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Intel exiting the PC business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC

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Re: Intel exiting the PC business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC

#311

Post by Arn_Thor »

alliao wrote: post #224
pipo234 wrote: post #20

We bought a couple of i7 NUCs every time a new generation was launched, mainly to have access to the latest GPU features. That is, we hoped to use Intel's MFX Media SDK for transcoding h264 (or even h265) video. Unfortunately both the SDK and the hardware were too much of a moving target, going from software to hardware only, Windows only then later linux only on CentOS, then only on Ubuntu, then (partially) open sou…

how does it compare with Apple silicones? M1/M2 the mac mini seem like a no brainer at those prices for transcoding?

I think that'll depend on the use case. last I checked, 4k transcoding + tone mapping was still not working right on Plex.

Re: Intel exiting the PC business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC

#313

Post by pipo234 »

alliao wrote: post #224
pipo234 wrote: post #20

We bought a couple of i7 NUCs every time a new generation was launched, mainly to have access to the latest GPU features. That is, we hoped to use Intel's MFX Media SDK for transcoding h264 (or even h265) video. Unfortunately both the SDK and the hardware were too much of a moving target, going from software to hardware only, Windows only then later linux only on CentOS, then only on Ubuntu, then (partially) open sou…

how does it compare with Apple silicones? M1/M2 the mac mini seem like a no brainer at those prices for transcoding?

Haven't tried, but I don't expect it to be competitive. Note that software transcoding means: CPU only, and M1/M2 is still just a bunch or ARM cores.

We've tested on Amazon's Graviton 2 and 3 systems and so-far found them to be on par or slightly cheaper than their x86-64 counterparts. But this is mostly due to AWS aggressive pricing of ARM systems, which is quite the contrary for Apple hardware.

MacMini's currently are approximately twice as expensive as the Intel i7 NUC, Gigabyte Brix and similar hardware we bought. Also, dev tools targeting server software development on Apple hardware (ie. Linux, please!) are still wanting.

Re: Intel exiting the PC business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC

#314

Post by oefrha »

DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #282
whynotminot wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple has seemingly intentionally priced themselves out of reach of smaller and indie creative-types I don't think this take makes any sense. Sure, you can spec out an insanely expensive Mac today. That's always been the case. But with Apple Silicon, there's actually never been a better price to performance ratio at the bottom end of their lineup, perhaps in Apple's entire history. An entry-level Mac Mini or MacBoo…

> I don't think this take makes any sense. Sure, you can spec out an insanely expensive Mac today. That's always been the case. Yes, of course - but historically Apple's MacPros (and G3, G4, and G5 PowerMacs before that) had a fairly reasonable entry-prices - but in recent years (especially since 2013) the entry-price of Apple's workstation-tier machines has risen sharply over inflation: In 2005, Apple advertised[1]…

I would say the entry level workstation line today is Mac Studio (starting at $1999), not Mac Pro, which is strictly top end. The $6999 model of today is not equivalent to the old entry models in any way, unless you just go by bulkiness.

Re: Intel exiting the PC business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC

#315

Post by orlp »

ceejayoz wrote: post #260
hbbio wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> nobody has made good computers with 35 W CPUs and with a volume of less than 0.5 L Apple

And as a bonus, "You cannot get your money back because the computer is not defective, it is just different from what you expected" isn't true for them; you can return for any/no reason in the first two weeks.

That is also not true for any European customer in general. There is a 14-day return period without any questions asked on any product barring a few perishable/date sensitive/hygienic concerns.

Re: Intel exiting the PC business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC

#316

Post by justsomehnguy »

ansible wrote: post #208
justsomehnguy wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> “regular people use”. For quite some years I just said "buy a notebook and (if you really need it) monitor with keyboard/ mouse". With an SSD and a decent amount of RAM any notebook is fine for 95% of what people want from the home computer, with a small exception of gaming with a better settings than low/middle. At this point nor Mini, nor any other SFF 'desktop' doesn't make sense, because you can't take it with…

Some people like a clean desk. With this form factor, you can use the VESA mount to stick it behind your monitor.

