Desktop PCs - Do You Still Have Them?

[jut703]

In this age of laptops, tablets, and smartphones, desktop PCs have greatly fallen out of favor compared to their portable counterparts.

Back in college, I barely used my desktop and did most schoolwork on my laptop. Nowadays though, I find that whenever I'm home, I use my 8-year old desktop more frequently than my laptops.

Perhaps it's the larger screen and more ergonomic keyboard/mouse setup, or maybe the fact that I'm more productive when sitting on a desk, than if I was lying on my bed or on the couch with my laptop.

Still running with the ff. specs:

CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad (2.4 GHz, overclocked to 3.0 GHz)
Mobo - Foxconn P45A-S
RAM - 6 GB Kingston DDR2-800
Storage - 250 GB Crucial BX100 SSD, 1 TB Seagate Barracuda, 250 GB Samsung Spinpoint F3
HSF - Cooler Master Hyper 212+
VC - nVidia GTX 460 768MB
PSU - Cougar 550W 80+ Bronze
Monitor - Dell UltraSharp U2312HM 23" Full HD IPS

Pretty old setup, which clearly shows during CPU-intensive tasks, and it can't play the latest games anymore at max settings. I've sold my Logitech steering wheel so I don't play racing simulators anymore since time no longer permits.

However, for day to day use, it still does its job really well. After getting an SSD and a clean install of Windows 10, it boots in about 20 seconds, faster than any of my laptops (even my Macbook Pro). Recently upgraded my RAM and overclocked the aging CPU as well to avoid hiccups in Photoshop or Lightroom.

Feel free to share your desktop specs and stories as well. [emoji5]


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[Lew_Alcindor]

Meron pa kami. Whatever na paglumaan ni misis sa opis nila, binibili namin patra gamitin sa bahay. The last one we bought for Php4,000 (HP). Okay naman for general purpose usage.

[oj88]

Since 2010, we have less use of our desktops at home since most of our web activities are done on iPads. But for productivity and specialized tasks like editing/rendering videos, authoring MS Office documents and such, you can't beat a desktop or laptop.

[maki mi]

The whole family shifted to laptops in 2003, we never looked at desktops since. Now I cringe everytime I remember that we were buying 11" centrino laptops with 512mb RAM and 40Gb HDDs at P80k! My latest buy is a 17" pentium with 3Gb RAM and 500Gb HDD at P20k!

[Vodka]

i still turn on my desktop but only when doing number crunching. it's watercooled with 5 cores running at 4.0ghz per core. not fast by today's standards

has serial-attached SCSI (SAS) seagate cheetahs running at 15,000 RPM. not SSDs

[jut703]

This is my 3rd desktop in a span of 15 years; would love to build a liquid cooled rig if i had extra resources.

Back in college I also dreamed of a high-end desktop. I even drafted builds every month so that when the time came that I could afford one, I was ready. However, now I can't even justify spending close to 100k on a computer - there are so many other things I can buy or invest with that money.

Since 2010, we have less use of our desktops at home since most of our web activities are done on iPads. But for productivity and specialized tasks like editing/rendering videos, authoring MS Office documents and such, you can't beat a desktop or laptop.

For mindless consumption like scrolling on social media, smartphones and tablets are much more convenient. However, I find that I still prefer my desktop for managing my finances, mail, and all other tasks that require my input.

i still turn on my desktop but only when doing number crunching. it's watercooled with 5 cores running at 4.0ghz per core. not fast by today's standards

has serial-attached SCSI (SAS) seagate cheetahs running at 15,000 RPM. not SSDs

Curious, what's your setup that results in 5-cores? I always thought those server-class multi-CPU setups were only available as even-numbered cores. Only thing I can think of that gives a total of 5 is a tri-core Phenom and dual-core Phenom, but I don't know much about AMD setups and whether their consumer-class processors are available in multi-CPU setups.


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[Vodka]

Curious, what's your setup that results in 5-cores? I always thought those server-class multi-CPU setups were only available as even-numbered cores. Only thing I can think of that gives a total of 5 is a tri-core Phenom and dual-core Phenom, but I don't know much about AMD setups and whether their consumer-class processors are available in multi-CPU setups.


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oh it's its not a server CPU it's just a 6-core phenom that AMD sold as a quad coz 1 core is bad. so i just unlocked that good core and overclocked everything

[Calistro]

Still using my desktop for everything that is not related to work and important documents; used to be a photo editing machine when i still photoshopped and for prototyping applications when i still was involved with java. I doubt i would be looking for an upgrade soon since I don't look forward on playing the latest video games. Prefer doing work on laptops since i can move to other rooms when i want to. I want a dual monitor setup actually but cant justify it since i dont work on this pc anymore.
This is my 3rd desktop in a span of 15 years; would love to build a liquid cooled rig if i had extra resources.

Processor i5 3.30ghz
8gb ram ripjaws
Mobo asus h77
Radeon 6850
Psu corsir cx600
24in lg monitor
Edifier speakers
Razer gaming mouse
And a small dragon war keyboard.

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[jaggerx3]

2010 mid range set up
CPU: Intel dual core 3.2 Ghz
Mobo: Asus (forgot the model i'll check later)
Ram: 2GB Samsung DDR2
Storage: 1TB Drive
VC - Nvidia GT350
Monitor: Cube 21 LeD

[dr. d]

i have yet to see a keyboard and mouse, that is more comfortable to use, than those on my desktop pc..
laptop keyboards are non-ergonomic.
tablet keyboards... only because there is no choice.

