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2024 General Mini PC Guide USALast Updated: 07/30/2024
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The viewing experience is much better in the google sheets app or from a desktop
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To Sort: tap and hold or right click the top of columns to sort A-Z or Z-A (Tutorial Video WIP)
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To search: Ctrl + F or on mobile select the three dots and "Find and Replace"
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I want to be inclusive of as many products possible so I want to be clear this list will be edited frequently. Also, I can make mistakes or miss obvious things. All feedback is welcome!
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General rules:Math (if you are curious):
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The order of the list does not imply any product is better than anotherFull transparency how scores are calculated and the simpler list is generated by pulling the top 10 scores for various budgets (ex. $200-300, $300-400, $400-500, etc).
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The scoring system is there to help generate a simpler list. Consider these values with a lot of skeptisim.These scores are not absolute so take them with a massive truck load of salt. If you are crazy like me, feel free to download the spreadsheet and change the equation on the 'FULL' tab to see how that changes the 'SIMPLER' tab.
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"Simpler" List is an auto calculated top ten models for various budgets. It is intended to help start a search and not perfect.The 'Overall Score' formula prioritizes newer CPU, GPU performance, Branding, and unusually high quantities of speacialty ports.
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New and recommended products are bolded by my personal preference.There are much better websites like passmark.com if you are looking for synthetic score comparisons for individual processors. I am not using their scores because they are kind of inaccurate and incomplete for iGPUs.
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Products means a warning there are multiple ongoing problems.
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Colors are not exact comparisons. They are very general estimates from Notebookcheck.comOverall Score = Brand + Socket + (CPU Gen*2) + CPU Threads + (GPU*4) + Seller + Volume + (Fan/10) + Warranty + Durability + (Displays*3) + RAM + Storage + Port + LAN
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Price estimates are for barebone kits to keep comparisons fair.Brand Score = [(Return Period/5 + Minimum Warranty + Maximum Warranty + If a third party seller of another brand add 3)]/2
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Budget your RAM and SSD seperately. General prices assumed:Socket Score = See the color coded "Key" on the "RULES" tab. Newer socket scores higher.
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 DDR4 16GB RAM $40 (8GB = $20, 32GB = $80, etc)CPU Gen Score = See the color coded "Key" on the "RULES" tab. It is multiplied by 2 to prioritize newer processors.
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 DDR5 16GB RAM $60 (8GB = $30, 32GB = $120, etc)CPU Threads = Number of CPU threads Intel or AMD offer per processor. It is less biased than using CPU cores because of intel's E-Core spam and accounts for hyper threading in P-Cores.
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 500GB NVMe SSD $40 (1TB = $80, 2TB = $130, 4TB = $260)GPU Score = Very simple incremental ranking system of GPU performance based on notebookcheck.com. Scoring is pulled from the table on the 'GPU' tab and multiplied by 4 in the overall score to offer a significant impact.
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 1TB HDD Storage $40Seller Score = Same as Brand Score but this helps brands with lesser warranty/return policies if they sell from better third party sellers.
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 OS cost is assumed $0 or negligible. For ~$20 Window keys search Youtubers like TechYesCity and VexVolume Score = (10/Volume) so smaller mini PC score higher. The maximum score is 25 points and anything over 4.5L will earn -3 points per liter over 4.5L.
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Additional items shipping with the mini PC (HDMI, Vesa Mount, etc) are assumed $0 or negligible
Fan Score = (Estimated largest fan size in mm/10). Fanless mini PC score 6 points instead of 0 points. Larger fans score higher than smaller fans. Not exact.
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Durability (Higher is better) = Max reputable warranty I can find.
Warranty Score = Mini PC warranty in years. Higher is better.
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TDP = Arbitrary manufacturer value, does not always correlate to actual power consumption. Ex: a 6W TDP mini PC can idle at 12W.
Durability Score = Longest extended warranty option for the mini PC. Higher is better.
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Largest Fan (Noise mm): An estimate of fan noise. Larger fan or no fan will generally be quieter.
Display Score = Number of displays officially supported by the manufacturer typically capable of 4k or 8k output. This value is multiplied by 3 in the 'Overall Score'.
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Limited ITX and SBC listings. r/sffpc and r/sbcgamingRAM Score = Number of RAM Slots + (Maximum RAM/10) + (Maximum RAM frequency/2500) + ECC Support*2)
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Limited socketed processor listings to minimize spam.Storage Score = (Gen 5 M.2 NVMe*10) + (Gen 4 M.2 NVMe*9) + (Gen 3 M.2 NVMe*7) +(M.2 Sata*4) + SD Card + mSATA Drive + (2.5" Drive*3) + 3.5" Drive
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Limited used computers from ebay, facebook marketplace, etc because of unstable prices.
