Once upon a time, desktop computers were the kings of the PC field, but due to their bulky and clunky designs, they were dethroned by laptops. However, after a few years of glory, laptops also hit a bottleneck and were nearly overtaken by tablet computers. Today, the PC field is bustling with various forms: desktops, laptops, 2-in-1 PCs, pure tablets, mini computers, all-in-one computers… it can be quite overwhelming.
Recently, Zhihui Dog shared thoughts on selecting laptops and gaming laptops across different price ranges. Today, we aim to explore something even smaller than laptops, namely various forms of computer sticks and mini PCs, to see whether they are reliable.
********* Mini Computer Sticks *********
As the name suggests, a computer stick is a device that integrates a computer into a stick-like form, resembling an oversized USB flash drive. Inside, the motherboard contains a processor, memory, eMMC (storage), a wireless network card (supporting Bluetooth), and other hardware chips, all pre-installed with a complete Windows 10 system and relevant software.
One end of the computer stick usually has an HDMI output interface, allowing it to be directly connected to monitors, LCD computers, projectors, and other display devices. At the same time, the sides of the computer stick often reserve USB ports and card readers for easy connection to keyboards, mice, and other peripheral devices. Some computer sticks also add a Type-C interface, which can be converted into a second HDMI through an adapter, allowing dual-screen display by connecting two display devices simultaneously.
Computer sticks look very high-end, as they compress a complete PC into a size comparable to a USB flash drive. In reality, if we delve into the internal structure of the computer stick, we will find that it is not as impressive as it seems.
Analyzing Computer Sticks
The processors in computer sticks are mostly from the Atom family, including the 22nm Bay Trail platform (such as Atom Z3735) and the 14nm Cherry Trail platform (such as Atom X5-Z8300), with prices generally under a thousand yuan.
Of course, there are exceptions, Intel’s high-end Compute Stick uses the Core M (Skylake) platform, but the price starts at 2400 yuan.
Do these processor platforms feel familiar? That’s right, Atom is a platform that can fit into a 7-inch tablet, specifically designed for ultra-thin PCs that do not require fan-assisted cooling. A computer stick can be understood as a tablet that has had its screen, battery, speakers, and other components removed, with the motherboard and other chips compressed to the minimum size, thus its technological content is limited.
How to Choose a Computer Stick
The core factor determining the performance of a computer stick is the model of the processor it carries. Currently available computer sticks almost all use Atom X5-Z8300 or Atom X5-Z8350, with the latter having a higher clock speed and slightly better performance. Additionally, computer sticks usually start with 2GB of memory, while higher-priced products often feature 4GB of memory as a selling point. From experience, I also recommend choosing a model with 4GB of memory to ensure smooth operation when running multiple programs.
For products in the computer stick category, I do not recommend following the purchasing principle of “the smaller, the better.” Even for the Atom X5-Z8350, cramming it into an 11.6-inch tablet without a cooling fan can easily lead to thermal throttling under high load. The internal space of a computer stick is smaller, making heat dissipation under high load a significant concern.
Therefore, a slightly larger computer stick means more ample heat dissipation space. Many brands also incorporate an ultra-small silent fan into the computer stick, enhancing internal air circulation and reducing the chances of the processor overheating and throttling. In summary, when configurations and prices are similar, a computer stick equipped with an additional cooling fan is a more reliable choice.
For computer sticks like the Intel Compute Stick that can be equipped with a Core M, I do not recommend blindly purchasing them. Although the Core M has strong performance, its heat generation is far beyond that of the Atom processor platform. While the Compute Stick also has a built-in fan, expecting the Core M to run at full capacity for extended periods is unrealistic. The essence of a computer stick is to compress a PC to the extreme; it is a device that can be hung on a keychain, and its performance should be adequate. If you truly desire a more powerful mini device, a mini PC box may be more suitable for you.
