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Mini PC

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Acer AspireRevo nettop

A mini PC (or miniature PC, nettop, or Smart Micro PC) is a small-sized, inexpensive,[1] low-power,[2][3] legacy-free desktop computer designed for basic tasks such as web browsing, accessing web-based applications, document processing, and audio/video playback.[4][5][6]

The word nettop is a portmanteau of network and desktop. It is the desktop counterpart of the netbook. Modern (c. 2020) mini PCs or small form factor PCs can be much more powerful, being equipped with high-end laptop components or mid-range desktop components.[7][8][9]

Compared with ordinary desktop computers, nettops are not only smaller and less expensive,[10] but they also consume much less power. For example, CompuLab's fit-PC2 consumes no more than 8 watts of power[11] whereas a typical desktop would easily consume more than 100 watts of power; consequently, nettops require significantly less cooling and may even be completely fanless. Some do not have an optical disk drive and use a solid-state drive, making them completely silent. The tradeoff is that the hardware specifications and processing power are usually reduced[12] and hence make nettops less appropriate for running complex or resource-intensive applications.

Hardware

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Mac Mini 2020 (M1)

There are several platforms that are primarily intended for nettops and netbooks:

  • Intel's Atom platform[13]
  • Nvidia's Ion platform[14]
  • Intel's Core platform
  • AMD's APU platform
  • VIA's Trinity Platform[15]

There are several mini PC platforms:

Some nettops have also adopted system-on-a-chip designs. Although many major parts such as chipsets, video cards and storage devices can also be found on desktops, the CPUs that are put inside nettops are the fundamental component that differentiate them from normal desktops. The list below contains a range of hardware components that a typical nettop may be assembled from.

Intel's Atom processor has been adopted by several hardware manufacturers, such as ASUS, MSI, and Sony, for nettops. Nvidia has also released its first generation ION platform, which puts GeForce 9400M Motherboard GPU alongside the Atom processor to provide better high definition video playback ability and lower power consumption.[16] In addition, Nvidia has announced that it will support VIA's CPUs this year.[17] To further reduce the manufacturing cost and improve power efficiency, many manufacturers and start-up companies have chosen to use CPUs that were originally targeted at embedded computing devices such as AMD's Geode and ARM Cortex-based CPUs.

Apple's 2024 Mac mini with the M4 system-on-a-chip (SoC) features a significantly smaller design than earlier models, with a 5x5-inch form factor often described as slightly larger than an Apple TV 4K.[18] Apple claims up to 50% more CPU performance and 4× more GPU performance on the M4 compared to the M2. The M4 competes for the highest-scoring consumer SoC for single-core benchmarks according to various sources such as the Geekbench benchmarking suite[19] and Passmark Software's CPU benchmarks.[20] In doing so, M4's single-core performance[21][22] competes with AMD's Ryzen 7 9700X[23][24] and Intel's Core i9-14900K.[25][26][27][28]

Operating systems

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Many net-top models are x86-processor-based and as such are capable of running standard PC OSes. There are also operating systems designed specifically for nettops and other machines in the same performance class. Some high-end nettops are capable of running Windows 10.[29] Linux, Android, ChromeOS, and Raspberry Pi OS are other options. Although Google's Android was originally designed for smartphones, it has also taken a seat in the nettop market.[30]

Market

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Nettops fell into Intel's category of "Basic PC", which usually cost from $100 to $299.[31] Intel described nettops as a large potential market at that time. Nettops were said to be able to serve as an affordable first computer for people in developing countries, or as an environmentally friendly choice as a secondary computer for people in developed countries.[32]

Notable brands

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Brookes, Tim (30 March 2023). "5 Reasons You Should Buy a Mini PC (and 3 Reasons Not To)". How-To Geek. Retrieved 6 July 2026. You could save money with a mini PC and get just as much performance out of it and maybe more versatility. Even the relatively speaking pricey $599 entry-level Mac mini M2 supports two displays (three if you opt for the M2 Pro version). If you bomb Amazon for deals you can pick up two 1080p monitors for around $160 for a total spend of $759. By comparison, the cheapest MacBook Air is $999.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "What is a Mini PC and Can it Handle Gaming?". Lenovo. Retrieved 6 July 2026. A mini-PC is a compact version of a desktop computer. They usually have enough power for everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and media playback. Because of their size, they often use lower power components, which makes them quieter and more energy-efficient than their full-size counterparts.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ Smith, Ernie (8 November 2022). "What Is a Mini PC & What Are Its Uses?". BizTech. Retrieved 6 July 2026. Generally, mini PCs leverage processing power more commonly seen in laptops and similarly low-powered solutions, but they tend to have more connectivity and upgradability options.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ Gasior, Geoff (31 August 2011). "Zotac's Zbox Nano AD10 Plus nettop". The Tech Report. Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Casiraya, Lawrence (4 April 2008). "'Netbooks,' 'Nettops' target secondary PC users". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Mann, Parm (12 February 2009). "ASUS Eee Top ET1602: a glimpse of computers to come?". HEXUS. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ Gershgorn, Dave (25 June 2026). "The 2 Best Mini Desktop PCs of 2026 | Reviews by Wirecutter". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ↑ Burek, John; Buzzi, Matthew (17 June 2026). "The Best Windows Mini PCs We've Tested for 2026". PCMag. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ "Mini PC Test 2026: Die 11 besten Mini PCs im Vergleich". GEEKOM (in German). 31 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Crothers, Brooke (12 March 2008). "Intel Nettop is all about cost cutting". CNET. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "fit-PC2 specifications". fit-PC. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ Domingo, Joel Santo (16 February 2009). "Is a Nettop Right for You?". PCMag. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  13. ↑ "Intel Announces Intel® Atom™ Brand for New Family of Low-Power Processors". Intel. 2 March 2008. Archived from the original on 22 February 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Next-Generation NVIDIA ION Graphics Processors". NVIDIA. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  15. ↑ "News Release VIA Trinity Platform Brings Hi-Def to Small Spaces". VIA Technologies, Inc. 18 December 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  16. ↑ Gasior, Geoff (3 February 2009). "Nvidia's Ion platform". The Tech Report. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  17. ↑ Melanson, Donald (20 February 2009). "NVIDIA Ion platform to support VIA Nano processors this year". Engadget. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ↑ Cross, Jason (8 November 2024). "How small is the M4 Mac mini really? This small". Macworld. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ↑ Norem, Josh (10 May 2024). "The Apple M4 Is the New Geekbench Single-Core Performance Champion". ExtremeTech. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ↑ "Apple M4 10 Core Benchmark". www.cpubenchmark.net. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ↑ "Mac15,9". Geekbench. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ↑ "Apple M3 Max 16 Core Benchmark". www.cpubenchmark.net. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ↑ "Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. X670E AORUS MASTER". Geekbench. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ↑ "AMD Ryzen 7 9700X Benchmark: Specs & Performance". www.cpubenchmark.net. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ↑ "ASUS System Product Name". Geekbench. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ↑ "Intel Core i9-14900K Benchmark: Specs & Performance". www.cpubenchmark.net. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ↑ "iPad16,6". Geekbench. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ↑ "Apple M4 10 Core Benchmark". www.cpubenchmark.net. Retrieved 6 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ↑ Beren, David (23 October 2018). "The 9 Best Mini PCs to Buy in 2018". Lifewire. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  30. ↑ Bertolucci, Jeff (20 February 2009). "Asustek to Make Google Android Netbook, Says Report". PCWorld. Archived from the original on 5 September 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  31. ↑ CNet article
  32. ↑ "Netbooks and Nettops" (PDF). Intel. April 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2008.
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