{"id":21455,"date":"2023-01-22T13:57:55","date_gmt":"2023-01-22T12:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=21455"},"modified":"2023-05-05T16:08:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T14:08:00","slug":"best-mac-mini-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Mac Mini Alternatives [That are Cheaper and Faster]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668448683f6b8\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668448683f6b8\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668448683f6b8\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#M1_Mac_Mini_-_Strengths_and_Weaknesses\" title=\"M1 Mac Mini \u2014 Strengths and Weaknesses\">M1 Mac Mini \u2014 Strengths and Weaknesses<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Mac_Mini_Alternatives_-_Pros_and_Cons\" title=\"Mac Mini Alternatives \u2014 Pros and Cons\">Mac Mini Alternatives \u2014 Pros and Cons<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Processor_Recommendations\" title=\"Processor Recommendations\">Processor Recommendations<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#RAM_-_Bring_Your_Own\" title=\"RAM \u2014 Bring Your Own\">RAM \u2014 Bring Your Own<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#GPU_-_AMD_for_Gaming_Intel_for_Video_Editing\" title=\"GPU \u2014 AMD for Gaming, Intel for Video Editing\">GPU \u2014 AMD for Gaming, Intel for Video Editing<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Storage\" title=\"Storage\">Storage<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Enclosure_-_Small_But_Mighty\" title=\"Enclosure \u2014 Small But Mighty\">Enclosure \u2014 Small But Mighty<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#The_Best_Mac_Mini_Alternatives\" title=\"The Best Mac Mini Alternatives\">The Best Mac Mini Alternatives<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#The_Intel_NUC_Family_of_Products\" title=\"The Intel NUC Family of Products\">The Intel NUC Family of Products<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Intel_NUC_Derivatives\" title=\"Intel NUC Derivatives\">Intel NUC Derivatives<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Minisforum\" title=\"Minisforum\">Minisforum<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#You_Might_Want_to_Wait_a_Bit\" title=\"You Might Want to Wait a Bit\">You Might Want to Wait a Bit<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Mac_Mini_Alternatives_-_Are_They_Worth_It\" title=\"Mac Mini Alternatives \u2014 Are They Worth It?\">Mac Mini Alternatives \u2014 Are They Worth It?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Mac_Mini_Alternatives_-_Why_Theyre_Better\" title=\"Mac Mini Alternatives \u2014 Why They\u2019re Better\">Mac Mini Alternatives \u2014 Why They\u2019re Better<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Is_Apples_Mac_Mini_Worth_It\" title=\"Is Apple\u2019s Mac Mini Worth It?\">Is Apple\u2019s Mac Mini Worth It?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Does_the_M1_Mac_Mini_Have_Any_Alternatives\" title=\"Does the M1 Mac Mini Have Any Alternatives?\">Does the M1 Mac Mini Have Any Alternatives?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-mac-mini-alternatives\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/mac-mini\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple\u2019s Mac Mini<\/a> might not be the smallest computer around (nor the most powerful) but it sure is the most <em>well-rounded<\/em>. It stands in a league of its own, especially at the time of this writing.<\/p>\n<p>More and more companies are making small form factor PCs than ever before, and yet not a single one can match Apple\u2019s engineering prowess and top-notch craftsmanship.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21478\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21478\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21478 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads.jpg\" alt=\"Mac Mini Workloads\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21478\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21478 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Mac Mini Workloads\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Workloads.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21478\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/mac-mini\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>The Mac Mini, while certainly not without fault, is a tremendously capable machine that\u2019s actually a fair bit cheaper than one would expect, given its performance and all.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Still, capable though it may be, it\u2019s not for <em>everyone<\/em>, and the same can be said for its operating system, too.<\/p>\n<p>Some people want a bespoke, \u201creadymade\u201d machine that\u2019ll work just as advertised the moment it is placed on one\u2019s desk. Others, however, want a computer they can tweak and tune, a machine that\u2019s \u201cmalleable\u201d enough to adjust to their needs and overall workflow.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you fall under the <em>latter<\/em> category, a Mac Mini \u2014 great though it is \u2014 simply won\u2019t suffice.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So, let\u2019s first analyze what makes Apple\u2019s Mac Mini so darn alluring, before extrapolating those virtues and using them as a benchmark.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"M1_Mac_Mini_-_Strengths_and_Weaknesses\"><\/span>M1 Mac Mini \u2014 Strengths and Weaknesses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Apple\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/m1-imac-vs-mac-mini-vs-mac-studio\/\">Mac Mini<\/a>, despite its size, can output a level of performance far greater than one would expect given its petite frame. It is both incredibly powerful <em>and<\/em> wholly efficient. <strong>A stellar mix seldom found.