10 Bad Things About Mini PCs

[@thetatoken5031]

I have several mini pc's and never had any issues but I don't run any games on them. Best bang for the buck in most cases.

[@Britec09]

Correct, some low powered mini pc are great, but not all, I have reviewed some ultra 7 and ultra 9 and temps are high, thermal throttling, loud fan noise etc etc. Not all mini pcs are made equal. The video is NOT hating on mini pcs, its merely pointing out some of the things to look out for. think some people are getting confused.

[@AMansTech]

I had one mini PC similar to the one you have. It had a Ryzen 5 5625U and 16GB of RAM. The SSD it came with from the factory only lasted a few months, and was from a no name brand. Swapped that out for an Samsung SSD, but the motherboard ended up frying itself entirely a few months later. Thankfully, I did buy an insurance plan with it, so I was able to return it with a full refund. I’m never buying a mini PC again unless if it’s from a reputable brand.

[@Britec09]

Thanks for sharing.

[@edalder2000]

MiniPCs are laptop parts in a case. They are usually under 1L in volume, so heat and noise are issues shared with laptops. 3 USB ports, and HDMI, DisplayPort ports. I actually got USB powered speakers that have additional USBs on them. I had a Beelink SER5 for about 2 years. It was a good productivity machine. I wanted to do some gaming. Titles that are a few year old. I got a SER7 with 780M graphics and a Ryzen 7 7840HS laptop CPU. The 780m is equivalent to a GTX 1060-I think. The Ser7 is all metal and temps are fine. I would build my own tower if I wanted to do AAA gaming or graphical work because I could set a budget and pick parts for purpose.

[@Britec09]

Thanks for sharing

[@jolwagner]

Me to, the new I phone and android phones have more Ram faster processor and bigger hard drive than my Beelink.

[@nschulz5698]

Had my Beelink mini for over a year with no issues conveniently installed on the back of my display monitor. It's only used for web browsing so I'm not pushing it's limit. I've only heard the fan once for about 20 seconds. I'd buy it again.

[@Jim-nm1en]

I have a BeeLink Mini S12 which I use for emails, KZbin, web searching and also do some basic photo and video editing. It is very quiet and runs cool. Perfect for my needs.

[@Britec09]

Beelink do some nice mini pc, I reviewed a few good ones.

[@TheMajickNumber]

I have the N95 variant. 16Gb Ram 500Gb ssd. Love it... So far.

[@jimstockman926]

I bought a Geekom A7 after one of your reviews. I don't game, but I use Sketchup, a fairly graphics intensive program, without issue. When the AX8 came out, I purchased it and now use the A7 as a Plex server. While it's not a problem, I do wish that there were another DP or HDMI port on the back. I have 3 monitors, and it would be nice to free up the type-C port. Also, would like to see a type-C port on the front. The fan can be a bit noisy, but I've gotten used to it and hardly notice it anymore. All of that being said, I'm very satisfied with both. I appreciate your reviews, Brian. Keep up the good work!

[@Britec09]

Thanks Jim

[@lse123polis]

Can you do a video: is it better to buy a mini-PC newly released or buy a used Workstation tower 5-10 years old, for use as a Software Development PC...?

[@MrPir84free]

I've been using mini-pc's for a few years now. The form factor is great as long as you don't need expansion. For general use, such mini-pc's tend to be quiet, and work well. Most are Beelink's and one or two MinisForum. I used to use an old dell desktop PC; it was very very noisy by comparison. I really didn't realize how much I like the quiet until I turned the dell off; mind you, it had been powered on 24x7 for years. A fair majority of mini-PC's in the "mid" price range tend to be 8 core/16 thread, which is an upgrade from those with older 4 core or 4 core / 8 thread machines. Usually this is in part because one is not just upgrading cores, but upgrading to NVME, and doubling or quadrupling the memory. So, while there are obviously some bad things about mini-PC's, there are also good things; and overall one has to weigh the advantages over the disadvantages. There's good reasons for both regular PC's and mini-PC's in today's world..

[@Britec09]

I agree, there are some great mini pc , this video is not to trash mini pcs, its to help people look for some of the issues on SOME mini pc, not all.

[@pj361]

I have built my desktops in the past and still have two in service. I've had a mini PC form factor in service for about a year (mid-level price range). I don't game and use it for media internet streaming and some video rendering with no issues of consequence to mention. I understood it's limitations going into it and can deal with it's minor short comings, and for my use, I appreciate the small footprint and unobtrusive feature.

