Posted on 09/18/2025 6:28:11 PM PDT by fireman15
Mini-PCs are space-saving, quiet, versatile and often cheaper than a classic desktop PC. We discuss the advantages and what you should look out for when buying in this guide.
Mini-PCs have been experiencing a real boom in recent years. No wonder, because these small desktop computers are powerful, space-saving, and flexible. This guide shows what a mini-PC actually is, where its strengths lie, and who can benefit the most from buying one.
Also, be sure to check out the PCWorld deals page where we highlight the best deals from around the web on mini-PCs, like the latest stellar deal on a GMKtec M3 Plus mini-PC, and more. In fact, mini-PCs are constantly going on sale for staggeringly low prices, so keep your eyes peeled while shopping and keep checking back with us to see the latest and greatest deals. (If you’re reading this article the day it goes live, we’re also tracking the best Amazon Prime Day mini PC deals.)
What is a mini PC? A mini-PC is a fully-fledged computer in a small format. In contrast to laptops, mini-PCs do without a battery and screen, which saves weight on the one hand and makes the small housing possible on the other—many models have a volume of less than one liter. At the same time, flexibility remains high: a monitor, mouse, keyboard, or external drives can be freely selected and easily replaced if necessary. If you like it neat and tidy, mount the mini-PC behind the monitor to save space or integrate it discreetly on the desk.
Despite their compact design, modern mini-PCs offer enough power for everyday tasks such as office work, surfing, streaming and even gaming. If you know your way around, you can even build your own mini PC with the right components.
(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...
I have a 32” 4k screen that I currently use with an old Dell laptop. I have to have it in a big docking station to drive the screen. It is on Win 10, will not run Win11.
So I’ve getting a nice Mac Mini, the Apple Mac ecosystem equivalent of the mini PC. And will be using it with that screen.
32” laptops are pretty rare.
I would not have thought that these would make a good replacement for a gaming machine. But according to Grok, “The AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics coprocessor (iGPU) in the Ryzen 9 8945HS (a Hawk Point refresh of the Ryzen 9 7940HS) delivers performance roughly equivalent to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (laptop variant) or RTX 2050 (entry-level laptop variant) in gaming and synthetic benchmarks. This places it in the low-end discrete GPU tier, suitable for 1080p gaming at medium-low settings in modern titles (often 30–60 FPS with tweaks like AMD FSR upscaling).
So this $600 GMKtec Gaming PC, K11 AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS:
https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-gaming-pc-desktop-ryzen-9/dp/B0DPGDSM92/
might be good enough for you.
I bought the following mini-PC last night for $338.99 after I found it during a discussion of what might work OK for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC292HNC
It will be here on Sunday... I am anxious to see how it performs. The other two recent acquisitions have been used mostly in homelab duty, but they are pretty amazing considering one cost $129 on sale and the other was either $139 or $149. This latest one will be used when I am sitting in my tiny office in the back of my Ford Explorer waiting for my wife when she is doing volunteer work.
Since 2000, I have built all my computers. The lone exception is my current laptop .
I started with a “digital kit” in the 70s. Went on to home computers (Commodores, Atari, TI etc. in the early 1980s. When I switched to PCs I built everything that was not a laptop up for many years with the exception of used machines that were bargains or computers people gave to me that were broken.
But most of my computers have been laptops in the last 20 years... They are just so darned convenient. I bought a couple super slim desktops a few years ago to use as media servers. But now I have found that mini-PCs have a lot of advantages for what I am currently doing, partially because they are a lot easier to get into than most laptops.
Thanks for the ping.
Watching a movie on a phone is like using one of those earphones you got in the 60’s with your transistor radio to listen to Beethoven.
This was my first computer
https://sardis-technologies.com/pre-st29/mekd1.htm
I maxed out the memory - 768 bytes!
My favorite early computers were the TI994A and later the Commodore 64. But of course, these were both mainstream consumer products built as much for entertainment as actual usefulness.
On of my favorites that I still have around is a Sprectravideo SVI-328 MKII. It ran MSX Basic and was the model that Microsoft used as a template for its failed venture into standardized MSX home computers.
This is certainly not the case if your phone is capable of using AR Glasses. The following have great sound and an amazing picture.
https://www.amazon.com/RayNeo-Air-Pro-Glasses-SteamDeck/dp/B0FJRXSNWK
AR glasses are frequently heavily discounted, and they only work with certain phones. I use a 5-year-old Samsung S20+ 5G that I purchased for $150 on Ebay.
I can see myself wearing these, sitting in my easy chair, eating popcorn, and reacting to something that for the rest of the world isn’t there. Nah, I’ll stick with my OLED TV, thanks.
Sounds like fun times, lol.
I have a Herobox and an Iproda ..
"doing carpentry in a car"
I really want a Magic Keyboard.. but they are so darn expensive :^/
"CNC"
I’m still using a full tower that I update every couple of years. I have the last 5 hard drives still running internally. The next time my wife’s machine dies, I’m getting her a mini.
I typically use AR glasses when I am sitting alone in the back of my Ford Explorer waiting for my wife. They make the time go by very quickly and the experience is quite amazing.
I also like to use them with my DJI drone controllers. I am able to glance down at the buttons and controls when needed, but the visibility that I get with the glasses compared to the display on the controller is incredible. When you are coming in for a landing you can easily pull them down a bit and watch the drone directly. They are less disorienting than when using either drone Goggles or an AI headset such as one of the Meta Quests. Although they are quite amazing pieces of equipment as well with their own optimal uses.
Those are interesting devices. How are they working out for you?
I may get one for my relative. It looks like you need more usb ports so a usb hub will be needed plus external storage like a 2 bay computer drive external storage box.
Place all in a stack and it still is far smaller then a mid tower desktop pc.
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