Author Topic: Mini PC Buying Guide - Amazon-focused  (Read 151 times)

Offline mevinyavin

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Mini PC Buying Guide - Amazon-focused
« on: June 11, 2025, 09:32:44 AM »
I saw the interest on the Desktop Deals Master Thread and figured I would write a guide.

A. Who is a mini-PC for?

Mini Pcs have the following use-cases:
1. Someone who wants a small desktop, obviously.
2. Someone who wants to work with a large screen and therefore does not want a laptop, but wants to save money in lieu of benefitting from the greater performance of regular desktops. Mini PCs all come with laptop hardware, and therefore, the CPU is not upgradeable and there is no slot for graphic card upgrades. (There are a few that have such things, but I don't recommend them over regular desktops.)
3. Someone willing to compromise for the sake of a desktop that takes up less room. Note: Like all computers, ensure that the mini PC's vents have sufficient space for cooling. Don't, for example, stuff the side with the vents against a wall. Don't run the computer in direct sunlight. Etc.
4. Someone who wants to take advantage of the brilliant integrated graphics contained in high-end AMD laptop processors for affordable light gaming. (More on this later.)

B. Brands
As of the moment, I am only recommending Beelink, Minisforum, GMKTec and Kamrui.

C. Know your processors!
Mini PCs will throw a variety of CPUS, ranging from budget processors launched in 2016 (and they really weren't any good then, either) to the latest and greatest Strix Point monsters from AMD. Core counts and wattages will give you wildly different performance, so (for instance) the model with the Ryzen 7 3750H will not perform as well as the i5-12450H. Don't try to buy one without being able to compare them properly.

D. BYOW (Bring Your Own Windows), BYOR (Bring Your Own RAM), BYOS (Bring Your Own Storage)

It is possible that you will get the best bang for the buck if you rely on your own hardware and software. In particular, the best value may come in the model with 8GB of RAM and your own 32GB upgrade versus paying them for the RAM. A version without Windows may cost significantly less - more than Windows itself - if you can provide your own OS. But sometimes what they ask for the hardware is more or less what you would pay. It is advisable to brush up on the costs of hardware upgrades before you begin your search.

E. Lots of clicking

If you just want to buy something quick, and you have experience with what is generally available (hint: you probably don't), you can usually find what is close to the best price with one of the listings on the first page: https://www.amazon.com/b?node=13896591011&ref=sr_nr_n_5
Otherwise, prepare to do a lot of clicking through to listings and selecting options. Have a calculator ready and factor in coupons that only show up when that exact model is selected. I usually load five or six listings at a time and list the best option in each price range in an Excel file, replacing them as I find something better.
The filters are useless but you should select Free Shipping by Amazon and New. Do not limit by price as there may be a model that costs $350 more than your budget with a $400 coupon available.

I'll IY"H do a TR shortly, assuming my internet connection performs somewhat normally. (Otherwise you may have to wait a few days.)
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Offline mevinyavin

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TR: Mini PC buying on Amazon, P1
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2025, 11:36:49 AM »
The first listing is powered by the Intel N97, a budget processor that was released fairly recently but performs fairly low (akin to an 8th gen i5). For the purposes of this TR, I will be ignoring low-powered processors such as these, although such a system would make a decent homework computer (without the internet) if the price is low enough.
First listing of interest is a $279 (Prime) Beelink with a Ryzen 7 8525U, an 8-core 15W Zen 3+ with 16GB upgradeable DDR4 RAM and a 500GB SSD. Clicking through, though, one sees a much better option in the $309 (Prime) model with a Ryzen 7 6800U, a 28W with the same processor tech but worlds better in graphics. The RAM is bumped to 24GB but is soldered, though much faster. This is the first compelling option.
Also a good buy is the $479 model with the Ryzen 7 8745HS, a 35W Zen 4 with a third more processing (than the 6800U) and another fundamental jump in graphics. This is less compelling, though, because the 6800U is already enough for almost everyone, and the 8745HS often is not sufficient for graphics pros. (It may be, though, depending on your use case.) If you game, but don't need the latest AAA titles, the jump is worth it.
The last option is the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, a 12-core Zen 5 with another huge leap in graphics power. At $919, though, there are better options, especially if you would jump to a full-size desktop or buy a gaming laptop. This processor actually makes more sense in a laptop than in an expensive mini-PC.
 
The next model, from GMKTek, has an i7-1195G7, the best low-wattage processor in a laptop ... in 2021. Today? Well, 29% less than $520 is $369... the 6800U is the better buy.
Also on the page is a model with an i7-13620H, 32GB upgradeable RAM and a 2TB SSD. But for $551, the 8745HS model is the better buy unless the storage matters more to you than the performance.
For $559, you can get the model with an i9-13900HK, the best Intel laptop processor of 2023. Times have moved on, though, and the Arrow Lake Core Ultra 5 gets you the same performance. For that matter, the 8745HS is still the better deal (again, unless the storage matters more).

After a few more budget processors and off-brands, there's a GMKtec with an i9-12900HK for $450 (Prime), though the 8745HS is the better option, and a 12450H model for $306 (Prime, but the 6800U is better), and another i9-13900HK but f0r only $520 - and the 8745HS is still better value.

More cheap models and an ASUS chromebox follow. Then we get another 5825U model for $328 (Prime), an 8845HS (slightly better 8745HS) for $530 - way too much, and an HX 370 model for less than the above Beelink ($900 - Prime) but still too much for recommending in this use case.

