Refreshing take on PC review! Interesting to get a mostly 'non-pc gamer', as I know you're more of a console/controller/retro gamer. Instead of focusing of specs, benchmarks, and bashing on its limits, you went and used the thing! and really explored the possibilities and show what it can do! Honestly refreshing, I imagine that it's actually how most consumers buying pre-builts will experience their machine; Liking it for what it can do and exploring possibilities!
It's worth noting that many PC part companies can pre-build your PC for you! Like CaseKing (where I got mine) Overclockers, PCspecialist, GG Machines. Even though I've made a few PCs myself, I think the €20-30 to get have it done is absolutely worth avoiding half a day's worth of aggravation/troubleshooting.
the aggravation/troubleshooting is extremely helpful in forcing you to learn. I know way more after building my DAN A4 H2O than before. But, not everyone can stand it or has the time.
Russ, im sure you know this already but get yourself an aftermarket headstrap and facial interface. That combo cured my headaches (cause by poor blood flow in my forehead.) I ordered a Kiwi facial interface and a bobovr headstrap/dual battery backup. Total game changer. I literally play so long now I have to remember to use eye drops.
@@Sanjay-fy7ql If you are wanting a small form factor this seems like a pretty good option because custom built SFF PCs are kind of a rabbit hole, especially at this size. (10L)
This is the video I was waiting for for a bit. I am very much interested seeing real ready-made desktop replacements which ideally should be upgradable. Love mini PCs but the gaming capabilities are naturally limited usually. Great test, comparing sizes, noise comparison along gaming show case!
While cost is a valid critique of this device (and, inevitably, this form factor), and rightfully so, owning a box like this can be game-changing for living room setups. I still have an old Alienware x51, rocking an i7-3770 and GTX 1060 6GB that remains surprisingly relevant even today, especially with the recent DLSS hacks on Nexus Mods for easy upscaling. Value is in the eyes of the respective consumer, and while I will stick with my more modern hand-built rig (which I built to replace my aging x51), the size, heat, and energy consumption differences are not insignificant. In the warmer months, I simply cannot use the bigger rig without turning the room into a sauna (12700K and 3080 12GB), and the case is the size of a small bookshelf rather than neatly slotting into my entertainment center. So, to each his or her or their own, but great coverage, as always! Wouldn’t mind seeing more like that, though I suspect the audience at large may not be down.
Look, I really liked this review. I come from PC gaming first and foremost. It was your channel which is almost like ASMR that got me into retro emulation. Your take on reviewing a PC was one of the most unique and interesting in over 10 years, even if it was flawed at times. The main PC channels I watch are: GamerNexus, Jayztwocents, Paul’s Hardware, Level1techs, and many others. Asus has sadly become an Apple type of company as of late. Although they are definitely reliable their product now comes at a premium. But how you reviewed the product was refreshing, you tried to include multiple sides of our culture. Please continue doing PC reviews, look deeper and reach out to companies less known to let them know you are also willing to review their product. I truly recommend watching gamers nexus above all as to how to review a PC. You by no means have to go to the level of detail that they go into but it will better help you to understand how PC testing should be evaluated. I hope you continue down this road. Thank you for your videos
I love Russ and his content and I hope he keeps reviewing the affordable handhelds, computers etc. Oftentimes I see RU-vidrs start off small with affordable items then start upgrading and upscaling to things I couldn't imagine affording. I get it, it's not his fault I can't afford things and I enjoy learning about new things but I've seen several RU-vidrs upgrade and never look back. Then I lose interest. Cool computer and great review.
