mini computers

Usually the main problem with these mini computers are the fact that they usually lack a decent number of external ports and often the CPU installed is a lower capable Celeron type. If you can get a small box which has a decent CPU, a number of usb ports and 2 HDMI ports then you are in business. These days with nvme -> usb adapters, / enclosures etc you don't need to have oodles of HDD space on the internal box.

If you have say a powered 5 port USB hub - then it's easy also to attach a wireless mouse and keyboard and if necessary a wifi->LAN or USB->Lan connector --but if the box is reasonably modern with the latest wifi protocol then that could be just as fast as LAN cable on a home network.

The Beelink series are excellent. Unless you are an extreme gamer or need a zillion and one screens for things like Stock trading the days for "large desktops" or towers are IMO definitely over.

cheers
jimbo

They are perfect for the job they are intended (like netbooks were). They are not meant as desktop replacement, so they are less powerful. But if their power is enough for you, they can even replace a desktop computer. I have seen one used at a cashier with an ERP software to issue receipts and invoices.They are perfect for connecting to your TV and use them as media server (aka HTPC, Home Theatre PC). I prefer a HTPC or a small laptop to make a regular TV smart than using an Android TV box. Windows has much more features than Android OS.

Size matters!
The very first "Computer" I ever worked on ran on Vacuume Tubes and occupied an entire floor of a five story building, which it also heated through the coldest days of an Iowa winter. Now, That was a Computer!
What we have today is a horse of a different color!
I have them all. Towers, SFF desktops, Laptops of several different sizes, and one really small Netbook. And, oh yes, one Cell Phone, a computer in its own right.

I have 4 Mini PCs. Three of them are Beelinks. The fourth one is a KAMRUI. The KAMRUI was OK for my needs when I bought it. My needs started changing and the mini started to become too under powered. That's when I decided to buy my first Beelink. It was the Beelink U59. I now have two Beelink 12SEi12 Mini PCs added to my collection. I did have to replace the NVme drive on the U59. I'm not sure but I think the drive failed because of a power surge. With the power available and the small size I think that when the need to replace one of my desktop computers happens I'll go with a mini. Just looking at what's available, Amazon has me confused. The have a SEI12 Pro with a 12-Core i7-1260P CPU. Reading the specs the CPU is listed as a Ryzen 9. I wonder which CPU it does come with.

It might be two versions, one with Intel and one with AMD

A mini-computer to me means a PDP 11! Those of a certain age know what I mean.

Steve C said:

A mini-computer to me means a PDP 11! Those of a certain age know what I mean.

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Does it takes Windows 11? Just kidding

My Dog I can HELP somebody here! You don't know much about Mini PCs? Get to know THIS guy --

Aren't most of these new small computers called Mini PCs. That would distinguish them from what used to be called minicomputers. Note, the first home computer the Altair 8800 in 1975 was initially called a "minicomputer". The name soon changed to "microcomputer" because they used a microprocessor as their CPU. So even that name has already been taken.

BTW, in 1979 where I worked they had a PDP 8/I. It actually still worked. Many consider it the first true minicomputer because of its size. When it came out in 1965 it cost $18,500. That is equivalent to about $171,800 in 2022. I soon transferred to another area where they had a couple IMSAI 8080s. They were clones of the Altair 8800. The IMSAI 8080 is what David used at home for hacking in the movie WarGames.

I believe most of these computers are often called SFF (Small Form Factor) PCs. I wrote a bunch of reviews for Tom's Hardware about such devices in the 2000s. I built a nice one from around that time using a Logic Supply case, mini-ITX mobo and the usual cast of other parts. My wife liked it so much I bought her a Dell OptiPlex 7080 to replace it about 3 years ago (11th Gen i7 CPU). She still likes that machine a lot. Great thread!
-Ed-

Ed Tittel said:

I believe most of these computers are often called SFF (Small Form Factor) PCs. I wrote a bunch of reviews for Tom's Hardware about such devices in the 2000s. I built a nice one from around that time using a Logic Supply case, mini-ITX mobo and the usual cast of other parts. My wife liked it so much I bought her a Dell OptiPlex 7080 to replace it about 3 years ago (11th Gen i7 CPU). She still likes that machine a lot. Great thread!
-Ed-

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The SFF computers have been around for many years like you said from the traditional computer manufacturers. However, there are now many new models usually called Mini PCs. Most of these come from relatively new companies based in China. Some of these are very capable and appear to rival many of the traditional SFF ones.

Mini Desktop PC/Small Form Factor PC: Apple, Dell, HP, Intel, Lenovo
Mini PC: ACEMAGIC, ASUS, ATOPNUC, Beelink, BENICO, Blackview, CyberGeek, GMKtec, HYSTOU, KAMRUI

Good to know, thanks! Didn't realize that Mini PC had entered the lexicon, so to speak. Pops up like mad on Amazon, for example. Amazingly cheap, too: I see a Beelink with Ryzen 7 (U or laptop version), 16GB RAM and 500 GB NVMe for ~US$260. Wow!
Thanks again,
--Ed--

Yep, big fan of my Beelink mini PC. I would buy more, for sure.

