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- Best Computer Games For Mac
- Vr Computer Games For Mac 2018 Update
Intel's VR-ready mini gaming PC is now cheaper than a Mac mini By Gabe Carey 2018-11-23T22:28:41Z PC You can save more than $185 on the compact and skull-laden Intel NUC8i7HVK mini computer until. Beat Saber feels like the next-generation rhythm game. Developer Hyperbolic Magnetism released a teaser trailer back in January that went viral on YouTube, which is a rare accomplishment for a VR. Our picks for the best VR games out there for the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift. By PC Gamer 2018-05-04T00:15:00.123Z. Our favorite HTC Vive and Oculus Rift games right now.
In 2018, VR headsets are better and cheaper than they’ve ever been. They were overhyped and they haven’t transformed the world, but they’re really cool toys. So are they worth investing in yet?
What’s the Point of VR Headsets?
Let’s just cut right through the hype: Virtual Reality is not “the next big computing platform” that’s on the cusp of taking over the world. You will not want to put on a VR headset and work at a virtual desktop any time soon, and they provide a worse experience for watching regular videos than a standard 1080p TV—outside of full VR videos, which only really come from one industry.
Instead, VR is simply a cool piece of tech. It’s a fun toy.
It’s amazing to put on a VR headset, move your head, and have the image move so instantaneously that it feels like you’re looking around in the real world. You feel a real sense of presence. Virtual Reality games, which integrate hand motion controls better than Nintendo’s beloved Wii and position tracking better than Microsoft’s failed Kinect, can be a lot of fun. Grabbing a robot in Robo Recall and tearing off a robotic limb by moving your hands is unlike anything you can do on other platforms. Ducking and leaning to dodge slow-motion bullets in SUPERHOT VR is an amazing experience. Moving around to dodge enemy attacks in Space Pirate Trainer can be some fun exercise. And Valve’s The Lab has a lot of cool, polished minigames, complete with a great little experience in which you encounter GLaDOS from Portal.
RELATED:How to Watch Any Video on Oculus Go, Rift, HTC Vive, Gear VR, or Daydream
You’ll notice that we’re mostly just talking about PC gaming. That’s what we think VR headsets really are in 2018: a fun piece of tech that’s good for some PC games. It’s amazing that these headsets work so well, and they’re fun to play with. But don’t buy VR thinking it’s anything other than a toy right now. But, at the current price of $200 to $400, it’s not that expensive for a cool gaming toy.
You Can Get a Good VR Headset for $200-$400
Virtual Reality headset prices have come way down. The original consumer version of the Oculus Rift was $599, and the touch controllers were an extra $199 when they were released. That’s a total of $798. You can now get an Oculus Rift with touch controllers for $399, which is half the original price. Amazon sold this bundle for as cheap as $349 at the end of December, 2017.
Microsoft also makes their own “Mixed Reality” headsets, which can be used with SteamVR games (and even Oculus VR games, unofficially, with Revive.) They include touch controllers, too, and cost $399. We think the Rift is much more impressive at the same price. But Microsoft has sold bundles of a headset with touch controllers for as cheap as $199, and that’s pretty compelling.
Want to play VR on a console instead? Sony’s PlayStation VR now costs $349 in a bundle with hand-tracking PlayStation Move controllers and Skyrim VR. PlayStation VR bundles have been as low as $199 on sale in the past, too.
The HTC Vive hasn’t fallen as much in price, but even it’s gotten cheaper. Originally launched at $799, the HTC Vive is now $499. HTC has pursued the premium market, launching an HTC Vive Pro with higher-resolution panels starting at $1099. But HTC is the odd company out here. We used HTC’s Vive Pro at CES 2018 and its high-resolution display was beautiful, but it’s not three times better than a Rift.
A good VR headset, complete with hand-tracking controls, will now cost you $399 at most, and perhaps as low as $199. That’s huge. At that price, it’s a great toy to play with.
If you’re playing on a PC, you’ll need a solid graphics card—but, if you’re interested in playing VR games, you’re probably a gamer who would want decent graphics hardware anyway. The current state of cryptocurrency miners making graphics cards expensive does sting, but that affects all PC gamers.
