I wonder if they let you tweak the fan curves like they do on their motherboards. If so, you might be able to keep it quiet during HTPC operations and only have it kick on if you decide to game.
But it looks like there was plenty of space to install a more massive heatsink and maybe one bigger and quieter fan instead of 2 tiny laptop fans even if this made it a little heavier. This really looks like a missed opportunity since it's not like many people will actually carry it around in their backpack. https://youtu.be/6Y2zHzMKlFk?t=116
Seems like a curiously spec'd product--loads of fast storage but uses mobile hardware. The big issue is that it Doesn't sound very serviceable. Even the PSU looks to be proprietary. If something goes bad, the whole thing is junked. This isn't a $250 console we're talking about.
Agreed on that. Even I did it when my desktop's motherboard failed. I just pulled the hard drive out and carted the rest of the system off to be recycled and this was a system I built myself from parts a bit less than a year ago. It's just not worth the time to mess around with one when a replacement can be had for under $400 and you can get a laptop instead of a desktop. I think a lot of people are learning that these days and just dumping their systems so the fact that something can't be serviced is a non-issue these days.
Yeah but laptops fail too, and oftentimes CPU is soldered into the motherboard, I went through this recently... replacing the mobo+CPU cost as much as another low end laptop, ultimately I junked the system except for the SSD and RAM (though I can't use the ram in my new laptop.)
It's very hard to get away from the ATX mobo standards and the previously established PC modularity, I applaud companies for trying new things.
Laptops and desktops are all throw away, disposable bits of technology. If they fail within warranty, then they ought to be repaired at the company's time and expense. After that, send them to the electronics recycler. Computers are cheap, expendable trinkets as long as you don't do something silly like spending more than you can afford to toss directly into the trash on one.
If this would have been announced a month ago I would have waited. I just picked up an Alienware R2 and the 1060 in the ASUS would have swayed that decision.
This is a decent little box! We buy Dell XPS 8900s for just a little bit less than this, and these have much more graphical punch than those.
The serviceability is less and less important these days. I manage a fleet of machines for corporations, and the last desktop that actually died I serviced years ago. It just isn't that common anymore. If the noise levels can be kept down, this thing would be a great fit....
You are forgetting this is made by Asus, the company that loves to blame it's failed parts on "physical damage" that doesn't exist...Or you know, just flat out denying warranty coverage just because they can. Read some of the horror stories on the forums..I will NEVER buy an Asus branded laptop ( which this is sans screen) since I have 4 family members that have had laptops fail within the first year.
They would have been better off using a 35W desktop 'T' processor than a laptop processor.
The i5-7600T is only 35W but is 2.8-3.7GHz vs the 7300HQ's 45W and 2.5-3.5GHz.
The i5-7500T is embeddable, 35W 2.7-3.3GHz.
I'd also like to have seen better cooling to make the system quieter. Even if it cost a bit more to do so, I'd think it would be worth it to make it more HTPC-like when not playing games.
One curious omission in the article and one head scratcher. Which version of the 1060 is it, the 3 Gb or the 6Gb? Why only 8GB and why at Jedec? I'm guessing the speed is limited by the mobile chipset, but the capacity is odd. Overall I really do like this but with the mobile CPU the limited RAM and the question marks on the GPU I would have felt a lot more excited if this had been $599. Looks like I will still wait for Zen/Vega before I make a move.