[@Britec09]

Building is always fun

[@5argetech56]

I see nothing bad at all! Ram is upgradable, HD is upgradable, My GMKtec nuc is metal all around! I have 2 HDMI ports and 4 usb 3 ports. Also has an extra slot for a 2nd m.2 drive! Fits under my monitor. No overheating at all!

[@Britec09]

Not talking about these mini pc, we are talking in general about things to look for in mini pcs. Some mini pc don't have any extra storage, some have hardly any USB ports etc etc. Some do have overheating issues when pushed.

[@5argetech56]

​@@Britec0910-4😊😊

[@Britec09]

@Musings-From-Mike That's like saying "You want a black car but only a white one is available, its OK I will buy the white one and spray it black" You buy the Mini PC that is right for your needs.

[@gregwolking]

I have a MinisForum U820 that has been in continuous (24/7) service for almost 2 years. I immediately upgraded it to a 2TB WD Blue M.2 SSD, 64GB of DDR4 RAM, and added two internal SATA 2.5" 2TB SSDs. The unit came with Windows 11 Pro on it and has worked without a hitch since day one. It has an Intel Core i5 8279U quad-core (8-thread) CPU at 2.4Ghz. It's my work machine, which I use primarily for remote access into Linux POS systems for tech support. I did add a 7-port self-powered USB hub for more expandability, but that was mainly for convenience. The built-in network, HDMI, and USB (A and C) ports are adequate, but I got the hub for more power-demanding devices (e.g., external 2-bay 2.5"/3.5" SATA "spinning iron" HDDs/SSDs). The cooling fan runs constantly but rarely ramps up to noticeable noise levels. The unit normally runs just slightly warm to the touch, even with the 2 internal SSDs. Have not had any issues with thermal throttling. I almost never have to reboot the thing except when Windows Update requires a restart.

[@Britec09]

Big fan of MinisForum mini pc. Well built and good cooling.

[@gregwolking]

@@Britec09 I agree. I also bought an AMD-based MinisForum box for my mom last Christmas. Despite the fact that my brother clobbered the default Windows 11 Pro installation with Windows 10 (because she had some older games that he didn't want to bother reinstalling on Win 11), the device has worked without a hiccup from Day 1. Except for a RAM expansion to 32GB, it's all the original hardware.

[@MikeBob2023]

The *worst* bad thing about mini PCs is that I don't own one. Yet. 😋 Thanks, Brian! 👍🏼

[@Britec09]

Any time!

[@calholli]

Just get a rasberry pi.. Just as good

[@arcticpilotshow4440]

I'm pretty sure heat isn't a problem with these computers as they use very little power. I have two and one of them never goes over 14W but the other has reached 17W and I'm measuring the power from the socket.

[@Britec09]

We are talking in general, not these mini pc, one of them mini pc is ultra 7 and had major temp issues. 105c and thermal throttling

[@user-yl1xy5eg7b]

When my tower PC failed, I bought a Lenovo mini PC as a stop gap. In all, I'm reasonably impressed. I've put a 4Tb SSD in, expanded RAM to 32Gb (care is needed for these operations), and my port extenders are now vital. It does slow down a little sometimes, but no heat problems yet; it has good ventilation. I will build a tower PC, and use this as supplementary. It's an exciting experiment for me, though I looked down on them in the past. I always use Ninite to install much of my software, things like the GIMP, LibreOffice. There is so much that can be specified in a Ninite installer, that I no longer feel the same sense of dread that I used to, and I recommend it. I use the free version.

[@Douglas_Blake]

Excellent information. Thank you.

[@Britec09]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Douglas_Blake]

@@Britec09 I build HTPC driven home audio setups and I've run headlong into some of the issues you describe. So yeah, good for people to know.

[@PoeLemic]

Very good points. Thanks for helping us understand what might be an issue if we get one of these mini-PC's. To me, it's amazing how powerful some of those Mini's are, along w/small size.

[@mjs28s]

@Britec09 Have you ever taken one of the mini PCs, fully stressed tested it then removed the cooler / heatsink and cleaned off the thermal paste, applied new stuff and then retested? Just curious if the manufacturers are sloppy and that the cooling issues on some units could be easily taken care of. Seems like over the years I have seen quite a few videos where people (on workstations and desktops) go in and apply their own thermal compound to make sure there is a good amount with good coverage, and they drop a couple degrees C to over five degrees C. thoughts?

[@Britec09]

Mini Pcs are just like laptops and desktop, they need maintenance over time.

[@tony--james]

my brother had one of these, mini PCs , Intel NUC 11 Mini PC Intel Celeron N5105 4 Cores 4 Threads Up to 2.9 GHz - Win 11 Pro, it lasted 3-4 weeks, then cooked itself, I should add, he wasn't using it for gaming, and he was able to return it,

[@Britec09]

They do run hot

[@andreandree4384]

I use mini PCs for the last 5 years and never got any issues with them..