$200 Standalone VR Headsets Are on the Way
Standard VR headsets must be connected to a PC via a cable. You’ll need a PC with powerful enough graphics hardware to drive the headset, and you generally have to set up tracking stations to track the movement of your head and controllers. Most people just don’t have the necessary PC hardware. The setup process isn’t too bad, but it does take some time (and desk space).
PC-connected headsets will still give you the best experience. For example, you need a headset connected to a PC to use hand tracking. But standalone headsets are less expensive and more accessible to everyone.
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That’s why companies are now working harder on standalone headsets. Oculus is working on the Oculus Go, a standalone headset that will be released in “early 2018”—in other words, real soon now. It will cost just $199.
And by standalone, we mean it—you don’t need to connect the Oculus Go to a PC and you don’t even need a smartphone to use it. It’s a complete device with all the necessary computing hardware built in and a simple controller. Sure, the graphics won’t be as detailed as PC graphics, but an easy-to-use, self-contained VR headset at just $199 could be a compelling toy.
Other companies are working on similar things. Google’s Daydream VR platform, built into many Android phones, now supports standalone headsets. Lenovo makes a self-contained “Mirage Solo” VR headset that will be $400. That’s a high price compared to Oculus Go, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see cheaper Daydream headsets soon.
We used Lenovo’s headset at CES 2018 and thought it worked pretty well. When the price comes down on Daydream VR headsets, they’ll be great buys.
It’s Less Than $100 With a Recent Android Phone
If you have a high-end Android phone made in the last few years, you can try Google’s Daydream View with your phone. For recent high-end Samsung phones, you can try the Gear VR headset, too. Each of these will cost you less than $100—if you have the required phone to power them.
Like standalone VR headsets, these aren’t as powerful as PC-connected headsets. You won’t get hand-tracking with these headsets, either. But they likely offer similar experiences to standalone headsets like the Oculus Go and are cheaper if you have a phone that supports them. (We haven’t had a chance to play with an Oculus Go, as it hasn’t been released yet.)
At the time we wrote this article, Google was selling the Daydream View for $49 and you could buy the latest Gear VR bundle from Amazon for about $89.
You Should Try a VR Headset Yourself
It’s tough to describe just how good VR is to someone who’s never tried it. Anecdotally, every person I’ve ever put a VR headset to has been more impressed by it than they thought they’d be. No, it’s not perfect at all, and you can easily tell you’re looking at a screen. But the near-instantaneous head movement tracking, position tracking, and lens system works very, very well. It’s very impressive, and there is a sense of “presence” you feel while you wear the headset.
If you haven’t tried VR and you’re even a little interested in it, you owe it to yourself to give it a go. There’s a good chance you can try one in a store near you. Best Buy has partnered with Oculus to provide live in-store demonstrations. Microsoft Stores may have Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality, or HTC Vive demonstrations available, too. Electronics and gaming stores may also offer Sony Playstation VR, Samsung Gear VR, or Google Daydream View demonstrations.
Even if you don’t want to buy a headset, it’s worth swinging by a store (or visiting a friend who has one) and getting a free demonstration. Easiest video editing software for mac 2018 update.
Where’s the Killer App?
People are focused on “killer apps” when it comes to VR (any new platform, really). Sure, the technology may be cool, but where’s the great software? The reality is that VR is still a small market and not a lot of AAA games are being made for it.
Yes, Bethesda has released Doom VFR, Skyrim VR, and Fallout 4 VR. But don’t buy a VR headset if you just want to play the latest big games. They probably don’t support VR, and you can do that on a PC or console instead. The majority of VR games out there are smaller indie games. They don’t have a budget of tens of millions of dollars, as many big PC and console games do, but there are still a lot of fun experiences out there.
Other, non-gaming software is even less far along. You’ll find a bunch of experimental VR social networking apps, as developers try to understand what works on the hardware. There are some interesting 3D art apps, like Google’s Tilt Brush. And there are a lot of quick little “experiences” that seem like tech demos—but they can still be interesting.