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Still, you don\u2019t <em>need<\/em> your desktop computer to be all that efficient as it\u2019ll always be tethered to the wall \u2014 there\u2019s no battery for you to worry about.<\/p>\n<p>Your electricity bill might suffer as a result and your computer <em>will<\/em> generate more heat, but that\u2019s a trade-off most folks will gladly accept for a higher performance output.<\/p>\n<p>The Mac Mini is also incredibly silent thanks to the incredibly advanced Apple silicon that is located deep within its enclosure.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21479\" style=\"width: 2016px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21479\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-21479 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution.jpg\" alt=\"Mac Mini Cooling solution\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21479\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-21479 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202016%201134%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Mac Mini Cooling solution\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1134\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202016%201134%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-Cooling-solution.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21479\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ux6zXguiqxM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Well-balanced acoustics are, therefore, yet another criterion by which all other alternatives will be judged by.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Its biggest weaknesses, however, are quite debilitating \u2014 <strong>mediocre I\/O, software-related hindrances, and no upgradeability <em>whatsoever<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21480\" style=\"width: 1446px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21480\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21480\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-IO.jpg\" alt=\"Mac Mini IO\" width=\"1446\" height=\"698\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-IO.jpg 1446w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-IO-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-IO-1024x494.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-IO-768x371.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1446px) 100vw, 1446px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21480\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21480 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201446%20698%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Mac Mini IO\" width=\"1446\" height=\"698\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201446%20698%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1446w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1446px) 100vw, 1446px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-IO.jpg 1446w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-IO-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-IO-1024x494.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-IO-768x371.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Mac-Mini-IO.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21480\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/mac-mini\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Apple might be \u201ctotalitarian\u201d in its approach, but it sure can create a cohesive, well-balanced user experience. <strong>You win some, you lose some.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_Mini_Alternatives_-_Pros_and_Cons\"><\/span>Mac Mini Alternatives \u2014 Pros and Cons<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before getting to our concrete recommendations, we first ought to explain what exactly you need to keep in mind when buying a Mac Mini alternative.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re growing in number with each passing day, so it\u2019s a lot more important for you to understand what\u2019s good and what isn\u2019t (and also how that might change in the future).<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s a viable purchase <em>right now<\/em> might not be seen in such a favorable light a year or two down the road.<\/p>\n<p>Fixating on a few stand-out products might seem like a good idea, but in actuality it is anything <em>but<\/em> as there\u2019s always something new right around the corner, waiting to get your attention and leave a dent in your wallet.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Processor_Recommendations\"><\/span>Processor Recommendations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re not going with an Apple Mac Mini, the only two options left is a mini PC with an Intel or AMD CPU deep within its enclosure. <strong>Fortunately, at the time of this writing, that\u2019s more than enough, option-wise.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Both companies have stepped up <em>big time<\/em> over the last year or so, and their latest and greatest CPUs can not only go blow-for-blow with Apple\u2019s own silicon but even win out in a myriad of different scenarios.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Intel\u2019s Alder Lake, while not particularly efficient, sure does make up for it in the performance department (and then some).<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>AMD\u2019s 6000 series Ryzen CPUs are only <em>slightly <\/em>less impressive (depending on the implementation and how well they are cooled), but are nonetheless an amazing option, especially because of their graphics performance.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the thing: Apple\u2019s M1 and M2 chips are no longer as alluring as was the case just a few months ago, and we, for one, are glad for that being the case.<\/p>\n<p>Buyers are now faced with more options than ever before;<strong> a more competitive market benefits <em>us<\/em> the most.