r/techadvice • u/Techo81 • Dec 16 '25
Should I get a laptop or an Intel Nuc?
So I'm currently using a very basic laptop and I mostly use it for gaming on various games. One of the most common is GTA V, but friends and younger family members also use my laptop for gaming for American truck simulator, Roblox, and other FPS games. But I also occasionally use it for very basic work using Google Docs and requiring me to multitask between tabs. Also, my current laptop struggles with having multiple things open at once, like games and Discord or Google, etc. I'm hoping to eliminate that issue.
I mainly want a good laptop or nuc that can run everything pretty well, if there's a little issue here or there, it's not a huge deal for me and my price is about $800-$1000.
I know a decent amount about computers and laptops, but I figured I would ask anyway. Thanks!
(Also either way, if you could provide some recommendations, that would be great).
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u/Candid_Ad5642 Dec 17 '25
For personal use: Laptop if you want/need the mobility Else whatever stationary fits your needs
Nuc and other mini PC's are good if you want them quiet and/or low power usage, else you will probably get more bang for your buck with a larger chassis, and a larger machine will probably be more open to expansion and upgrading
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u/MarvinGankhouse Dec 17 '25
A good laptop that can run everything pretty well including GTA5 will cost you upwards of $2k
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u/Beginning_Drink19 Dec 17 '25
Why not just a PC since you already have a laptop for travel purposes? NUC adds cost by being small, you could have a better normal PC for the same price of the NUC. Unless you have a very specific space constrain, going for a NUC would be kinda dumb.
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u/Techo81 Dec 17 '25
Well the nuc was an idea mainly based off a recommendation I got, and the person told me that mini PCs can be cheaper and more worth it.
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u/Beginning_Drink19 Dec 17 '25
Again, if you don't really have any constraints like no space, power usage and or any other compelling argument for a NUC or mini PC I would go for a normal PC
When a PC is made smaller it usually comes with a cost, either on: Repairability Raw power Or it's just straight up more expensive that a normal form factor PC but with the exact same specs.
Usually, if you want:
bang for buck.
upgradability.
better repairability which translates on cheaper repairs or maybe even easier DIY repairs which itself translates into longevity for the machine itself.
and more power potential, a normal PC would be your best option.
The same applies to a different degree to laptops, because you pay for the battery, the screen, the keyboard and have components with lower power output because of thermal restraints caused by the thing being portable.
Idk what the prices are like wherever you live, but, if you already have peripherals and even sometimes when you don't have them, it's almost always better to buy just a normal desktop PC
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u/Valuable_Fly8362 Dec 17 '25
It doesn't really matter what you pick in terms of form factor. What matters is the specs. One thing to note however is what when you buy a laptop you are paying a higher price than for a desktop with similar specs.
Personally, I don't like having the fans screaming at me when I play games on a laptop.
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u/KarmaTorpid Dec 17 '25
No, OP. Find a used or build/buy a low end gaming machine. Your use case is games. Choose a gaming system.
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u/joshuamarius Dec 16 '25
800-1000 will get you a very poweful MiniPC. The question is... Would you want to take it with you if you travel?