Favorite Generations 1. 8th 2. 4th 3. 5th 4. 6th 5. 3rd 6. 7th 7. 9th 8. 2nd 9. 1st While the 5th gen graphics has aged badly especially the 3D stuff, I believe it was the most progressive gen in gaming history. We got CD-ROMs, four controller ports, analog stick, rumble, and so many different consoles circa 1993-1996. I think my peak interest and fun with gaming happened in all of the 1990s especially from 1992-1998 when I would constantly go to a book store and read gaming magazines like EGM, Next Generation, and OPM. I was subbed to GamePro. When arcades still ruled before PC cafes playing Counter-Strike by the 2000s. That 4th and 5th gens really hold dear to me. While I’m aware how beloved the 6th gen is, it was my favorite for a time, and I had DC, PS2, Xbox, and GCN all lined up to play, I don’t quite revisit it like I do with the 4th gen. By 2003, I wasn’t as interested in gaming as before. I worked and had a gf. I usually went out during my off days. Yes, I still played all the great ones from DC and PS2. But I didn’t quite revisit them after beating them. I guess because if you’re a kid with no car or job, Genesis, Super NES, and PS1 became your routine while stuck at home. If you’re stuck at home, that’s what you played. That’s where you can build the most nostalgia with a home console. When you’re still a kid seeing the world with less cynical eyes. If I was born 10 years later, then 6th gen would be tops. PS1 is my favorite console followed by Dreamcast. I own hats for their logos. I had the most games and most fun owning them. But my favorite gen for games are the 8th and 4th. The 8th because Vita and Switch are part of it even though they have 6th and 7th gen hardware. I think the indies became the modern 16-bit era of games. While the 4th gen is arguably the most replayable. NBA Jam!! I still play Super Mario World, Sonic 2, and Street Fighter II’: SCE to this day. Update: I decided NOT to sell my PSP. While I do get annoyed by the poor battery life for standby time and the occasional glitches, I think with my Switches already sold, I need my PSP as a backup in case my Vita ever bites the dust. I like that it does have a removable battery but you can still turn it on if plugged even with a dead battery or no battery inside it. Plus, PSP 2K is a great little handheld if I want to revisit NES, Genesis, and PS1 games. Those were three of my first four consoles I’ve owned. I keep my SNES ROMs in my Vita since it plays them better with no audio stutters. I’ll keep the PSP in my car. Easy to charge it since my car has a USB slot. If it ever gets stolen, it’s ok. My Vita is still around. PSP is still one of the most comfortable handhelds ever. Top 10 All-Time Favorite Gaming Devices 1. PS Vita (2000s model) 2. Switch Lite 3. PSP (2000s model) 4. PS1 (9000s model) 5. Dreamcast 6. PS2 (50000s model) 7. Super NES 8. GameCube 9. Genesis (first design) 10. NES My PS3 and PS4 didn’t make the cut. Honestly, I didn’t really use my PS4 slim much for gaming. It was used to watch movies or TV shows from an external hard drive and to stream Netflix. I had Metal Gear Solid 5 and Uncharted 1-4 and barely played any of them. It’s weird because the 8th gen is my favorite but it’s mostly from the handhelds that were part of it. Not for PS4 and Xbone games. Formerly, my PSP 1001 model would be up there. I prefer the matte back than the glossy one the 2K model has. I owned it for 11 years although the original battery lasted about 7 years and I never got a replacement for it. I took that thing everywhere with me and all over the world. I now prefer the 2K model because it has more RAM which is better for emulation. And that PSP phat was thick and heavy. Once the Switch 2 comes out especially it’s smallest and cheapest form factor probably named the Switch 2 Lite, that should replace the Switch Lite at No. 2 since it’s what the Vita is to the PSP. Backwards compatible that you don’t need a Switch 1 anymore. My advice is to sell off your Switches before the Switch 2 announcement. Switch 1 will saturate the used market that their value will plummet. I probably still wouldn’t put the Switch 2 Lite over my Vita slim due to owning the Vita for almost 7 years. And I expect the Switch 2 Lite if it arrives by 2026 to still be quite bulky, at least compared to a Vita or PSP, that it could never be my favorite. Sony nailed it with the Vita a decade ago. It’s my pocketable PS1 and semi PS2 that can still play PSP games and many 3rd through 5th gen games minus Saturn, N64, and obscure ones like Jag and 3DO. Top 50 All-Time Favorite Games 1. Final Fantasy VII (PS1) 2. Shenmue II (DC/Xbox) 3. Tekken 3 (PS1) 4. NBA Street Vol. 2 (Xbox/GCN) 5. Super Mario World (SNES) 6. Ridge Racer (PSP) 7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) 8. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN) 9. Street Fighter II’: SCE (Genesis) 10. Super Street Fighter II (MAME) 11. Final Fantasy X (PS2) 12. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis) 13. Oddmar (mobile/Switch) 14. Super Mario 3D World (Switch) 15. Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES) 16. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) 17. Super Mario Bros. (NES) 18. Super Mario Kart (SNES) 19. Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis) 20. Tekken 5 (PS2) 21. F-Zero GX (GCN) 22. Mortal Kombat II (Super NES) 23. Plants vs. Zombies (mobile/Vita) 24. NBA 2K23 (Switch) 25. NBA Jam (arcade) 26. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (NES) 27. Sonic Adventure (DC) 28. Sonic Adventure 2 (DC) 29. Shenmue (DC) 30. Plants vs. Zombies 2 (mobile) 31. Horizon Chase (mobile/Switch) 32. Top Gear (SNES) 33. Gran Turismo (PS1) 34. TLoZ: Twilight Princess (Wii) 35. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2) 36. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2) 37. Metal Gear Solid (PS1) 38. God of War (PS2) 39. Xenogears (PS1) 40. Parasite Eve (PS1) 41. Uncharted: Golden Abyss (Vita) 42. Dead or Alive 5 Plus (Vita) 43. Dead or Alive 2 (DC) 44. Tekken 4 (PS2) 45. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (Switch) 46. Grandia II (DC) 47. Bust a Groove (PS1) 48. Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1) 49. Final Fantasy VI (PS1) 50. Tetris (GB) What’s the point of me owning a Steam Deck or Odin 2 when most of my favorite games are on my Android smartphones or Vita? Maybe to play FF7R Intergrade but that’s it. I don’t seem to really connect with most modern games of the last 15 years or pretty much by the 7th gen and after. It’s more watching than playing which takes the fun out of the gameplay. I expect when I get Switch 2, it won’t be revolutionary from what I’m reading. Same games but prettier graphics. Hopefully it gets all the FF7 Remake games and Shenmue III. You can argue while Vita is superior to the PSP and you won’t need a PSP if you already own a Vita, the PSP still had the superior library of games. I hope PlayStation 6 ends up being a console/handheld hybrid like the Switch is.
Russ, maybe consider reviewing both SFF PC's as well as the mini PC's. There seems to be a market shift towards SFF. A couple a years ago it was a very niche market; however, things appear to be moving to the mainstream a bit more. As well, with the new AMD APU's that are out, the whole mini ITX market may get a huge surge. With the thoroughness of your reviews, I can only see good things coming from you doing that. I've been a PC builder for a lonnnnng time, and I still learned something from your video (DuoStream).
9:32 The small form factor of the PSU itself is pretty standard. It's called Flex or 1U and is regulary used in the super small DIY builds. The only propriatery part of this power supply might be wiring/connectors (couldn't find any pictures of the 12VO connector in the top right of the motherboard, so idk for sure) if it is then it really sucks for the potential repairibility down the road (You'd have to get a unit directly from ASUS insted of buying something off the shelf. If ASUS stops producing them in a few years, then Good Luck finding the right one). As for removing a Liquid Cooler - it isn't any harder than Your standard air cooler. You just remove the 4 screws arround the block/pump unit (the one with the ROG logo), and You get acess to the CPU Socket. With AIO the only time you might get in contact with water is when you puncture the tubes or radiator (which is very hard to do, and You'd have to actually try to do this). One last note: Your private case and motherboard format is micro-ATX and not mini-ITX (yeah You can confuse them pretty easly). Mini ITX is even smaller (the motherboard itself is 17 x 17 cm in dimmensions)
@@happyspaceinvader508 There is a Huge variarity of ITX cases. Some go as low as 4L in volume. Check out something like Velka 3/5 (about 4/6L in Volume), Dan A4 (about 7L in volume), or even Formd T1/Fractal Terra (about 10l in volume). All of these are smaller than Asus PC in question
@@happyspaceinvader508 Mini ITX cases come in a large variety of sizes. Some go as low as 4L in total volume. Check out something like Velka 3/5 (4/5L in Volume respectively), Dan A4 (about 7L in Volume) or even Fractal Terra ITX/FormD T1 (about 10L in volume). All of these are smaller than the Asus PC in question
Great varied review as always, thanks a lot! :) 21:30 FYI, there was a Remastered version of GoW 3 released for PS4. :) I doubt we will get the older GoW games for PC anytime soon, though. :(
I was gonna say, seems pretty expensive overall and I don't mind the small Q300L V2 case. Then you literally put it next to the Q300L and man it's insane how tiny it actually is. I can see how someone would pay extra for that really tiny form factor cause it looks like a nightmare to actually piece it all out together. PS: Siiick you got a Quest 3 too. I'd highly recommend getting a head strap from ZyberVR or AMVR as well as AMVR's hand grips. It's a literal game changer for comfort. I also got a huge noggin' and I'm not a huge fan of the facial interface so AMVR also a kit with some soft, cool fabric. Keep it up man :))
Recently got a Quest 3 myself and I've liked it so much that I'm thinking of (yet again) building a more decent rig (than my current steam deck) to play some of the PCVR games I have. I think i've accumulated quite a few over the years on steam but was always lazy to play them on my old rig with the tethered Rift 1. Some VR content would be great from your perspective!