The 6600U for $280 is undercut by the 6800U for $309.

The next 5825U from Beelink is $329 with Prime, but the 6800U is cheaper.
However, the Ryzen 5 5500U for $239 (Prime) is a good price so far. Although from 2021, it runs at a respectable rate and should be plenty fast for basic work and internet. It is certainly a much better buy than the slew of Intel N-series that usually populate this price range. Unless we find something better!

We then find a Beelink with a i7-12650H, a 35W with 6 P-cores and 4 -E cores that performs between the 6800U and 8745HS, for a price that matches - $369 (Prime). Still, although the performance matches, the graphics are inferior. I would think that someone who would max out the 6800U would be happier with this one, but this would have to be someone who doesn't need the graphics. And if you are truly maxing out this type of processor (what are you doing - data science?), you should invest in the most powerful processor you can afford (ie conventional desktop). A few other options with bad prices, including a $869 Core Ultra 9 185H (once you are here, get the $900 HX 370, but really, get a normal desktop or gaming laptop).

A $719 Intel NUC? Jump in a lake. (Alder Lake, to be precise.) A $669 Intel NUC? Also, the lake (Raptor Lake this time). And a few more off-brands, so the winners of the first page are the 5500U, the 6800U, and the 8745HS models!

To be continued!? Not sure.

Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

Offline Chilla

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Re: Mini PC Buying Guide - Amazon-focused
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2025, 11:51:08 AM »
Dude, you gotta figure out how to monetize all this knowledge!

Online yfr bachur

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Re: Mini PC Buying Guide - Amazon-focused
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2025, 12:05:32 PM »
I love every segment of this, despite there not being any pictures. I think even more than the actual information, there is something so alluring about the perspectives that mevinyavin infuses into every step of the narrative. It sounds like it would be a really fun and unique experience to be your computer.

Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Mini PC Buying Guide - Amazon-focused
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2025, 05:26:01 AM »
Anyway, I'm skipping the rest of the TR but presenting you with the winners of the first three pages of Amazon listings. Note: I have nothing against Intel, but in this market, AMD's pricing undercuts them as options (mostly).

1. Basic
$252 (after coupon) for a Kamrui model with a Ryzen 7 5825U (15W 8-core Zen 3+). There are slightly cheaper Ryzen 5 models ($240) but spending a tiny bit more for an extra two cores is good sense.
KAMRUI Mini PC with AMD Ryzen 7 5825U, 16GB DDR4 512GB M.2 SSD Mini Computer, Mini Gaming PC with USB Type-C, Desktop Computer Supports Triple 4K Display, WiFi 6, BT 5.2 ($429.00 )



2. Graphics upgrade 1
$285 after coupon for another Kamrui with a Ryzen 7 6800H (35W 8-core Zen 3+ and added Radeon 680M). For those to whom the excellent graphics upgrade helps, this is worth the $33. For everyone else, not.
KAMRUI H1 Mini Gaming PC, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, 16GB DDR5 4800MHz 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe3.0x4 SSD Mini PC(8C/16T, up to 4.7GHz), 16MB L3 Smart Cache, Triple 4K Display/WiFi6/BT5.2/Mini Desktop Computers ($649.00 )



3. Processor upgrade 1, DIY edition
This $300 Minisforum model lacks the advanced graphics of #2 but is a significant processor upgrade - an i9-12900HK. You need your own RAM, SSD and OS.
MINISFORUM UN1290 Barebone with Mini PC, Intel Core i9-12900HK,14 Cores/20 Threads,up to 5.0GHz,Intel Iris Xe Graphics,2.5 G RJ45 LAN,HDMI/USB-C/DP1.4 Output,5X USB Ports, WiFi 6&BT5.2(NO RAM/SSD/OS) ($989.00 )



4. Graphics upgrade 2, DIY edition
This $368 Minisforum model says it has a "Ryzen 7 255", a processor that doesn't exist. I assume it refers to the Ryzen AI 7 255HS, which is just a Ryzen 7 8745HS (35W 8-Core Zen 4+) rebranded. This is a significant processor and graphics upgrade over any previous model, but only worth it if you will take advantage of it. Again, bring your own RAM, SSD and OS.
MINISFORUM X1-255 Mini PC AMD Ryzen 7 255(8C/16T) Barebone Version Desktop Computer, HDMI2.1|DP2.0|2xUSB4 Video Output, 1x Oculink Port, 2.5G RJ45 Port/WiFi7/BT5.4, AMD Radeon Graphics Micro PC ($579.00 )



5. $479 with Prime. Version of #4 with OS, 32GB of RAM and a TB SSD. Maybe a tiny bit more than you would pay for those specs yourself. Worth it unless you need more RAM or a larger SSD.
MINISFORUM UM870 Slim Mini PC AMD Ryzen 7 8745H(8C/16T), Mini Desktop Computer 32GB DDR5 RAM 1TB SSD, USB4/HDMI/DP 8K@60Hz Output, 2.5G LAN Port, 4xUSB Ports, WiFi 6E, BT5.3, AMD Radeon 780M Graphics ($638.95 )




Now, were you to compare the above with the results of the first page, you would notice that they are very close in price and options. Now ask yourself if the extra time looking is worth the difference in spec. I would think not, unless you are someone with literally no money and/or you will be squeezing every bit of power out of the computer. In other words, someone buying #1 or #5.
I hope this educates you a bit, even if it only means that you will PM me the next time you are in the market for one - or post on this thread, perhaps.
Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!