Upgrading hardware, deciding between intel processors and form factors

[roveer]

I've been running an HP slim desktop that uses an E5500 CPU. I want to upgrade to get a larger screen (been using 17" lcd want to go to a 23" LCD).

The two choices I've come up with are as follows:

1. Intel NUC and replacement monitor. NUC has a i5-5250U. This is going to get a little pricey considering the cost of the NUC, a new monitor, memory and SSD.

2. Lenovo THINKCENTRE M92Z - 3314D9U which has a i5-3470S CPU and is an all-in-one

The NUC setup will probably cost 3 times the lenovo setup. I'm wondering coming from that old E5500 will the Lenovo seem be good enough or should I go for the NUC? This machine does not do a huge amount of processing, it's a kitchen web/email/office machine but I do run a MySQL instance on it for very light duty DB work.

Thoughts? Thanks,

Roveer

 

[AddRAM]

Go with the best you can afford, the Lenovo should be fine.

That i5 is fine.

ARK | Intel® Coreâ

Max out the memory, at least 8 GB if it will take it

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The Lenovo i5-3470S scores 6209 on the Passmark benchmark. Clock speed 2.90.

The NUC i5-5250U scores 3624; clock speed 1.60

Offhand, looks like a no brainer for the Lenovo. That's a considerable difference in the benchmark and you'd probably notice it. Plus it's 1/3 the price of the NUC.

As you perceive it, what are the shortcomings of the Lenovo?

Why is the NUC even under consideration? Are you limited to those 2 choices without exception?

I'm guessing neither has an SSD?

I'd be a bit antsy about having a so-called "all-in-one", but I don't think those NUC things are easily upgradeable either.

 

[roveer]

The Lenovo i5-3470S scores 6209 on the Passmark benchmark. Clock speed 2.90.

The NUC i5-5250U scores 3624; clock speed 1.60

Offhand, looks like a no brainer for the Lenovo. That's a considerable difference in the benchmark and you'd probably notice it. Plus it's 1/3 the price of the NUC.

As you perceive it, what are the shortcomings of the Lenovo?

Why is the NUC even under consideration? Are you limited to those 2 choices without exception?

I'm guessing neither has an SSD?

I'd be a bit antsy about having a so-called "all-in-one", but I don't think those NUC things are easily upgradeable either.

Thank you for the detailed response. This is pretty much exactly the information I was looking for. I was mildly concerned about the Lenovo being an all-in-one but feel I can work with it. I'll want to mount it into the wall so it sits up off the counter. I pretty much customize all of my PC installations so I have no problem doing what ever is necessary to get this mounted the way I want. I will put an SSD into whatever I buy to give it that extra kick.

I was considering the NUC because it has such a small form factor and while I have a slim PC sitting on a shelf right now I was looking for something even smaller.

Thanks for your input.

Roveer

 

[logicearth]

but I don't think those NUC things are easily upgradeable either.

Depends on what you want to upgrade. I myself have the Haswell i5 NUC with support for a 2.5" drive. You can upgrade the memory no problem, the mSATA drive (or M.2 drive soon), as well as the wireless card. You won't be upgrading the processor of course. Either way, good little machine for light work loads. Or in my case a server. (DNS, DHCP, Web Server)

By the way, if you get the right monitor where it has VESA mount on the back, and the monitor stand itself does not use it, you can mount the NUC onto the VESA mount, hiding it behind the monitor. It uses so little power, you could just leave the NUC on 24/7 just let it go into sleep mode.

Oh forgot to mention. NUCs are barebones kits. You need to provide RAM and s storage option. Double check that it comes with the power cord, if it doesn't you'll need to source one.

 

[whs]

Here is another small option.

HP Pavilion Mini Review - ComputerShopper.com

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Here is another small option.

HP Pavilion Mini Review - ComputerShopper.com

Whoa!!!! Computer Shopper!!!!!

I had not thought about them since the 1990s, when they published that huge paper catalog you could find on newsstands. Use to browse through it semi-religiously.

I thought they were defunct and long gone.

 

[roveer]

Here is another small option.

HP Pavilion Mini Review - ComputerShopper.com

Whoa!!!! Computer Shopper!!!!!

I had not thought about them since the 1990s, when they published that huge paper catalog you could find on newsstands. Use to browse through it semi-religiously.

I thought they were defunct and long gone.

I have to admit it... That was my porn mag of the 90's. I was just getting my first job in NYC back then and would get a copy of that huge paper and literally drool over every piece of hardware listed. There was no internet, very few magazines were selling so this paper was a pretty big deal. Oh the good old days. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Roveer

 

[roveer]

So at this point I scored a Lenovo M92Z with a a i5-3470S processor (4 cores) with 8GB of RAM. I'm going to ditch the 500gig hdd and put in my own SSD. This should be a pretty good machine for 315.00 bucks delivered. Let's hope it works out.

Roveer

 

[whs]

For that price I would get it too. Lot's of luck with it.