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>CPU Recommendation: <strong>Intel 12th Gen Core i7-12700H<\/strong> or <strong>AMD Ryzen 6900HX\/6800H<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Intel's Core i7-1260P is also a beastly processor, but it's not quite on par with its H-series siblings (and naturally so). Regardless, it, too, will suffice for all kinds of workloads, even though it\u2019s not capable of sustaining such stellar performance across longer periods of time.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21456\" style=\"width: 1705px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21456\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21456\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx-.png\" alt=\"Intel 12th Gen Core i7-12700H vs AMD Ryzen 6900HX\/6800H\" width=\"1705\" height=\"948\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx-.png 1705w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx--300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx--1024x569.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx--768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx--1536x854.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1705px) 100vw, 1705px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21456\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21456 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201705%20948%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Intel 12th Gen Core i7-12700H vs AMD Ryzen 6900HX\/6800H\" width=\"1705\" height=\"948\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201705%20948%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1705px) 100vw, 1705px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx-.png 1705w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx--300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx--1024x569.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx--768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx--1536x854.png 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-12th-gen-core-i7-12700h-vs-amd-ryzen-6900hx-.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21456\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S64_a7PChzs&amp;ab_channel=Jarrod%27sTech\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jarrod\u2019s Tech<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"RAM_-_Bring_Your_Own\"><\/span>RAM \u2014 Bring Your Own<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The great thing with Mac Mini alternatives is that nearly all of them come with <em>two<\/em> SO-DIMM slots which means that you have the freedom to insert as much RAM as their motherboards will allow!<\/p>\n<p>And <em>that<\/em>, in a world where most devices now come with soldered random access memory is an absolute blessing \u2014 one in which we really ought to indulge for as long as it\u2019s around!<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the beauty of it: <strong>you get to choose how much RAM your machine will have and you won\u2019t have to pay a surcharge to \u201ckit it out\u201d the way you want.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21481\" style=\"width: 2013px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21481\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21481\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade.jpg\" alt=\"Windows Mini PC RAM Upgrade\" width=\"2013\" height=\"1084\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade.jpg 2013w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade-1024x551.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade-768x414.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade-1536x827.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2013px) 100vw, 2013px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21481\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21481 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202013%201084%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Windows Mini PC RAM Upgrade\" width=\"2013\" height=\"1084\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202013%201084%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2013w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2013px) 100vw, 2013px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade.jpg 2013w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade-1024x551.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade-768x414.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade-1536x827.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-RAM-Upgrade.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21481\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=k7ZBVFliUeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Minisforum<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>With Apple devices, you most often have to pay an extra $200 just to double the RAM which, by all means, is <em>obscene<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"GPU_-_AMD_for_Gaming_Intel_for_Video_Editing\"><\/span>GPU \u2014 AMD for Gaming, Intel for Video Editing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most Mac Mini alternatives come with integrated graphics cards. That might not sound all that great, but make no mistake: <strong>iGPUs have evolved leaps and bounds within just a couple of years!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>AMD\u2019s 6000 series Ryzen CPUs, in particular, come with mighty capable iGPUs, the likes of which can definitely be harnessed for a bit of light gaming on the side. These won\u2019t be able to handle Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p, but competent they most certainly are!<\/p>\n<p>Intel isn\u2019t as good of an option in that regard, but Iris Xe iGPUs will still suffice for esports titles and the occasional indie game.