The idea: I bring the hardware . Someone lend me a TV , bust out the six packs/kegs and we’re game .
Some loose base requirements:
One of:
Mini-PC (e.g., NUC or 4x4)
- At least one M.2 2280 slot or longer
(The shorter ones tend to limit choices and are more expensive.)- At least two M.2 slots
(Size doesn’t matter for the second one, but preferably it’s at least 2280 or longer.)
- At least two M.2 slots
- A decent iGPU on par with or better than the ones in the Ryzen handhelds and/or a mobile dGPU
(The ASUS ROG Ally with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and its likes have shown how capable SFF systems can be.) - An NPU
(This is for future-proofing. No doubt games of all proportions will start making use of it given that all the major CPU makers plan to make it ubiquitous.) - USB4/Thunderbolt 4 or better (yea I know USB4 2.0 and Thunderbolt 5 aren’t really a thing yet, but surprise me)
(It’d be even better if it was capable of PD input so I could dispense with having to carry a proprietary DC power brick. So many more options are available with the USB-C port including power from a Thunderbolt dock or monitor. And of course, this is also for future-proofing.)
Mini ITX/microATX
- The case must have a single handle for carrying. Space for mounting U.2 SSDs or an enclosure for them is desirable. Modern front panel I/O is mildly preferable. The unit overall should be comfortable enough for carrying onto a crowded bus or train while standing up for about an hour and without allowing the unit to touch the ground or a seat.
- Either a soldered-on CPU from the Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, Core Ultra 100, or Raptor Lake [Refresh] series or sockets AM5 or LGA 1700
(Raptor Lake/LGA 1700 is much less preferable given the compounding performance regressions accrued from security vulnerability mitigations, and the fact that LGA 1700’s already known to be a dead-end in terms of upgradability.) - USB4/Thunderbolt 4 or better
(As Mini ITX has only one PCIe slot and never have Thunderbolt headers anyway, a Thunderbolt add-in card isn’t an option. It has to be part of the motherboard from the get-go.) - The primary PCIe slot revision must be no less than PCIe 4.0 as I have PCIe 4.0 hardware which will need a new home once their PCIe 5.0 successors have been obtained
- If the iGPU is weak, the NVIDIA RTX 4000 ADA will go into the PCIe slot.
- If the iGPU can muster the strength for some light gaming, either a PCIe-to-cable adapter or the Broadcom P411W-32P can go into it. It’ll depend on the bifurcation capabilities.
Bluetooth 4.1+ and Wi-Fi 6E+ will be added to any build that doesn’t have it built-in.
Other (low-priority) factors affecting choice of hardware:
- I have a bunch of Intel Optane SSD 905P Series (380 GB) which come in the M.2 22110 form factor and need a home.
- I also have the Intel Optane Memory H20 with Solid State Storage (32 GB + 1 TB) which has resisted working in any of the systems/adapters/enclosures I have thus far.
What I’ve found so far from a bit of legwork and blanks that need to be filled in:
Mini PCs:
- ASUS NUC14SRKU9B ( user manual): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, exposes most of the I/O that the Meteor Lake chip has to offer, SD card slot (supporting PCIe 4.0)
- ASUS NUC14RVSU9 ( user manual): compact enough to fit in large pocket or backpack, capable iGPU, 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports open up a lot of connectivity options
- Minisforum UM780 XTX: dual USB4, PD input to lose the DC barrel and its power adapter brick, PCIe 4.0 OCuLink
Portable desktops components:
- Mini ITX build
- DeepCool CH160 ( user manual): top leather? strap carrying handle, air flow, modern front panel I/O
- Silverstone ST80F-TI: short (150 mm), 80 PLUS Titanium certification, cable mods available to customize length for best fit
- Heat sink for vertical mounting and safe for travel❓
- ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI ( user manual): the smallest AM5 motherboard with PCIe 5.0 and dual USB4, and also the only Mini ITX X670E
- AMD Ryzen Pro 7745 or alternatively the 7700X with ECO mode to curb power consumption and heat output
- PNY NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation (already in possession)
- microATX build
- Silverstone SG12 ( user manual): 5.25″ external drive bay, up to 12 internal 2.5″ drives, microATX
- Silverstone ST80F-TI
- Noctua NH-L12Sx77: just a few millimeters below the CPU cooler limit for the case and the best of the Noctua fans that fit
- ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X670E GENE ( user manual): thus far the only microATX AM5 motherboard with PCIe 5.0 and dual USB4, and also the only microATX X670E
- AMD Ryzen Pro 7745 or alternatively the 7700X with ECO mode to curb power consumption and heat output
- Broadcom P411W-32P (already in possession)
- Requires three fans mounted on a PCI bracket to keep temperatures under control (also already in possession)
- ICY DOCK MB699VP-B V2
Products ruled out:
- ASRock Industrial NUCS BOX-155H ( user manual): all mid specs, nothing particularly stand-out, and for a price not much lower than the best of the ASUS’s NUC 14 lineup
- Many of the Meteor Lake mini PCs from others available for order are similarly deficient. Minisforum’s take on the Meteor Lake NUC form factor might be interesting though.
- Minisforum MS-01: great connectivity and expansion options on paper, but the constraints are so onerous, one would have a hard time making good of them. The U.2 drive can only be up to 7 mm tall. The PCIe slot can barely accommodate a single-slot low-profile card. Ventilation/thermal paste is poor. And there are extensive reports of shipping delays and hardware bugs from those who pre-ordered.
Additional suggestions and ideas are welcome.
I also haven’t really done any sort of risk assessment with a portable desktop build. Any input would be appreciated!