Mini PCs (Windows)

[MiniApple]

I’m looking for (ultra) small form factor Mini PCs recommendations

Requirements
Full System or Barebone
ability to run Windows 10 Home or Pro
AMD or ARM based chip (No Intel!)
Silent (not louder than a Mac Mini M1) regardless if it has a fan or not.
1x M2 2280 storage slot (main or additional)
capable to run at least 8-16GB RAM in dual channel

Would be nice
2.5 Sata SSD storage drive slot
$500 US or less (Full system or Barebone)
Snappy, but power efficient
Not too large power adapter/plug

Usecases
Web browsing (Edge Chromium, Firefox)
Light word processing/office work
Watching series & movies up to 4K/60 frames a second.

Potential Devices
Gigabyte BRIX AMD (release date/window unknown) https://www.gigabyte.com/Press/News/1857
Zotac CA621 (if it had M2 2280) https://www.zotac.com/product/mini_pcs/zbox-ca621-nano-barebone
ASRock Mars 4000U https://www.asrock.com/nettop/AMD/Mars 4000U Series/index.asp
More Suggestions are welcome!

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

I’m looking for (ultra) small form factor Mini PCs recommendations

Requirements
Full System or Barebone
ability to run Windows 10 Home or Pro
AMD or ARM based chip (No Intel!)
Silent (not louder than a Mac Mini M1) regardless if it has a fan or not.
1x M2 2280 storage slot (main or additional)
capable to run at least 8-16GB RAM in dual channel

Would be nice
2.5 Sata SSD storage drive slot
$500 US or less (Full system or Barebone)
Snappy, but power efficient
Not too large power adapter/plug

Usecases
Web browsing (Edge Chromium, Firefox)
Light word processing/office work
Watching series & movies up to 4K/60 frames a second.

Potential Devices
Gigabyte BRIX AMD (release date/window unknown) https://www.gigabyte.com/Press/News/1857
Zotac CA621 (if it had M2 2280) https://www.zotac.com/product/mini_pcs/zbox-ca621-nano-barebone
ASRock Mars 4000U https://www.asrock.com/nettop/AMD/Mars 4000U Series/index.asp
More Suggestions are welcome!

Oops. I recommended the Intel NUC, but I now see you don't want Intel.

 

[MiniApple]

No worries.
the Intel NUC's are useful machines.
I just had too many issues, security and otherwise, that's why I don't want an Intel based one.

 

[maflynn]

Check out the world of ITX builds. I found the YT channel Optimum Tech to be quite helpful and informative when building out my ITX system

 

[MiniApple]

FYI
DO NOT buy the AsRock Mars 4000 Series.
Returned mine within 24 hours, as even with all the newest OS updates, drivers and Bios/UEFI updates all done, on idle, the thing howled like a jet plane, with the bios fan setting being on silent.

 

[MiniApple]

Found some good recommendations here https://www.fanlesstech.com/
ordered a Zotac

 

[c0ppo]

I was also looking for a mini-pc. I need multiple actually for my current project. I've looked at UM700, lots of praises for that one. But on minisforum website I found X400, way better specs.

Ordered it a few days ago, now playing the waiting game. If it is as good as it sounds, I'm gonna purchase 3 more. There are a bunch of reviews on mini pcs on youtube, check them out.

 

[c0ppo]

Well, X400 rocks. Really a great little device. I've even tested out a few games, like cs:go.
Everything is really fast, and this little machine is also cooled really well. Dead silent on casual use, fans do ramp up when gaming, but nothing really annoying, but I can hear the fans working, which is to be expected.

It's easy to upgrade it as well. I really like this little device. It does come with Windows preinstalled, but I've just swapped out SSD and used mine (2TB Samsung EVO 970) with preinstalled PopOS. Everything works even under Linux, no additional installs or any modifications needed.

I'm really surprised at just how good this little thing is.