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The cheapest mini PC on the page is almost never the cheapest mini PC to own. A barebone chassis that undercuts everything else by a wide margin can end up costing more than a complete system once you add a SO-DIMM, an NVMe drive and a Windows licence — and a box with soldered 8 GB of memory or a SATA-only M.2 slot can hit a hard ceiling the month after you buy it. The word "cheap" hides three separate markets, and which one you belong in depends on what the machine actually has to do.
This guide covers all three. The first is the new low-power class built around Intel's N100 and N150 processors: 4 cores and 4 threads, a 6 W processor base power rating, Intel Quick Sync and a 24-execution-unit integrated GPU. The second is the promotion-dependent Ryzen tier, where an 8-core 5700U machine is a strong buy at a discount and a poor one at list price. The third — and the one most budget mini PC roundups skip entirely — is the used enterprise market: 2017–2019 Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny, HP EliteDesk Mini and Dell OptiPlex Micro systems that bring socketed memory, a 2.5-inch bay and, on the ThinkCentre M720q, a genuine PCIe expansion slot.
Two numbers decide most of these comparisons, and neither is the one printed on the spec sheet. The first is whole-system wall power, not CPU base power: a "6 W" N100 mini PC typically idles around 8–9 W at the wall once memory, storage, networking and power-supply losses are counted, and a well-configured 35 W corporate Tiny can idle near 10 W. The second is the network controller, not the port count. Two Realtek 1GbE ports and two Intel I226-V 2.5GbE ports look identical in a bullet list and behave nothing alike in a firewall or a virtualised lab.
Everything below is ranked by what the machine is genuinely good for, with the trade-offs stated plainly. If you want the cheapest thing that runs, start at the top. If you want the cheapest thing that scales, start at the refurbs.
| Pick | Best for | Platform | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beelink EQ14 | Best budget mini PC overall | Intel N150 | $ |
| GMKtec NucBox G3 Plus | Best barebone value | Intel N150 | $ |
| Minisforum UN150P | Best budget N150 with a 2.5-inch bay | Intel N150 | $ |
| Beelink Mini S12 | Cheapest new machine with a live retail listing | Intel N95 | $ |
| GMKtec NucBox G5 | Cheapest ultra-compact appliance | Intel N97 | $ |
| Minisforum UN100D | Cheapest dual-2.5GbE lab and firewall box | Intel N100 | $ |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q Tiny | Best budget homelab host (real PCIe slot) | Core i5-8500T | $ |
| HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini | Best refurb all-rounder | Core i5-8500T | $ |
| Dell OptiPlex 7060 Micro | Best first refurb | Core i5-8500T | $ |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M910q Tiny | Cheapest usable desktop | Core i5-7500T | $ |
| ACEMAGIC AM06 Pro | Best step-up when discounted | Ryzen 7 5700U | $$ |
What Makes a Great Budget Mini PC?
The processor name is the first thing to read and the easiest thing to misread. Intel's low-power N-series spans four parts that share a core count and almost nothing else:
| CPU | Cores / threads | Max turbo | Processor base power | Integrated graphics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N95 | 4 / 4 | 3.4 GHz | 15 W | 16 EU, up to 1.2 GHz |
| N97 | 4 / 4 | 3.6 GHz | 12 W | 24 EU, up to 1.2 GHz |
| N100 | 4 / 4 | 3.4 GHz | 6 W | 24 EU, up to 750 MHz |
| N150 | 4 / 4 | 3.6 GHz | 6 W | 24 EU, up to 1.0 GHz |
All four carry Intel Quick Sync Video. The N95 is the odd one out: it has half the graphics block of the others, which is exactly the resource that matters for media work. The N97 gets the full 24 EUs and the highest graphics clock of the group, but pays for it with a 12 W power envelope. The N150 is a refinement of the N100 rather than a new class — same 4 cores, same 6 W rating, with the CPU turbo raised from 3.4 to 3.6 GHz and the GPU ceiling raised from 750 MHz to 1.0 GHz.
Some marketplace listings credit the N100 with a 32-execution-unit graphics block. Intel's specification for the part is 24 EUs, and that is the figure to plan around. It also matters that every N-series chip here is a single memory channel design — a "dual-channel N100" is not a real configuration. One SO-DIMM is what the platform has, which is why memory capacity and module quality matter more than the DDR4-versus-DDR5 label on these boxes.
Memory type is the second trap. Replaceable SO-DIMM slots let you start at 8 GB and move to 16 or 32 GB later; soldered LPDDR5 does not, ever. GMKtec advertises 32 GB support on some N150 and N100 systems where Intel's own documented maximum for the processor is 16 GB. Treat 16 GB as the conservative target on those platforms and buy a machine you can actually open. On the corporate refurbs, both SO-DIMM slots are socketed, which is most of why they remain competitive.
Storage slots need the same scrutiny. A second M.2 slot is not automatically a second NVMe slot: the GMKtec G3, G3 Plus and G5 all use an M.2 2242 position that is SATA-only, which caps it around standard SATA throughput. A 2.5-inch SATA bay, present on the Minisforum UN150P and UN100D and on virtually every one-litre business chassis, is usually the cheaper way to add bulk storage for media, backups or VM datasets.
