To save space or for use in addition to a larger PC, the mini PC can be a great asset. Indeed, it often provides the same functions as the standard models. The only differences are in size and hardware configuration. If you don't know much about PCs, find the right mini PC for you in our current selection.
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Our selection
"Compared to all the small PCs on our list, AMD Ryzen 3 PRO Mini might look like a giant. Although it's almost impossible to put…"
"Offered at 229 euros, this MINIS FORUM mini-computer embeds the latest generation of Intel CPU with low energy consumption. Moreover, it is well equipped in…"
"Apple users can't go wrong with an Apple Mac Mini. The new models come with the innovative M1 chip that allows for three times faster…"
"Equip yourself with the ASUS PN51 Mini PC for business or multimedia entertainment. With its small size, you'll enjoy a spacious, organized and clutter-free workspace."
"If you think that a PC has to be noisy, bulky and power-hungry to perform well, this miniature version will prove you wrong. Designed for…"
Compared to all the small PCs on our list, AMD Ryzen 3 PRO Mini might look like a giant. Although it's almost impossible to put it in a backpack, it's still compact enough to move around easily. It offers a lot for its quality and price.
528 £ on AmazonThe Mini PC AMD Ryzen 3 PRO as its name suggests contains a powerful APU AMD Ryzen 3 Pro 4350G. Its performance is exceptional. Despite the sporty integrated graphics, this model can handle many new AAA titles on medium-high at 1080p. In addition to gaming, this mini PC is a solid productivity and entertainment PC. With a clock speed boosted to 4.2 GHz, everything from web browsing to multimedia playback runs smoothly on this device.
Connectivity is fantastic, especially for a small form factor desktop. You'll find a pair of Ethernet LAN ports, four USB 3.0 jacks, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, a line-in jack, a microphone input, and a headphone output. Internally, this machine has two DDR4 RAM slots, an NVMe SSD slot, M.2 PCIe storage, and a 2.5-inch hard drive bay to hold SATA and SSD drives.
Offered at 229 euros, this MINIS FORUM mini-computer embeds the latest generation of Intel CPU with low energy consumption. Moreover, it is well equipped in connectivity.
199 £ on AmazonPresented in a very compact case, the MINIS FORUM mini-computer is well supplied with connectivity. It has an HDMI 2.0 connector, a DisplayPort, supporting 4K, 4 USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet ports and Bluetooth 5.0. It's complete! In addition, it offers Wi-Fi connectivity, dual band, fast using the Gigabit network card. You can enjoy your streaming programs in peace.
But for a successful multimedia experience, you also need power. This mini-computer is equipped with an Intel Celeron J series processor, the J4125, a quad-core CPU with four threads. To do its job, it is clocked at 2.70 GHz, at most, and 8 GB of DDR4 type RAM. To make sure you don't run out of storage space, there's a 128GB SSD that you can expand with a 2.5″ slot.
Apple users can't go wrong with an Apple Mac Mini. The new models come with the innovative M1 chip that allows for three times faster processing and six times faster graphics. This model can pretty much meet all your expectations.
844 £ on Amazon
Equip yourself with the ASUS PN51 Mini PC for business or multimedia entertainment. With its small size, you'll enjoy a spacious, organized and clutter-free workspace.
679 £ on materiel.netThe ASUS Mini PC PN51 is a small and incredibly compact PC that will fit anywhere. A compactness that still allows it to accommodate both an SSD in M.2 format and a 2.5 inch hard drive. It has a nice robust look with notable reinforcements inside. The MD Ryzen 5 5500U processor it packs, coupled with its 16GB of RAM, is powerful enough for tasks such as spreadsheet calculations and occasional footage editing.
The mini PC also has some easy-to-access ports, including a headphone/microphone combo jack and two USB 3.1 Type-C ports. On the connectivity side, you'll get a Gigabit Ethernet port as well as Wi-Fi AX and Bluetooth 5.0. Its maintenance is simple and its connectivity is very interesting. In short, this little technological gem has been tailor-made for performance.
If you think that a PC has to be noisy, bulky and power-hungry to perform well, this miniature version will prove you wrong. Designed for professional use, it's powerful enough for multitasking.
