Nowadays, mini PCs are becoming powerful and portable alternatives to desktops, laptops, and other computers. Not only are they small in size, but they also host powerful CPUs and GPUs inside that can do everyday modern-day tasks without breaking a sweat. As a bonus, they don’t even take up that much space on your desk. But with so many options, how do you find the right one?
So, in this article, we have decided to break down the best mini PCs by category and recommend the GEEKOM model for each specific need.
Best Mini PC for Gaming
Minimum configuration for a mini PC suitable for gaming
- CPU: Intel Core i5-13500H or AMD Ryzen 5 7600U
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated in Intel Core i5-13500H) or AMD Radeon 760M (integrated in AMD Ryzen 5 7600U)
- Memory: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11
The best mini PC for gaming
If you are planning to use a mini PC for gaming, then you need a powerful PC like the GEEKOM AX7 Pro Mini PC with AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS SoC, which also includes an AMD Graphics 780M.
In terms of RAM, it supports dual-channel DDR5 (5600 MT/s) up to 64GB; it also has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2; and it supports a M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD for a smooth gaming experience.
This mini PC measures just 117 x 111 x 38.5mm, and it provides versatile connectivity options, including USB-C with Power Delivery, HDMI 2.0, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
It also has Gigabit Ethernet and includes features like TPM 2.0 security and a VESA mount for versatile placement.
New Arrival!
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS.
- AMD Radeon Graphics 780M.
- Dual-channel DDR5 5600MT/s, up to 64GB.
- M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD, up to 2TB.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
Best Mini PC for Emulation
Minimum configuration for a mini PC suitable for Emulation
- CPU: Intel Core i5-13500H or AMD Ryzen 5 7600U
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated in Intel Core i5-13500H) or AMD Radeon 760M (integrated in AMD Ryzen 5 7600U)
- Memory: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11
Top mini PC for Emulation
Where gaming requires a GPU, emulation requires a CPU, so a powerful GPU is mandatory for emulation tasks. That is why the GEEKOM A7 is one of the best choices for this task.
The GEEKOM A7 can be configured with an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS or Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, ensuring exceptional speed and responsiveness for even the most demanding tasks. It also features AMD Radeon Graphics 780M for smooth visuals for gaming, video editing, and content creation.
With dual-channel DDR5 5600 MT/s memory and up to 64 GB of memory, the A7 enables seamless multitasking and quick application loading. Storage is handled by an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD; with that, this machine can get lightning-fast boot times.
Additionally, it has support for up to 2 TB of SSD, and connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth® 5.2, which ensures a smooth and lag-free online experience.
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS or Ryzen 7 7840HS.
- AMD Radeon Graphics 780M.
- Dual-channel DDR5 5600MT/s, up to 64GB.
- M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD, up to 2TB.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Stunning minimalistic design. 0.47L aluminum housing.
Learn More: Best Mini PC for Emulation of 2024
Mini PC for Streaming
Minimum configuration for a mini PC suitable for Streaming
- CPU: Intel: Core i5 (8th generation or newer) or AMD: Ryzen 5 (3000 series or newer)
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 or AMD Radeon Vega 8
- Memory: 8 GB DDR4
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10 or newer, or a suitable Linux distribution
Best Mini PC for Streaming
Streaming requires a capable processor to handle encoding and a good amount of RAM to keep your system running smoothly while broadcasting. That is why an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor with at least 8 GB of RAM is sufficient.
A dedicated NVIDIA or AMD graphics card is helpful for hardware encoding acceleration, but the latest embedded GPUs are so powerful nowadays that they can do the job perfectly.
The GEEKOM Mini Air12 Mini PC is a compact and powerful computer with a 12th-generation Intel Alder Lake N100 processor. It supports up to 16GB of DDR5-4800 RAM and up to 2TB of storage via its M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3 x 4 SSD slot.
It offers stable and fast connectivity with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 and can support up to three 8K monitors. The Mini Air12 comes with Windows 11 21H2 Pro pre-installed.
- 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake N100 processor.
- Single-channel DDR5 4800 MT/s, up to 16GB.
- M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3 x4 SSD, up to 2TB.
- Stable and fast connectivity via WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Supports 3 monitors, up to 8K.
You may also like: Best Mini PC for Streaming of 2024
Mini PC for TV (Home Theater PC)
Minimum configuration for a mini PC suitable for TV
- CPU: Intel: Core i3 (8th generation or newer) or AMD: Ryzen 3 (3000 series or newer)
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 or AMD Radeon Vega 3
- Memory: 4 GB DDR4
- Storage: 64 GB SSD or eMMC
- Operating System: Windows 10 or newer, or a suitable Linux distribution
Top recommended Mini PC for TV
If you are looking for a mini PC to watch TV or YouTube, a lightweight mini PC is enough, and you don’t need the highest-end specs.
An Intel Celeron or AMD Athlon processor with 4GB of RAM is generally enough for streaming movies, TV shows, and YouTube. Look for models with HDMI output and support for your preferred media centre software (e.g., Kodi, Plex).
