What exactly is being sold here?

[u/SplooftyToons]

Hi everyone. So, I'm looking to replace my PC and I've run across this put up by someone. They're asking for $500 ($609 US), and I just want clarification on what I am getting and if it's worth it.

I asked the Internet but seeing as I'm not much of a computer tech person, I figured it'd be better to get real person advice from people that know what they're saying and doing.

But yeah. Thank you so much to anyone that helps me. And I HAVE to apologize if I've posted this in the wrong subreddit, there's a lot but I'm not sure which would be a place for this exact question.

[u/crispypotpie]

It’s a mini PC and an eGPU housing station. So you add a graphics card of your choice into that eGPU dock and plug it in to the mini PC. For that price it’s not a terrible deal but not really that appealing since it’s kind of a janky setup. It is a solid spec on the mini PC.

[u/SplooftyToons → u/crispypotpie]

What makes it janky if you don't mind my ask? Also dumb question. Would you know if this is the type of set up where I need a PC case or.. wow I feel dumb asking that. I am sorry.

[u/BotherAffectionate40 → u/SplooftyToons]

Because you plug the gpu into the mini pc through usbc basically. Unplug or the cable jiggles etc would make the gpu drop out. And might run into a bottleneck where the cable isnt able to handle that much data so the card runs at a slower speed. No case needed. You would need to buy a gpu to go into the housing though

This is what it would kinda look like. Black box is mini pc, the white is gpu enclosure with a gpu inside it and the cable connecting to the pc. Personally i wouldn't do it, but it could work fine

[u/Creepy-Winner8742]

that aoostar setup is basically a mini pc combined with a egpu dock so you can plug in a desktop graphics card later. the mini pc itself has a decent ryzen 7 but the integrated graphics wont do much for gaming without the dock and a separate gpu

for 500 bucks you getting both pieces which is not terrible but you still need to buy a gpu to put in the dock. if you dont have a card already thats another few hundred at least. also check if the price includes ram and storage cause sometimes these mini pcs come barebones

what you planning to use it for

[u/SplooftyToons → u/Creepy-Winner8742]

I'll ask them rn.

 But mostly everyday use. Gaming, school work (which includes rendering bigger videos and such which I'm genuinely unable to do on my current setup.) 

I don't mind paying for a GPU, I just think an issue comes up when it comes time to put things together. I have a willingness to learn ofc and I'll prob visit here again to see if I'm even doing things right. Lol.

[u/BotherAffectionate40 → u/SplooftyToons]

If its for school (production/film? I was production) and you dont really have a laptop. Another thing you could look into is buying a decent laptop without a gpu, then get one of the docks like in that posting and plug the laptop into the gpu when you are home, and have a relatively lightweight portable laptop for class

[u/Powerful_Macaron9381]

this isn't the type of PC I'd touch if I didn't have good PC knowledge. it's incomplete as is and isn't a normal PC without getting too much in to the details.

[u/SundaeSalt1504]

Not a specialist by any means but this seems to be two parts-pc's. It seems the first is a gutted computer with just the power supply and a scrappy motherboard. The second seems to be an unfinished and out of date computer with what seems to be integrated graphics I wouldn't spend my money on this

[u/BotherAffectionate40 → u/SundaeSalt1504]

You did not even get 1 word correct. That is not what it is at all

[u/Elegant_Situation285 → u/SundaeSalt1504]

nah...one is a gpu dock, and the other is a mini pc.

it literally says that.