********* Mini PC Boxes *********
I’m sure everyone has used a TV box, right? A mini PC box is designed in the same form but uses an X86 processor platform and Windows system. They come in various sizes, with the smaller ones fitting into a pocket and the larger ones being portable in a bag. Regardless, mini PC boxes are always lighter and more compact than “small cannon” products based on standard ITX motherboards.
Entry-Level Choice: The Advanced Form of Computer Sticks
A complete PC platform can easily fit into a space the size of a USB flash drive, so it is no problem to accommodate it in a space similar to a TV box. Mini PC boxes can be hidden behind monitors or LCD TVs or directly mounted on the back of display devices using VESA mounts. Connect them to HDMI and a keyboard/mouse, and you have a standard computer.
Compared to computer sticks, mini PC boxes offer more flexible hardware platform options. They can choose the Cherry Trail platform represented by Atom X5-Z8300, as well as the Braswell platform (such as Celeron J3160) from the same period. Newer products may feature Intel’s latest Apollo Lake platform (such as Celeron N3450), while high-end models can be equipped with Intel’s mobile U series Core processors (such as i5-6200U), and some enthusiast products even pack desktop processors inside.
Of course, the higher the hardware specifications of the mini PC box, the larger its size will inevitably become. If you want an ultra-mini size that can fit in your pocket, you will have to choose a super low-power platform, sacrificing performance for compactness; if you want performance comparable to mainstream laptops, you will have to allow for some increase in size; and if you want performance on par with desktop computers, it is certainly possible, but it will require a larger investment.
If choosing a computer stick does not require much performance and is only for temporary document processing, web surfing, etc., then when selecting a mini PC box, we need to demand certain performance requirements, such as being able to run “League of Legends” smoothly.
Here, I recommend mini PC boxes equipped with Braswell or Apollo Lake platforms and standard 4GB of memory. They can compress their surface area down to the size of a 6-inch phone and keep the price around a thousand yuan. However, products priced below a thousand yuan mostly use eMMC as the storage module, with only a few products reserving SATA, mSATA, or M.2 slots for HDD/SSD expansion.
By the way, if you need a mini PC box for gaming, please prioritize products with built-in cooling fans. Products designed with passive cooling modules (only heat sinks without fans) are at risk of processor throttling due to overheating.
Mainstream Choice: Products Benchmarking NUC
If you need a mini PC box with performance and expandability comparable to a laptop, the U series Core processors with a TDP of 15W are essential core indicators. The representative of this performance-level mini PC box is the Intel NUC.
NUC is Intel’s mini PC brand and the absolute benchmark in this category. NUC always adopts the latest Intel processor platforms first, which leads to a multitude of models and specifications.
Identifying NUC versions is relatively easy; the specific model NUC7ixxxx represents the seventh generation Core, NUC6ixxxx represents the sixth generation Core, and NUC5ixxxx represents the fifth generation Core. It is worth noting that official NUCs are quasi-systems, providing only the onboard processor and wireless network card, while users must pair their own memory and hard drive. However, many online retailers offer pre-assembled NUCs that can be used right away.
Additionally, NUC also has entry-level versions equipped with ultra-low power Celeron processors, starting at around a thousand yuan. Although the cost-performance ratio is not as good as domestic mini PC boxes at the same price, the quality and reliability are better guaranteed, making it suitable for users with a relatively generous budget.
These products are equipped with at least two hard drive expansion slots, allowing users to upgrade memory, wireless network cards, and other hardware, making their overall performance sufficient for the entertainment and office needs of families and businesses. However, to accommodate relatively luxurious cooling modules and provide enough space for hard drives, NUC-style mini PC boxes are at least the size of two mobile phone boxes. Even so, they are still smaller and more stylish than traditional laptops and ITX hosts, and can instantly enter work mode with any display device.
NUC-style mini PCs are limited by size and cannot accommodate dedicated graphics chips, so gaming performance is always their weak point. If you value 3D graphics processing capabilities, the latest NUC7i5BNK (equipped with Core i5-7260U, 15W TDP) and NUC7i7BNH (equipped with Core i7-7567U, 28W TDP) should be suitable for you, as they both integrate Iris (Intel’s integrated graphics) series graphics, which do not fall far behind dedicated NVIDIA GeForce 940M graphics.