[@tony--james]

@@andreandree4384 he suspects the ram overheated , then it simply just failed, being it was relatively new, maybe it was just defective,

[@jimw7916]

my mini pc won the award for best cooling. Its also very much silent. Its the minisforum NAB900

[@Britec09]

minisforum make some of the best mini pc, but so many brands on the market

[@Gitimus01]

I have a mid range one, that turned out to be decent quality. I took windows pro off it and I use it for a home server. Only thing I swapped was the m.2 drive

[@Britec09]

If you use them for what they are design for it will be OK. Start overclocking and pushing them to hard and they will fail.

[@ouijim]

October 2024 I purchased (Amazon $180) GMKTEC G3 N100 Mini PC with Windows 11 Pro. This Windows 11 Pro booted to Local User Account bypassing MS Login Requirement. I like this. I added 256gb M42 SATA SSD and installed latest Ubuntu. Dual Boot Linux Primary Computer is running 24/7 since October until present January 2025. I use it for daily internet browsing, finances, movie streaming and Amateur Radio. Good basic computer for my needs, pretty pleased with its operation. ; )

[@Britec09]

Low powered Mini PCs are great for general use.

[@James_Knott]

The first thing you should do is determine your requirements and then shop accordingly. Often those mini PCs are not used as a general purpose computer. I bought one from Qotom, to be used as a router/firewall, running pfSense. As a result, I was not worried about CPU performance, disk space or memory size. I also wasn't worried about installing Windows, as I normally blow it away when I find it. I run Linux on my own computers and FreeBSD based pfSense on my mini PC. A few years ago, I bought mine with a 64 GB SSD, 4 GB memory, i5 CPU and 4 - 1 Gb Ethernet ports. The top and two sides of the case are all heat sink and the computer runs barely warm (about 44.0°C). This mini PC more than meets my needs and I'm quite happy with it. My only regret is shortly after I bought it, models with 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports started appearing.

[@Britec09]

Thanks for sharing

[@stemlator]

I recently purchased a GMKtec G3 with an Intel N100 CPU, and 8 GB RAM. It came with Windows 11 Pro installed but I found it caused the fan to run quite a bit. Since I bought it to use as a Channels DVR server, I installed Debian 12 and the performance is fantastic. I think mini PCs have a better price to performance than high-end Raspberry Pis these days. If you get a mini PC from an unknown brand (which most likely came from China, as mine did), I recommend performing malware scans first. For example, I ran Malwarebytes and the latest Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool and found no issues.

[@Stevethesearcher]

I dont know anything about mini PCs. I have a question. Can you run audio recording programs such as Cubase or Protools etc on a Mini Pc. I have being doing this on Laptops for years. However I havent looked into whether it was possible doing this on a Mini Pc or not. I frankly dont know how powerful they are now in relation to a high end Laptop circa 2020. When it comes to audio recording a powerful graphics is not required and audio processing is siphoned off into an external audio interface. What do you need though is a reasonably powerful processor, a fast hard drive, plenty of RAM and a machine that is not too noisy as that will make recording vocals hard if recording in a bedroom. If anyone can shed light on this I would be most grateful to hear your comments. Thank you.

[@copystuff]

would it be better to go for a used small Dell OptiPlex

[@Britec09]

Depends on your needs

[@davinp]

OptiPlex were designed for business and would not be good for gaming. Of course older models would not support Windows 11

[@_Trakman]

are the intel NUCs good?

[@Britec09]

intel NUCs are now made by ASUS. I did a review other day on one here kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnymlKKso72knM0

[@jimcabezola3051]

Been using Mac Mini machines since 2006. Since I'm not a gamer or video editor, my Minis have been good. I was happy to run Linux on my old Intel Macs, since to was so easy to do back then. Yet...I currently run Asahi Linux on my M1 Macs. I can say that Linux now runs much cooler now than it did a couple of years ago. Linux would really warm up my Apple Silicon. Nowadays, it runs barely above room temperature; macOS runs a smidge cooler, but the difference is not as apparent as it used to be. A dear friend of mine as an Intel i7-based Minisforum, and he loves it. Me...I'm kinda tired of not being able to upgrade the RAM and storage in my Apple Silicon rigs. I will be looking forward to any new content you'd care to make on these li'l beauties.

[@rjjeffreys]

I've been considering buying a mini PC. Your advice here was really helpful. Thanks, Brian!