And of course there are VR videos that you can watch—although there isn’t a ton of content to watch right now. Your best bet for demo videos right now will be on YouTube where you can find a combination of 360 degree videos that let you look around, and a small handful of full VR videos. There are, of course, plenty of other NSFW VR videos that you can find on Google if you’re trying.
RELATED:How to Watch Any Video on Oculus Go, Rift, HTC Vive, Gear VR, or Daydream
It’s still early days for VR, and that’s okay. VR isn’t dead, and it isn’t for everyone—it isn’t even for most people. But, if you’re interested in it—or if you’re just a gamer looking for something new—it could be for you.
Image Credit: Oculus, Oculus, Microsoft, Sony, HTC, Oculus, Google, Google
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Apple Mac mini (2018)
The Apple Mac mini (2018 model) is finally back, and it's better than ever, with a new look, rock-solid performance, and even a bit of upgradability. It's not just the best (and only) mini PC in the Mac lineup, it's also one of the best mini PCs we've seen.
Best for Home TheaterAzulle Btye3 Fanless Mini Desktop PC
For a full PC experience that will easily fit into your home entertainment setup, the Azulle Byte3 is the mini PC to choose, thanks to its accessible design, better-than expected performance and included remote control.
Best for GamingIntel NUC (Hades Canyon)
The Intel Hades Canyon NUC offers impressive gaming performance for a mini PC, but it gets pricey once you add your own components.
Forget about clearing off desk space for your next desktop PC. Today, you can get a powerful desktop PC the size of a peanut butter sandwich. Whether you're trying to save space at home, fit more computers into your office or squeeze a media server into your entertainment center, there's a mini PC made for you.
Among the best mini PCs we've reviewed are the Apple Mac mini (2018) and the Azulle Access3 stick PC.
See all of our recommendations below, and also check out our best gaming desktop PCs if you want more power.
Latest News and Updates (August 2019)
- The Dell OptiPlex 7070 Ultra is a new spin on the mini PC and All-In-One designs, thanks to a modular set up that hides a potent mini PC in the stand.
- The Azulle Access3 is our new favorite stick PC, updating the Azulle Access line with more powerful processing and faster ports.
- Chromebook maker CTL has announced a powerful new Chromebox that packs an Intel Core i7 processor and up to 32GB of RAM to deliver professional-grade power for business users. The new CTL 4K Core i7 Chromebox Workstation comes with a 4K monitor and starts at $799.
What Do Mini PCs Cost?
Mini PCs range from small project PCs for under $50 (£50/AU$75) to compact desktops that can cost $1,000 or more. Stick PCs are the most versatile, and generally cost between $100 (£100/AU$150) and $200 (£200/$AU300), and will work with most TVs or monitors. Mini PC prices vary considerably based on hardware.
Our Favorite Mini PCs
The Mac that helped introduce the mini PC is back and better than ever. The Apple Mac mini (2018) has a new look and excellent performance. The new design stays cooler, runs quieter, and offers more power, putting up impressive performance results despite using an 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor. Putting better-equipped systems to shame, the new Mac mini (2018) is a no-brainer for any Mac mini user looking to upgrade, and a smart choice for anyone else.
The Azulle Byte3 is a perfect fit for cord cutters and streaming fanatics, sinc ethe compact mini PC is small enough to add to an home theater system, but capable of streaming 4K video without hiccups. The fanless mini PC runs silent, the packs an Intel Apollo Lake Celeron processor (perfect for streaming, but not for multitasking productivity) and lets you add storage after purchase. It even comes with a slick remote control for easy control from the couch.
The Azulle Access3 is the best we've seen with the stick PC design. The tiny PC has an Intel Gemini Lake Celeron N4100 processor, giving it the power to run your day-to-day apps and browse the web with capable comfort, and a built in micro SD card slot lets you bolster the included 32GB of eMMC storage. But small touches like a positionable Wi-Fi antenna, built-in Gigabit Ethernet port and speedy USB 3.0 ports make this one of the best mini PCs around, regardless of the design.
If you're more concerned with getting online than with having a full Windows experience, consider a Chromebox. Built around Google's Chrome operating system – the same OS used on Chromebooks – it uses web apps like Google Drive and Google Docs instead of traditional software. As an inexpensive way to get online and get things done, Chromeboxes are a great option. Our favorite is the Acer Chromebox CXI3.