[Mbootz]

The family no longer use the desktop..

I converted one of the laptops as my desktop by connecting an LED monitor, mouse and standard keyboard..
thus, having the mobility of a laptop when I need it and the convenience of a large screen and standard keyboard on normal days.

[Walter]

Using All-in-one HP desktop with wireless keyboard and mouse, intel Core i3.

[thephantom]

Do I still have, yes. Do I still use, nope. Last desktop PC left in my bodega even has an old crt monitor (colored) and uses I think win 98 so it's that old. I did try to boot it one time. Gumana pa. Pwede pang dos games. Hehehe

[1D4LV]

Yes I do use them a lot.... My story.

our home network setup is at par or even better than small SO/HO business setups. one desktop unit runs on the basic Celeron processor with 2 GB RAM, with an old 128 GB hard disk. Runs on three network cards on VM. One VM runs PFSense with load balance functionalities, DHCP, Firewall and Network AV. The balance is that 75% of the bandwidth is assigned to the other desktop unit (details below), connected directly to a 4 port cabled hub. And the remaining 25% is assigned to the access points in the living room and in the bedroom. The desktop PC here is basic. No frills, no monitor, no keyboard and no mouse. Everything is controlled via IP.

the second desktop unit is a component of our home entertainment system. Runs on AMD A8, with 12 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD as its primary system and booting disk, 1 TB of the usual DASD as storage, dual monitors (1 29 inch Asus monitor and 1 19 inch LG), a Logitech mechanical gaming keyboard and a Logitech gaming mouse. The 29 inch monitor is attached to the desktop via HDMI - 1 (on Nvidia GeForce GTX 960) and the 19 inch monitor is connected via VGA. The other HDMI port sa 29" monitor is connected to a PS3 device, which is also connected via cable to the 4 port hub. Desktop runs on Win 10 professional. Meron din palang DVD drive ito. MoBo is an Asus Pro-Gamer and the speakers is an old Altec Lansing ATP-3 that I won in a raffle around 10 years ago (ganda pa din ng tunog).

Both desktops, the hub and the monitors are connected to a 500 VA APC UPS.

On mobility, wifey uses an IPAD. I use a Chromebook at home (which I usually share with my kid), but occassionally brings my work laptop home (a Lenovo ThinkPad E130) and the usual smartphones. They connect to the APs on the second floor and on the ground floor area. Internet connection is 2 mbps PLDT and 5 mbps Globe connected directly to the PFSense Desktop PC. The second floor Smart TV (which I got last December lang), connects to the 2nd floor AP.

Backup is done via DLink DNS 320 NAS with 2 TB storage directly connected to the 4 port hub. Eto na din yung file server namin sa house.

Now, I am trying to figure out how to put in a TV Plus console dun sa second PC.

[CVT]

As of this I still have them. The kids still prefer to use them for school work over their assigned laptops.

They love the 22-inch LED monitor that we paired with their desktops.... and the worktable too....

[jefbuan]

As of this I still have them. The kids still prefer to use them for school work over their assigned laptops.

They love the 22-inch LED monitor that we paired with their desktops.... and the worktable too....

anyone here got those latest Intel NuC Skull Canyon?? im retiring my i7 haswell laptop..just want to hook this Nuc with my tv to be my htpc as well..medyo mahal nga pero I think worth it naman cguro..Im not into hardcore gamer 30 fps pwede na sa akin at bunso ko..

[jut703]

anyone here got those latest Intel NuC Skull Canyon?? im retiring my i7 haswell laptop..just want to hook this Nuc with my tv to be my htpc as well..medyo mahal nga pero I think worth it naman cguro..Im not into hardcore gamer 30 fps pwede na sa akin at bunso ko..

If you'll be using your NUC for gaming, why not the Zotac EN970? It already comes with a GTX 960 GPU which is far better than Intel's Skylake iGPU.

Sure it doesn't have a quad-core, but the i5-5200U is sufficient for HTPC and gaming use. It's also cheaper - 37k for the barebones model, then just add your own RAM and SSD, it should still come out cheaper than the NUC6i7KYK.


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[jefbuan]

If you'll be using your NUC for gaming, why not the Zotac EN970? It already comes with a GTX 960 GPU which is far better than Intel's Skylake iGPU.

Sure it doesn't have a quad-core, but the i5-5200U is sufficient for HTPC and gaming use. It's also cheaper - 37k for the barebones model, then just add your own RAM and SSD, it should still come out cheaper than the NUC6i7KYK.


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Thanks for your input but I ended with this one with a advise of my friend..just hit the order button hehehe..I like it's SFF better than skull canyon and it's price of course..It can play GTA V naman at 720p low settings and I think its playable but it will serve more as my HTPC ..

[JJ All Day]

I still have this: Aopen MiniPC Duo MP965-DR

Specs:

T9500 Penryn
4Gb DDR2 Sodimm
320Gb 2.5 Sata

Windows 10

Dell 19-in (wall mounted)
Dell Soundbar (mounted sa LCD)
Dell Mouse (wireless)
Dell Keyboard (wireless)

I made that set up kasi, pag desktop, kung di ka maayos sa wiring, ang messy tingnan + space consuming pa

It served, still serving and will continue to serve its purposes. Around 8 years ko na din ito gamit

[Jun aka Pekto]

My gaming PC is three years old (AMD FX-8350/MSI (factory OC) 4GB GTX 770). So long as it can play Far Cry 3 and Far Cry 4 decently, I have no need to upgrade. I'll wait until Star Citizen or SQ42 is released before assembling a new PC.