Port Score = (USB4 40Gbps port*5) + (200/USB C PD in) + (200/USB C PD in and Video) + (200/USB C PD and Video and USB Data) + (3*HDMI 2.1)
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Please use price history websites to check prices. Ex: camelcamelcamel.com for amazon
LAN Score = (10GB Ethernet*5) + (2.5GB Ethernet*3) + 1GB Ethernet
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Model NameBrand
Brand Score
Socket
Socket Score
CPU Gen
Gen Score
Class
Class Score
CPUCores
Threads
GPU
GPU Score
dGPUiGPUSellerSeller ScoreEstimated Barebone CostVolume LLargest Fan (Noise mm)Warranty yrsDurability yrsDisplaysRam SlotsMax RAM GB
Max Speed Mhz
ECC Support
Max DrivesGen 5 NVMeGen 4 NVMeGen 3 NVMeM.2 SataSD CardGen 2 mSata2.5" Sata3.5" SataPCIe x16PCIe x8PCIe x4PCIe x1USB4 40gbps 4k 120hzUSB C PD in (min W)PD in + Video (min W)PD in + Video + USB Data (min W)HDMI 2.1 4k 120hzMax Ethernet10GB Ethernet2.5GB Ethernet1GB EthernetvProIdle WLoad WPeak WTDP (W)
PSU (W)
PSU Type
Release DateNotes
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[Model]Brand TabLGA17003Zen 515Xeon1CPU Tab64128409010StoreUSDEURO007776128640066666666666666240240240666661420ATXdd-month-yrPrice Changes
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AnnouncedLGA1200214th14r9132647900XTX / 4080 16GB11Amazon6.500.01-0.02200666564560055555555555555180180180555550636SFX-L10-Jun-2023Unusual Features
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RummoredLGA115111st14r7124487900XT / 4070 Ti01Newegg6.500.03-0.09140555432480044444444444444140140140444441050SFXQuality Control Problems
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PreorderLGA11511Zen 414r5116-24326950XT / 3080 Ti / 4070 / mobile 409000Ebay5.500.10-0.29120444316320033333333333333100100100333331565FLEX
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DiscontinuedAM5313th13r3112-20246800XT / 3080GPU TabAliexpress3.130.30-0.449033328293322222222222222656565222222525Brick
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AM42Zen 3+13i9112-14206800 / 3070 (low vram) / 2080 TiNo Stock0.45-0.598022214266611111111111111454545111112828GaN
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0012th12i718-1216A770M / mobile 3070 / RTX 3060 Ti / 6700XTSearching0.60-0.747011102240000000000000000000000003590Plug
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Zen 312i516-1012RTX 3050 / RTX 2060 / 6600M / 5700 XT0.75-0.99600001213345120Custom
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11th11i314-88GTX 1060 / RX 580 / 1650 Super1.00-1.24500.51666WIFI Tab55240
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Zen 2+11Pentium12-44GTX 1050 Ti / GTX 1650 / 780M€22.00-3.49400.25133365330
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10th10Celeron122Quadro T4003.50-4.9930106685400
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Zen 210ARM111GTX 1050 / 680M5.00-9.9920100500
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9th9Core Ultra 9100Vega 8/Iris Xe 96EU/660M10-19.9910125600
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Zen 1+9Core Ultra 71Vega 7/Iris Xe 80EU20-99FAN TabBrand TabRAM Tab150750
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8th8Core Ultra 51Iris Xe 64 EU
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8th8Core 9Vega 6/Iris Xe 48 EU
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Zen 18Core 7Vega 5/Iris Xe 32 EU1.98
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7th7Core 5Iris Xe 24 EU/Iris Plus 655
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6th6Vega 3/Intel UHD/Iris Xe 16 EU3.015262153
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5th5Intel HD/Celeron UHD
The column "USB C PD in" is for the minimum wattage the computer can run on just USB C PD power ex. A raspberry pi 4 can be powered by USB C PD 15W but cannot share video or usb data on the same cable.
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4th4Celeron Intel HD / Pi4
The column "PD in + Video" is USB C PD power in and video out simultaneously. Ex. Minisforum UM560 and UM580 but any usb ports on your monitor will not connect to the computer
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Adjustable RAM and SSD Prices (WIP)$/GB3rd3Potato / Tomato
The column "PD in + Video + USB Data" is if your monitor has additional usb ports you want to use on the same cable for power, video, and usb data simultaneously. ex Asus PN53
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4GB DDR3$10$2.502nd2AtomGPU Tab
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8GB DDR3$10$1.25X50
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16GB DDR3$16$1.00Core 20
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4GB DDR4$10$2.50Core0
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6GB DDR4$15$2.50ARM1
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8GB DDR4$20$2.50M314
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12GB DDR4$25$2.08M213
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16GB DDR4$30$1.88M112
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32GB DDR4$50$1.56Gen 311
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64GB DDR4$100$1.56A76+A556
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128GB DDR4$200$1.56A73+A535
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8GB DDR5$25$3.13A72+A535
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12GB DDR5$35$2.92A53+A534
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16GB DDR5$50$3.13A787
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24GB DDR5$70$2.92A766
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32GB DDR5$80$2.50A724
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48GB DDR5$150$3.13A573
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64GB DDR5$160$2.50A552
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96GB DDR5$240$2.50A531
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128GB DDR5$320$2.50A350.5
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192GB DDR5$480$2.50A200.25
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128GB SATA SSD$10$0.08ARM110
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256GB SATA SSD$20$0.08A70
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512GB SATA SSD$30$0.06A50
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1TB SATA SSD$50$0.05
Custom
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2TB SATA SSD$90$0.05
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4TB SATA SSD$185$0.05
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128GB Gen3 SSD$15$0.12
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256GB Gen3 SSD$25$0.10
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512GB Gen3 SSD$40$0.08
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1TB Gen3 SSD$55$0.06
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2TB Gen3 SSD$100$0.05
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4TB Gen3 SSD$200$0.05
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128GB Gen4 SSD$20$0.16
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256GB Gen4 SSD$25$0.10
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512GB Gen4 SSD$40$0.08
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1TB Gen4 SSD$70$0.07
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2TB Gen4 SSD$125$0.06
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4TB Gen4 SSD$250$0.06
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8TB Gen4 SSD$830$0.10
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512GB Gen5 SSD
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1TB Gen5 SSD$155$0.16
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2TB Gen5 SSD$200$0.10
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4TB Gen5 SSD$350$0.09
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8TB Gen5 SSD
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