559 £ on LDLCCompact, complete and modern, the ASUS Mini PC PB60G-B3149ZD is small but strong. Equipped with a well-stocked connectivity, it has 2 USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 3.1 ports as well as 4 mini DisplayPort and 1 HDMI. In terms of performance, with this little machine, you will be entitled to an NVIDIA Quadro P620 graphics card with 8 GB of RAM. It also gives access to a connection with Wi-Fi AC and Bluetooth 5.0.
Despite its small size, the Asus comes with a powerful 8th generation Intel Core i3-8100T processor, with a frequency of 3.1 GHz, all with a TDP of only 35W. Thanks to its aluminum chassis, you can expand the M.2 SSD (2.5 inches) as well as the DDR4 memory up to 32GB to get the most out of the Asus mini PC. All this performance is wrapped in a small case of 17.5 x 17.5 x 3.42cm with only 1.6 kg of weight! Bravo Asus!
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| TOP OF THE TOP | NOT EXPENSIVE | TOP OF THE RANGE | EXCELLENT | Very good | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
7/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
9/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
AMD Ryzen 3 PRO Mini PC
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MINIS FORUM Intel Celeron J4125
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2020 Apple Mac Mini
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ASUS Mini PC PN51 (E1-B5089ZD)
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ASUS Mini PC PB60G-B3149ZD
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Compared to all the small PCs on our list, AMD Ryzen 3 PRO Mini might look like a giant. Although it's almost impossible to put it in a backpack, it's still compact enough to move around easily. It offers a lot for its quality and price.
|
Offered at 229 euros, this MINIS FORUM mini-computer embeds the latest generation of Intel CPU with low energy consumption. Moreover, it is well equipped in connectivity.
|
Apple users can't go wrong with an Apple Mac Mini. The new models come with the innovative M1 chip that allows for three times faster processing and six times faster graphics. This model can pretty much meet all your expectations.
|
Equip yourself with the ASUS PN51 Mini PC for business or multimedia entertainment. With its small size, you'll enjoy a spacious, organized and clutter-free workspace.
|
If you think that a PC has to be noisy, bulky and power-hungry to perform well, this miniature version will prove you wrong. Designed for professional use, it's powerful enough for multitasking.
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CPU
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AMD Ryzen 3 3200G
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Intel® Celeron® J4125
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Intel Core i5 8th generation
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AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
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Intel Core i3-8100T
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Number of cores
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4 Cores / 4 Threads
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4 cores / 4 threads
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Hexa-Core
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6 cores / 12 threads
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4 cores / 4 Threads
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Frequency / turbo
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3.6 GHz / 4 GHz
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2 Ghz / 2.70 Ghz
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3 GHz
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2.1 GHz / 4 GHz
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3.1 GHz
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RAM
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16 GB
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8 GB DDR4
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8 GB
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16 GB
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8 GB
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Storage
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256 GB
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SSD 128 GB
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256 GB or 512 GB SSD
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512 GB M.2 SSD
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SSD 256 GB
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The processor's mission is to organize data exchanges and perform the calculations necessary for the computer to interact with its user. In other words, it plays the role of the brain, the element not to be neglected when buying a mini PC. When choosing your minicomputer, look for Core i processors or chips with similar performance. For your information, a 7th generation Core i3 processor is much more powerful than a2nd generation Core i5. To know the generation of a chip, base yourself on the first number of the model (Core i3-7100, Core i5-6200, etc.).
To be able to deploy all its power, a processor must be associated with a good RAM. So after evaluating a chip's performance, you need to focus on the mini PC's RAM. As a first step, opt for a computer with a minimum of 4 GB DDR3 RAM with a frequency of 1333 MHz. If you plan to run resource-intensive software, we recommend 8GB or 16GB of memory. Note that the price of a PC varies greatly depending on its RAM and processor performance.
Today's software is particularly large, so don't neglect storage space. The presence of an SSD could be advantageous for installing the operating system and some programs that require fast startup. Nevertheless, an SSD often has a limited capacity, so it should be allied with a traditional 500GB, 1TB or 2TB HDD, depending on your needs. If you're a 4K content aficionado, we recommend an HDD that has a large storage capacity. Otherwise, a 500GB or 1TB drive should do the trick.
In
most cases, manufacturers ship their mini PCs with a Windows operating system (8 or 10). However, you can always opt for hardware without an OS so that you can install the one that suits you (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc.) after the purchase. As for the operating system, the choice is yours. However, avoid old OS (Windows 7, etc.) to be able to access interesting updates and run the latest software.