I would say that if you were looking for a console sized PC, you could always look up the MSI Trident 3. As of right now, I still think the most powerful model only has an RTX 3060 in it ready to ship, but I'd be willing to bet you could put one of those low-profile 4060's in there, if you had one. I have the 10th gen version of it, and it's basically the size of a PS4; it's bonkers how small it actually is. Only problem is--MSI built it, so it's got some of its MSI quirks, let's say. Edit: I would definitely stick with the cheaper mini PCs, though. Stuff like this is good for flavor, I really like your take on things in general, but I think the mini PC/more budget stuff you could see yourself buying or wanting is the better option.
@averageanimefanboy9473 their products tend to crap out right at the end of the original warranty. I had the Og pc console and qwerty tablet pc. Both broke within 9 months.
Haha assuming you want to deal with them in the first place. Jokes aside all overseas PC brands are awful to deal with. Corsair is decent but I can't stand their awful software anymore.
Their quality control is awful. Anytime you purchase something form them, make sure you spend hours testing everything you can to make sure there are no defects or parts not working. Make sure to do this before your return window closes. I had to go through three different laptops before I found one that didn't have any broken ports or defective screens. My last one had a microSD card reader that wouldn't hold the card in when inserted, it just kept pushing it out whenever I slotted one in.
I definitely enjoyed the review which goes to show that you can definitely do more than cheap budget stuff which I definitely enjoy as well but if branching out was at all fun for you then please keep up the verity! even if it's just every few months through an unexpected video like this in, I think that would be super cool! 👍🏻
It would be great if you could do some more VR stuff. It is a very active community and there are a lot of exciting emulation / retrofitting VR mods out there. Did you know that ggodin (the sole developer of Virtual Desktop) pretty much invented wireless VR as we now know it back in 2019?
For 4K, DLSS is a game changer. Instead of dropping the resolution to 1440p or lower, use DLSS. The image will look way better, and the performance is still great. Upscaling like DLSS makes raytracing way more performant ❤
Russ please upgrade your CPU cooler on your main PC, even the $30 thermal assasin and similar tower coolers will be insanely better for temps, performance and noise
I’m grinning ear to ear at the “I’d lose a month of my life” line. We may be more similar than I had initially thought 😂 that’s how I gauge all the projects in my life!
I don't go the newest, latest out. I learned that painful lessen long ago. So wait a few months here. Got this from Amazon Tech referb, w/ 3 yr war, under1400 shipped. Took my 4tb NVME 4 from dying Corsar One (the 1080ti and/or the water AIO are shot. Spikes to 95c on desktop and shuts down display), owell, it was time. I like this ROG unit.
Pretty jealous you got such a sexy looking, sleek PC. I'm a living room couch gamer with a full desktop PC that I built, sitting next to my TV so this was very interesting.
That looks like a pretty standard mid-tower case. Nothing wrong with that size, it's the standard for a reason, good balance between size and cooling, performance, expandability, etc, but a bit of a stretch to call it "small form factor."
Just a heads up, I'm pretty sure your personal computer case that you displayed for size comparisons is a "Micro ATX" which is 1 tier larger than a "Mini ITX". A Q300L if I'm not mistaken. I could be wrong if when you say "this is what they call a mini itx case", you meant the ASUS and not your pc. Great content though, that was just a small nitpick!
This should fit in my entertainment center, but it would probably be too snug for proper cooling. I'm willing to wait a bit for the ROG NUC, seems like the next best thing. I think that releases in April.
What controller is being used in this video? It looks like an 8bitDo Ultimate but has LED lighting around the sticks and silver rear buttons/triggers? Also as other's have said Russ, get yourself a decent 3rd party headstrap for the Quest 3 it's a gamechanger. Lastly I just watched this vid in my new Viture One glasses and they're great!
