Can you point out where I extrapolated about all use cases for all towers?
Very well, I’ll bite. From your OP:
Not quite there yet … […] When a computer that size (actually smaller, since I don’t need a SATA bay) can outperform my tower, though …
all signs point to gaming 4x4 PCs with a wall wart in the next two years
From one of your other posts:
at no point did I say towers are going to die, just that for a system for gaming without the need for a high-end GPU
These comments imply that compact computers will start to outperform full-sized computers, and that GPUs will become useless due to the performance of APUs.
If you’re just talking about your personal preferences, then go build yourself an ITX form factor PC and have fun with it! Oh wait, you already did! Good for you - you have a PC that fits your needs. You aren’t alone in that. The Steam Deck is generally well-received, for example.
But it really sounds like you aren’t just talking about your personal preferences. It sounds like you really believe that APUs are going to replace high-end GPUs. It sounds like you think gaming laptops are going to take over the world.
I’ll repeat your quote from earlier: “a system for gaming without the need for a high-end GPU”. APUs are going to replace low-end GPUs - in fact, they already have! The $200 new GPU market no longer exists! But they don’t provide enough performance to max out graphics of new games and, in your own words, remove the need for high-end GPUs.
It seems like your entire post is about “man I can’t wait for the full/mid-tower PC market to die” and then you’re acting surprised when people say things like “my PC sits on my desk and never moves do I’d rather have a full-sized cooling solution.”
And your other comments just reinforce it.
What peripherals are people using that necessitate so many add-in cards for non-HPC needs that ATX is a must, and why is it assumed that anything less than an i9 will freeze opening Notepad and thus the only power envelope worth validly addressing is that of an i9?
You’re creating a strawman. Nobody except you is saying that an i9 will freeze opening Notepad. It’s also very hostile in implying that “I’m fine with therefore most of the world must also be fine with it.” Some folks play CPU-intensive games and prefer having a powerful PC. That’s their money to spend how they want.
Full-sized PCs permit adaptability.
- Onboard Wi-Fi died? Get an add-in card replacement. This applies to onboard audio, network, USB, etc.
- Phone no longer has a 3.5mm jack and I now have to use a Bluetooth headset? Time to add Bluetooth to my PC via add-in card.
- Got a cool new monitor from a friend that’s higher resolution? I can upgrade my GPU independently. APUs limit me to what my motherboard socket supports.
Full-sized PCs permit better cooling. Even mid-range GPUs benefit from that.
Full-sized PCs easier dust cleaning and maintenance.
Full-sized PCs are easier to work in for those of us that like to tinker.
There’s more to it than “What peripherals are people using that necessitate so many add-in cards for non-HPC needs that ATX is a must,” that’s a deliberately dumb take.
To summarize:
People who want a compact or power-efficient PCs already have one.
People who prefer more power/cooling have a mid-tower or full-tower PC.
Games and other software will keep pace with the power/cooling available common PCs, so don’t expect the full-sized ones to go away just because the compact ones get more powerful.
I guess I’m a bit confused about a lot of reactions here, because at no point did I say towers are going to die
Yes you did. You’ve been saying it repeatedly in different forms throughout your various replies. I think you’re wrong, and it seems so do several other commenters.
You literally made the statement “at no point did I say towers are going to die, just that for a system for gaming without the need for a high-end GPU” which says that you think GPUs (except those at the very high end) will be made obsolete by APUs.
And yet you used it as an actual argument against people here - not on Reddit - who disagree with you. You don’t get to use that argument here and then try to say “no no, I only meant it in reference to people way over there who aren’t even on this social media.”
I provided several exact quotes in my previous comment. I’ll add one more, since it wasn’t enough. In the title of this thread you state “It feels like we’re on the cusp of […] and a real shot at relegating towers to the extreme high end.” Emphasis mine. That very clearly says that you think towers are going to become endangered. That they will preserved only by, and I quote, people at “the extreme high end.”
I thank you for your time reading my comment and replying to me. I think this will be my final word on the subject - but I’ll be sure to read any replies in case you think there’s still a misunderstanding.