On average, the dimensions of a mini PC range from 10 to 20 cm both in height and width. It usually has a thickness of 3 to 5 cm. Be aware that a mini PC with a large enough size is more powerful than a mini PC with a small size. However, it's up to you to see which size suits you best according to your preferences and needs.
A simple, practical and space-saving machine, the Mini-PC is, as its name suggests, a smaller version of the normal desktop computer. It has a small screen and a small keyboard. Mini-PCs are sold as "Barebones" or configuration bases. In other words, it consists of a case with power supply and a motherboard only.
Firstly, the motherboard is the main element of any computer, whether mini or desktop, whose role is to support the other components such as the microprocessor, RAM, hard disks, expansion cards which are a graphics card and a sound card. It ensures the connection between the peripherals themselves and with the computer. In other words, between the connection of peripherals to its input and output connectors.
In addition, at the heart of the motherboard itself, we find the chipset. Indeed, the latter is an electronic circuit that allows communication between the various elements and peripherals. Moreover, it is also possible to integrate other functions into this chipset. This means that you can take care of the configuration of your mini computer yourself.
Finally, the mini PC is also an ideal device for office work, video editing and drawing. Indeed, it can perfectly do even activities that require a lot of power provided you get good components.
The ready-to-use mini PC adopts a horizontal or vertical shape. This does not change its performance. You cannot change the original configuration, preset by the manufacturer. Some models still leave room for you to increase the device's memory. This is the only upgrade possible. Apart from that, all the essential parts are already present, including the processor, the graphics card and the hard disk. Choosing a ready-made mini PC should be done seriously, as poor performance may hamper you during use. This device is a delight for novice users who are not looking to break their heads with all the technical side of computing.
The barebone mini PC includes only a motherboard and a power supply. This means that you can customize your mini PC by adding the right microprocessor for your needs. Although, some models can also contain it. This is not the case for RAM and hard disk. They are not included, nor are the graphics and sound cards. So it's up to you to determine the performance that suits you according to your intended use. Then, upgrades are allowed simply by adjusting the configuration. Nevertheless, take the time to check the barebone connectors if they correspond to your peripherals.
The mini PC is equally suitable for home or office use. Measuring between 15 and 20 cm in width and height and 3 to 5 cm thick, it is appreciated for its ultra-compact format, which is lighter and more discreet. Extremely handy, the mini PC can be installed anywhere: on the desk, hidden behind a screen or hung on the wall. Once connected to a screen, it can be used for word processing or browsing.
It can also be used for streaming games and to turn a television into a Smart TV. In addition to all this, mini PCs are much quieter and consume less energy than fixed computers. In conclusion, the mini PC is very practical in everyday life and appeals to a lot of people, whether for its design, technical features and versatility.
However, this model of miniature computer also has some drawbacks. Even if it is a ready-to-use model, you have to budget for the necessary accessories such as keyboard, mouse, speaker... In addition, its limited performance does not allow for more complex work such as video editing, video games or professional graphics.
Also called "desktop computer", the desktop PC is an equipment capable of performing various tasks. It also allows you to play and communicate. This model was designed to be permanently placed in a fixed location, but not to be portable. Its operation always requires a power supply.
Often installed on a desk or on the floor, the central unit consists of a case with the power supply, a motherboard, a microprocessor, a graphics card and a processing memory. The case can be placed horizontally or vertically and is connected to several peripherals such as the monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers and printer.
The desktop PC is powerful, efficient and versatile. In addition, it has a higher storage capacity and processor. Unlike the mini PC and laptop, this model is easy to upgrade and easy to repair in case of failure. Its main disadvantages are its immobility as well as its large footprint. Another drawback with this equipment is that it is power hungry.
The mini PC is interesting for those who want to privilege the aesthetics, the comfort of use and especially the nomadic solution. If you don't need to go anywhere for work, you should choose the fixed computer because of its incomparable performance.
Surfing the Internet doesn't necessarily require a high-powered computer with the latest Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processor and a dedicated graphics card for gamers. A mini PC with a powerful chip and a good RAM should be able to provide you with unforgettable moments in the world of the web. Moreover, as the name suggests, this type of hardware has small dimensions and can therefore be moved easily from a bedroom to a living room and vice versa.