For the price i believe it is possible to build a fully capable 1080/1440p SFFPC with some judiciously chosen parts. That said, these prebuilts are useful for ppl with the cash who need a quick solution with some upgradability built in
Great review. My 2018 custom-built Gigabyte B360 i5 mATX case is a lot more quiet than yours. I'm using a GForce 6010 GPU and 64 DDR4 RAM. I don't get how your system is way noisier than mine 🤷♂
The small form factor is appealing because I don't have a lot of space and I would like my PC not to be on the floor but here in the UK it goes for up to £2799, which is way too much
Hey Russ, Could you possibly do a comparison between Anbernic RG556, Ayaneo Pocket Air and Retroid Pocket 4 Pro! Since they are all in the same price range it would be nice to see what you think about it👍
$1600 is far too much money for me to spend on a PC. Especially when most of my fully working cars have cost me less money. I appreciate you taking the time do so this review though.
I wish console sized gaming PCs were more popular, but I also wish they weren’t 2 thousand dollars. I could buy an Xbox, playstation, AND a good like 60 inch 4k TV for that price. I wanna switch to pc gaming, but what incentive do I have when a gaming PC is like 3-4x the cost?
Omg that fan noise lol, I am very sensitive to noise so that would drive me insane. Although at least it's steady and not up down up down, that's the worst!
1:33 let me try this again. there are websites out there that allow you to select the parts you want and will run a sort of "error checking" on your build for compatibility. You can also take a lot of time to research components only to realize later it wasn't worth it. Especially for retro gaming.
Ugh... this looks ideal for me, but the only model available in the UK is the i7 with 32GB RAM, RTX 4070 and 2 x 1TB PCIe storage. And it's expensive here too: £2,300 (approx $2,900). My only concern would be how advisable it would be to place this in horizontal mode under a TV in terms of cooling. Given you can swap out the CPU side for a tempered glass panel, I"m guessing it's ok to have this mounted with that side downwards?
You can build something more powerful cheaper. Sure you have to source parts and bargain hunt but that's part of the fun. Did a build similar with a 3060 and a ryzen9 at the end of last year for emulation, significantly cheaper. Runs everything up to PS3/360/Switch without issue.
Great review as always! One thing though. If you really want to push ps3 emulation to the limit, you gotta try The Last Of Us. With my gaming desktop I could not get an average 60 fps even with all the performance enhancements available AND downscaling.
Is building your own desktop gaming PC really cheaper than buying off the shelf? Surely manufacturers have a bulk-buying advantage when it comes to components? I haven't seen anything else in the pre-built market at this size, spec and price, which makes me think this is not a trivial thing to build yourself. They've been able to get it into that tiny case by using proprietary parts.
I loved the video and like your take on this type of PC. I don't think this fits in the mini-pc category though. It's not mini, its more of a small PC. I would say stick to reviewing true mini-pcs - Minisforum type stuff, also the mini-pc announced by ASUS at CES. Otherwise, you are opening a giant can of worms that is taking you out of the realm your core audience prefers.
i like my minisforum with a radeon 6600 but this seems like a decent upgrade one day. Yes!! its got another m.2 slot thats the only thing thats made me not consider other options.
The Nex near me has this pc on sale but with an i7-13700F and a 4070 and 32gigs of ram for $1799.99. I know that building a pc would be cheaper, but is this THAT bad of a deal at that price point?
Would prefer the magnus one erp74070 instead. Its smaller than the Asus Rog G22CH and it has a rtx 4070 on board (not the mobile version). And there i a beautiful white Edition avaible which looks more like a Console. But to be fair i like the watercooling solution. In my Magnus one i changed the CPU Cooler cause of the loudness.
The RG35XX Plus is smaller and more premium feeling, but the RGB30 has more power, a better screen, horizontal ergonomics, and a variety of awesome OS options. So I’d personally pick the RGB30 😊
I would NOT get liquid cooling on this since it's propriety and more than likely not owner replaceable, at least definitely not with readibly available products.
As much as I would like a smaller PC, I'll take my 140mm fans that I can't hear, giant heatsink, and much larger video card, and just place the PC under my desk if I'm worried about space.
$2k for only 16GB of RAM and 1Tb of storage is pretty bad, imo. And that bespoke laptop PSU is going to severely limit any GPU upgrades in the future. They should have gone for a standard SFF power supply.
