Garage Guys....How did you do your comp setup? Desktop/Laptop

[smileykj]

So my laptop has moved on and now have to get a replacement for playing TGC. In a conundrum as I try and decide between a laptop or desktop. Part of my concern with a desktop is that my setup is in the garage and it can get humid in the summer. Therefore, I would probably want to take move the desktop in-and-out when using. Obviously the laptop is simpler in this regard but from a "bang for the buck" standpoint leaning toward a desktop especially since I found one locally with i7-7700, 16GB, 128GB SSD, 2TB HDD, & GTX1070 for $950.

What have you other garage builds done?

Thanks!

[Smudge7204]

How far is your office/internet connection from your garage? My office is adjacent to my garage so i took off the cat5 faceplate in the office drilled through to the garage and then used brush face plates on either side to stop any breeze/cold.

https://www.primecables.ca/en/p-357007-cab-dbuwp1g-1-gang-brush-white-wall-plate-decora-version-primecables?from_pla=google&sku=365334&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgsLFve2z2gIVAsNkCh01IQ8sEAYYASABEgLhKvD_BwE#sku365334

Other guys have ran cables from their basements etc, not too difficult.

[gnomike]

For now my build is planned for a room in the new house, but if it turns out to be too small, it's out to the garage! Despite this I decided to go the dedicated pc route. The cost/performance ratio is way better, not to mention that upgrades on pcs are a breeze too (i.e. all the reasons you already know). I'd also likely look into cabling in from an inside space

[allen2be]

Check out the HDMI-to-Ethernet-to-HDMI adapters on Amazon. I have been running my video and audio over a150 foot Ethernet cable for a 1.5 years and there's no perceivable loss in quality.

To control the computer from the garage I use the air keyboard app and one of the TGC skins that guys from here have created. It's a perfect setup for me.

[KPaas]

Hey off topic, would that work for running a HDMI cable from my HDMI splitter to a tv I have on the wall on the other side of my shop.
I bought a 50 ft HDMI cable, it was only 40 bucks. But it keeps cutting out and in. Finally just turned the tv off and use the other two for now.

[allen2be]

Not sure if the little transformers would have enough oomph or not. Might have some info about multiple monitors/tvs on the product page on Amazon.

[wbond]

I just ran the cables through the wall to a monitor, keyboard and projector.

[cooke23]

I’ve had a desktop for over a year now in the garage. It gets humid and whatnot but the PC has been solid year round. I do have a heater in garage for winter and it never gets below 60 in there. But yeah, I think you’d be fine leaving it in there. And that $950 is amazing price for that setup. True unicorn there.

[gene438]

I'm in Baton Rouge with humidity everyday. I added a window ac unit. On the hottest days, I usually turn on the ac unit when I go to change clothes, etc. It takes about 20 minutes for the room to come down to 72...then I fire up the system. Never had a problem with humidity or the heat.

[frodaddy00]

I went with laptop for similar reasons: humidity and portability. I waited for Black Friday and bought a gaming laptop for around $1200. i7 7700 (2.8GHz), 16GM RAM, GTX 1060 6GB vid card. Upgraded to a home wifi mesh router so laptop would have internet from garage.

You can definitely get more horsepower for cheaper with a desktop.

[jdgould]

I went with a $1,000 laptop as well for portability.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y4GZS9C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Ronsc1985]

Every computer comes with an environmental spec. Figure out what temp and humidity range your garage will experience and pick a computer accordingly.

In my case I have a desktop custom build which runs from 32F to 120F with relative humidity from 0 to 90 %. I am using Foresight FR1 so I run standalone however my PC network adapter connects with 50 mb throughput through the garage wall to an adjacent room which houses the router.

Prior to the current setup I used a laptop which conformed to the Foresight suggested specs. It also functioned perfectly. The only reason I changed was to get a better video card.

[PunchoutPro]

I kept my simple and portable. Went with a Dell laptop for $950. 1060 6gb i-7 and a ton of memory. It's my only computer so I need to use it for other stuff as well. In MN so cold was my biggest concern when the garage heater wasn't on. I added a wifi extender and everything works awesome.

[Shardak]

I have a gaming PC in the house. I use it to run TGC, and stream it to my laptop in the garage via Steam In-Home Streaming. It works very well.

[kinnus]

Same here but I use a Steam Link and have that plugged into a 40" TV in my garage instead of a laptop. From there I stream from my gaming PC down in the basement. I struggle a little bit with my Wifi connection in the garage, need to add some and access point or extender, but when WiFi is strong I have no issues.

[Whiskeyjack]

I do the same thing as Shardak works great.

[G4zzel]

I have a gaming PC in the house. I use it to run TGC, and stream it to my laptop in the garage via Steam In-Home Streaming. It works very well.

Shardak have you tried this over VPN? (Virtual Private Network)

[smileykj]

Thanks everyone for the input....

Ended up finding a tech guy in the area who got a ROG laptop and 2 months later decided he wanted desktop so I got a great setup: i7-7700, 16GB RAM, 256 GB SSD M.2 PCIe + 1TB SATA, and GTX1070 6GB for a great price. So far it runs like a dream and no worries about needing to upgrade later as this is the only gaming this 40 something needs to do.

[gnomike]

Isn't it great getting a great deal because someone else spent the bucks then changed their mind, instead of because it's old or broken?!? Suh-weet! #didthattoo #goodonya