A mini PC (also called a miniature PC, nettop, or Smart MicroPC) is a small-sized, inexpensive, low-power, legacy-free desktop computer designed for basic tasks such as web browsing, accessing web-based applications, document processing, and audio/video playback. The term "nettop" is a portmanteau of network and desktop, and is the desktop counterpart of the netbook.
Overview
Mini PCs are significantly smaller and less expensive than traditional desktop computers and consume much less power. For example, CompuLab's fit-PC 2 consumes no more than 8 watts of power, whereas a typical desktop computer can consume more than 100 watts. As a result, mini PCs require less cooling and may be completely fanless. Some models lack an optical disk drive and use solid-state drives (SSDs), making them entirely silent. The tradeoff is that hardware specifications and processing power are generally reduced, making mini PCs less suitable for resource-intensive applications.
Modern mini PCs (circa 2020 onward) can be much more powerful, equipped with high-end laptop components or mid-range desktop components.
Hardware
Mini PCs commonly use low-power processor platforms, including:
- Intel: Atom, Core (including NUC series)
- AMD: APU platforms
- Nvidia: Ion platform
- VIA: Trinity Platform, Nano, and C7 processors
- ARM: Cortex-based CPUs
- Loongson: MIPS-based processors
Storage typically uses 2.5-inch hard disk drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), or embedded multimedia cards (eMMC). Common I/O ports include LAN, USB, video out, and audio out.
Notable mini PC platforms include Apple's Mac mini, Intel/ASUS NUC (Next Unit of Computing), and various models from manufacturers such as ASUS, MSI, Zotac, Lenovo, and GEEKOM.
Operating Systems
Most mini PCs are x86-processor-based and can run standard PC operating systems, including Windows 10/11, Linux distributions, ChromeOS, and Android. Some high-end models are capable of running Windows 10 and later versions.
Market and Use Cases
Intel originally categorized mini PCs (nettops) as "Basic PCs," typically priced from $100 to $299. They have been marketed as affordable first computers for people in developing countries, as environmentally friendly secondary computers in developed countries, and as home-theater PCs, thin clients, digital signage players, and office workstations.
Distinction from Minicomputers
A mini PC should not be confused with a minicomputer, a historical class of multi-user computers developed from the mid-1960s that were smaller and less expensive than mainframe computers but larger and more powerful than personal computers of their era.