<\/p>\n<p>For <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/how-to-choose-a-cpu-for-video-editing\/\">video editors<\/a>, however, Intel is still the better option because of its dedicated \u201cmedia engine\u201d <em>(often referred to as <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intel_Quick_Sync_Video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Intel Quick Sync<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21482\" style=\"width: 998px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21482\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21482\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-Quick-Sync-Video.jpg\" alt=\"Intel Quick Sync Video\" width=\"998\" height=\"559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-Quick-Sync-Video.jpg 998w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-Quick-Sync-Video-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-Quick-Sync-Video-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-Quick-Sync-Video-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21482\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21482 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20998%20559%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Intel Quick Sync Video\" width=\"998\" height=\"559\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20998%20559%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 998w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-Quick-Sync-Video.jpg 998w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-Quick-Sync-Video-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-Quick-Sync-Video-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-Quick-Sync-Video-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-Quick-Sync-Video.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21482\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intel.com\/content\/www\/us\/en\/architecture-and-technology\/quick-sync-video\/quick-sync-video-general.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Intel<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Storage\"><\/span>Storage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Take everything we wrote about RAM and apply it here as well. Mac Mini alternatives rarely come pre-built with SSDs or hard drives \u2014 it\u2019s up to the <em>user<\/em> to insert as much storage (of whichever speed and capacity) as they want.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21484\" style=\"width: 1813px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21484\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-21484 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration.jpg\" alt=\"Windows Mini PC Storage Configuration\" width=\"1813\" height=\"821\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration.jpg 1813w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration-1024x464.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration-768x348.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration-1536x696.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1813px) 100vw, 1813px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21484\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-21484 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201813%20821%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Windows Mini PC Storage Configuration\" width=\"1813\" height=\"821\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201813%20821%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1813w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1813px) 100vw, 1813px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration.jpg 1813w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration-1024x464.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration-768x348.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration-1536x696.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Windows-Mini-PC-Storage-Configuration.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21484\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/store.minisforum.com\/products\/elitemini-hx90g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Minisforum<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>There are no arbitrary limits imposed and you don\u2019t have to pay extra \u2014<strong> <em>you<\/em> choose the manufacturer, form factor, speed, and capacity.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The only limit worth mentioning is that of a <em>physical<\/em> nature \u2014 <strong>some mini PCs allow for just a single M.2 drive, whereas others support two if not even <em>three<\/em> storage devices. <\/strong>So, make sure to read the spec sheet before making any kind of purchasing decision!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Enclosure_-_Small_But_Mighty\"><\/span>Enclosure \u2014 Small But Mighty<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This is where things get a <em>lot<\/em> more interesting.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a Mac Mini alternative, you can go one of two ways: an ultra-compact barebones PC (like an Intel NUC or one of its derivatives) or a small form factor PC that\u2019s going to be a fair bit bigger but also a <em>lot<\/em> more powerful (not to mention versatile).