You're conversing with a kindred soul. Truly. Been that way since I was a teenager; I'm 73, and it hasn't changed. :-)
For those who might be interested in my latest mini-computer project, I am including the following details. Other than the upgrade to Windows 10 Pro almost everything else was purchased on Amazon.
In reality, the last thing I needed was another computer to further clutter up the house, but this one was too cheap and has featured that I found intriguing. I got it as part of a combo-deal where it was $119. It came with Windows 10 but the hardware meets Windows 11’s hardware requirements, so you immediately start getting the upgrade nags. I upgraded to Windows 10 pro before letting it upgrade to 11.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTKBHJT8
This is the organization that I use to purchase licenses on the cheap... I don't know how their game works, but none of the licenses that I have purchased through them have gone bad.
https://www.gamers-outlet.net/en/buy-windows-11-pro-cd-key-oem-microsoft-global-1
I purchased a cute little 14” touch screen monitor with a really nice little stand to go with it that with the coupon brought them down to $95. A single included USBC cable powers the monitor and provides the signal for video. For fun I have the monitor and computer powered with a 10ah LiFePO4 battery that I tried to use in a small UPS to replace the SLA battery that had reached the end of its useful life.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPGYRL4C
To get the voltage to the correct value. I have clipped a $2 cigarette lighter adapter to the battery in which I have inserted an $8.99 USBC fast charger.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3X6YWCQ
I am using a cable converter set the voltage to 20v and go from USBC to the 5.5mm to 2.5mm connector in the back of the computer.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08331ZNTP
I am monitoring the resulting voltage and power consumption from that with a small USBC “multimeter” which clips into the power circuit, which I actually paid about $5 with shipping for on AliEpress but are still a good value on Amazon for $14.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9QH4C7S
The little Ryzen powered mini-computer and monitor uses between 10 and 20 watts when doing normal tasks and up to 40 to 50 watts when doing graphic intensive games such as Microsoft flight simulator 2020 with it along with the joystick and rudder pedals. I clip a small and super cheap LiFePO4 trickle charger to the terminals of the battery to keep it from discharging too much.
It is just a goofy little project. It is more powerful than the 6-year-old Ryzen 2500u powered laptop that I am using to write this post with. The mini-computer uses approximately the same amount of current as the laptop and will run for approximately 8 hours on the 10AH LiFePO4 battery.
The assembly makes a very cute little package and I do appreciate that thought that went into the features and mini-computer form factor. The cooling is very effective and quieter than a laptop and the ease of pulling it apart to make hardware upgrades is wonderful. I added memory, upgraded the NVME drive, added an ATA SSD, and upgraded the wifi/bluetooth card to WIFI 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2NV2RDH
This morning, I have to migrate half a dozen websites and associated email services to a new hosting plan... so this little project will be on the backburner until this evening. Luckily the weather here is crappy, or I would also have a list of “honey do” projects to finish up as well.