2024 General Mini PC Guide USA

1

2024 General Mini PC Guide USALast Updated: 12/12/2024

2

The viewing experience is much better in the google sheets app or from a desktop

3

Walkthrough:https://youtu.be/y6dGYmqDxsU?si=sUIpn9itsZdDsLlr

4

To Sort: tap and hold or right click the top of columns to sort A-Z or Z-A

5

To search: Ctrl + F or on mobile select the three dots and "Find and Replace"

6

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!

7

8

9

General rules:Math (if you are curious):

10

The order of the list does not imply any product is better than another.Full 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).

11

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.

12

"Simpler" List is an auto calculated top 10-20 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.

13

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.

14

Products means a warning there are multiple ongoing problems.

15

Colors are not exact comparisons. They are very general estimates from Notebookcheck.comOverall Score = Brand + Socket + (CPU Gen*2) + CPU Threads + (GPU*2) + Seller + Volume + (Fan/10) + Warranty + Durability + (Displays*3) + RAM + Storage + Port + LAN

16

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

17

Budget your RAM and SSD seperately. General prices assumed:Socket Score = See the color coded "Key" on the "RULES" tab. Newer socket scores higher.

18

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.

19

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.

20

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.

21

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.

22

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 -5 points per liter over 4.5L.

23

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.

24

Durability (Higher is better) = Max reputable warranty I can find.

Warranty Score = Mini PC warranty in years. Higher is better.

25

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.

26

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'.

27

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)

28

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

29

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)

30

Please use price history websites to check prices. Ex: camelcamelcamel.com and keepa for amazon.

LAN Score = (10GB Ethernet*5) + (5GB Ethernet*4) + (2.5GB Ethernet*3) + 1GB Ethernet

31

32

33

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

34

[Model]Brand TabLGA17003M4191CPU Tab64128409010StoreUSDEURO007776128640066666666666666240240240666661420ATXdd-month-yrPrice Changes

35

AnnouncedLGA12002

Series 2

15Xeon132647900XTX / 4080 16GB11Amazon7.000.01-0.02200666564560055555555555555180180180555550636SFX-L10-Jun-2023Unusual Features

36

RummoredLGA11511Zen 515r9124487900XT / 4070 Ti01Newegg6.500.03-0.09140555432480044444444444444140140140444441050SFXQuality Control Problems

37

PreorderLGA11511

Zen 5%

14.7r7116-24326950XT / 3080 Ti / 4070 / mobile 409000Ebay5.500.10-0.29120444316320033333333333333100100100333331565FLEX

38

DiscontinuedAM53M317r5112-20246800XT / 3080GPU TabAliexpress3.130.30-0.449033328293322222222222222656565222222525Brick

39

AM42X1E16r3112-14206800 / 3070 (low vram) / 2080 TiNo Stock0.45-0.598022214266611111111111111454545111112828GaN

40

0014th14i918-1216mobile 4070 / RTX 3060 Ti / 6700XTSearching0.60-0.747011102240000000000000000000000003590Plug

41

1st14i716-1012A770M / RTX 2060 / 6600M / 5700 XT0.75-0.99600001213345120Custom

42

Zen 414i514-88GTX 1060 / RX 580 / 1650 Super1.00-1.24500.51666WIFI Tab55240

43

M214i312-44GTX 1050 Ti / GTX 1650 / 780M2.00-3.49400.25133365330

44

13th13Pentium122Quadro T4003.50-4.9930106685400

45

Zen 3+13Celeron111GTX 1050 / 680M5.00-9.9920100500

46

M112ARM100Vega 8/Iris Xe 96EU/660M10-19.9910125600

47

12th12Core Ultra 91Vega 7/Iris Xe 80EU20-99FAN TabBrand TabRAM Tab150750

48

Zen 312Core Ultra 71Iris Xe 64 EU

49

11th11Core Ultra 51Vega 6/Iris Xe 48 EU

50

Zen 2+11Core 91Vega 5/Iris Xe 32 EU1.94

51

10th10Core 71Iris Xe 24 EU/Iris Plus 655

52

Zen 210Core 51Vega 3/Intel UHD/Iris Xe 16 EU2.879307043

53

9th9Intel 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.

54

Zen 1+9Celeron 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

55

Adjustable RAM and SSD Prices$/GB8th8Potato / 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

56

4GB DDR3$10$2.508th8GPU Tab

57

8GB DDR3$10$1.25Zen 18

58

16GB DDR3$16$1.007th7Atom

59

4GB DDR4$10$2.506th6

60

6GB DDR4$15$2.505th5

61

8GB DDR4$20$2.504th4

62

12GB DDR4$25$2.083rd3

63

16GB DDR4$30$1.882nd2

64

32GB DDR4$50$1.56X50

65

64GB DDR4$100$1.56Core 20

66

128GB DDR4$200$1.56Core0

67

8GB DDR5$25$3.13ARM1

68

12GB DDR5$35$2.92Gen 311

69

16GB DDR5$50$3.13A76+A556

70

24GB DDR5$70$2.92A73+A535

71

32GB DDR5$80$2.50A72+A535

72

48GB DDR5$150$3.13A53+A534

73

64GB DDR5$160$2.50A787

74

96GB DDR5$240$2.50A766

75

128GB DDR5$320$2.50A724

76

192GB DDR5$480$2.50A573

77

128GB SATA SSD$10$0.08A552

78

256GB SATA SSD$20$0.08A531

79

512GB SATA SSD$30$0.06A350.5

80

1TB SATA SSD$50$0.05A200.25

81

2TB SATA SSD$90$0.05ARM110

82

4TB SATA SSD$185$0.05A70

83

128GB Gen3 SSD$15$0.12A50

84

256GB Gen3 SSD$25$0.10

Custom

0

85

512GB Gen3 SSD$40$0.08

86

1TB Gen3 SSD$55$0.06

87

2TB Gen3 SSD$100$0.05

88

4TB Gen3 SSD$200$0.05

89

128GB Gen4 SSD$20$0.16

90

256GB Gen4 SSD$25$0.10

91

512GB Gen4 SSD$40$0.08

92

1TB Gen4 SSD$70$0.07

93

2TB Gen4 SSD$125$0.06

94

4TB Gen4 SSD$250$0.06

95

8TB Gen4 SSD$830$0.10

96

512GB Gen5 SSD

97

1TB Gen5 SSD$155$0.16

98

2TB Gen5 SSD$200$0.10

99

4TB Gen5 SSD$350$0.09

100

8TB Gen5 SSD