Mini PCs have undergone significant improvements over the last half-decade or so. Transforming from office-only devices to capable machines ready and able to tackle considerable productivity challenges, even affordable mini PCs serve as outstanding replacements for budget desktop PCs.
Mini PCs Are Compact and Capable Everyday Work Machines
The two use cases most suited for mini PCs include everyday computing tasks such as web browsing, content consumption, light photo and video editing, and office work like text editing, creating PowerPoint presentations, and manipulating data sheets in Excel and Google Sheets.
Let’s take the Intel N150 CPU, the current budget mini PC darling, as an example. This processor powers a bunch of budget mini PCs you can often find for under or just north of $200, for good reason. Its four E-cores (efficient cores) are a few years old by now (the N150 uses the same E-cores found in Intel’s 13th and 14th gen desktop CPUs), but they offer enough raw processing power to tackle any everyday computing task without breaking a sweat.
Intel
The end result is an efficient processor sipping only 6W of power that can be used for everything from office work to light 1080p video editing, which is an impressive feat for such an affordable CPU. Thanks to its capable iGPU, you can use budget mini PCs based on the N150 CPU even for emulation and enjoying 4K HDR videos.
The cherry on top is that most mini PCs rocking the N150 processor come with 12GB or 16GB of memory, meaning they’re ready for multitasking and workflows that involve dozens of open tabs in your favorite browser.
Add 256GB or 512GB SSD storage found in said $200 machines, and you’ve got yourself a perfectly viable everyday computing machine you can also use for emulation, indie gaming, and even light photo and video editing. This is kind of impressive, but it only gets better when you increase your budget.
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The Mini PC Market Is In a Great Place Right Now
While $200-ish mini PCs are competent little everyday computing machines, the mini PC market is not limited to the economy class. Thanks to advances in CPU microarchitectures and manufacturing processes, CPUs are more affordable than ever. Add the fact that PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives and DDR5 memory are cheaper than ever as well, and the end result is loads of affordable mini PC models you can use for anything you’d use your average desktop or laptop for.
Furthermore, modern mini PCs come with impressive port selections, boasting 10Gbps USB ports, USB4 connectivity, OCuLink ports for eGPUs, and HDMI and DisplayPort connectors capable of outputting high-refresh-rate 4K signals. You should be able to run two 4K 60Hz monitors even on a sub-$200 mini PC, with pricier options supporting triple or quad monitor setups.
Many models feature dual-channel RAM and multiple M.2 expansion slots, enabling you to upgrade storage without needing to replace the SSD that comes with the PC. Finally, the number of offerings out there is staggering, allowing everyone to find a mini PC that fits their needs and budget.
For less than $200, you can get an office machine capable of tackling basic productivity tasks or playing 4K videos. The best bet here is to opt for a device that packs an Intel N100 CPU, a powerful little processor that can play 4K videos and run 4K multi-monitor setups without breaking a sweat. You can even get a model powered by an Intel N150 CPU; just don’t expect more than 8 or 12GB of memory and 256GB of storage.
For about $200, there’s a breadth of Intel N150 mini PCs paired with 16GB of memory and 500GB of storage you can use for any kind of light to medium workload, including 1080p video editing, emulation, and office work.
Mark LoProto / How-To Geek
Increase your budget to $450, and you enter the mid-range mini PC tier that sports some impressive offerings. We’re talking about mid-range to high-end AMD and Intel mobile CPUs that are a generation or two old, matching beefy non-gaming laptops from a few years ago.
Case in point is the GEM10 from AOOSTAR, a mini PC that’s almost too good to be true. For $400 flat, you’re getting an eight-core Ryzen 7840HS CPU from late 2023, paired with a Radeon 780M iGPU capable of 1080p AAA gaming. You can use said mini PC for video editing, coding and programming, as a media server, as a base for a NAS due to its three M.2 ports, and more. Thanks to an OCuLink port, you can even hook a desktop-class GPU to it and use the setup for tasks that require a dedicated GPU or high-end PC gaming.
Moving on to $600, we arrive at a price point where the Apple M4 Mac Mini, which I own, reigns supreme. The level of performance the $600 Mac Mini variant offers is impressive. Honestly, I do not find any difference in fluidity and responsiveness compared to my desktop PC, powered by a Ryzen 5700X3D and an RX 9700 XT. Thanks to its M4 chip, which combines a 10-core CPU with a 10-core GPU, the latest Mac Mini cuts through 4K videos like butter with everyday computing tasks being nothing more than a light snack. 16GB of memory is great for multitasking, with the only pain point being only 256GB of storage you can solve in a jiff with an external SSD.
