5 great models for all occasions

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Time is running fast. It seems that we only made a selection for February, but it’s already September, the end of the year is approaching. Even a little strange. But let’s not indulge in the autumn blues; we’d rather take a look at the miniature PCs presented by manufacturers from different countries. Traditionally, the selection includes several models that are suitable for different tasks. Details under the cut!

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MSI Cubi NUC 13MQ

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Let's start with this model. It comes with processors up to Core i7-1365U vPro. Not bad, enough for many tasks – both for developers and ordinary users. If such a chip is not needed, there is a simpler model – with Intel Core i5-1345U.

The case size is 136 x 133 x 50, it won’t take up much space on your desktop, and you can simply hang it behind the monitor so that it doesn’t take up anything at all. In addition, the device has two 2.5 GbE Ethernet and HDMI ports. There is an Intel AX211 wireless module with support for WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Plus two SODIMM slots for RAM up to 64 GB DDR5-5200. So you can upgrade if necessary – nothing on the board except the processor is soldered. In addition, there is a slot for microSD cards and an audio output for headphones.

List of ports and connectors

On the front panel:

• 2x USB 10 Gbps Type-A
• 1x microphone/headphone combo jack (Mic-in/Headphone-out)
• 1x Micro-SD card slot

On the back:

• 2x Thunderbolt 4 (with support for DP 1.4 and Power Delivery)
• 2x USB 10 Gbps Type-A
• 2x HDMI (supports resolutions up to 4K@60Hz)
• 2x RJ45 (supports 2.5G Ethernet)

In terms of drives, there are M.2 2280 and M.2 2242 slots for SSDs and HDD.

Zotac ZBOX MI6x3

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Zotac ZBOX MI6x3 is a compact mini PC with a powerful processor. It comes with an Intel Core i7-14700, making it a great choice for work tasks and home use. The processor has 20 cores and 28 threads, which is suitable for multitasking and complex calculations.

The case, measuring 204 x 129 x 68 mm, is slightly larger than that of the previous device, but also small. The device also supports two slots for SO-DIMM DDR4 RAM (up to 64 GB) and the ability to install solid-state drives in the M.2 form factor.

List of ports and connectors

• 1 x HDMI 2.1
• 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
• 4 x USB 3.2 Type-A
• 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A
• 1 x Gigabit Ethernet
• 1 x 3.5mm audio
• 1 x 3.5mm mic

This mini PC supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. Connection to two 4K displays is also supported. Unfortunately, there is no USB-C port and Thunderbolt, OCuLink.

The company supplies only models without disks and RAM.

MINIX NEO Z300-dB

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Ultra-compact and silent mini-PC with passive cooling system. It is equipped with 12th generation Intel Alder Lake-N N300 processors, making it a powerful tool for everyday tasks.

Characteristics

• Processor: 8-core Intel Core i3-N300 with a frequency of up to 3.8 GHz and a TDP of 7 W.
• RAM: 8 or 16 GB DDR4-3200 expandable up to 32 GB.
• Storage: 256 GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD, expandable up to 4 TB.
• Graphics: Built-in Intel UHD Graphics, supports two 4K 60 Hz monitors simultaneously.

List of ports and connectors

On the front panel:

• 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
• 1x USB-C port
• 1x Micro SD card slot
• 1x audio output (3.5mm)

On the back:

• 2x HDMI 2.1 (up to 4K@60Hz)
• 2x USB 2.0
• 1x 2.5 Gbit RJ45 Ethernet

There is a wireless module with support for the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.2.

The device has passive cooling. Thus, thanks to the aluminum body and large radiators, the device operates completely silently and effectively dissipates heat. In addition, the device comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro, but also supports other operating systems: Ubuntu and Debian.

MINIX NEO Z300-dB is suitable for users who value quietness and performance without incurring unnecessary costs for energy and cooling system maintenance.

The device sells for $216 and up, depending on the specifications.

AOOSTAR GEM10 370

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A compact and at the same time powerful mini-PC, which is based on the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip with Zen 5 architecture. This processor has 12 cores and 24 threads, which provides a base frequency of 2.0 GHz with the ability to overclock to 5.1 GHz. Featuring integrated Radeon 890M graphics with 16 compute units and speeds up to 2.9 GHz. The device copes well with graphically complex tasks such as rendering and light gaming applications. Great, right?

And that's not all! With a processor that supports up to 50 TOPS of processing power for artificial intelligence tasks, the device is suitable for data analysis and content creation.

Main Features

• Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with a frequency of up to 5.1 GHz.
• Graphics: Built-in Radeon 890M with support for modern graphics computing.
• RAM: LPDDR5X support up to 7500 MHz.
• Storage: Supports up to three PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSDs, providing up to 24 TB of storage.
• OCuLink: Interface for connecting external graphics or high-speed storage without occupying NVMe slots.

List of ports and connectors

On the front panel:

• 2x USB 3.2 Gen2
• 1x USB4
• 1x headphone audio output
• OCuLink for external devices

On the back:

• 2x 2.5G Ethernet
• 2x HDMI 2.1 (supports up to three displays at 4K resolution at 120 Hz)
• Optional USB 3.2 Gen2

The mini PC has a Glacier 2.5 passive cooling system with an adjustable TDP from 28 to 45 W, which ensures stable and silent operation. The GEM10 370 is a great option for users who want a powerful yet compact solution. It is expected that the device will cost about $1,000 on the international market.

MOREFINE M11

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MOREFINE M11 is a compact mini PC, a kind of hybrid tablet and desktop PC, which stands out for its 7-inch touch display. The device is equipped with Intel N100 or N200 processors depending on the configuration and supports 16 GB LPDDR5 memory with a frequency of 4800 MHz, which provides good performance for everyday tasks.

Characteristics

• Processor: Intel N100 or N200 (quad-core).
• Graphics: Built-in Intel UHD Graphics.
• RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5-4800.
• Storage: Supports SSD M.2 2242 with capacities from 256 GB to 2 TB.

List of ports and connectors

• 3x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A.
• 1x USB-C (for data and power).
• 1x USB-C (for video and data).
• 1x HDMI 2.1.
• 1x RJ45 (Gigabit Ethernet).
• 1x 3.5mm audio jack.

The device has a 7-inch touch screen with a resolution of 1,280×800 pixels, which may be useful to someone, although it is not very practical. Or do you have a different opinion? Another highlight is the 3,400 mAh battery. It provides up to 3.5 hours of battery life and 24 hours of standby time.

The model supports dual 4K output via HDMI and USB-C, making it suitable for connecting additional monitors for increased productivity. The price of the device starts at $348 for the version with 256 GB SSD and reaches $502 for the configuration with a 2 TB drive.

In general, the producers were pleased. Moreover, most models support upgrades, which is not bad. What mini-PC is on your desk? Unless, of course, you have a computer of this format.