[@Britec09]

Do your research and take you time and your get an awesome mini pc. These ones in the video are nothing to do with bad things, using them as a reference.

[@geoffwiddowson4945]

My opion is that mini Pc's are great for single purpose use. They are great for controlling things like public displays as they can fit behind a wall mounted display. Controling equiment like lifts. You would be suprised at the type of equipment like lifts, building heating system and the like that need a computer, and in the old days we used to use full desktops and they were not ideal as equipment could be in places like risers with limited space.

[@obtrunco]

Also it’s good to look out for it having a good BIOS. I bought a barebones one which came with an Asus like BIOS which offers great features.

[@Britec09]

A lot of these mini pc have locked features in BIOS

[@Rick_Gregor]

Although I have not tested it yet, after buying a 5800H and more recently an 8745HS...I have yet to find any specs on the audio. Regular motherboards boast about the audio chip and 7.1 HDMI output. However, I do not see any specs for these on Mini PC's

[@Britec09]

Information can be hard to find

[@williamBryan-k2e]

I purchased a GMKTeck G3 - loaded kubuntu 24.04 on it. No driver issues. worked like a charm. Have not had long term, so I cannot comment on that. but I have to say, for cost and maybe long term, getting a used GIB name ( HP, Dell, Levnovo ) small/mini that is used, but be better parts and less costly. You have to look and compare.

[@Britec09]

kubuntu is pretty nice

[@editorjuno]

My experiences with minis have been mixed, but generally positive. One of the HDMI ports on the Beelink I have mounted on the back of my monitor died, but the other port still works and the thing continues to do a great job playing 4K video on my big LG TV. My son's larger, better-cooled Blackview mini failed about a week past its warranty -- after struggling to get it open, I found that its SSD was the issue and a replacement fixed it, unfortunately requiring the usual Windows reinstall. Aside from the aforementioned videos, I do everything else on my elderly HP tower with its nine(!) internal HDDs, SSD boot drive, and big USB 3 external drive (for backing up my backups) -- I suppose another mini with multiple external drives could replace it, but the ancient thing just keeps on keepin' on...

[@Britec09]

Thanks for sharing

[@ivanlimzg]

Mini PCs are essentially laptops in a case. I would rather have both a desktop and laptop, then a mini pc that is limited both ways, as the "bad things" you mentioned

[@Britec09]

Thanks for sharing

[@garrynutter860]

Great Video, Cant wait for the 10 Goodthings.

[@Britec09]

Tomorrow

[@brodriguez11000]

Help support the global market's continued existence.

[@jasonhawkins4528]

Great Video, yes very restrictive, the very reason I build my own or buy a laptop in between on can just be upgraded for backup

[@Britec09]

Thanks

[@grahamclark4518]

The cheaper ones I've found have crap and short ribbon cables that snap off when you remove the cover

[@Britec09]

They also cut cables so short and you can break them removing covers.

[@mojoneko8303]

The most practical uses for a mini PC I can think of would be for an HTPC for streaming content or for an RV or a Boat where space is limited. I wouldn't game on one of these except solitaire but use it to stream movies and tv and surf the internet.

[@writerpatrick]

One overlooked bad thing is the lack of ability to add cards inside the way you can with a desktop PC.

[@HOBBS-4]

I lost one due to poor circulation. Circulation is most important, Secondly, buy name brands with name brand parts. Buy the ones without soldered parts. ..I use one to run a TV, otherwise they are over rated.

[@daviedlopulalan9882]

I was tempted to buy a Ryzen 57xx mini PC for its portability and great performance, but then after some extended research finally i found something better: handheld gaming PC. With slightly more budget i got an extra touch screen, battery and controller. Last year i've managed to get a secondhand (US$ 550) OXP Mini Pro with Ryzen 6800U, 32GB lpddr5 6400, 2TB ssd and become my daily driver up to this day. I did a short comparison with desktop PC and this tiny portable PC is on par with Ryzen 1700 and gtx 1050. Very nice.

[@Britec09]

Plenty of good ones out there.

[@timeonly1401]

I've installed about a 1/2 dozen mini-PCs for customers in the last couple years, and I've had zero complaints. Now, I don't push the entry-level minis, only mid-level & up, EXACTLY for some of the reasons Britec enumerates: better quality parts & build, product support, etc. People should view these similarly to what they would do when buying a tablet: treat them as mostly non-upgradeable, so consider CAREFULLY your current system, your requirements/needs, and research what's out there (specific minis, company -- reviews, ratings, videos)... then make the stretch to buy MORE than what you think you need. Buy once, cry once. I've never had anyone complain that their system is faster, has more ports & does more than what they thought they needed. Can't say that for the reverse when they cheap-out and buy only on price.