Regarding Windows mini PCs, $600 can net you a last-gen high-end AMD or Intel mobile CPU, 32GB of memory, 1TB of storage, USB4 connectivity, along with multiple 10Gbps USB ports and the capability to run a triple monitor setup. In a nutshell, a bit more raw power than $400 machines but with better connectivity and more storage and RAM.
With a budget of around $1,000, you can snag a mini PC rocking the latest and greatest chips from AMD and Intel, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which offers higher multithreaded performance than the Apple M4. You can also get a gaming-focused mini PC featuring an RX 7600M dedicated mobile GPU capable of running newer AAA games at 1080p and 60 frames per second with medium-to-high details.
As you can see, the mini PC market has something for everyone. Whether you’re a budget-conscious buyer looking for a $200 office PC or someone who wants a desktop PC replacement for gaming or intense productivity workloads, you’re covered. Still, the best role a mini PC can play is that of a budget desktop PC replacement.
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You Can Get a Pretty Capable Mini PC for the Price of a Budget Desktop
Before I end this, let me offer you a few mini PC recommendations capable of replacing that budget desktop PC you’re thinking of building. I’ll work with a $400 budget as we’re talking about affordable PCs for everyday computing, and not budget gaming PCs that cost noticeably more.
My top recommendation is the aforementioned $400 GEM10 from AOOSTAR. It’s powered by the beefy Ryzen 7840HS CPU and the Radeon 780M iGPU, making the GEM10 an incredibly versatile option. It can tackle every productivity task you throw at it and be there for you when you want to game for a bit after a long day of work.
AOOSTAR
32GB of LPDDR5 RAM is sufficient for most use cases, but you can upgrade the memory if your needs require it. Only 512GB of storage isn’t great. However, remember that you’re getting blazing-fast PCIe 4.0 storage, as well as three M.2 slots in total, allowing you to add up to two extra SSDs if you want.
The port selection here is impressive. An OCuLink port means you can hook an external GPU to it for productivity tasks that require one or to transform this tiny workstation into a genuine gaming PC. Three video ports (HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB4) allow for a triple monitor setup with a maximum resolution of 4K@120Hz. You’re also getting four 10Gbps USB-A ports along with two 2.5G LAN ports, which is a nice bonus.
Suppose you’d rather get a similarly powerful CPU inside a slick aluminum chassis. In that case, check out the GEEKOM A6. This well-built mini PC packs a Ryzen 6800H CPU that’s capable of the same feats as the Ryzen 7840HS, with the only difference being about 25% lower gaming performance.
GEEKOM
If your budget doesn’t exceed $300, I recommend the MINISFORUM UN1250. This machine is powered by an Intel Core i5-1250P, which is overkill for everyday computing tasks but can be handy if you want a future-proof machine. If you’d rather go AMD, check out the GEEKOM A5 powered by a six-core Ryzen 5 7430U CPU. Both models feature 16GB of memory and 500GB SSDs.
Those of you working with a $200 budget should check out the $210 GMKtec G3 Plus. The package includes an Intel N150 CPU, 16 gigs of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. You can use it as a multi-monitor office machine for everyday computing or for content consumption, including playing 4K HDR videos.
The Beelink S13 costs $20 more and offers very similar specs but comes with a higher-quality enclosure and a quieter cooling setup. If you’re after a fancy-looking aluminum case, the ACEMAGIC Vista V1 offers the same specs but housed inside a beautiful metal chassis.
ACEMAGIC
Last but not least, the AOOSTAR N1 PRO is my sub-$150 mini PC recommendation. This minuscule machine is yet another Intel N150 PC, but this one costs less than $140. For the price, you’re getting 12GB of memory, 256GB of storage, and support for up to three 4K 60Hz monitors, which is an insane deal.
I’m all for building custom PCs, but the advent of mini PCs has made budget PC building that doesn’t target gaming a thing of the past. Instead of spending time researching parts and assembling the PC, you can order a mini PC instead, and get roughly the same level of performance for about the same amount of money while saving a significant amount of time.
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