Solved Buying Mini-PC or small form factor PC soon, suggestions please

First, I'm aware there are other similar threads like this but couldn't replay to them because they're older threads and I was prevented by the forum software from discussing this over there.

I'm close to buying either a Mini-PC or small form factor computer as a second system. I thought I'd tag onto this thread instead of starting yet another of these threads on this topic. I don't buy stuff like this without doing proper research first!

I'm looking for these specs, either a Mini-PC or small factor PC (preferably ready built, could also be barebones just needing ram, HD etc.):
1. Windows 11 Pro
2. 512GB or 1TB M2 drive
3. 16 or 32GB ram (prefer DDR5)
4. CPU: Intel 14th gen or latest mobile processor. Or equivalent AMD processor. I don't need high end Intel i9 14900 level or similar AMD CPU. A i5 14500 or 14700T vPro/ equivalent AMD could be a good choice. Got to be current gen, not like 12th or 13th gen Intel etc.
5. GPU, not a gaming device so thinking of Intel UHD Graphics 770 level.
6. Must have decent ventilation.

Here in NZ the range available is a bit limited compared to the USA and elsewhere. These are available:
Dell have a decent range (see below, prices are in NZ dollars. I'm interested in this one


Other brands available here are Lenovo, HP small form factor models, with Mini-PC, Asus and MSI Cubi are readily available. Those new MSI Cubi's look good.

Introducing MSI Cubi NUC 13MQ and Cubi NUC 1M Mini PC with Intel vPro

Any thoughts and suggestions please?

But you have to have tiny hands!!!

I was looking at a Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i. I don’t know, I have this thing about Lenovo’s lately. I don’t know enough about Mini PC’s, yet, to advise.



I see a conversation about Mini PC’s, Beelink always get’s mentioned.

Mini PC’s are getting expensive.

One would hope this isn’t sponsored advice.

antspants said:

But you have to have tiny hands!!!

I was looking at a Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i. I don’t know, I have this thing about Lenovo’s lately. I don’t know enough about Mini PC’s, yet, to advise.

I see a conversation about Mini PC’s, Beelink always get’s mentioned.

Mini PC’s are getting expensive.

Click to expand...

In Lenovo, I would choose a ThinkCentre Tiny.

Regarding the Dell you listed, If I'm converting your currency to USD correctly, you are prepared to spend $1200 for a system. That's a lot for a system that has very little expansion to it. Coming from someone who has used nothing but Optiplexes and Precisions for almost 30 years, my opinion might seem strange but IMO they are way overpriced for the quality of the builds one gets these days. They are not up to Dell's past standards not only in design, but in terms of being long term workhorses. Maybe all new OEM systems are built this way in today's world. I don't know. I just know my own experience with the one I have.

I see that Dell Optiplex has only 1 year warranty. I bought mine in 2021 and it had a 3 year warranty. I needed every day of it. This is the first new system I ever bought in my life as I always had off lease systems before. Those were almost indestructible. I could write you a book of what I've been through with this one.

One other thought. Whatever you buy, make sure it comes equipped with enough ram from the start to meet your future needs. Most of the "baby" PCs (that's what I call the SFF and Micro form factors) are limited in ram slots which can make increasing your ram way more expensive later.
Another thing to consider with anything Dell is all the proprietary parts.

I know a number of the members here have transitioned to mini PCs. I believe one such brand that is popular is the Beelink. Hopefully one of them will step in and give you their opinions of them.

Marcus Vinicus said:

First, I'm aware there are other similar threads like this but couldn't replay to them because they're older threads and I was prevented by the forum software from discussing this over there.

I'm close to buying either a Mini-PC or small form factor computer as a second system. I thought I'd tag onto this thread instead of starting yet another of these threads on this topic. I don't buy stuff like this without doing proper research first!

I'm looking for these specs, either a Mini-PC or small factor PC (preferably ready built, could also be barebones just needing ram, HD etc.):
1. Windows 11 Pro
2. 512GB or 1TB M2 drive
3. 16 or 32GB ram (prefer DDR5)
4. CPU: Intel 14th gen or latest mobile processor. Or equivalent AMD processor. I don't need high end Intel i9 14900 level or similar AMD CPU. A i5 14500 or 14700T vPro/ equivalent AMD could be a good choice. Got to be current gen, not like 12th or 13th gen Intel etc.
5. GPU, not a gaming device so thinking of Intel UHD Graphics 770 level.
6. Must have decent ventilation.

