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Backpackable Computer

SixStrings
By SixStrings
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Posted

Hey guys,

 

my dutiful Macbook is doing just fine, but obviously it's not a gaming machine, so I thought of getting a desktop computer.

 

The problem:

 

I move places a lot in the next couple of years, and I have to fly around a couple of times, and I can't really afford to own a big mATX tower. 

 

Having done a lot of research, I'm considering two builds:

 

1. Streacom F1C case, AMD A10-7800 APU, 8 GB of 2133 mhz RAM, Crucial MX100 256 GB (for around 400 €, some used parts) 

2. Lian Li PC TU100A, Gigabyte H97N WiFi, i5 4460, Be Quiet 300w SFX PSU, Gigabyte GTX 960 (for around 1.000 €, no used parts)

 

The latter is about the biggest I can reasonably carry around, I think, but it would obviously smoke the former. The question is if I actually need that extra horse power. I'm not a big gamer, and the games I'm most interested in are rather old and only run on 30 FPS, anyway (Dark Souls 1+2).

 

The biggest issue is that I'm starting my second uni degree soon as a structural engineer and I have no idea what kind of software I'll have to use. I'm assuming it will involve some 3D modelling, whatever that entails. 

 

Under these conditions, which one would you go with?

 

The first one is more portable and seems to be better value, but I'm not really gaining a whole lot of performance over my base MBA 2013".

 

Thanks for your help guys!

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Speaking to the fact that you're doing 3D modeling, I would go for build 2. Especially if you have the money for it now, you will be thanking yourself for the decision later. To save a bit of money, you could get a GTX 750 Ti instead of a GTX 960.

Main Rig: CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D | RAM: 32GB (2x16GB) KLEVV CRAS XR RGB DDR4-3600 | Motherboard: Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX | Storage: 500GB Crucial P3 Plus, 4TB Silicon Power UD90 | GPU: AsRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Steel Legend | Cooling: ThermalTake Floe 280mm w/ be quiet! Pure Wings 3 | Case: Sliger SM580 (Black) | PSU: Corsair SF850

Main Server: CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X | RAM: 64GB (2x32GB) Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200 | Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair VII Hero WiFi | Storage: 512GB SKHynix NVMe | GPUs: NVIDIA TITAN Xp 2-way SLI | Cooling: Thermalright Frozen Prism 360mm | Case: Corsair 5000D Airflow (White) | PSU: Seasonic Focus GM850

File and Media Server (AOOSTAR WTR Pro): CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | RAM: 32GB (2x16GB) Silicon Power DDR4-3200 SODIMMs | Storage: 1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus, 2x14TB Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC530

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http://www.engineering.com/DesignSoftware/DesignSoftwareArticles/ArticleID/7614/AMD-Choosing-the-Right-Chip-for-CAD-Applications.aspx

 

I recommend this article. Build 2 would obviously be the better choice but that price is probably not in your best interest I assume. For the price of that A10 7800,  I would get an i5 proccessor or Athlon 860k. My uncle is a civil engineer and does his CAD work on an i5 all-in-one, so I don't think you need anything neccesarily fancy.  

 junker build in the making

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That would open up a new option... Going with the Streacom and an i5 of some description. 4460? 

4460 is great, 4590 is also a good choice

Im so patriotic, I piss red white and blue. My doctor told me it was pancreatic cancer, I told him to SHUT HIS COMMIE MOUTH.

-A shotgun wielding redneck

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ever heard of over heating?

I doubt that would be a problem, you underestimate the power of stock coolers although loud can perform quite well. The case has enough airflow too

Im so patriotic, I piss red white and blue. My doctor told me it was pancreatic cancer, I told him to SHUT HIS COMMIE MOUTH.

-A shotgun wielding redneck

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I doubt that would be a problem, you underestimate the power of stock coolers although loud can perform quite well. The case has enough airflow too

the steacom is fanless and I dont think it supports even stock coolers

Thats that. If you need to get in touch chances are you can find someone that knows me that can get in touch.

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the steacom is fanless and I dont think it supports even stock coolers

I thought you meant the second one nvm

Im so patriotic, I piss red white and blue. My doctor told me it was pancreatic cancer, I told him to SHUT HIS COMMIE MOUTH.

-A shotgun wielding redneck

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the steacom is fanless and I dont think it supports even stock coolers

He can still add fans as there are rooms for fans in it

Im so patriotic, I piss red white and blue. My doctor told me it was pancreatic cancer, I told him to SHUT HIS COMMIE MOUTH.

-A shotgun wielding redneck

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the steacom is fanless and I dont think it supports even stock coolers

You can quite easily fit a Noctua cooler in there, even with an ODD (which I'm probably not even going to use). 

 

Then again, I thought the i5-4460 would run at 54w TDP, not 84w... 

 

Given the fact that even an i3 beats the A10-7800 in CPU performance, I'm starting to suspect the Kaveri build might not be such a great idea after all...