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Chaitanya - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
Looks perfect for HTPC.close - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
Two (small) fans too many for HTPC perfection :).Murloc - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
probably a bit noisy but I guess that if you want to game you don't have many choices, consoles have fans too.forgot2yield28 - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
I wonder if they let you tweak the fan curves like they do on their motherboards. If so, you might be able to keep it quiet during HTPC operations and only have it kick on if you decide to game.close - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
But it looks like there was plenty of space to install a more massive heatsink and maybe one bigger and quieter fan instead of 2 tiny laptop fans even if this made it a little heavier. This really looks like a missed opportunity since it's not like many people will actually carry it around in their backpack.https://youtu.be/6Y2zHzMKlFk?t=116
Ro_Ja - Saturday, January 7, 2017 - link
The fans in some consoles is louder I think.Michael Bay - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
A bit too gaudy for that.MonkeyPaw - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
Seems like a curiously spec'd product--loads of fast storage but uses mobile hardware. The big issue is that it Doesn't sound very serviceable. Even the PSU looks to be proprietary. If something goes bad, the whole thing is junked. This isn't a $250 console we're talking about.Murloc - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
on the other hand, many people have this behaviour with their computers too. AIO computers for starters.BrokenCrayons - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
Agreed on that. Even I did it when my desktop's motherboard failed. I just pulled the hard drive out and carted the rest of the system off to be recycled and this was a system I built myself from parts a bit less than a year ago. It's just not worth the time to mess around with one when a replacement can be had for under $400 and you can get a laptop instead of a desktop. I think a lot of people are learning that these days and just dumping their systems so the fact that something can't be serviced is a non-issue these days.niva - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
Yeah but laptops fail too, and oftentimes CPU is soldered into the motherboard, I went through this recently... replacing the mobo+CPU cost as much as another low end laptop, ultimately I junked the system except for the SSD and RAM (though I can't use the ram in my new laptop.)It's very hard to get away from the ATX mobo standards and the previously established PC modularity, I applaud companies for trying new things.
BrokenCrayons - Sunday, January 8, 2017 - link
Laptops and desktops are all throw away, disposable bits of technology. If they fail within warranty, then they ought to be repaired at the company's time and expense. After that, send them to the electronics recycler. Computers are cheap, expendable trinkets as long as you don't do something silly like spending more than you can afford to toss directly into the trash on one.meacupla - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
Check the pictures. It looks like a standard laptop power connector on the back.RamIt - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
If this would have been announced a month ago I would have waited.I just picked up an Alienware R2 and the 1060 in the ASUS would have swayed that decision.
vLsL2VnDmWjoTByaVLxb - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
This is a decent little box! We buy Dell XPS 8900s for just a little bit less than this, and these have much more graphical punch than those.The serviceability is less and less important these days. I manage a fleet of machines for corporations, and the last desktop that actually died I serviced years ago. It just isn't that common anymore. If the noise levels can be kept down, this thing would be a great fit....
fasterquieter - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
If only I could buy a Mac at this price point with these specs. I'd be so excited I'd fall off my chair.Morawka - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
i dont see how they sell it so cheap and still give you a warrantyC.C. - Saturday, January 7, 2017 - link
You are forgetting this is made by Asus, the company that loves to blame it's failed parts on "physical damage" that doesn't exist...Or you know, just flat out denying warranty coverage just because they can. Read some of the horror stories on the forums..I will NEVER buy an Asus branded laptop ( which this is sans screen) since I have 4 family members that have had laptops fail within the first year.eldakka - Saturday, January 7, 2017 - link
They would have been better off using a 35W desktop 'T' processor than a laptop processor.The i5-7600T is only 35W but is 2.8-3.7GHz vs the 7300HQ's 45W and 2.5-3.5GHz.
The i5-7500T is embeddable, 35W 2.7-3.3GHz.
I'd also like to have seen better cooling to make the system quieter. Even if it cost a bit more to do so, I'd think it would be worth it to make it more HTPC-like when not playing games.
Lolimaster - Sunday, January 8, 2017 - link
Would've been better with the 7700T 35w.toyota - Monday, January 9, 2017 - link
8gb in a gaming system?fanofanand - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
One curious omission in the article and one head scratcher. Which version of the 1060 is it, the 3 Gb or the 6Gb? Why only 8GB and why at Jedec? I'm guessing the speed is limited by the mobile chipset, but the capacity is odd. Overall I really do like this but with the mobile CPU the limited RAM and the question marks on the GPU I would have felt a lot more excited if this had been $599. Looks like I will still wait for Zen/Vega before I make a move.Ananke - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
This is a moderate laptop, that Asus stripped off the screen. Essentially, it is an overpriced POS as such.