For this, you can also choose the GEEKOM Mini Air12 Mini PC, which is a compact and powerful computer with a 12th-generation Intel Alder Lake N100 processor.
It supports up to 16GB of DDR5-4800 RAM and up to 2TB of storage via its M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3 x 4 SSD slot.
It offers stable and fast connectivity with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 and can support up to three 8K monitors. The Mini Air12 comes with Windows 11 21H2 Pro pre-installed.
- 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake N100 processor.
- Single-channel DDR5 4800 MT/s, up to 16GB.
- M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3 x4 SSD, up to 2TB.
- Stable and fast connectivity via WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Supports 3 monitors, up to 8K.
Expanded reading: Best Mini PC for TV of 2024
Best Mini PC for Video Editing
Minimum configuration for a mini PC suitable for Video Editing
- CPU: Intel: Core i7 (8th generation or newer) or AMD: Ryzen 7 (3000 series or newer)
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated in Intel Core i7 CPU) or AMD Radeon 760M (integrated in AMD Ryzen 7 CPU)
- Memory: Minimum 16 GB DDR4
- Storage: Primary Storage (for OS and software): 512 GB NVMe SSD. Secondary Storage (for media files): 1 TB SSD or larger HDD
- Operating System: Windows 10 or newer, or a suitable Linux distribution with good support for video editing software
The most suitable mini PC for Video Editing
Video editing is a very demanding task, so you need a powerful processor like an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 9. To accompany the CPU, you will also need at least 16 GB of RAM; 32 GB or more is even better.
A dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX or AMD Radeon RX graphics card will significantly speed up rendering and encoding times.
A fast NVMe SSD is also needed for handling large video files. So the GEEKOM AX8 Pro Mini PC is a great choice.
The GEEKOM AX8 Pro Mini PC is a high-performance mini computer that can be configured with either an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS or a Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, both with Radeon 780M graphics.
It supports up to 64GB of DDR5 5600MT/s RAM and up to 2TB of storage via its M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD slot.
It features fast connectivity options with 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2, along with a variety of ports for attaching your peripherals.
New Arrival!
- AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS or Ryzen 7 8845HS.
- AMD Radeon Graphics 780M.
- Dual-channel DDR5 5600MT/s, up to 64GB.
- M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD, up to 2TB.
- 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth® 5.2.
Here are additional suggestions: Best Mini PCs for Video Editing of 2024
Best Mini PC for Home Server
For a home server or any server-type application, what you need is reliable storage capacity over raw processing power.
An Intel or AMD processor with 4GB of RAM is sufficient for this task. Focus on models with multiple drive bays for adding hard drives or SSDs to store your data.
For this, the GEEKOM A5 Mini PC is a perfect choice. It features a Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, a 64GB dual-channel PCIe Gen 3 x 4 NVMe/SATA SSD with up to 2TB of storage, and ample I/O options to attach external storage to it.
- AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800H Processor & Radeon™ Vega 8 Graphics.
- Up to 64GB dual-channel DDR4-3200 RAM.
- PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe/SATA SSD with up to 2TB of storage.
- Comprehensive I/O ports for full-featured connectivity.
- Support for 8K displays and multiple screens.
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth® v5.2.
Additional information: Best Mini PCs for Home Server of 2024
Mini PC for Music Production
Minimum configuration for a mini PC suitable for Music Production
- CPU: Intel: Core i5 (8th generation or newer) or AMD: Ryzen 5 (3000 series or newer)
- Memory: Minimum 8 GB DDR4
- Storage: Primary Storage (for OS and software): 256 GB NVMe SSD. Secondary Storage (for media files): 516 GB SSD or larger HDD
- Operating System: Windows 10 or newer, or a suitable Linux distribution with good support for video editing software
Best Mini PC for Music Production
When it comes to music production, it can be demanding on CPU and RAM, especially with complex projects and virtual instruments.
So, an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor is recommended, along with at least 8GB of RAM—16GB or more is even better. Additionally, the inclusion of a fast SSD will make your workflow even better.
The GT12 Pro Mini PC is a great choice. The PC can be configured with a 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H or i7-12650H processor, Intel Iris Xe, or UHD Graphics.
It supports up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR4 3200 MT/s RAM and up to 2TB of ultra-fast PCIe 4.0 SSD for storage.
Connectivity options include 2.5G Ethernet, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2, and it can support up to four 8K displays. Its innovative IceBlast 1.5 cooling system ensures efficient thermal management.
New Arrival!
- 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900H, i7-12650H.
- Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics(for i9)/Intel® UHD Graphics(for i7).
- Dual-channel DDR4 3200 MT/s, up to 64GB.
- Ultra-fast PCIe 4.0*4 SSD, up to 2TB.
- 2.5G Ethernet, WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Supports 4 displays, up to 8K.
- Innovative and Efficient Cooling System – IceBlast 1.5.