[@Britec09]

Not saying they are bad, I am pointing out the potential bad points on some mini pcs.

[@peterdelang]

I'm running on a Morefine M9 Mini PC desktops with Intel 14th generation processor N150 (up to 3.60 GHz), 16GB RAM, 1TB M.2 SSD, with 4K at 60 Hz Support..Runs like a charm..

[@sigillinux]

I own a few mini's most are just meh and in a box collecting dust. but my main personal pc is one brand/type I do like bosgame e2 model...bit older meow but still powerful enough for my liking... wiped the windows install running nyarch on it been my main pc almost 4 months now and tbh if it breaks and i cant fix it ill just get another bosgame of some kind. great vid.

[@Britec09]

Thanks

[@ashwanibhola3766]

I'm using a BeeLink SER5 as an HTPC and while pleased with the performance, do wish it had more ports. Also the internal antennas are a bit weak when using bluetooth mouse and keyboard from 10 feet away. In comparison, my older Dell Optiplex 3060 MFF had tons of ports and an external antenna, but to buy a current model of those would be at least 2x the price of the BeeLink.

[@Britec09]

BeeLink do some nice mini pc. Mini PC are great for HTPC

[@dm8579]

Not familiar with the SER5 but there are plenty of docks and hubs with all kinds of ports.

[@ashwanibhola3766]

@@dm8579 True. In hindsight, I think I should have spent more to get a slightly larger mini PC that had all the ports I needed, with an external antenna, similar to my old OptiPlex.

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

Often WIFI connectivity can be sub par. So if you are buying for a place where Ethernet connection is not possible, be aware. Cooling issues is a lot due to size. Most of these are built using laptop parts, you might have 2 ram slots, maybe 2 m.2 SSD slots. Beyond that you are looking at buying some sort of expansion item (maybe a powered hub).

[@Britec09]

Some WiFi are on bottom and restrict signal

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

I’m using a CHUWI brand mini pc for 2 years, running Win10 pro, 256G SSD, 6 G Ram. It’s called a “LARKBOX” and far from being a gaming nut, it hasn’t given me any issues so far with what games I play. Can upgrade up to 1T of Storage if I need it. It’s true , when it’s been running for a good time it can get a little warm, but not to the point of being unstable as the fan is running and I have no problems with going to a bigger option from CHUWI.

[@Britec09]

CHUWI make some good affordable stuff

[@Harold_Callahan]

You can remove the bottom and leave it off of some of these, and then set the mini PC on a router/modem cooler. It's basically just a laptop cooler but with only one fan. It works pretty good.

[@Britec09]

That's like saying, put a large GPU in SFF pc and leave side panel off to allow to cool. Its a bit ghetto

[@LauraKnotek]

I never considered mini PCs for the same reason that I stopped using laptops: they can't be repaired easily, if at all. I chose to build my own PC because I have no proprietary parts from an OEM like nonstandard motherboards, etc. With a build your own if a specific component breaks, it can be replaced without the need to recycle the entire computer. Even if the platform needs to be replaced at some point, the case, power supply (which I got better than I need now), drives, GPU could be saved when getting a new motherboard, RAM, and CPU. Plus cooling solutions are endless if one gets a case that provides plenty of airflow. Additionally, with a retail Windows license it's easy to install Windows on a new platform.

[@Jwalker76]

I too use a full custom PC. And it's not an expensive setup. I feel mini PCs do serve a purpose, being their size and considering the shortcomings of new consumer laptops these days. Fixing a broken PC isn't for everyone which may require you to have parts for testing. Just because you've got no video doesn't mean your GPU failed as an example.

[@JMBalaguer]

The bottom cover of my unit is a plastic perforated grill and I put the miniPC on top of an external USB fan with silicon rubber feet to keep it cool.

[@chairman67]

Yeah 100 degrees C on a 64W CPU Package Power is the worst thermal performance I've seen on one of these mini-PCs. I'm looking to switch my Morefine M600 R9-6900HX to an STX mini computer by ASRock.. the X600.. But the rear I/O on it is abysmal.. waiting for next version with improvement in this regard.

[@Britec09]

Asus one reached 105c running cinebench and thermal throttle real bad. Now if someone is buying that mini pc with ultra 7 cpu, they are going to want to do taxing tasks and with that reaching them sort of temps is wrong, thing was getting super hot to touch, not imagine putting in a SSD, that will restrict airflow further.

