting up raspbian on it and using it as a backup PC. Obviously, I won't be playing CSGO on it or running Win 10 but I need a fairly quick and painless way to access saved spreadsheets and the internet should my main PC die. I have tried using a Pi 3b as a desktop PC and it was extremely laggy and overall a very frustrating experience. I would probably get the 2 or 4 GB version.

 

Is this feasible secondary desktop PC?

[mariushm]

I wouldn't do it, mainly because you're dealing with an operating other than Windows.

I would suggest buying a used/refurbished laptop for something like 100$ or buying a refurbished desktop or making your own.

 

ex. laptop Dell Lattitude 6420 for 100$ : https://www.newegg.com/silver-dell-latitude-e6420-mainstream/p/1TS-000A-05PJ5?Item=9SIAAJ29JE8993

Intel Core i5 2nd Gen 2.50 GHz , 4 GB Memory 250 GB HDD, Intel HD Graphics 3000, 1600 x 900 , Windows 7 Professional

Beats messing around with pi.  A 20$ 120GB SSD will bring life to it and it's cheap..

 

or desktop 65$ for a SFF box : Dell Optiplex 780 SFF E8400 3.00GHz 4GB 250GB Win 7 Pro  https://www.newegg.com/dell-optiplex-780-business-desktops-workstations/p/1VK-0001-2HWT3?Item=9SIAAJ28HX6247

Add a 5-10$ wireless card and optionally install a 32-64GB SSD and you're good to go.

 

If you want to make your own tiny pc, you could get one of those boards with soldered cpu, add a ddr3 stick and a tiny SSD and a psu and you're done.

ex.

65$ ASRock J3455M Intel Quad-Core Celeron Processor : https://www.newegg.com/asrock-j3455m-micro-atx/p/N82E16813157729 (performance similar to E8400 above)

13$ 4 GB DDR3/DDR3L (various)

20$ 120GB SSD

+psu and a cardboard box