Desktop PCs with user-interchangeable components just don't come smaller than the Beelink GK Mini, an Intel Celeron system that measures only 4. Processor: A mini PC needs a processor powerful enough to handle basic web browsing, light photo editing, and any office programs you use. During that time, I've built and torn down enough desktop PCs to equip a city block's worth of internet cafes. The GMKtec NucBox K2 has probably the best port selection of any mini PC we've tested, so if you want flexibility, have a lot of different devices, or just like to be prepared, it's a great choice.

But unlike the Windows PCs we’ve tested, the Mac mini doesn’t have an external power brick, so you don’t need to find room for one behind or under your desk.Although you don’t need to worry about burning your legs with a mini PC, you do need to make sure the case regulates temperature so that the computer doesn’t overheat. Yes, we know that when you're looking for the best mini PC you might not think of a Mac, but with the ability to install Windows on the Mac mini with ease, the hardware specs are hard to overlook. Both are capable little computers that you can stick under or behind a monitor, saving space on your desk. A mini PC with Windows 11 provides the latest in software advancements and requirements as well as the latest in security and updates. This design also gives you a larger supply of RAM for graphics processing, which is generally a good thing when you’re working on larger projects consisting of many gigabytes of video files.

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Tiny, M80q Tiny, and M90q Tiny are virtually indistinguishable, as they provide most of the same ports and processor options. Look for a "T" or a "K," or no letter at all, as a dead giveaway for a desktop chip (for example, Core i5-9400T), or a "U" or "Y" (or possibly a "G3," "G5," or "G7") for a mobile one. Apple’s new Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra processors is geared toward media professionals rather than the average person. These deceivingly adorable mini PCs might only be a fraction of the size of a regular desktop, but they certainly make up for it with plenty of hardware heft.Established in 2010, Laptop Outlet is one of the UK’s leading tech retailers, offering new and refurbished tech devices, including laptops, smartphones, PCs, tablets, accessories, and much more. Power consumption: Mini PCs use low-power desktop and laptop processors, so yours shouldn’t draw much power even when it’s working hard. One area where the Mac mini excels in contrast to our Windows pick is fan noise: The Apple M2 version of the Mac mini is barely audible even when you’re playing a game or encoding video files. The 2023 Mac mini’s M2 processor makes it about as fast as an M2 MacBook Air, so it’s great for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document and spreadsheet work, and casual photo editing yet still usable in a pinch for professional tasks like app development and video editing. The M2 Pro Mac mini exported our two-minute 4K test video in Adobe Premiere in just 2 minutes 8 seconds, and it resized and exported 330 high-resolution images in 5 minutes.

You can explore some of the popular gaming PCs, including the Lenovo ThinkStation P350 and the Dell Precision 3460. In particular, some of the larger, newer Intel NUC models have begun including, or at least offering the option, for GPU support.With 16GB of RAM, mini PCs can be a great way to reduce clutter in your home or office, while still having the power to do the tasks you need. NUC stands for "Next Unit of Computing," a longtime initiative by Intel to spur the development of very small Windows-based desktop PCs using its mobile-centric processors.