[@Kq4hcuDan]

I plan on buying a couple of these to run freebsd and haiku OS since I mainly check email, play with office libre, watch KZbin and rumble and just save Pirates music and photography which I save to external hard drives and other physical drives. It's definitely a cheaper option

[@sociallyferal4237]

I've generally used a NUC/MiniPC for htpc/media playback for the last 20 years. Generally never had an issue. So for browser/light work I think they're great. I don't think I'd get one for anything arduous. That said, last year I got am Intel enthusiast model with ARC dedicated graphics to test linux, never did get the dedicated card detected, so it's been relegated to media playback. Was going to be a secondary light/Mid gaming machine, but Fortnite kept crashing, so I don't bother. . . Bit of a waste but works fine.

[@Paulzpc]

You had one with a lot of spyware on it. Did they resolve that issue, or is it still floating around? That was awful.

[@Britec09]

Never worked with that company again

[@MrPir84free]

In truth, while it's rare except for a brand or two, one should be checking their systems especially when new, and frequently afterwards..

[@primekiller5729]

Will you do a 10 bad and good things about Handheld Gaming PCs?

[@Britec09]

I can do.

[@patricklepoutre]

I think you need to try an aoostar GEM12 : oculink to extend to an external PCI, good airflow, ssd are cooled, 2xUSB4 (I dont have that on my desktop) and powerful with 8845hs and it's rather cheap

[@Britec09]

I bet doing oculink test soon

[@JamesPirro]

Just think. If you got a newer cell phone, what is it, nothing but a mini mini pc. And most last a pretty long time, except maybe the battery needs replacement.

[@tubegor]

Heat in mini PCs and laptops is planned obsolescence. My Raspberry PI 5/8GB with passive cooling was the only good option for me. I don't have a PC with a fan in my house.

[@dm8579]

I have two different Mini PCs and to be honest heat is not an issue with them. The fans are barely audible and they run cool. I have a third one that was "fanless" and that one runs a little hot. But they all deliver way more performance than a Raspberry Pi 5.

[@mauritsvw]

We bought a small Lenovo one used a few years ago, and have gotten excellent service from it. No problems at all, and even generating some money with it when working from home. A similar specced laptop would have cost twice as much.

[@Britec09]

Lenovo, HP and Dell old office pc are a bargain and fully serviceable and upgradable. they are also fully support for drivers etc etc

[@garynagle3093]

Great informative video. Now we a 10 good things video.

[@Britec09]

Coming soon

[@bingsunyata3121]

If the "x" factors are about air flow , heat, or somethings like that, just remove the casing, put it on some board, hanging it like "Joan picture on the wall" and the problem is solved ...

[@calholli]

Nope.. I snagged an MSI crosshair 17.. 11th i7, rtx 3060, 32gb ram, 1TB NVME... (Drives show 900 PO hours, 5TB writes- so, used but) Literally brand new condition.. still with original box, plus charger and an extra $80 gaming mouse........ for Four hundred flat and a 15 minute drive. Why would I buy new? Why would I ever buy mini? Came with completely fresh win11 install.. and I did the "offline account" setup and have cut out the fat.. So needless to say, it's a beast... for that pric3

[@troyshilanski380]

I dont get it. Why? High price for less performance.

[@Britec09]

This is a $1000 amzn.to/4gI1olY This is a high price and less performance if you built a desktop pc. These CPUs they use a mobile CPU and are not as power as a desktop processor. A mini pc will never out perform a desktop pc. Hope this help you understand better.

[@starman5757gg]

Minis have small emmc drives. I can't upgrade to latest Win 11 cuz emmc drive is 32G. Installed additional m.2 SSD and somehow Win 11 found it and all s well.

[@Valehass]

The Dell OptiPlex micros are pretty good. Just need to pay attention to the specs.

[@Britec09]

They are awesome, HP are pretty good as well.

[@evilmejosh]

I feel like one thing that wasn't stated is depending on what you need to what you get. Like if you just want a little internet box to hook up to your TV you should be fine for the most part because you're not doing anything too intense that would cause the system to fry. But if you're wanting an office or a gaming PC, you probably want to spend extra and get one of the name brands as I have better customer support and warranties. I do want to comment on one thing he said about plastic versus metal. I have a macbook that's plastic, but I have a gateway that I use for travel that I paid a $120 for that's completely aluminum. So I don't think the plastic versus metal says much as to the quality to me.