Here in NZ the range available is a bit limited compared to the USA and elsewhere. These are available:
Dell have a decent range (see below, prices are in NZ dollars. I'm interested in this one

Dell OptiPlex Micro Form Factor - Desktop Computers - Mini PC Tower | Dell New Zealand

Shop the Dell OptiPlex Micro desktop computer. Free up your workspace with a super compact desktop with the most versatile mounting options. View on Dell.com

www.dell.com

Other brands available here are Lenovo, HP small form factor models, with Mini-PC, Asus and MSI Cubi are readily available. Those new MSI Cubi's look good.

Introducing MSI Cubi NUC 13MQ and Cubi NUC 1M Mini PC with Intel vPro

Any thoughts and suggestions please?

Click to expand...

Look at Steve on Gamer's Nexus Youtube channel. He reviews a lot of mini and ITX PC cases with special attention to airflow. Does a thorough job and often reviews them for thermal cooling with scientific methods and equipment.


I would go for TB drive and 32GB+ DDR5. Get the most upfront if you can.

g.skill has some pretty good selection of DDR5 - you want 2 sticks not 4 (in fact, a 2 DIMM motherboard is generally better in terms of RAM speed than a 4 DIMM, and a 4-DIMM with two sticks is better than 4). 2 DIMM up to 96GB. If you can get g.skill there. Otherwise Crucial, Teamgroup, Patriot and Color are good RAM choices. Max frequency and CL depend on your board choice and the quality of the processors Integrated Memory Controller. But 2 DIMM board generally will let you go faster - look at the QVL for the board and that will give you a good idea. I like g,skill because they provide a QVL for motherboards that are compatible with each of their memory module kits.

If memory speed is important to you then this may be a good affordable choice of 2-dimm Motherboard:


What about cooling?

If you are in no hurry, Arrowlake Intel processors should be ubiquitous by the end of the year.

antspants said:

One would hope this isn’t sponsored advice.

Best mini PC of 2025: we benchmarked the top mini computers for every budget

We benchmarked the best mini PCs, thin clients, and NUC boxes for the home, office, content creation, gaming, and so much more

www.techradar.com

Click to expand...

Only the Apple ones (which I'm not interested in) are available here in New Zealand.

PerpetualCycle said:

Look at Steve on Gamer's Nexus Youtube channel. He reviews a lot of mini and ITX PC cases with special attention to airflow. Does a thorough job and often reviews them for thermal cooling with scientific methods and equipment.

Gamers Nexus

PC hardware reviews, game benchmarks, component analysis. Please subscribe for updates!

www.youtube.com

I would go for TB drive and 32GB+ DDR5. Get the most upfront if you can.

If memory speed is important to you then this may be a good affordable choice of 2-dimm Motherboard:

Amazon.com

What about cooling?

If you are in no hurry, Arrowlake Intel processors should be ubiquitous by the end of the year.

Click to expand...

Yes, it is important to me that I buy the right model with recent specs/technologies to be able to future proof it as much as possible.
I'm going to probably wait at least until the big November/Xmas sales before moving ahead with this.

There are a lot of Mini-PC reviews here:

@Marcus Vinicus






I think Beelink and Intel NUC have been around the longest.

Marcus Vinicus said:

Any thoughts and suggestions please?

Click to expand...

That i5-14500 that you mention performs on average only 3.5% faster than the i7-13650HX that I have in my laptop. Due to the fact that the latter mobile CPU is only 55 watts Base Power vs 65 watts for the former (desktop CPU), I don't think the former is worth. Especially not after you also consider that the former needs the microcode update from Intel to ensure it will be stable (as it is a 14th gen desktop CPU so, AFAIK it is affected by the Intel flaw) and that also hurts performance, and hurts performance with serious lagging behavior under some (or many) circumstances at least according to some reports I've seen. Personally, I, just wouldn't take the risk unless maybe if someone could convince me (with something a bit more compelling than pure anecdotal evidence alone) that this negative impact on performance is close enough to negligible. Because, from what I gather, it isn't. Even if it turns out that it is, there's still going to be the 10 watts difference in Base Power, which, in a small form factor case with not much airflow, just happens to be a lot.

this might of general interest

The other possibility is a laptop. Now I'm a retired IT dude I don't really need one but there are a lot more choices out there in my neck of the woods.