Want something for hardcore gaming? Check out the Intel Hades Canyon NUC because of its compact, console-like design; speedy performance; and support for the fastest solid-state drives. It's its Intel Core i7-8009G/AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH hybrid chip is not only up for gaming, it can even handle VR.
For the office, there’s the Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q Tiny, which puts a whole lot of desktop hardware into its compact 7 x 7-inch chassis. The little work PC offers plenty of configuration options, several handy accessories and even the option to turn it into an All-in-One PC with Lenovo’s Tiny-in-One monitors.
If you need even more horsepower, the HP Z2 Mini G4 packs a workstation PC into a compact size. Built to support AutoCAD and other demanding applications, the Z2 Mini boasts an Intel Xeon processor and Vendor-certified Nvidia Quadro graphics. It's the most powerful mini PC we've reviewed, and the smallest workstation we've seen.
Best Mini PC Overall
Apple Mac mini (2018)
Best Mini PC Overall
Size (Inches): 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 | Weight: 2.6 pounds | CPU : Intel Core i3-8100B | Storage: 128GB SSD | Geekbench 3 Score: 12,844
Apple took its sweet time updating the Mac mini, but the Mac mini (2018) was well worth the wait. The new Mac mini has a slick new look and a speedy collection of ports, and even offers (a bit) of upgradability. Despite rocking an older 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, the littlest Mac managed to put up numbers that bested better-equipped systems, and offers a surprising amount of power in a pleasantly compact design.
Best for Home Theater
Azulle Btye3 Fanless Mini Desktop PC
Size (Inches): 5.6 x 4 x 1.5 | Weight: 14 ounces | CPU: Intel Celeron J3455 | Storage: 32GB eMMC | Geekbench 4 Score: 4,011
The Azulle Byte3 is a mini PC with a compact fanless design that will easily fit into your home entertainment setup, providing a great tool for media streaming and a full PC experience on your TV. With an Intel Apollo Lake Celeron processor, it's perfect for streaming 4K video and offers all the connectivity you need with a healthy selection of ports.
The small size of the Byte3 (5.6 x 4 x 1.5 inches) will easily mount to the back of a TV or monitor. The compact design still offers options to upgrade after purchase, and the slick looks means that even though you can easily hide it away, you might not want to. If you want a great mini PC for home entertainment use, the Azulle Byte3 mini is our favorite.
Intel NUC (Hades Canyon)
Size (Inches): 8.7 x 5.6 x 1.5 | Weight: 4.75 pounds | CPU : Intel Core i7-8009G/AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH | Storage: Bring Your Own
Intel’s Hades Canyon NUC is a mini PC that delivers desktop-gaming-grade performance thanks to its Intel Core i7-8009G/AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH hybrid chip, which combines processing and discrete graphics on a single chip. If you buy the barebones kit, you’ll need to provide memory and storage, and your own installation of Windows, but this pint-sized gaming machine can go toe-to-toe with an Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti-powered gaming tower, and it even handled a bit of VR.
Best Stick PC
Azulle Access3
Size (Inches): 5.5 x 2.36 x 0.76 | Weight: 5.12 ounces | CPU : Intel Celeron N4100 | Storage: 32GB | Geekbench 4 Score: 4,541
The Azulle Access3 takes our favorite tiny stick PC and makes it even better. With a design small enough to slip in your hip pocket, and flexible enough to be used with any monitor or TV, the Access3 gets a faster processor, speedier USB 3.0 ports and adds Gigabit Ethernet for better performance and connectivity than any other stick PC we've reviewed.
Tips If you are using the, here are some tips that will simplify the usage of these. 2018 calendar template for mac. Always change the default timing and sync it with your time zone. Make sure to select the time of appointment before you actually create it.
Free Computer Games For Mac
Whether it's for use in your home theater, powering digital signage or just giving you a way to watch Netflix on your hotel TV, the Azulle Access3 is our new favorite stick PC.