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You can quite easily fit a Noctua cooler in there, even with an ODD (which I'm probably not even going to use). 

 

Then again, I thought the i5-4460 would run at 54w TDP, not 84w... 

 

Given the fact that even an i3 beats the A10-7800 in CPU performance, I'm starting to suspect the Kaveri build might not be such a great idea after all...

dude cores are important VERY important i5-4440/4460 MINIMUM 

Thats that. If you need to get in touch chances are you can find someone that knows me that can get in touch.

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Intel confuses me with their denominations... What does the S stand for now? 

 

Thanks though, that's probably the Intel processor to go for in these kind of small builds.

lol I have no idea, but that's one heck of an achievment for a i5. There's also the 4570s, 4590s, and they run near the same TDP for cheaper. You might wanna look at those too :)

 junker build in the making

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lol I have no idea, but that's one heck of an achievment for a i5. There's also the 4570s, 4590s, and they run near the same TDP for cheaper. You might wanna look at those too :)

I just compared the i5 to the A10 at the same TDP and god it's not even close. I mean, 50+% performance gains... 

 

I'm a bit annoyed that the F1C/i5 combo seems to be the smartest build now, as I would have loved to have an excuse to invest in a GPU.

But as your link pointed out, it's all about the CPU performance.... :(

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I just compared the i5 to the A10 at the same TDP and god it's not even close. I mean, 50+% performance gains... 

 

I'm a bit annoyed that the F1C/i5 combo seems to be the smartest build now, as I would have loved to have an excuse to invest in a GPU.

But as your link pointed out, it's all about the CPU performance.... :(

Since your not doing heavy gaming as you say, a 750 ti, R7 260x are tiny cards that have a lot of juice at low TDPs.  However, if you do plan on going no GPU for the time being, you can have the perk of getting a PICO mini PSU. They are these really tiny power supplies that are literally on the motherboard connector and only require an external AC adapter to power them. You can find 200w models on ebay for really cheap and it's worth buying if you want to travel lightly. 

 junker build in the making

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And you're certain that a gaming laptop wouldn't be just as good of a choice?

I mean, sure, desktop CPUs and GPUs are faster than the laptop equivalents, but you can easily get laptops today that are capable of running any current piece of software.

It all depends on what you mean by "backpackable" of course. If you mean a system that might be moved "short distances" (one town to another, home to uni type thing) 4-5 times a year, then I would consider allowing for a slightly bigger case with a carrying handle, and just put up with the extra weight. If we're talking something that will have to be moved on a weekly, or even daily basis, or if it'll have to go by air multiple times, then I would imagine that a gaming laptop would be a better choice.

An i7-4xx0 "HQ" series is a full quad core CPU with performance enough to do your engineering type CAD software, plus you could get those combined with a GTX980M that as far as I know supports CUDA just like its desktop cousin.

Aside from that, I would imagine that a "barebones" type system could be an option, such as:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856167081

Might not be the ideal solution, but portability usually comes at a price.

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Well, I already have my Macbook for the daily travel, so I think a laptop would be a bit redundant. I also think I would benefit from a proper, large screen, so there go the advantages of a laptop.

 

They're also too expensive for my taste, you're not getting a single one that has a GTX970m for less than 1500 €.

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Well, I already have my Macbook for the daily travel, so I think a laptop would be a bit redundant. I also think I would benefit from a proper, large screen, so there go the advantages of a laptop.

 

They're also too expensive for my taste, you're not getting a single one that has a GTX970m for less than 1500 €.

From what I've seen, Macbooks lack a bit in the specs department, but yes, I see your point of needing a larger screen. I have an older gaming laptop myself, with a lovely 1920x1200 17" screen, but it can't compare to the 24" IPS I got on my desk.

Having a separate large monitor kind of ruins the "backpackable" bit though. If you're going to be bringing it by car for example, then I think you'd probably be better off by just selecting a slightly more compact aluminium atx tower and keep the build simple to keep the weight down.

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Yes, it's lacking, hence this thread. I like the notion of having a powerful stationary computer running Windows and a lightweight laptop running OS X.

 

And frankly, I want something I can tinker with, so there goes the laptop idea.

 

The traveling the computer has to do would be mainly by plane, from Germany to England, to Germany to Ireland to England to Germany in the next year and a couple of times within Germany. I have no problem mailing a monitor, but I wouldn't want to mail my computer, no matter the service.

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Well, here's a video showing the barebones case I suggested earlier:

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/4fygjoWmSqk

 

It doesn't give you too much to tinker with though, but it would be very portable, and seeing as they are using an R9 280X in this video, it seems the power supply is fairly capable.

 

EDIT: Right, this forum doesn't appear to like the youtube embed code, so I'll just leave the link.

 

EDIT 2: Ooh, even better:

:D
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