Re the comment by @hdmi about relative performance of CPU's here's a graph from Notebook Check showing the relative performance of some laptop processors. There certainly isn't much difference between most of these.



A 13900HX is less than 2% slower than the 1900HX.


Finally, I'm definitely going to what till November when the big online sellers here have their sales.

I have an 8th gen core i5 beelink model. I think it's an i5-8279u. I have been very happy with my little mini PC. It's what I run Windows 11 on at home and I use it as my DAW for my guitar input via a focusrite scarlett 2i2. I have 32GB of RAM in mine, and along with the 512GB NVMe, I added a 512GB SATA SSD.

It's this model right here: and it's $279.

Today, can get a 12th gen model for $319.

According to PassMark, on average the i9-14900HX is ranked ~3% higher than the i9-13900HX so yeah, in most scenarios the difference is quite small. The i9-13900HX scores ~30% higher than the i9-12900HX, which, in turn, scores ~8.5% higher than my i7-13650HX, BUT... the i7 runs cooler and IMO the Asus laptop I have was better value for money than those i9 powerhouses. For my hobby goals I stick to only laptops because getting a decent UPS (uninterruptible power supply) plus a low-powered PC monitor is too expensive and I don't actually need more CPU/GPU performance. I picked the Asus TUF Gaming F16 (2024) because it is Jaeger Grey, and besides, it came with a ROG backpack as a free gift from Asus.

@Marcus Vinicus I am in a similar position, my mum lives in NZ and I wanted to get her a mini-pc to replace her aged out all-in-one.
my concern about sourcing the PC in the US is with voltage requirements so I am interested to see what you settled on...

Thanks!

Dell/Lenovo/HP, these three's DM (desk mini) are pretty similar. I prefer HP. But that's up to your preference. really no big difference.

DM vs SFF
I also run both. DM is good in every respects, but if go high power (11th gen CPU or higher). It's NOT quiet any more. Alternative is SFF which offers quieter, better cooling. but it's bulky. NOT DM any more.

I sell to my customers these they are fantastic

ASUS NUC 14 Pro Revel Canyon Ultra 7 Tall Barebones Mini PC (Basically they are still a Intel NUC re-badge)

They come in either a i3, i5, i7

Just add how much DDR5 Ram you need and what ever size you need with a M.2 SSD and with an extra 2.5" SSD

Maybe contact PLE in Moorabbin Victoria Australia to see if they would post it to you in New Zealand?

sabex007 said:

@Marcus Vinicus I am in a similar position, my mum lives in NZ and I wanted to get her a mini-pc to replace her aged out all-in-one.
my concern about sourcing the PC in the US is with voltage requirements so I am interested to see what you settled on...

Thanks!

Click to expand...

The mini PC uses an external power supply.

Some of those power supplies can operate over a wide range of voltages. Example: Beelink | Beelink Gaming Mini PC SER6 AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX With AMD Radeon 680M

@Marcus Vinicus Since you live in New Zealand it makes a difference where you want to buy from. That way people can recommend computers based upon what your options are. Which online sites do you want to buy from?


Amazon Austalia

sabex007 said:

@Marcus Vinicus I am in a similar position, my mum lives in NZ and I wanted to get her a mini-pc to replace her aged out all-in-one.
my concern about sourcing the PC in the US is with voltage requirements so I am interested to see what you settled on...

Thanks!

Click to expand...

In the finish I purchased an Asus Vivobook 16 x1605VA laptop from PBTech. It is a nice toy and is currently running Win 11 Pro 24H2 with no issues.


The other online retailer in NZ that I buy mostly computer components from is Computer Lounge.