Crowdfunding and availability of rapid prototyping tools has enabled the production of several mini-ITX cases focusing on efficiently organizing commercial computer components into small volumes including the Ghost S1, [14] [15] DAN A4-SFX, [16] [17] and Thor Zone MJOLNIR. [18] [19] Communities of enthusiasts [20] [21] [22] and reviewers [23] now develop and promote enhanced SFF assembly, maintenance, and performance criteria. 3D printing and Laser cutting have enabled customization and one-off production by both manufacturers like Lazer3D [24] and individual users [25] with access to the relevant equipment.

form factor (desktop and motherboard) - Wikipedia Small form factor (desktop and motherboard) - Wikipedia

If you’re a creative professional, the Apple Mac Studio is the best mini PC for you. A beefed-up version of the Mac mini, the Mac Studio is built from a single aluminum extrusion, with a square footprint of 7.7 inches and a height of 3.7 inches. USB port confusion aside, this is a capable mini system that covers many of the typical roles these devices are used, but inexpensively. With its size and power, we found it ideal for conferencing rooms, but it could easily be used as a replacement desktop PC, media server, or firewall, to mention just a few. This isn’t a cheap NUC solution, but it does offer the potential for enhanced performance in the future for those who like to gamble a little. Some Mini PCs are designed to lay flat under a desk while others have a unique vertical design that allows them to be placed on top of your desk next to your monitor and within arm's reach. You can also completely conceal them behind your monitor if they come with VESA mounting holes.

Asus ExpertCenter PN52

Size is a significant concern when selecting the best mini PC because they’re available in a relatively wide range of sizes. If you’re dead, set on a mini PC that will fit in your palm; for instance, your gaming options will be limited, as will your future upgrade options. So you have to figure out what you need your mini PC to do and then find one that can accomplish those goals while still meeting your size constraints.

Beelink Mini Desktop Home Page

If a mini PC is best, consider how you'll be using your machine. In addition to general computer usage, Mini PCs have been used as media servers, games emulators, and much more. Many SFF computers have a cubic shape. Smaller models are typically sold as barebones units, including a case, motherboard, and power supply designed to fit together. The motherboard lies flat against the base of the case. Upgrade options may be limited by the non-standard motherboards, cramped interior space, and power and airflow concerns. The Power Mac G4 Cube, released in 2000, and the Shuttle XPC are good examples of this design. MSI and Asus produce similar designs. The Xi3 Modular Computer is an example of a cube computer with a little more upgrade possibilities. YouTube videos can reduce the hassle of determining the sequence of steps, but either way, you’re still going to invest more minutes (or hours) overall. Cable management can take extra work in particular—when one PCWorld staff member built his first SFF PC, that was the very first thing that he learned. Why go SFF? You need to factor those parts and a Windows license (unless you plan to use Linux) into the total cost. The parts you will need, mind you, will be small: the kind that you'd typically find in a laptop, not a desktop. Many small PCs like these make use of DDR4 SO-DIMMs—laptop-style RAM modules—for their main memory instead of full-size desktop DDR4 DIMMs. For comparison purposes, the size of an SFF case is usually measured in litres. SFFs are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including shoeboxes, cubes, and book-sized PCs. Their smaller and often lighter construction has made them popular as home theater PCs and as gaming computers for attending LAN parties. Manufacturers also emphasize the aesthetic and ergonomic design of SFFs since users are more likely to place them on top of a desk or carry them around. Advancements in component technology together with reductions in size means a powerful computer is no longer restricted to the huge towers of old. [2]By 1977, the introduction of the second microcomputer generation as consumer goods, known as home computers, made them considerably easier to use than their predecessors because their predecessors' operation often demanded thorough familiarity with practical electronics. The ability to connect to a monitor (screen) or TV set allowed visual manipulation of text and numbers. The BASIC language, which was easier to learn and use than raw machine language, became a standard feature. These features were already common in minicomputers, with which many hobbyists and early produces were familiar. The Beelink U59 is easily one of the better NUC-sized machines we’ve seen, and it’s cheap enough for even the tightest budgets. The NPB7 is the flagship of the Venus series and features the incredible Intel Core i7-13700H (14 cores, 20 threads) mobile CPU and up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM. However, it can be bought barebones with the processor installed by the RAM and M.2 NVMe storage provided by the customer. A big reason why? Graphics acceleration and other essential features, handled in the past by separate chips or bulky cards, have been subsumed under the CPU. Nowadays, miniaturization is getting to the point where you can't go all that much smaller. You need to leave some space for ports to plug in a thing or two.

Mini PCs - VJM Computers - Small desktop computers Windows 11

Rule of thumb? For light office work, you can get by with a mobile or desktop Core i3- or Pentium-based mini PC, but you'll want to err on the side of a higher-end, desktop-strength Core chip if you'll need extra pep for serious multitasking, file conversions, heavy calculations, or multimedia content manipulation. Celeron chips, meanwhile, are okay for only the very lightest of tasks, or undemanding digital display/signage use. Our PCs feature the latest generation Intel and AMD Ryzen processors. You get all the performance you need in a case no taller than a tennis ball. These small PC towers deliver responsive performance, accomplishing tasks including content creation, photo editing, gaming or Immersing yourself in 4K Ultra HD with the latest videos and movies. Just connect your mini computer to any TV or monitor of your choice and away you go. 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. If you're short on desk space but want a PC with the latest in connectivity and enough power to drive your basic computing needs, the MSI Cubi 5 12M is an excellent alternative to the more powerful MSI Pro DP21. For some of you, laptop-grade processing is enough to get through basic computing tasks, and it's the supporting features that are more important. For that, we recommend the MSI Cubi 5 12M.

Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra

Mini PCs are small and portable versions of the larger towers you might be accustomed to, which allows them to fit in more confined areas, like a small desk, a portion of a dorm room, or a collaborative office workspace.