<\/p>\n<p>Both options have their pros and cons, obviously, but we\u2019ll focus more on the former this time around. The latter category warrants its own article as it competes directly with the <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/apple-m1-ultra-mac-studio\/\">Apple Mac Studio<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21457\" style=\"width: 978px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21457\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21457\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc.jpeg\" alt=\"Intel NUC\" width=\"978\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc.jpeg 978w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc-825x464.jpeg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc-594x335.jpeg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc-420x236.jpeg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 978px) 100vw, 978px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21457\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21457 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20978%20550%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Intel NUC\" width=\"978\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20978%20550%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 978w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 978px) 100vw, 978px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc.jpeg 978w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc-825x464.jpeg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc-594x335.jpeg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc-420x236.jpeg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/intel-nuc.jpeg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21457\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intel.com\/content\/www\/us\/en\/products\/docs\/boards-kits\/nuc\/overview.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Intel<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Best_Mac_Mini_Alternatives\"><\/span>The Best Mac Mini Alternatives<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Here\u2019s a bunch of astonishingly petite Mac Mini alternatives \u2014 <strong>PCs that are more than worth your time and attention! <\/strong>Listed in no particular order.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Intel_NUC_Family_of_Products\"><\/span>The Intel NUC Family of Products<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One could argue that the biggest and most well-known competitor to Apple\u2019s Mac Mini is the NUC product line (short for Next Unit of Computing) from Intel.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21485\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21485\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21485\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range.jpg\" alt=\"Intel NUC Product Family\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21485\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21485 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201920%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Intel NUC Product Family\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201920%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Intel-NUC-Range.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21485\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intel.com\/content\/www\/us\/en\/products\/docs\/boards-kits\/nuc\/overview.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Intel<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s not as well-rounded or popular (nor can it compete in the aesthetics department), but whatever it might lack in polish it more than makes up for in sheer <em>versatility<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Better yet, there are multiple (entirely) different versions of the NUC.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intel.com\/content\/www\/us\/en\/products\/docs\/boards-kits\/nuc\/nuc-conference-room-collaboration.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Intel NUC Mini PCs<\/strong><\/a>: These are the smallest and most compact of the bunch. The latest ones come with Intel\u2019s Alder Lake CPUs \u2014 <strong>the Core i5-1240P and Core i7-1260P.<\/strong> They\u2019re essentially full desktop replacements although there\u2019s definitely a limit in regard to how much power they can output.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intel.com\/content\/www\/us\/en\/products\/docs\/boards-kits\/nuc\/mini-pcs\/nuc-12-enthusiast.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Intel NUC Enthusiast<\/strong><\/a>: These are supposed to combine the best of both worlds \u2014 they\u2019re very compact (a measly 2.5L) and yet incredibly powerful as well. They can be used for all sorts of workloads, even gaming, too! The latest one has a Core i7-12700H along with Intel's own Arc A770M GPU (16GB GDDR6 VRAM). They don't come cheap, though. Machines like these are a true feat of engineering, and that, unfortunately, has to come at a cost. Be that as it may, it\u2019s one of the biggest and most interesting Mac Mini alternatives out there.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intel.com\/content\/www\/us\/en\/products\/docs\/boards-kits\/nuc\/mini-pcs\/nuc-13-extreme.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Intel NUC Extreme<\/strong><\/a>: Last but certainly not least, we have the Extreme NUC line-up. These machines vary in size but also performance. The first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dkZmeAB5d1Q&amp;ab_channel=OptimumTech\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NUC Extreme<\/a> came in at just five liters in volume but could accommodate full-size graphics cards (up to a certain length). Subsequent Extreme models came in at a much larger footprint, but were also a fair bit more powerful as well \u2014 they can accommodate desktop-class CPUs, as opposed to Intel\u2019s mobile H-series offerings. Intel has sort of been experimenting with this product stack, and while not all of these NUCs have a reason to exist it is nonetheless hard <em>not <\/em>to applaud Intel\u2019s efforts at offering its customers a versatile (if pricey) alternative to Apple\u2019s Mac Mini.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All in all, these NUCs \u2014 while certainly not for everyone \u2014 are incredibly capable machines, and the fact that they come in so many different sizes and configurations means that <em>everyone <\/em>has a chance at finding the right one for their use-case and profession.