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These two statements from the article seem to argue against his point. > The CPU and disk performance on offer here [in the latest NUC] are hilariously far bey

These two statements from the article seem to argue against his point. > The CPU and disk performance on offer here [in the latest NUC] are hilariously far beyond what's available on current consoles ... But most importantly, its GPU performance is on par with current consoles. > Zero games are meaningfully CPU limited today Why would I pay over $1000 for a game machine that is basically identical to current consoles in the most important aspect of hardware?

dmoy 10y ago
In 5 years you can drop in a new GPU and keep rolling with the new AAA titles coming out. Sandy bridge handles things fine still...
- williadc 10y ago
  It'd have to be an external GPU though, and the harness alone looks like it's $500. That's likely to get cheaper with time, but even if it were free, an external GPU takes away the primary advantages of a NUC over a mini-ITX or micro-ATX PC, which would likely be much cheaper as well.
ekianjo 10y ago
> Why would I pay over $1000 for a game machine that is basically identical to current consoles in the most important aspect of hardware? Because you have access to thousands more games than on consoles? And you know, you can do about everything with it, not just gaming.
- williadc 10y ago
  Yes, but a NUC is not the only option for living-room PC gaming, and doesn't really seem like the best one.
  - ekianjo 10y ago
    Agree, but in terms of space it's a compact solution.
DanBC 10y ago
It's easier to modify PC games. Modding and level design is important to some people.
- williadc 10y ago
  Yes, but a $600-700 mini-ITX/micro-ATX would have that advantage and not have to hook-up an external GPU in two years.
clevernickname 10y ago
"Games aren't CPU limited" is a myth, and if you build your own PC instead of following Jeff Atwood's affiliate codes, you can easily put something together for half that price that absolutely smokes all the current gen consoles, has a 20+ year library, and is useful for work. And when you look at the most popular game genres in the west today, you basically have MOBAs (which aren't even playable on consoles) and FPS (which have, dare I say, the objectively superior input scheme on PC). It used to be that you would have a PC for FPS, and a home console or three for all of the niche Japanese stuff. Then almost all of the niche Japanese devs packed up shop and started developing for handhelds, so you'd get a PC for FPS and a DS/3DS/PSP/Vita for the niche stuff. Now they're finally catching onto the fact that most of the "niche gamers" in the west are on Steam, and we've arrived at the bizarre reality that there are more interesting JRPGs being released on PC these days than on there are for PS4. The bizarre reality where I am literally more interested in the PS4 as a Netflix machine than as a gaming device.
- williadc 10y ago
  > if you build your own PC instead of following Jeff Atwood's affiliate codes, you can easily put something together for half that price that absolutely smokes all the current gen consoles, has a 20+ year library, and is useful for work. This was more or less my point. He's trying to shoehorn the NUC into a place where other options fit better.
  - clevernickname 10y ago
    Honestly at this point, I assume that every new Coding Horror post is an excuse to spam affiliate links at people.
    - jsmeaton 10y ago
      Eh, it's gear he's actually using. Jeff has a massive audience, so if he's going to be advocating for tech he's researching and using then I have no problem with affiliate links. To suggest that's all these blog posts are for is really poor form. For what it's worth this build and many previous builds are focused on HTPCs. Having a quiet, power efficient, and capable box is the aim. That is the theme. I personally don't see the value in this particular build, but this isn't trying to be an ultimate gaming rig. Just compareble to current gen consoles, with upgrade potential, while still being the quiet, small, power efficient HTPC box sitting under the TV.

dmoy 10y ago

In 5 years you can drop in a new GPU and keep rolling with the new AAA titles coming out. Sandy bridge handles things fine still...

williadc 10y ago
It'd have to be an external GPU though, and the harness alone looks like it's $500. That's likely to get cheaper with time, but even if it were free, an external GPU takes away the primary advantages of a NUC over a mini-ITX or micro-ATX PC, which would likely be much cheaper as well.

ekianjo 10y ago

> Why would I pay over $1000 for a game machine that is basically identical to current consoles in the most important aspect of hardware? Because you have access to thousands more games than on consoles? And you know, you can do about everything with it, not just gaming.

williadc 10y ago
Yes, but a NUC is not the only option for living-room PC gaming, and doesn't really seem like the best one.
- ekianjo 10y ago
  Agree, but in terms of space it's a compact solution.

DanBC 10y ago

It's easier to modify PC games. Modding and level design is important to some people.

williadc 10y ago
Yes, but a $600-700 mini-ITX/micro-ATX would have that advantage and not have to hook-up an external GPU in two years.

clevernickname 10y ago

"Games aren't CPU limited" is a myth, and if you build your own PC instead of following Jeff Atwood's affiliate codes, you can easily put something together for half that price that absolutely smokes all the current gen consoles, has a 20+ year library, and is useful for work. And when you look at the most popular game genres in the west today, you basically have MOBAs (which aren't even playable on consoles) and FPS (which have, dare I say, the objectively superior input scheme on PC). It used to be that you would have a PC for FPS, and a home console or three for all of the niche Japanese stuff. Then almost all of the niche Japanese devs packed up shop and started developing for handhelds, so you'd get a PC for FPS and a DS/3DS/PSP/Vita for the niche stuff. Now they're finally catching onto the fact that most of the "niche gamers" in the west are on Steam, and we've arrived at the bizarre reality that there are more interesting JRPGs being released on PC these days than on there are for PS4. The bizarre reality where I am literally more interested in the PS4 as a Netflix machine than as a gaming device.

williadc 10y ago
> if you build your own PC instead of following Jeff Atwood's affiliate codes, you can easily put something together for half that price that absolutely smokes all the current gen consoles, has a 20+ year library, and is useful for work. This was more or less my point. He's trying to shoehorn the NUC into a place where other options fit better.
- clevernickname 10y ago
  Honestly at this point, I assume that every new Coding Horror post is an excuse to spam affiliate links at people.
  - jsmeaton 10y ago
    Eh, it's gear he's actually using. Jeff has a massive audience, so if he's going to be advocating for tech he's researching and using then I have no problem with affiliate links. To suggest that's all these blog posts are for is really poor form. For what it's worth this build and many previous builds are focused on HTPCs. Having a quiet, power efficient, and capable box is the aim. That is the theme. I personally don't see the value in this particular build, but this isn't trying to be an ultimate gaming rig. Just compareble to current gen consoles, with upgrade potential, while still being the quiet, small, power efficient HTPC box sitting under the TV.