With a proper USB3 you can place your notebook anywhere. With a right combo you can even charge it with it => only one cable to the notebook.

Sure there are some shenanigans for some laptops, like refusing to power on with the lid closed, but 'uncluttered desk' is not a problem.

Re: Intel exiting the PC business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC

#317

Post by justsomehnguy »

adrian_b wrote: post #294
justsomehnguy wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> “regular people use”. For quite some years I just said "buy a notebook and (if you really need it) monitor with keyboard/ mouse". With an SSD and a decent amount of RAM any notebook is fine for 95% of what people want from the home computer, with a small exception of gaming with a better settings than low/middle. At this point nor Mini, nor any other SFF 'desktop' doesn't make sense, because you can't take it with…

A Mini is very large (1.4 L) in comparison with a NUC (0.5 L) and indeed a Mac Mini would be inconvenient to carry. On the other hand, a NUC together with a 17" portable monitor and a compact keyboard weighs less than a 17" gaming computer or mobile workstation and it is easier carried in a backpack, while offering similar performance and more peripheral ports, eliminating the need to also carry dongles. When you kno…

> and more peripheral ports, eliminating the need to also carry dongles.

My notebook has three USB ports. In the last years the only thing I needed (but in the end didn't) was an Ethernet adapter for the POTP (Plain Old Twisted Pair, lol) cable.

> e.g. when commuting between home and office

Quite weird take. Sure, it's small, but...

> So you can always take a NUC with you wherever you need

Well, I prefer to be able to work on my PC, not seeking a power outlets and a place for a monitor.

Re: Intel exiting the PC business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC

#318

Post by scarface_74 »

DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #308
ffhhttt wrote: post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s because most people who bought these machines 20 years ago now just buy laptops which are perfectly sufficient for their use cases. Even if there was a 3000-400 desktop Mac Pro I doubt many people would buy it instead of a MBP. If you need a laptop anyway what’s the point of getting an another machine which is just marginally faster? That wasn’t really the case 10-20 years ago when laptops weren’t really an op…

> If you need a laptop anyway what’s the point of getting an another machine which is just marginally faster? That wasn’t really the case 10-20 years ago when laptops weren’t really an option as a primary machine for demanding use cases. Laptops, even those marketed as "mobile workstations", really can't compete with a proper desktop-experience - yes, a docking-station goes a long way with replicating connectivity op…

You really think most developers in 2023 are using desktops?

Re: Intel exiting the PC business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC

#319

Post by CBarkleyU »

orlp wrote: post #315
ceejayoz wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And as a bonus, "You cannot get your money back because the computer is not defective, it is just different from what you expected" isn't true for them; you can return for any/no reason in the first two weeks.

That is also not true for any European customer in general. There is a 14-day return period without any questions asked on any product barring a few perishable/date sensitive/hygienic concerns.

> in general

The 14 day return period doesn't apply to in-store purchases

(not trying to argue btw)

Re: Intel exiting the PC business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC

#320

Post by pshirshov »

oefrha wrote: post #314
DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #282

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't think this take makes any sense. Sure, you can spec out an insanely expensive Mac today. That's always been the case. Yes, of course - but historically Apple's MacPros (and G3, G4, and G5 PowerMacs before that) had a fairly reasonable entry-prices - but in recent years (especially since 2013) the entry-price of Apple's workstation-tier machines has risen sharply over inflation: In 2005, Apple advertised[1]…

I would say the entry level workstation line today is Mac Studio (starting at $1999), not Mac Pro, which is strictly top end. The $6999 model of today is not equivalent to the old entry models in any way, unless you just go by bulkiness.

Why "not equivalent"? Both are top-tier workstation options of their times.

But... the UX of PowerMac G5 is lot more pleasant and everything feels lot more responsive than on modern Pros. Probably because of lack of signature verifications, SIP, RPC with Apple servers. But still, those machines _feel_ better.

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