Are Mini PCs Worth It?

Mini PCs tin beryllium much applicable (and usually costs less) than regular-sized desktops. Here are a fewer things to cognize earlier making nan last telephone if you're considering buying a mini computer.

What Exactly Are Mini PCs?

As nan sanction implies, mini PCs are computers smaller than nan accustomed desktop case. They scope that reduced footprint by (usually) utilizing laptop parts, and by not focusing excessively overmuch connected sheer performance.

Desktop computers utilized to beryllium ample because they had to accommodate larger parts, for illustration 3.5" soul HDDs and optical disk drives—such arsenic Blu-ray aliases DVD readers/writers. Expansion cards were besides important a fewer decades ago: backmost then, motherboards didn't person built-in components for illustration wired web ports and audio outputs. A discrete sound card takes space, arsenic does a noisy dial-up modem.

As exertion advanced, parts that supply capable day-to-day capacity for agency and study tasks started to go much efficient. Nowadays, they're smaller and require little power. That intends ample desktop computers aren't needed anymore for specified cases of use. Some mini PCs are truthful mini they don't moreover person cooling fans.

ASUS

Chipmaker Intel envisioned a somewhat modular format for that: the Next Unit of Compute (NUC). Intel itself stopped making NUC PCs successful mid-2023, but ASUS announced soon aft that it'd take complete nan brand. There are besides mini PCs from different manufacturers, for illustration Gigabyte, HP, MSI, and nan Linux-friendly System76, and galore more.

Today, mini PCs tin do virtually immoderate task that doesn't require a dedicated graphics card. Some models are really capable to do immoderate ray gaming aliases 3D modeling, while others are compatible pinch GPUs (built-in aliases external) and could service arsenic a mid-range gaming PC aliases workstation.

How Much Do Mini PCs Cost?

As pinch regular desktops and laptops, nan costs of mini PCs depends connected which specifications you're looking for. The best mini PCs whitethorn scope thousands of dollars, while entry-level ones commencement astatine little than $200.

In some cases, mini computers often costs little than some desktops and laptops featuring akin hardware—the HP Pro Mini 400, for instance, costs $140 little than its desktop counterpart, nan Elite Tower 600, having a newer processor, akin RAM and storage. This makes mini PCs an absorbing prime if you're looking to upgrade from an existing machine, since you'll already person nan peripherals.

Beelink

The Beelink U59 Pro, e.g., gives you 16 GB of RAM and 500GB of retention for little than $200 pinch an Intel N100 processor (in capacity terms, astir nan balanced of an entry-level i3 CPU from 2019). There's a somewhat much affordable type pinch an N95 CPU (somewhere betwixt a 2017 and a 2018 i3), but that 1 besides cuts RAM and retention by half.

If you're nan DIY type, you tin ever build your ain mini PC. It requires immoderate tech knowledge, but whitethorn prevention you a spot of money, and you'll extremity up pinch a instrumentality that fits your needs and priorities conscionable arsenic good arsenic a pre-built computer.

Can a Mini PC Replace a Desktop?

For nan correct usage case, Mini PCs tin perfectly switch a bulky desktop computer. Take Lenovo's ThinkStation P3 Tiny: you tin fresh an Intel i9-13900 vPro CPU, 64GB of RAM, 4TB of storage, and an NVidia T1000 (8GB) graphics card. It's a existent powerhouse.

Mac Minis, perchance nan astir celebrated mini machine models, are besides highly-capable. You tin fresh an M2 Pro CPU pinch 12 cores, 32GB of RAM, and 8TB of retention wrong one. They're wide regarded arsenic having awesome worth for nan price, and time off thing to beryllium desired erstwhile compared to nan "traditional" iMac (except, obviously, a screen).

Both of nan supra are considerably larger than nan Beelink U59 and besides costs (much) much ($2,250 for nan maxed-out P3 Tiny, $4,499 for nan Mac Mini). However, they're still successful nan "Mini PC" ballpark, successful position of size.

There are besides Micro-ATX desktops and Mini-ITX computers. Both are types of smaller PC cases, though moreover larger than nan Apple and Lenovo models mentioned above. These desktop formats have their pros and cons, but are celebrated among machine gamers, particularly those wanting to prevention table space.

When compared to accepted desktop PCs, mini computers—even nan not-so-tiny ones, for illustration nan above—have nan sizeable advantage of redeeming you a batch of table space, some horizontally and vertically. But that's not all: they tin put up a conflict against portable computers, too.

Can a Mini PC Replace a Laptop?

If you don't request nan built-in screen, battery, keyboard, and rodent that comes pinch a laptop, a mini PC tin surely switch a laptop. Suppose you conscionable want to usage nan aforesaid machine astatine location and successful your workplace. If you person nan required peripherals successful some locations, a mini machine useful nan aforesaid arsenic a portable one. Some models are so mini you tin transportation them successful your pocket.

As a bonus, a mini PC whitethorn moreover beryllium lighter and smaller than a laptop. If we're talking astir high-end computers, for illustration gaming aliases workstation laptops, nan size and weight differences will beryllium much pronounced. In specified cases, you whitethorn moreover beryllium tempted to get yourself a decent portable monitor, a bully wireless keyboard, and a bully wireless mouse, and conscionable usage your mini PC to activity connected nan go.

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

There are arguments successful favour of utilizing a laptop alternatively of a mini PC, for sure. The required peripherals are each built-in, and it useful connected artillery power. So, successful nan end, it's really astir what amended suits your needs.

What Use Cases Are Best for Mini PCs?

You tin usage a Mini PC successful virtually immoderate business that doesn't require a high-end computer. And, arsenic explained above, immoderate models are much than suited for dense workloads, too. There are really a batch of reasons to get a mini computer arsenic your adjacent one.

If you're getting a caller desktop for trivial tasks, a mini PC is simply a decent bet. If you are upgrading from an aged instrumentality and do immoderate ray gaming, a mini machine whitethorn besides beryllium nan amended choice. Need an inexpensive machine for your kids? Definitely a bully fit, too! Need 2 aliases 3 computers for nan mini business you're starting? Those will prevention you money and space.

To sum things up, nan 2 situations successful which mini PCs won't beryllium a bully action are if you request to usage discrete graphics cards, aliases erstwhile a built-in show is indispensable. In nan first case, get a desktop. For nan 2nd scenario, you'll apt request a laptop if moreover a good portable monitor won't beryllium up to nan task.

Size is conscionable 1 of nan aspects to see erstwhile purchasing a desktop computer. But a mini PC whitethorn astonishment you pinch really tin and elastic they are.