I switched to a mini PC—but I’m glad I knew these 5 things first | usagoldmines.com

1. They come in many different forms

Mini-PCs come in a whole bunch of different shapes and sizes. From lunchbox-sized to tiny cubes no bigger than a box of Pop-Tarts, there are many form factors to choose from.

The whole point of a mini PC is to save space, so it’s worth considering what size unit you want. Some mini PCs are relatively big while others, like my GMKtek G5, are quite small.

When it comes to shape, most consumer mini PCs from companies like Beelink and Geekom are square-shaped, whereas mini PCs directed at businesses like the ThinkCentre line from Lenovo tend to be rectangular.

You also have to think about size versus performance. Some of the smallest mini PCs, like the stick-shaped ones, are so compact that you can’t expect the same level of performance you’d get with a larger device. Because of this, you’ll want to avoid them if you plan to do anything beyond basic computing.

2. Many mini PCs are upgradable

You’d think that, because of their size, upgrading hardware like you can with larger desktop PCs would be out of the question. But the truth is, many mini PCs are just as upgradable as their larger counterparts. While it sounds like it could be complicated, upgrading most mini PCs is a simple matter, involving taking the top off and swapping out the RAM or M.2 SSD or 2.5-inch drive. Many mini PCs have extra slots to accommodate upgrades.

You do need to proceed with caution, though, because in some cases you might have only a single M.2 slot containing your Windows installation. In that case, you can upgrade it, but you’ll need to copy the contents to another M.2 SSD first if you want to avoid reinstalling Windows.

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3. You can mount mini PCs to the back of monitors

Mini PCs don’t take up much space on a desk, but for an even sleeker look, you can mount them to the back of monitors. Many manufacturers support this, with some units coming with a bracket or pre-drilled holes on the underside for VESA mounting. If your mini PC doesn’t come with a bracket or holes, there are many generic mounting options available, so mounting most units to most monitors is usually straightforward.

4. You can hook them up to an eGPU

If you’ve got the right ports, you can hook up an external graphics card to your mini PC. You just need either a Thunderbolt port or USB4 port with PCIe capabilities. This is a popular thing to do for many gamers that want the option of a small-sized gaming rig. They know they’re not going to get the same graphics power as they would with a full-sized gaming rig with a discrete GPU.

Some mini PCs also have their own discrete GPUs inside. For example, the Minisforum Neptune HX99G comes with a dedicated Radeon RX 6600M GPU. The Intel NUC 9 Pro, on the other hand, comes with plenty of space and PCIe connectivity to add a discrete graphics card up to eight inches in length.

5. You still get plenty of ports

Even though larger PCs will have the edge over mini PCs for I/O options, most mini PCs still offer a decent number of ports – usually at least three USB-A ports. You’ll also find USB-C ports these days, and some models have dual Ethernet ports, which are very handy if you have a NAS or need an extra port in case one fails. Knowing that a mini PC could accommodate my mouse, my keyboard, my external SSD, and my wireless headset was a big factor in my decision to pull the trigger on one.

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