In addition to accessing classic websites, mini-computers offer you the opportunity to take full advantage of streaming platforms. With an excellent connection, you can enjoy 1080p, Full HD content without any slowdowns or performance bugs.
If you want to access 4K UHD content, you'll need a powerful PC.
A mini PC can act as a portable workstation and allows you to easily run the latest and most resource-intensive office suites. It can be very useful for your work on spreadsheets, word processing and/or presentation software. It can also help you in the creation of ultra-big PDFs and in the use of a database manager.
For your information, minicomputers are much quieter than traditional desktop and laptop computers. In addition to their quite remarkable performance, they will offer you an environment that is conducive to concentration.
That's right! You don't always need a gamer PC to play small video games. Of course, a minicomputer doesn't have the performance needed for recent blockbusters such as Far Cry 5 or Final Fantasy XV, but it will still allow you to enjoy some famous titles such as Burnout Paradise.
If you're a retrogamer, a medium-powered minicomputer (Core i3, 4GB or 8GB RAM, etc.) will allow you to run old games in 2D or 3D without slowing down and with optimal resolution.
In our opinion, the best brands of mini PC in 2022 are :
Intel is an American brand known for its microprocessors, graphics processors, motherboards and many others. It also manufactures mini PCs, which are among the best of their kind.
Based in Hong Kong, Zotac is a manufacturer of computer hardware, including video cards, mini-PCs, solid state drives, motherboards, gaming computers and other computer accessories. The company is constantly innovating.
Minis Forum is one of the most famous brands in the manufacture of computer equipment in Hong Kong. It is particularly a safe value in terms of mini PC. It offers a good compromise between design and robustness.
As one of the world's largest manufacturers of computers and computer accessories, Acer offers high-quality mini PCs to the general public that can meet any need.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Some possibilities to boost your mini PC
If you want to make your device much faster, defragmentation is an effective solution. You can also use Windows Defender to detect malware. Freeing up the hard drive and updating programs can also help you achieve your goals.
Place your mini PC in a well-ventilated area.
The
mini PC can generate a lot of heat, and they need a steady flow of air to stay cool. The best way to keep your computer from overheating is to put it in a place with adequate airflow. Most importantly, note where your computer's ventilation is located and make sure there's enough room.
Make a list of all the devices you plan to connect to your computer and make sure you have enough ports to accommodate them all.
It's
easy to forget about all the adapters, gadgets, and accessories we plug into our computers, so make a list. Be sure to include everything from your printer to your phone charging cables. Triple-check that the mini pc you want to buy has enough space for all of them.
Install it on the back of your monitor.
Mini PCs are so small that they can easily be attached to the back of a monitor, preferably with a standard VESA mount. This is a big advantage in situations where space is limited or when you don't really want a tower case, such as a receptionist's desk.
Turn your mini PC into a media server.
Mount
a mini-PC on the back of a TV and it will function as a media server, displaying media from the Internet or from your PC or NAS (network attached storage) device
.
The best mini PC depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best.
Installing a mini PC is not at all complicated, especially if you have chosen a ready-to-use mini PC. All you need to do is connect the HDMI cable and the USB cable, then plug the power supply of your device and the monitor into a power strip. Finally, boot up your mini PC and configure Windows.
Windows 10, Mac OS, Chrome OS and Linux are among the operating systems that can work with the mini PC. It's up to you to choose the one that best suits your habits. However, if you are a beginner to the computer environment, it is recommended to opt for a Chrome OS system which is more beneficial with its very simple interface and versatility. In addition, it is suitable for all uses.
If you can choose the right components for a mini PC, it is quite possible to have a mini PC as powerful as a desktop PC. For example, you can opt for a latest generation i5 or i7 processor, a hard drive with plenty of storage. It is also possible to add RAM. For most uses on a mini PC, 4GB of RAM is more than enough, but you can upgrade to 8GB or 16GB if needed.
To make cleaning your mini PC easier, start by removing the front panel, leaving the components exposed. Then unplug the fans from the motherboard and remove them with a screwdriver. Remove the dust from the propellers with a cloth, then reinstall the fans. Repeat the operation with the processor, but use cotton swabs to remove the dust effectively. Then take your cloth and clean the graphics card, motherboard, power supply and the inside of the case.
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