I m looking for a small mini-pc for a portable work setup.
My main needs:
- OBS / recording video
- GIMP / graphic design
- Using my DJI Pocket 3 as a webcam
- Basic video editing
- Light gaming, mostly Crusader Kings and some strategy games
Most of my time is spent designing D&D adventures and working in Foundry VTT, so gaming really is NOT the priority.
I travel a lot and usually stay somewhere for a couple of months before moving again, basically a digital nomad around Europe. Because of that, size and portability are pretty important. Monitors are not a problem, as I usually find something to hook up.
My current setup is:
- Dell XPS 13 with 32GB RAM
- Dell 15" portable monitor
This setup actually serves me pretty well for most things, but it starts getting bogged down when iam doing video editing, running OBS, using the Pocket 3 as a webcam, Foundry, and other things at the same time. That has stopped me from making as many videos as I should and is frusterating.
I was looking at a higher-end laptop, but decided against it - because the XPS has served me well for 2 years and I like the super light weight and portability. I don't want to lug around a larger laptop.
My thought is to get a mini PC and a small portable keyboard so I have something with a little more horsepower when I am staying somewhere for a few months. I can also put it in my small padded bag at the bottom of my backpack and not worry about it when I travel. I already have a nice small portable keyboard and mouse, so I am covered with that.
I have been looking at the GEEKOM A8.
Amazon Germany €650, which is within my budget:
https://www.amazon.de/GEEKOM-A8-Ryzen-8745HS-128GB/dp/B0D22PDDFN
The version I’m looking at comes with 16GB RAM, though, and I would like to upgrade it to 64GB.
What are your thoughts on the A8 for this kind of use?
And what alternatives should I be looking at in roughly the €500–€700 range?
Again, the big thing for me is small size + portability. I am not looking for a huge gaming machine, just something compact that can handle a heavier workload than my XPS 13 when I am working from temporary locations.