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ObtVLjOIUxw\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ObtVLjOIUxw\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Intel_NUC_Derivatives\"><\/span>Intel NUC Derivatives<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Intel isn\u2019t the <em>only<\/em> company that makes such ultra-compact PCs. Many others have dipped their toes in this obscure, niche segment of the market, including ASUS, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hp.com\/us-en\/workstations\/z2-mini.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HP<\/a>, Gigabyte, MSI, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zotac.com\/mu\/product\/mini_pcs\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zotac<\/a>, AsRock, and others.<\/p>\n<p>Out of all of them, one could argue that ASUS\u2019s PN line of products has been the most successful, not necessarily in terms of sales volume but rather <em>marketing<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Those who are \u201cin the know\u201d have at least <em>heard<\/em> of their mini PCs, whereas other companies \u2014 some of which are mentioned above \u2014 haven\u2019t done much to get in the public\u2019s eye and generate any interest.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/liliputing.com\/asus-expertcenter-pn53-is-a-mini-desktop-with-up-to-amd-ryzen-9-6900hx\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PN53<\/a>, for instance, is an absolutely amazing product (especially considering its size). It measures a measly 5.1&#8243; x 4.7&#8243; x 2.3&#8243; which makes it even smaller than Apple's own Mac Mini. Its size, however, doesn't mean it lacks power; <strong>quite the contrary. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You can spec it out with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX (35W) and 32GB of DDR5-4800 memory; it also comes with two M.2 2280 slots which support up to 2TB of NVMe storage. Heck, there's even room for a 2.5&#8243; SSD\/HDD! As if all of the above wasn't enough.<\/p>\n<p>You don't <em>have<\/em> to go all out, though; this particular mini PC comes in many different flavors, with a Ryzen 5 6600H being the least capable SKU.<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, if you need <em>a lot<\/em> more power, you can check out one of HP\u2019s or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zotac.com\/ca\/product\/mini_pcs\/magnus-one-ecm73070c-barebone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zotac\u2019s<\/a> mini PCs. They\u2019re larger than the aforementioned P53 but are also <em>noticeably<\/em> more capable, both CPU- <em>and<\/em> GPU-wise. Heck, that feels like an understatement!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21486\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21486\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21486 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One.jpg\" alt=\"Zotac Magnus One\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21486\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21486 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201280%20720%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Zotac Magnus One\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201280%20720%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Zotac-Magnus-One.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21486\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=13MoJFW81vM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zotac<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>The best ones pack desktop-grade components and are definitely worth your hard-earned money!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: These small PCs are seldom quiet. That, in short, is something worth keeping in mind. If you\u2019re sensitive to fan noise you might want to look elsewhere. Or, if you come across a compatible model, you can simply slot it into one of <strong>Akasa\u2019s <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.akasa.co.uk\/update.php?tpl=list%2FCHASSIS+POWER.tpl&amp;type=CHASSIS+POWER&amp;type_sub=FANLESS+CASES&amp;fval=all\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fanless cases<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r8FweEtd6s8\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r8FweEtd6s8\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Minisforum\"><\/span>Minisforum<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This company has risen through the proverbial ranks at a staggering speed and, well, that should hardly come as a surprise.<\/p>\n<p>No other company in the world has been churning out mini PCs as fast as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.minisforum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Minisforum<\/a>, and while not all of its products make sense from a price-to-performance standpoint, it is nonetheless hard not to stand in awe at what this Chinese company has managed to accomplish within a staggeringly short period of time.<\/p>\n<p>Its mini PCs come in a myriad of different flavors; <strong>if you can imagine it, odds are, Minisforum already has it on sale.<\/strong> Heck, it even makes weird, Frankenstein-looking PCs like <a href=\"https:\/\/store.minisforum.com\/products\/minisforum-nucxi5-nucxi7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this one<\/a>. It might look strange, but weak and incapable it certainly is not!<\/p>\n<p>Then there\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.minisforum.com\/products\/elitemini-hx90g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Neptune HX90G<\/a> \u2014 the only true competitor to Intel\u2019s Enthusiast line-up.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21483\" style=\"width: 1825px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21483\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21483\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs.jpg\" alt=\"Minisforum Neptune HX90G Specs\" width=\"1825\" height=\"1124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs.jpg 1825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs-1024x631.