[@Britec09]

you pays your money you makes your choice. Just research and watch reviews and read feedback and you should get a good mini pc

[@hagif.4590]

I want to add 4 things : 1. Forget about Bios updates. Most mini pc's come with functional bios, But if you want it patched and updated - It ain't gonna happen 2. I've installed windows 11 24h2 on n100 Esus (Not Asus) mini pc and it wouldn't activate HDR on mi Xiaomi Q2 55" TV. I've changed drivers, Installed codecs, Tried several HDMI 2.1 cables - and NO HDR. Replaced it with chatreey N100 mini pc (Same cpu - Different manufacturer, and VOILA ! HDR works instantly ! Just one of the wonders of the non branded pc's.....3. If you buy the non branded mini pc's with installed drives and memory - Don't expect high quality components. 4. I also bought about 4 years ago global mini pc with i3-7167U cpu. It freezes every few days (Black screen) and gets very hot (It's fanless). No matter what os/memory/drives I've tried it with - It didn't solved the problem. So I have 4 mini pc's bricks....

[@Britec09]

Thanks for sharing

[@dm8579]

Stay away from non branded stuff and you will be OK.

[@davinp]

since they are smaller than a laptop, their are less things that be upgradable

[@Britec09]

Correct

[@guessundheit6494]

I have two, an Intel NUC and ASUS NUC. Linux found everything for the Intel, no hassles. Lose10 installed on the ASUS but many drivers were needed. The ASUS website was hopeless, thankfully the store downloaded them for me and I archived copies. ASK THE SELLER TO INCLUDE THEM, they should anyway. As for software on the ASUS (32GB RAM), I'm running older stuff (GOG), not high end 60FPS. Zero problems with any games.

[@Britec09]

I did review other day on ASUS NUC. amzn.to/4gI1olY was reaching 101c and thermal throttling all hitting the red and that's a $1,099.00 mini pc kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnymlKKso72knM0

[@johnclarkAndrew]

I bought the Minisforum Neptune HX99G 32GB RAM+1TB SSD and upgraded the RAM to 64 added another 1 terabyte SSD about 18 months ago and it's a great little mini PC handles everything I throw at it.

[@Britec09]

Minisforum make so of the most powerful and best mini pc. Very well built and great cooling.

[@sativagirl1885]

the worst mini pcs hide the power supply inside and the power button on the bottom.

[@KUOLEMA_]

one thing's for sure , don't get one if you're a gamer. you'll get better performance playing games on your phone.

[@johnydangerous4597]

I switched to Linux now on my main PC but i brought a mini pc just in case i need a copy of windows or to make a Linux usb which its fine for other than that its stays in the draw with the other spare parts .

[@Britec09]

Linux is OK if you can get on with it

[@johnydangerous4597]

@@Britec09 I ant never going back not now not never lol .

[@carabara3947]

Yeah Brian I Bought A Geekom A7 Last Year To Get Away From Tower Noise And Free Up More Space Put A 8 Port USB C Multifunctional Adaptor Onto It Suits Me Fine Nice And Quiet

[@Britec09]

I reviewed that mini pc

[@chrisreich40]

The 't' in 'often' is silent.

[@macman231]

lol that's what caught your ear? I can't stop hearing "Fings" since he can say "tons" perfectly but f's instead of t's ring in my head...lol

[@3D_Printing]

Plastic is said to be better for WiFi and Bluetooth

[@Britec09]

Correct, but the metal mini pc has plastic top and they put wifi there

[@dennisvaughn540]

Thanks!

[@Britec09]

Welcome

[@wbushnaq]

another masterpiece ❤

[@Britec09]

Thanks

[@mando7558]

I bought a BeeLink and there is virtually no support. No BIOS updates. I won't buy another. It is okay for checking email and surfing the web but that is about it.

[@Britec09]

That's what you got to watchout for.

[@3D_Printing]

Adding older gear, SATA hhd terabytes size

[@JosephIsWithGod]

I've been building my PCs for decades but a couple years back I decided to purchase a MinisForum TH50 and I love it. You get what you pay for. This year I am building a new P.C. because the one thing that these Mini PCs lack is a good GPU.

[@Britec09]

MinisForum are one of the best company's for mini pc

[@misterio1526]

I have a Minisforum 890pro 64gigs ram. I don’t game but run linux vm’s for learning till I’m ready to dump Windows… it’s fast and runs cool. My son is a DJ has the same… uses his for audio mixing etc great performance doesn’t overheat. Occasionally he has taken it to his friend’s place minus the monitor … so portability is a bonus. Perfect for our needs. Previously he used Intel Hades Canyon , awesome mini pc. We loaded up Ubuntu Studio on that to experiment and gradually get away from windows. Xbox X for gaming.

