Thanks to some terrific thermal tinkering by GPD, the Intel N4100 CPU is able to operate at a maximum 10W draw rather than Intel’s recommended 6W. This gives the Micro PC a major speed boost when compared to other portables powered by the same chipset. And some of the design choices GPD have made make this thing totally unlike anything else. Micro PC, Max Performance I know reading the specifications of a laptop can seem a bit overwhelming (and quite boring), but they're the most important thing to pay attention to when you're shopping for a new computer — whether it's for you, your fourth grader, or a gift for a soon-to-be college student. Since choosing the right set of features will ensure you or a loved one will be happy with a mini laptop for years to come, I outlined everything you should consider before making the investment. Processor

My co-editor and I have tested a number of the laptops on this list, but as for the ones we haven't used ourselves, they have been vetted by industry experts across publications like The Verge, CNET, PC Mag, and Laptop Mag. So, you can be confident they will help you accomplish whatever it is you need to get done — whether you're using them for work or play. In testing, the power of this CPU is undeniable, with especially crushing results for any benchmark that uses multiple threads. If this system has an inherent weakness, it is that the Iris Xe GPU isn’t balanced well with the raw performance of the i7-13700H. There isn’t any way to negate that flaw, as it’s baked into the current Intel mobile platform. MicroprocessorHistory". Computermuseum.li. 1971-11-15. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23 . Retrieved 2012-08-30. It depends how you intend to use your mini computer. While both are highly portable, mini PCs are more so, with a far smaller surface area. If you’re working on the go, be aware of the sometimes limited battery life on laptops - if you’re usually running off the mains, a mini PC may be the better choice.This device isn’t “super powerful” or “super sleek” or any other approbatory combination. But it is the most affordable and accessible sub-notebook GPD has released to date. Digibarn Stories: Bill Pentz and (Earliest) History of the Microcomputer (August 2008)". DigiBarn Computer Museum. August–November 2008 . Retrieved 2012-08-30. Most desktop workstation buyers want tons of expandability and upgradeability. HP's Z2 Mini G9 doesn't have those, but it has awesome performance, impressive connectivity, and surprising serviceability for a PC only 2.7 by 8.3 by 8.6 inches big. Though it can hide under a desk or behind a monitor with an optional VESA mount, the Z2 Mini accommodates the 125-watt processors you'll find in full-size towers, such as our test unit's flagship Intel Core i9-12900K, and an industry-standard graphics card. The latter must be a half-length, half-height GPU powered by the PCI Express slot, but the 12GB Nvidia RTX A2000 in our review system is certainly no slouch. Who It's For

Finally, if you absolutely have to go the ultra-compact route, I’d rather suggest one of the smallest 10-inch and sub-10-inch options in the next part of this article. The best mini laptops (1o-inch or smaller) Those looking for the fastest NUC might head to the new Intel NUC 13 Pro, but that assumption might be premature. The Beelink SER6 Pro 7735HS, as the name infers, is built around the latest AMD Ryzen 7000 mobile technology and can match or better the latest Intel 13th Gen silicon. With dual memory modules installed, the K1 is easily fast enough to blood the nose of the Intel NUC 13 Pro and trounce any Core i5 or Celeron-powered machines. Access for memory or storage changes is remarkably easy and doesn’t even require the removal of screws. The Beelink is tailor-made for use as a kiosk PC or digital signage station. The company's claims for the GK Mini as a general-purpose PC for office or schoolwork are undercut by its extremely weak processor—it can't muster half of the 4,000 points in our PCMark 10 benchmark that we consider the sign of acceptable productivity. But it's fine for streaming video or a static or animated display.My colleague Stefan Vazharov tested the Surface Laptop Go 2 for several weeks and said he'd opt for it over other Chromebooks and mini laptops for its standout design and dependable performance. Thermal tinkering by GPD allows the CPU to draw up to 10W of power — more than other devices with this chip Restoring the Balance Between Analysis and Computation" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2007-06-21 . Retrieved 2012-08-30.