Looking to buy a mini PC wanting some help.

[Time-Bandit]

How do I power my EGpu - please see my last post

Hi all,

Looking at purchasing a mini PC. I am looking at https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32907825469.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.5bef3c00XNDoft&mp=1 J1900 my intentions are to go for 8GB ram and run a 4 core cpu I am just wanting to run emulation on this machine so I don't have to keep my main machine with games installed.

My questions around this are;

How many ram slots does this thing have?
Should I be getting ECC or non ECC ram?
Can I use an external GPU with this system? (Happy to access wifi via USB so I can use the Wifi port inside to hook up external GPU).
I take it this PC would just be a normal Windows 10 install? so I can install w/e I want unlike raspberry pi 3 win 10?
Would this CPU be enough for Cemu and Yuzu emulation?

Cheers,

Bandit.

 

[trents]

Non ECC Ram. I doubt it will even recognize ECC RAM since it's not a server class Intel system.

Windows should install normally. The NUCs have common chipsets so the drivers should be in Windows 10. These machines are designed for office tasks. You see a lot of them in dentist and doctor's offices. It will have the processing power of a low end laptop or netbook.

 

[EarthDog]

Hi all,

Looking at purchasing a mini PC. I am looking at https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32907825469.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.5bef3c00XNDoft&mp=1 J1900 my intentions are to go for 8GB ram and run a 4 core cpu I am just wanting to run emulation on this machine so I don't have to keep my main machine with games installed.

My questions around this are;

How many ram slots does this thing have?
Should I be getting ECC or non ECC ram?
Can I use an external GPU with this system? (Happy to access wifi via USB so I can use the Wifi port inside to hook up external GPU).
I take it this PC would just be a normal Windows 10 install? so I can install w/e I want unlike raspberry pi 3 win 10?
Would this CPU be enough for Cemu and Yuzu emulation?

Cheers,

Bandit.

1. I see one slot in the image. Look up the specs of the device at the Intel website, that will tell you.
2. Non-ecc. You arent running a server and that device likely doesnt support it in the first place.
3. I dont believe you can use an external gpu, no. I dont see any thunderbolt ports or usb 3.2 type-c ports that would support it. I've never heard of gpus attached via ethernet.
4. Should be a normal win 10 install. No idea about pi versions.
5. Maybe... depends on how much horsepower those games need...these arent meant for gaming.. can likely do some web type games, but not sure if it can do much more with the terrible igpu.

 

[trents]

I don't think there is enough clearance for a discrete GPU. These things are made for office scenarios, not gaming.

 

[EarthDog]

I don't think there is enough clearance for a discrete GPU. These things are made for office scenarios, not gaming.

there isnt a pcie port on the board, holes for such a thing, nor the room. But he is talking about an external GPU which typically works through a thunderbolt port and used to supplement basic laptops which have that connectivity.

https://www.asus.com/us/Graphics-Cards-Accessories/ROG-XG-STATION-2/

https://www.amazon.com/Razer-Chroma...79&hvtargid=aud-801381245258:pla-750099359002

Etc..

 

[dejo]

if you can spend the coin, the Intel Hades Canyon or one of the newest I7 NUC with Iris graphics can do some gaming. They are more expensive but come with a valid 3 yr warranty and are actually pretty nice units. I have a 6 and 7 series I3 and also the Skull Canyon and like using them for everyday tasks. the skull canyon can do some low detail gaming (have played borderlands 2 on it

 

[Time-Bandit]

Yeah, I was thinking about adding the GPU via where the wifi card would go on this machine. Not via USB C. I have read and seen people with laptops remove the wifi card and plug something into that port and hook it up to the GPU so they can use the GPU on the laptop.

I thought it was the port at the bottom left hand corner (there is something plugged in there at the moment "the image at the bottom of the page posted by an owner of the machine") - using one of these to connect the GPU - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/328...chweb0_0,searchweb201602_2,searchweb201603_53

 

[EarthDog]

Mini pcie...ahh...yeah, I suppose you can buy an adapter, but it goes to a riser card? Not sure how that would work with an external enclosure though...

There is this...https://www.newegg.com/p/0X6-04KT-0ND69

 

[trents]

Bandit, why do you feel a need to go with a mini? Is there a space limitation coming into play here or is this just intriguing?

 

[Time-Bandit]

Bandit, why do you feel a need to go with a mini? Is there a space limitation coming into play here or is this just intriguing?

Yes space issue so trying to take up as little room as possible.

I have the unit which arrived the other day, my question is can I install Windows LTSC on this mini just as if it was a normal computer? or does it have some sort of limitation like when you get a windows 10 tablet and can't install Win 7 on it (just an example).

Cheers,

Bandit.

 

[trents]

You may have to disable "S" mode.

https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/cytzqz

https://www.hellotech.com/blog/what-is-windows-10-s-mode-and-how-to-turn-it-off

 

[Time-Bandit]

Managed to get everything up and running, didn't have this S mode coming up so I think i'm good.

My question now is a cheap suggestion/way to protect my external GPU.

I was thinking 3D printed case but in New Zealand I am unsure how much this would cost me or if there are cheaper alternatives (I don't think there are but if there are let me know).

Plan on keeping the GPU behind my TV with a case around it, unlikely it will fall but want a case just to be on the safe side.

 

[EarthDog]

eGPU chassis are all around. How are you running it now???????????????

 

[Time-Bandit]

eGPU chassis are all around. How are you running it now???????????????

Currently the card has not been pulled from my other machine.

 

[Time-Bandit]

Ok I have the mini pcie card plugged in. Didn't realise there was a spare slot I could put this in, noticed this after I took the wifi card out.

I got lucky with the fact the seller had an hold in the case for a vga port that isn't on this motherboard so I managed to shove the pcie through there so I can actually keep the case closed which is nice.

My question now is how can I power the gtx 650 that I have plugged into it, do I need to get a separate power supply to power this or is there some way I can get a cable of some sort that will hook into a USB port for power since the system is already powered by a little laptop brick psu.

The ports I have available are;

On the Mini pcie adapter there is one of the 4 pins you can use to plug a case fan from a psu.
Secondly the 4/6pin port on the gtx 650 itself

Do I need to have power connected to both the riser/mini pcie aswell as the gpu? or will powering one suffice to power both? (as mentioned previously the other end of the pcie/riser is already plugged into the motherboard.

 

[Time-Bandit]

Will this power setup work?

Hi all,

Need to power my GPU via mini pcie.

I am using this mini pcie - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32829289226.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dpoGN5J

I want to know if I can power my GTX 650 like this.

Using one of these - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/329...earchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

and one of these - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...earchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Since I don't want to spend money on an extra PSU.

Cheers,

Bandit.

 

[trents]

Your links don't work for me. They take me to a sign in page but I don't have an account with AliExpress. Nor do I want to start one.

 

[EarthDog]

Links work for me... not an Ali Express member.

 

[trents]

This is what I get when I click on any of those Alliexpress links in post #16.

Bandit, the GTX 650 has a TDP of 64 watts so even if the PCI-e bus supplies that much your external power brick will need to cover that much plus whatever the rest of the system draws.

 

[EarthDog]

I believe, you, just said it works on my end.

EDIT: On my phone (where I checked the site this morning), the links work (not signed in!).. on my PC, nope. Note, I am not a member there or anything to be signed in, weird...lol.