Further information: Best Mini PCs for Music Production of 2024
Best Mini PC for Virtualization
Minimum configuration for a mini PC suitable for Virtualization
- CPU: Intel: Core i7 (10th generation or newer) with support for Intel VT-x and VT-d or AMD: Ryzen 7 (3000 series or newer) with support for AMD-V and AMD-Vi
- Memory: Minimum 16 GB DDR4
- Storage: Primary Storage (for OS and virtualization software): 512 GB NVMe SSD. Secondary Storage (for VM storage): 1 TB SSD or larger HDD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro or newer, or a suitable Linux distribution with strong virtualization support (such as Ubuntu, CentOS, or Proxmox VE)
- Virtualization Software: VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox, Hyper-V, or KVM/QEMU
The Perfect Mini PC for Virtualization
Virtualization requires high processing power and memory. For this task to go smoothly, an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor is recommended, along with at least 16 GB of RAM; 32 GB or more is better. Additionally, to make things easier and faster, you absolutely need an SSD.
For this task, we recommend the GEEKOM A8 Mini PC. It is a high-performance compact computer PC that can be configured with either an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS or a Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, both with Radeon 780M graphics.
It supports up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR5 5600MHz RAM and up to 2TB of storage via its M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD slot.
It features WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity, along with a variety of ports for peripherals, including USB-C with Power Delivery and HDMI 2.0. The Mini PC comes pre-installed with Microsoft Windows 11 (64-bit).
New Arrival!
- AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS or Ryzen 7 8845HS.
- AMD Radeon Graphics 780M.
- Dual-channel DDR5 5600MT/s, up to 64GB.
- M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD, up to 2TB.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth® 5.2.
Best Mini PC for Office Work
When it comes to office work, depending on the work, a lightweight and light-configured PC is enough to take up most of your office work, typically tasks like word processing, spreadsheets, and web browsing.
An Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor with 8GB of RAM is sufficient for most office applications. Integrated graphics are usually adequate.
For this task, we recommend the GEEKOM XT12 Pro Mini PC. It’s a high-performance computer featuring a 12th-generation Intel Core i9-12900H processor and Intel Iris Xe Graphics.
It supports up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR4-3200MHz RAM and up to 2TB of ultra-fast PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.
It offers robust connectivity with 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a variety of ports, including USB4 and HDMI 2.0. The Mini PC can support up to four 8K displays and comes pre-installed with Microsoft Windows 11 (64-bit).
New Arrival!
- 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900H.
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics.
- Dual-channel DDR4-3200MHz, up to 64GB.
- Ultra-fast PCIe 4.0*4 SSD, up to 2TB.
- 2.5G Ethernet, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Supports 4 displays, up to 8K.
Latest posts: Best Mini PC For Office Work 2024: Great Value For Money!
Best Mini PC for Photo Editing
Photo editing is something that requires a multi-core CPU with moderate graphics to handle most of the raw images from a high-end digital camera. An Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor is a good starting point, along with 8GB of RAM, preferably 16GB. A fast SSD is beneficial for the quick loading of large image files.
For this task, we recommend the GEEKOM A5 Mini PC, which features a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics for smooth performance.
It supports up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR4-3200 RAM and offers ample storage options with an M.2 PCIe Gen 3×4 NVMe/SATA SSD slot and a 2.5-inch SATA HDD bay, both supporting up to 2TB.
Connectivity is versatile, with multiple USB ports, HDMI 2.0b outputs for 8K displays, a 2.5G RJ45 LAN port, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. It comes pre-installed.
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor & Radeon Vega 8 Graphics.
- Up to 64GB dual-channel DDR4-3200 RAM.
- PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe/SATA SSD with up to 2TB of storage.
- Comprehensive I/O ports for full-featured connectivity.
- Support for 8K displays and multiple screens.
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.2.
Best Mini PC for Graphic Design
For graphic design, you also need a multicore CPU to handle very small tasks and changes that are happening inside your design tool.
An Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 is a good starting point, but consider an i9 or Ryzen 9 if you work with large, high-resolution files.
16GB of RAM is recommended, and a dedicated graphics card can be helpful for GPU-accelerated applications like Adobe Photoshop.
For this task, we recommend the GEEKOM A8 Mini PC. It is a high-performance compact computer offering the choice of an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS or Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, both with Radeon 780M graphics.
It supports up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR5 5600MHz RAM and up to 2TB of storage via its M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD slot. It features WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity, along with a variety of ports, including USB-C with Power Delivery and HDMI 2.0.
The A8 comes pre-installed with Microsoft Windows 11 (64-bit) and includes a VESA mount for versatile placement.
New Arrival!
- AMD Ryzen™ 9 8945HS or Ryzen™ 7 8845HS.
- AMD Radeon™ Graphics 780M.
- Dual-channel DDR5 5600MT/s, up to 64GB.
- M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD, up to 2TB.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth® 5.2.
Conclusion
Picking the right mini PC means thinking about what you need it for and how much you can spend. GEEKOM has different mini PCs for different things like work, home, or gaming. Knowing what you need and checking out the different GEEKOM models will help you find a mini PC that works great and is worth the money.