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs-768x473.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs-1536x946.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1825px) 100vw, 1825px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21483\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21483 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201825%201124%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Minisforum Neptune HX90G Specs\" width=\"1825\" height=\"1124\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201825%201124%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1825w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1825px) 100vw, 1825px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs.jpg 1825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs-1024x631.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs-768x473.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs-1536x946.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Minisforum-Neptune-HX90G-Specs.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21483\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/store.minisforum.com\/products\/elitemini-hx90g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Minisforum<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Not only does it have one of AMD\u2019s most powerful mobile processors, but it also comes with a dedicated RX 6600M GPU as well. That\u2019s\u2026 an astonishing amount of power packed inside a very small enclosure.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EDsTEGSolRI\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EDsTEGSolRI\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_Might_Want_to_Wait_a_Bit\"><\/span>You Might Want to Wait a Bit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Incredibly powerful Mac Mini alternatives are currently in the pipeline which means that holding off on your purchase \u2014 if possible \u2014 might be a wise decision.<\/p>\n<p>This Raptor Lake-based <a href=\"https:\/\/www.notebookcheck.net\/Lenovo-IdeaCentre-Mini-1L-8-debuts-as-a-new-PC-ready-to-fit-into-a-home-s-entertainment-set-up.675772.0.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IdeaCenter Mini<\/a> from Lenovo, for instance, is absolutely astonishing!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21487\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21487\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21487\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen.jpg\" alt=\"Lenovo Ideacenter Mini 13th Gen\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1112\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen-1024x556.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen-768x417.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen-1536x834.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21487\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21487 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201112%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Lenovo Ideacenter Mini 13th Gen\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1112\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201112%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen-1024x556.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen-768x417.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen-1536x834.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/01\/Lenovo-Ideacenter-Mini-13th-Gen.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-21487\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.lenovo.com\/pressroom\/press-releases\/new-consumer-devices-next-gen-performance-versatility-convenience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lenovo<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>An Intel Core i7-13700H, up to 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD all in a <em>one-liter <\/em>chassis? How is such a thing even possible?<\/p>\n<p>It's beautiful beyond measure and comes with all the nifty bells and whistles one would expect: Thunderbolt 4 support, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>It seems that the best and most attractive Mac Mini alternatives are yet to come, so just keep that in mind.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_Mini_Alternatives_-_Are_They_Worth_It\"><\/span>Mac Mini Alternatives \u2014 Are They Worth It?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>They absolutely are! Perhaps <em>now<\/em> more than ever! Intel\u2019s 12th Gen Alder Lake CPUs are tremendously capable, and much of the same can be said for AMD\u2019s Ryzen 6000 series CPUs as well.<\/p>\n<p>None of them are as <em>efficient<\/em> as what Apple has to offer, but that shouldn\u2019t be viewed as that big of a negative \u2014 we\u2019re talking about desktop computers, after all, <em>not<\/em> laptops.<\/p>\n<p>Whether they\u2019re worth it to <em>you<\/em> is an entirely different question. How much money do you have to spend?<\/p>\n<p>Do you <em>really<\/em> need a Windows-based machine that\u2019s as small as a Mac Mini? What about performance \u2014 what will you be doing on such a small, miniature PC? Video editing? 3D modeling or rendering? Gaming, perhaps?<\/p>\n<p>These are all hugely important questions, and you really need to give them ample thought before making any kind of purchasing decision.<\/p>\n<p>These compact PCs <em>can<\/em> be upgraded to a certain extent, but those upgrades aren\u2019t particularly game-changing \u2014 we\u2019re mainly talking about RAM and storage here.<\/p>\n<p>And the higher up the product stack you go, the bigger the PC will become. Intel\u2019s Extreme line-up might be alluring at first glance, but those machines come in at around 8L and 13L respectively (depending on the model).<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re going to buy a PC that big (a relative term), you might as well build the whole thing yourself<\/strong> \u2014 it\u2019d be a lot cheaper, too.