Gamer Transforms Subway's Fanless PCs into Gaming Setups, Achieving Low Frame Rates
A tech YouTuber has repurposed three fanless mini PCs, originally used for digital signage at Subway restaurants, into gaming machines. These passive cooling units, powered by Intel Core i3 processors, were tested for their gaming capabilities. The YouTuber aimed to see if these repurposed systems could offer a viable gaming experience. However, the results indicated significant limitations in performance. When running Grand Theft Auto V, the PCs struggled to maintain a stable frame rate, achieving only around 15 frames per second. Similarly, in Minecraft, the frame rate averaged approximately 25 frames per second. These figures highlight the inherent constraints of the hardware, which was not designed for demanding gaming applications. The experiment demonstrates the challenges of repurposing specialized commercial hardware for consumer entertainment purposes.
This experiment highlights the performance gap between specialized commercial hardware and consumer gaming demands. While the repurposing effort showcases ingenuity, the low frame rates underscore that digital signage PCs are optimized for displaying static or simple dynamic content, not for processing complex 3D graphics. The passive cooling design, while energy-efficient and silent, inherently limits sustained high-performance output required for modern gaming. Future developments in integrated graphics and more efficient processing may narrow this gap, but for now, dedicated gaming hardware remains essential for a satisfactory experience. This also points to the potential for e-waste reduction through creative reuse, though the practical limitations must be acknowledged.
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