Small PC / Thin Client / Chomebox Remote Desktop for 4K

fcmisc

I want a small computer to run remote desktop only.
It needs to drive a 4k display over wireless.
I would like Bluetooth as well.
What options should I consider?

Neil_Jones

fcmisc said:

I want a small computer to run remote desktop only.
It needs to drive a 4k display over wireless.
I would like Bluetooth as well.
What options should I consider?

Is this the computer you want to connect to?

It will connect via HDMI to any 4k TV, nothing special there.

What are you trying to do exactly?

fcmisc

I want to use the small computer to connect to a work PC located at another location.

I currently use a full local desktop to remotely connect to my work PC located somewhere else. It's a bit noisy and big. I want something smaller and quieter.

prowla

I use the little Dell Optiplex Micro PCs.

You can get a bracket to fit them under a desk or bookshelf, or on the back of a monitor.

You can spec them quite high if you want to (i7, 32 GB, M.2 SSD), though probably not necessary for your use-case.

They are available used on ebay, etc.

Be sure to get one with integral Wi-Fi if you need that, as it's an option.

getmore4less

How do you want to connect the local display, mouse and keyboard.

Presumably a 4k monitor from your first post.

Raspberry pi 4  might  be able to do what you want.

CoastingHatbox

Hello,

I presume you are using a VPN to connect to the remote desktop within your company's network?

If so, you probably need something with a bit of CPU grunt (or the appropriate hardware acceleration - AES-NI) for the purposes of encrypting/decrypting packets sent over the wire.

The problem with small PCs is that they tend to have smaller fans, which when spun up are:
* louder, because they have to spin faster in order to move the same volume of air as a larger fan
* higher pitched because they are smaller

Rendering 4k and encrypting/decrypting VPN traffic is going to generate some heat, which will have to be dissapated somehow.

If your existing PC is otherwise working, I would look at whether it is possible to make that quieter? If you let us know what type of PC it is (make, model number) then we might be able to give you some good advice on that.

rdr

You could actually do this with my Moto Edge 20 phone, it will run the Citrix gateway onto my work system, it will connect wirelessly to my smart TV using Motorola's ready for system and also connect to a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard. Not actually tried it yet but I have run the Citrix system on an android phone before now.

fcmisc

My current aging PC is an HP Elitedesk 800 G1 SFF.

I guess I need to check whether or not I'll be using a VPN or not. I don't know that bit.

getmore4less

fcmisc said:

My current aging PC is an HP Elitedesk 800 G1 SFF.

I guess I need to check whether or not I'll be using a VPN or not. I don't know that bit.

What spec?

How much do you want to spend?

[Deleted User]

fcmisc said:

I want to use the small computer to connect to a work PC located at another location.

I currently use a full local desktop to remotely connect to my work PC located somewhere else. It's a bit noisy and big. I want something smaller and quieter.

Is the remote PC a physical one or a virtual machine?

Are you using Microsoft Remote Desktop with RDP protocol to connect? Any other options available such as PCoIP?

What is the workload - general office use, development / technical or 3d graphics / CAD etc?

Can your employer provide a thin client, many do for home working as they are more secure and cheaper?

Until the above are known for sure, some options assuming RDP protocol:

1. Raspberry Pi4 - meets your 4K, Wifi and Bluetooth requirements. You can install a free open source RDP client such as Remmina or Vinagre. Cost effective option, approx £80 + case and accessories, low energy consumption

2. Built around the RPI4 as above but dedicated to this purpose and already configured and won't need a case and accessories, an NComputing RX420(RDP) for about £170:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/NComputing-RX420-Client-Microsoft-Verde/dp/B085DJVLZ8

3. Beelink GK55 thin client / mini PC about £200

All of the above are powerful enough for a VPN - my Raspberry PI4 can run 300+mbps over VPN whilst doing other things so no worries on that front. RDP will only need a tiny fraction of that.

4K doesn't require much processing power over RDP unless you are running 3d / CAD - for development / office type use all of the above are more than capable. It only processes what changes on the screen so very little overhead.