[@misterio1526]

Brian My reply disappeared. Did i say something I shouldn’t? 🤔

[@Britec09]

@misterio1526 KZbin does that sometimes, not me and its not held for review. So not sure why it disappeared

[@andyh4069]

The Geekom A7 is pricey but impressive. I've bneen using one for a few months without any prpblems.

[@Britec09]

I have reviewed that mini pc

[@petergibson2318]

My Mini PC is better than a high quality Desktop from 2015. Don’t knock them just because they are not Supercomputers.

[@Britec09]

No knocking them, pointing out things to look for when buying one.

[@RobertH-qb5it]

Kind of overkill for a miniPC. I have a cheap no-name one from Amazon. It works just fine-and has for more than 2 years. Repair? I wouldn't even bother with that. Just buy a new one.

[@et_phonehome_2822]

I went with Minisforum MS-01, better than the cost of a desktop and other brand names mini PC.

[@Britec09]

Very good machine

[@TheJamieBasil]

This dude has used heat and airflow as half his problems with mini pcs.

[@Britec09]

Maybe because that is one of the biggest issues that mini pc face? maybe you don't understand how computers work and the importance of airflow. Why do you think a lot of laptops suffer the same problems?

[@CDubya.82]

"Funderbolt"!? "Fermal Frottling" 😝

[@johntitor3198]

1. Price $

[@thefirstmissinglink]

Silly blutes expecting a gamer in this format 😂

[@Britec09]

Its KZbinrs promising AAA listed gaming on these why they are doing paid sponsored ads. Not one shows temps while gaming. These mini pc won't last long if gaming all the time. Some channels are even boosting GPU and CPU to game, that will kill these system faster than anything.

[@thefirstmissinglink]

@Britec09 yeah, I had a bone stock 67 VW bus that would do 100 mph on the flat. And then I would go back to the shop and put it back together. (After the color came back to my hands.)

[@thundar54]

"Do your research." OK, but what to research, look for? Are there brands, distributors, or countries of origin to seek out or avoid? How do you know a mini has or doesn't have a quality SSD or cooling solution? Mini's are purchased by cost-sensitive users and frequently, through the mail, so where's the sweet spot between cost and performance? Who publishes that info, especially when there are as many brands/models/spec'd units? Sorry, but you haven't given us much useful advice, other than "get info", but a lot of the info you think important is only available after one unboxes their new system.

[@ionamygdalon2263]

Spot on!!

[@Britec09]

Thanks

[@EmigdioFrixione-c5k]

I replaced my bulky desktop with a very little GMKtec smaller that a pack of cigarettes. I love it! Quiet, very fast and above all, very cheap! Is the case plastic? So what! I'm not planning on playing soccer with it! It does not even have a fan! It does not need it. In other words, this video is BS.

[@anupam1177]

Create a video on the Top 5 browsers for the best security and privacy, especially for banking, and rank them.

[@sigillinux]

valid idea. security or privacy? they tend to but up against each other not easy to have high levels of both one will always effect the other.

[@Britec09]

Will do

[@TimsComputerRepair]

Youi can easily get tricked with mini pcs

[@Britec09]

Big investment, so you got to get it right

[@TazzSmk]

watching at 2x speed doesn't help this cringy topic -_-

[@Britec09]

Well don't watch it at 2x I bet you sound funny at 2x speed.

[@OldEnoughToBeYourFather]

i don't know, buying a mini takes all the fun out of building one. i gotta say that the form factors for desktop builds and much smaller than in the past. but the tradeoff is there is not much room to work inside with such a small desktop tower form factor. i have built all my pc's. all desktops. i think i would much rather buy a good laptop if i needed something smaller. the plus in a laptop is it's portable.

[@Britec09]

Laptops struggle with the same issues as mini pc. Heat, Temps, Throttling and Noise

[@moenibus]

you didn't had anything useful to make a video about today, didn't you?

[@user-yl1xy5eg7b]

It's useful for novices, I'd say. Perhaps you are an accomplished PC user. If so, this video is probably not for you. What's your opinion of Ockel?

[@Britec09]

@moenibus You had nothing better to do today apart from troll KZbin comments, grow up and get a life.

[@user-yl1xy5eg7b]

@Britec09 I suspect that someone was 'gated', and had nothing better to do.

[@chenyansong]

Just get a Mac mini m4😊

[@Britec09]

Nice, enjoy

[@michelwong1]

👍👍👍👍

[@Britec09]

Thanks

[@Beckham-g1f]

i thought it was the best lol

[@Britec09]

Never called Asus the best in title? call it an office mini pc and showed thermal throttling, can't please everyone

[@bobriemersma]

Hmm, mine lacks those fundaboat ports you speak of.

[@Britec09]

Not all have them