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, a true Mac Mini alternative needs to be no larger than 5L in volume; if it gets any bigger then it\u2019s basically competing with an entirely different product in Apple\u2019s line-up \u2014 and can no longer be deemed \u201cmini.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_Mini_Alternatives_-_Why_Theyre_Better\"><\/span>Mac Mini Alternatives \u2014 Why They\u2019re Better<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Windows-based mini PCs have many strengths and virtues.<\/p>\n<p>They might not be as well-rounded as Apple\u2019s Mac Mini, but they\u2019re nonetheless amazing options that are more than worth your hard-earned money.<\/p>\n<p>So, to make it all a bit clearer and more concise, let\u2019s aggregate all of the information written above and conjure up a straightforward summary:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>They\u2019re upgradeable<\/strong> \u2014 You have a lot more control over the internals of these PCs than is the case with Apple\u2019s Mac Mini. You can buy as much RAM and storage as you want (within reasonable, hardware-based limits), and you won\u2019t have to spend a small fortune to do so \u2014 there\u2019s no surcharge whatsoever.<\/li>\n<li><strong>They\u2019re equally as powerful<\/strong> \u2014 While they might not look as nice, these Windows-based mini PCs sure can pack one heck of a punch. Intel\u2019s latest mobile CPUs are astoundingly powerful, and much of the same can be said for those from AMD. They can compete on even footing and even though they\u2019re not as efficient, you will nonetheless have all the power you need to get your work done, regardless of your profession and use-case.<\/li>\n<li><strong>You\u2019re in control<\/strong> \u2014 Want to set up a triple boot system? You can do that. Want to connect an external GPU and boost your frame rates? You can do that. In fact, you can do pretty much anything \u2014 there\u2019s no hidden restriction for you to think about or small footnote to take into consideration. And, perhaps best of all, you won\u2019t have to invest a small fortune in a Thunderbolt 3 dock, you\u2019ll be able to connect as many monitors as you want and also tweak and tune its performance to your liking. It\u2019s a playground with a myriad of different possibilities, much like a full-fledged PC. It\u2019s not as flexible an option, granted, but is still flexible <em>enough<\/em>, and that\u2019s the only thing that matters.<\/li>\n<li><strong>There are no limitations<\/strong> \u2014 Everything will run natively so there\u2019s no emulation layer for you to think about, no compatibility issues \u2014 nothing. It\u2019s all as simple and straightforward as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s go over a few questions you might have regarding this particular topic:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Apples_Mac_Mini_Worth_It\"><\/span>Is Apple\u2019s Mac Mini Worth It?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It absolutely is! It\u2019s an incredibly powerful machine and is wholly silent, too!<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a content creator, photographer, designer, music producer, or videographer, then one could argue that there\u2019s a no better option on the market \u2014 <strong>assuming you\u2019re okay with running macOS and don\u2019t mind any of its inherent hardware- and software-based limitations.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_M1_Mac_Mini_Have_Any_Alternatives\"><\/span>Does the M1 Mac Mini Have Any Alternatives?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It sure does! Intel\u2019s NUC line-up immediately comes to mind.<\/p>\n<p>While it might not be as streamlined and beautiful, it sure can compete on even footing in the performance department!<\/p>\n<p>There are other derivatives as well, like those from ASUS and even lesser-known (but still reputable) companies like Minisforum.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, there\u2019s no shortage of options!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Apple\u2019s Mac Mini is undeniably a spectacular machine. Small, silent, and incredibly powerful \u2014 <em>a potent mix if ever we\u2019ve seen one<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Still, it\u2019s not for everyone; its operating system, while beautiful and sleek, isn\u2019t to everyone\u2019s taste. It also comes with a myriad of oddly specific drawbacks and limitations, some of which may well be deal-breaking.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, buyers are now spoiled with options when it comes to Windows-based mini PCs, most of which can easily go blow for blow with Apple\u2019s Mac Mini \u2014 and even win out in certain scenarios.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Have any of them piqued your interest?<\/strong> Let us know in the <a href=\"#comments\">comments<\/a> down below and, in case you need any help, head over to <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">our forum<\/a> and ask away!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apple\u2019s Mac Mini might not be the smallest computer around (nor the most powerful) but it sure is the most well-rounded. It stands in a league of its own, especially at the time of this writing. More and more companies are making small form factor PCs than ever before, and yet not a single one...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2346,"featured_media":21541,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[290],"tags":[286,122],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21455"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21455"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21455\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21544,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21455\/revisions\/21544"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}