Of course, this level of performance mini PC is not solely the domain of NUC; mini PCs represented by Zotac ZBOX, HP Elite Slice, and Gigabyte BRIX series also possess excellent reliability and relatively strong performance. Among them, Zotac ZBOX has a rich product line covering nearly all processor platforms and various sizes.
HP Elite Slice stands out by equipping desktop processors (such as Core i3-6100T, which outperforms seventh-generation U series processors) in a mini body, and it has modular capabilities: users can purchase additional modules like optical drives and audio components to stack with the Elite Slice host for richer functionality.
Gigabyte BRIX is similar to NUC in specifications, offering a wide range of models from fifth to seventh generation Core processors, serving as a supplement to NUC.
The good news is that many lesser-known domestic brands are also launching mini PC products similar to NUC, with starting prices generally under 2000 yuan. Although most of them use increasingly obsolete fourth-generation Core processors (such as i5-4200U), their performance is far superior to the Apollo Lake platform, making them suitable for users who want to spend less without compromising on performance.
The Remac MiniPC-H1, priced at 1799 yuan, is equipped with an i5-4300U. Click to view the trial experience.
Top Choice: Mini PCs Comparable to Desktops
As mentioned earlier, there are mini PC boxes that can rival desktop computers, capable of smoothly handling VR experiences. The representative of such high-end mini PC boxes includes the Alienware ALPHA series and Zotac Zbox Magnus series, both boasting a relatively compact body of around 2L and equipped with Intel’s sixth-generation desktop processors (such as i5-6400T).
Among them, the Alienware ALPHA offers graphics options of either AMD Radeon R9 M470X or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960, although the GTX 960 is a desktop graphics card, the GPU and memory chips are directly soldered onto the motherboard. The Zotac Zbox Magnus features graphics options of GTX1060 or GTX1070, but the graphics card uses an MXM slot (designed for mobile versions), resulting in slightly reduced performance compared to desktop graphics of the same model.
Nonetheless, the performance of these two mini PCs is sufficient to satisfy the vast majority of gamers. The only downside is the high price, with the Alienware ALPHA starting at 5999 yuan, and the Zbox Magnus’s quasi-system version starting at 6599 yuan (excluding memory and hard drive).
********* Slightly Larger Gaming Boxes *********
While mini PCs can be compressed to an extreme size, it is challenging to achieve overly powerful gaming performance. If you appreciate the compactness of such form factors but can accept a slightly larger “box,” there are indeed more options available.
For example, the ASUS M80 Fortress S is a slightly larger “gaming box,” with a volume of approximately 5L. Although it is larger than the Alienware ALPHA and Zbox Magnus, its weight of 2.2kg remains relatively lightweight. This product features a mobile version of the seventh-generation Core i5-7300HQ and a GTX1060 graphics card (GPU directly soldered onto the motherboard), along with a rich array of interfaces comparable to desktops.
Additionally, the Tencent TGP BOX family members also fall under the “gaming box” category. Among them, the Blade X3/X5 focuses on cost performance, but the GTX750Ti’s performance is somewhat outdated, making it challenging to handle the latest single-player games.
The MSI Trident and ASUS ROG GR8Ⅱ are equipped with GTX1060 graphics cards, and both feature standard PCI-E interfaces for desktop graphics, which means these two gaming boxes can upgrade to new graphics cards of the same length and power consumption in the future, offering far more DIY potential than the previously mentioned mini PCs.
From what you’ve seen so far, I believe you have a preliminary understanding of the various products in the mini PC field. Mini PCs are generally cheaper than laptops while having the potential to rival desktops, making them a suitable choice for home and business users. When a mini PC is connected to any display and hidden behind it, that display can transform into an all-in-one computer, effectively reducing desktop space usage.
Which form factor and price point of mini PC do you prefer?
After reading this article, 99% of readers also clicked:
