Smallest computer; big performance

[dbinott]

Looking for advice for the smallest machine possible to fit into my 2 player stick below. I have seen some decent and small ones, but $700-800 is way too much. Would like to keep it under $400.

Will be an all platform machine, except for maybe N64, just heard it's a beast. Likely won't need to do the more recent CHD stuff.

Any recommendations?

Edited March 10, 2018 by dbinott

[DOS76]

sayings its an all platform machine except n64 and no chd stuff is pretty vague and I really don't know what systems you are trying to emulate so hardware suggestions would be pretty difficult to give

[dbinott]

ok, sorry, my bad. list such as. 

3do
atari800
atari2600
atari5200
atari7800
atarilynx
atarist
atarijaguar
atarijaguarcd
atarixe
colecovision
c64 - commodore 64
intellivision
msx
neogeo
n3ds - nintendo 3DS
n64 - nintendo 64
nds - nintendo DS
nes - nintendo entertainment system
gb - game boy
gba - game boy advance
gbc - game boy color
gc - gamecube
wii
pc
sega32x
segacd
dreamcast
gamegear
genesis - sega genesis
mastersystem - sega master system
megadrive - sega megadrive
saturn - sega saturn
psx
ps2
psp - playstation portable
snes - super nintendo entertainment system
pcengine - turbografx-16/pcengine
wonderswan
wonderswancolor
zxspectrum

 

 

[Lordmonkus]

Check out @ETAPRIMEs Youtube channel, he does lots of videos on different hardware and shows some performance tests. Maybe you will find something on his channel that suits your needs and budget.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Mretaprime/videos

[DOS76]

some of those systems on there are much more performance heavy then N64 and if you are looking for a solution that is small and can run all of those it will probably require that it have a built in GPU so it isn't going to be cheap I think you are going to be hard pressed finding what you want at a good price.

[dbinott]

which ones are higher than n64? If I have to leave them out to get something that fits inside the box, I will make concessions.

[DOS76]

PS2 Dreamcast Saturn 3DS possible Wii and Gamecube basically if you want cheap your going to have to use integrated Intel graphics and those systems are going to struggle on it. Even for PS1 you probably will have to use ePSXe instead of the Mednafen PS core.

[DOS76]

I guess it really comes down to what are you willing to spend and how small does it really have to be

 

[DOS76]

https://www.amazon.com/VM65N-G063Z-VivoMini-i5-7200U-GeForce-Graphics/dp/B06WV7N9FX/ref=pd_sbs_147_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06WV7N9FX&pd_rd_r=6DZ597VMQDAC42KTHVP4&pd_rd_w=2aCCG&pd_rd_wg=JGwqr&psc=1&refRID=6DZ597VMQDAC42KTHVP4

But I have no clue if this is more than your willing to spend or what type or performance you will get with a mobile gpu either but I love Asus products

[dbinott]

Thanks. Guess I am going to have to reprioritize. I love the Intel NUC Skull/Hades but damn. $$

[DOS76]

well I just saw a video of the Ryzen 2220G in action and I'm very impressed now it isn't as small as one of these mini computers but its a small board and its a good price. Like I said I don't know how small you need if you have room to mount a mini itx and a PSU ETAPrime built one for I think 340 dollars he said in his video you should definitely check that out

 

[dbinott]

I did have an atom board in there at one point, about same size as an itx. $340 huh? that's like $3400 up here in canadaland.

[Lordmonkus]

Actually its about 450$

[dbinott]

No way I can fit a PSU in there tho. I had some small thing that I used to use on my Car PC. Pico PSU I believe.

[Ultra God Azgorath]

Have you considered a raspberry pi 3? I know its not powerful enough to run anything beyond ps1 and probably not what you looking for but it's as small as a deck of cards. and its like less than $50.

[dbinott]

ya, I have 3 or 4 of them. Doesn't run LB or BB obviously tho.