I wanted a very small box but (relatively) optimal performance, so took a chance on Intel’s “Phantom Canyon” NUC, with i7-1165G7 and RTX2060. My observations:
- It works at 4K ultra with satisfactory fan noise (earbuds in though)
- Tried 8GB of RAM at first, but frame rates hover at 60fps; when upgraded to 16GB dual channel peaks go up to 90fps (depending on worlds).
- The recent worlds are increasingly complex and demanding. Makuri looks beautiful, but frame rates now average less than 60fps.
- The just-launched Unreal 5 platform offers such a quantum leap in 3D performance; other options are not even close. But since it accepts full resolution artwork any current worlds are unlikely to be imported – which means all new worlds. I speculate that Makuri was drawn at full resolution, but “watered down” for the current engine.
Phantom Canyon was a great compromise at the time of purchase; but people looking to buy now should reserve performance headroom for more complex future worlds.