I was working in the IT dept of a couple of large Hospitals. They have converted all their users that don't have laptops to these Mini Desktop computers. They are powerful and don't take up much desk space. These are great for normal office or regular computer usage.
The only drawback is that they are not upgradeable. If you want a more powerful graphics card or add more then one drive, and of course no room for an optical drive, if anyone uses them anymore, there is no room for it. Also Heat can be an issue, as there is no room for more fans.They are also not powerful enough to run an AutoCAD or Video Editor app.
But if price and desk space are more your concern for you then power, these are great systems.

You guys overlook an important detail. The modern term is mini PC, not mini computer. As the original IBM PC was a micro computer the mini PC is even smaller. It makes sense.

I like mini PCs except for the fact that if you are plugging-in/unplugging USB devices the PC will move unless you have it mounted on a backing plate or hold it down whilst plugging/unplugging. A small niggle. I just need to use both hands. One finger to press down on PC and the other to plug/unplug USB device.

I think PCs can be too small to be practical (unless bolted in place) so I wouldn't want a PC any smaller than my current HP EliteDesk 705, which is 177 x 175 x 34mm and weighs 1.26kg. I still need to hold this in place while plugging/unplugging USB devices.

Am I alone in thinking this?

There is also the pocket computer (not to be confused with the old PDAs running Windows Mobile called Pocket PCs). The pocket computer is like a thick USB flash drive that has an HDMI connector. It plugs to a monitor or TV and runs Windows 10/11 on a small 64GB or greater internal storage.

This is just the thread I was looking for. I recently moved to macOS in the form of a Mac Studio, love that machine, however being a hamradio operator I still need a Windows based PC because most of the amatuer radio software is written for Windows, not much out there for a Mac, this is slowly changing. Forget running a windows emulator on an M1, I am not going to run Window software on a Mac. I presently have a refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M93P mini desktop. It has a dual core i5 and 16GB of RAM. I cannot update it to Windows 11, and its integrated GPU is showing its age. With the smaller form factor of the Mac Studio I just do not want to stuff a new motherboard in my dead full tower machine. I am looking for something about the size of a Mac Mini with a Ryzen cpu, a radeon GPU chipset, etc. I am a huge ASUS fan and they make some really capable mini PC's however people have told be they are a Horse apple with a ethernet plug. What would you suggest. There are a lot of choices. I have been a fan of AMD almost from their beginning, plus they are still cheaper than Intel. This mini PC will be plugged into my LAN its sound and video going through my Yamaha AVR.

transmaster said:

This is just the thread I was looking for. I recently moved to macOS in the form of a Mac Studio, love that machine, however being a hamradio operator I still need a Windows based PC because most of the amatuer radio software is written for Windows, not much out there for a Mac, this is slowly changing. Forget running a windows emulator on an M1, not going to run Window software on a Mac. I presently have a refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M93P mini desktop. It has a dual core i5 and 16GB of RAM. I cannot update it to Windows 11, and its integrated GPU is showing its age. With the smaller form factor of the Mac Studio I just do not want to stuff a new motherboard in my dead full tower machine. I am looking for something about the size of a Mac Mini with a Ryzen cpu, a radeon GPU chipset, etc. I am a huge ASUS fan and they make some really capable mini PC's however people have told be they are a Horse apple with a ethernet plug. What would you suggest. There are a lot of choices. I have been a fan of AMD almost from their beginning, plus they are still cheaper than Intel. This mini PC will be plugged into my LAN its sound and video going through my Yamaha AVR.

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I only used Macs and iPhones for 29 years straight. Didn't like the direction Tim was taking the company by 2015 and switched to PCs and Androids. I'd say if you're a creative type and need that software, or the cameras on an iPhone, sure -- be you -- but otherwise I nudge people towards PCs (me too on Asus) and Android.

I started with an Asus Mini and marketing described it as 'library' and 'whisper' quiet. Hardly. The unit shipped with a dusty fan but I never noticed it until too late. I've heard reviewers still say they're noisy so avoid them like the plaque.

If you're in America the Amazon deals precisely this time of year are insane. Especially this year for some reason. I'm currently using the Beelink Mini PC Intel Core i5-12450H. I know you said AMD but this is the quietest PC I've ever had. Either it's near silent or the fan is broken, lol. It's $309 at the moment and I added 3 years of warranty for like $39. So if your Ryzen preference was only in price -- consider this one.

The only issue I have with it (apparently a known issue) is that if it goes to sleep with a wireless keyboard the only way to wake it back up is with the power button. I just set it not to sleep.

I sort of went in the opposite direction. Microsoft since the MSDOS days. I finally got demon possessed by Steve Job's, as my Android friends say. But I still need a PC. I am not allergic to intel CPU's, the Lenovo has been doing great on its dual core i5. Basically it is going to boil down to what I get the best deal on.