Best Mini Workstation
HP Z2 Mini G4
Size (Inches): 8.5 x 8.5 x 2.3 | Weight: 4.85 pounds | CPU : Intel Xeon E-2176G | Storage: 1TB HDD + 256GB SSD | Geekbench 3 Score: 25,064
Best Vr For Mac
The HP Z2 Mini G4 is an ultrasmall workstation PC, cramming workstation-level components and ISV-certified graphics into a desktop PC that's smaller than some books. Equipped with a beefy 6-core Intel Xeon E-2176G processor, 32GB of RAM and Nvidia Quadro P1000 graphics, the Z2 Mini easily handles workloads that other mini PCs struggle with, and is certified to work with a variety of mission-critical programs, from vendors like Autodesk, Avid, Siemens, Solidworks and Vectorworks.
Best Office Mini PC
Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q Tiny
Size (Inches): 7.05 x 7.20 x 1.36 inches | Weight: 2.91 pounds | CPU : Intel Core i5-7500T | Storage: 256GB SSD | Geekbench 3 Score: 10,007
Best Computer Games For Mac
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q Tiny desktop puts business-grade productivity into a package that’s smaller than a paperback book. It offers all sorts of business-friendly features into it’s small, square chassis, with plenty of ports, speedy Wi-Fi, and options to add an optical drive or even transform the mini PC into an All-in-One desktop using Lenovo’s Tiny-in-One monitors. The small size belies the capabilities inside, with configurations that offer up to an Intel Core i7 processor, as much as 32GB of memory, choices of HDD or SSD storage (with Opal-compliant options), and accessories for added functionality.
Best Chrome Desktop
Acer Chromebox CXI3
Best Chrome Desktop
Size (Inches): 5.9 x 5.9 x 1.6 | Weight: 1.2 pounds | CPU : Intel Core i5-8250U | Storage: 64GB SSD | Geekbench 3 Score: N/A
The Acer Chromebox CXI3 may be the best desktop version of Chrome OS available. Made for educational and professional use, the Chromebox CXI3 delivers everything that’s great about Chrome – ease of use, simple security, and all the online capability you want – in a mini PC that boasts plenty of ports, multiple mounting options, and speedy performance. Plus, it’s cheaper than any similarly equipped Windows machine.
Best for VR
Asus VivoPC X
Best for VR
Size (Inches): 10.2 x 11 x 3 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ | Storage: 1TB SATA hard drive | Geekbench 3 Score: 10,176
If you want to experience virtual reality but don't have the space (or budget) for a huge tower, the Asus VivoPC X is for you. This slick mini desktop will barely make a dent in your desk or entertainment center, and its Core i5 processor and Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics card are more than capable of handling mainstream gaming and VR. Priced at just $799, the VivoPC X is a great starting point for folks looking to get VR ready without spending over $1000 on a desktop.
Best for Tinkerers
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+
Best for Tinkerers
Size (Inches): 3.4 x 2.2 x 0.7 | Weight: 1.8 ounces | CPU : ARM Cortex A53 | Storage: No onboard storage | Geekbench 3 Score: N/A
We're in a golden age for DIY tech, and the Raspberry Pi is a big part of that. The latest model, the $35 Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ offers a tremendous value for projects ranging from simple to complex, offering more processing power, faster networking speeds, and better flexibility for add-ons than ever before. Whether you buy it alone or in a kit, the Raspberry Pi is hard to beat.
We put each mini PC we review through a series of tests to determine how it performs. Synthetic benchmarks Geekbench 4 and 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited provide scores that represent overall system speed and graphics prowess, respectively.
Our real-world Spreadsheet Macro test matches 20,000 names with their addresses to demonstrate productivity performance, and our File Transfer Test measures the hard drive or SSD's capabilities by copying 4.97GB of mixed media files. To see how well a mini PC plays games, we run Dirt 3 and other relevant games at various resolutions, including 1080p, and record the frame rate.
Most importantly, we use each mini PC for several hours, trying out its unique features and any preloaded software. If a system is sold as bare-bones (i.e., lacking RAM, storage or OS), we install 8GB of memory, a compatible SSD and, where appropriate, the latest shipping version of Windows (currently Windows 10).
Vr Computer Games For Mac 2018 Update
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