Networking is where budget machines diverge most. A single 1GbE port is fine for a desktop and limiting for a router. Dual 2.5GbE is the interesting configuration, and the controller behind it decides whether the machine belongs in a firewall role: Intel I226-V is the part to look for, because FreeBSD — and therefore pfSense and OPNsense — has mature driver support for it. Realtek 1GbE works perfectly well in Linux and Proxmox, but it is a weaker choice for a dedicated appliance, and a USB Ethernet adapter is worse still.
Finally, do the arithmetic on barebones. A chassis-only listing that requires a SO-DIMM, an SSD and an operating system is a different proposition from a complete machine carrying the same parts, and the two numbers are frequently closer than the headline suggests. For the refurb bracket, add the extras that corporate resellers often strip — power adapter, drive caddy, Wi-Fi antenna, mounting bracket — before concluding that a used system is dramatically cheaper.
One practical note that applies to every budget brand: factory images vary by batch. ACEMAGIC acknowledged preinstalled-software problems on a batch of systems built before November 2023, which is not the current lineup and not every model, but it is a reasonable argument for clean-installing Windows from Microsoft's own media on any low-cost mini PC before you store credentials or run services on it. Do the same on a used corporate system — you have no idea what was on the drive.
1. Beelink EQ14 (Intel N150) — Best Budget Mini PC Overall
The EQ14 is the cleanest current N150 machine for a buyer who wants one box that does a bit of everything. It measures roughly 126 × 126 × 39 mm and weighs around 490 g, and it houses its power supply internally — no external brick to cable-tie to the desk, which sounds cosmetic until you have four of them on a shelf.
The specification that matters most is the network configuration. Beelink sells the EQ14 in two variants that share the name: a dual 2.5GbE board using Intel I226-V controllers, and a cheaper dual 1GbE board using Realtek RTL8111H. The Intel version is the reason to buy this machine. Two 2.5GbE Intel ports let you run a router or firewall VM with a dedicated WAN and LAN, or bond them for a storage node, without hanging critical networking off USB. The same trick is possible on a cheaper single-NIC box only with a USB adapter, which is precisely the configuration Netgate's guidance warns against for pfSense.
The N150 itself is the incremental part. Compared with the N100, you get the same four cores and the same 6 W processor base power, with turbo raised to 3.6 GHz and the 24-EU graphics block clocked up to 1.0 GHz rather than 750 MHz. That is a modest but free gain: it will not turn a budget box into a workstation, and it does noticeably improve headroom on media work and on multi-display output. Two M.2 2280 slots and dual HDMI 4K60 outputs round out a platform that can host a system drive plus a dedicated media or VM volume without adapters.
The compromises are the ones baked into the whole N-series family. There is a single DDR4 SO-DIMM slot, so memory bandwidth is capped by design and 16 GB is the practical ceiling. Storage runs on PCIe 3.0-class links, which is fine for an OS drive and a media volume but not a reason to buy a flagship Gen4 SSD. And the 1GbE Realtek variant exists, so read the exact listing rather than the model name.
Specs
- Intel N150, 4 cores / 4 threads, up to 3.6 GHz, 6 W processor base power, 6 MB cache
- Intel Graphics, 24 EUs up to 1.0 GHz, Quick Sync Video
- 1× DDR4 SO-DIMM, 16 GB in Beelink's shipping configuration
- 2× M.2 2280 (PCIe 3.0-class)
- Dual 2.5GbE (Intel I226-V) or dual 1GbE (Realtek RTL8111H), depending on variant
- Intel AX101 Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
- Dual HDMI, up to 4K60
- Internal power supply, approximately 126 × 126 × 39 mm, approximately 490 g
Pros
- Dual Intel I226-V 2.5GbE on the right variant — rare at the bottom of the market
- Internal PSU removes an external brick and a cable
- Two M.2 2280 slots and dual 4K60 HDMI
- N150 gives the highest CPU turbo and GPU clock of the 6 W N-series parts
Cons
- Single memory channel, 16 GB practical ceiling
- PCIe 3.0-class storage links
- Two boards share the EQ14 name; the 1GbE Realtek version is a materially weaker machine
Verdict: The default recommendation for a first budget mini PC. Buy the Intel I226-V 2.5GbE variant and you get a machine that doubles as a desktop, a media server and a router without a single dongle.
Perfect for: first homelab node, Plex or Jellyfin server, DNS and ad-blocking host, light Docker services.
Tier: $ (budget) — Check price on Amazon
2. GMKtec NucBox G3 Plus (Intel N150) — Best Barebone Value
If you already have a DDR4 SO-DIMM and an M.2 drive sitting in a drawer, the G3 Plus is the cheapest legitimate route into an N150 platform. It is sold as a barebone, and the chassis is small — roughly 114 × 106 × 42.5 mm — with the same 4-core N150 and 24-EU graphics as everything else in this class.
GMKtec's slot layout is the most flexible in the sub-N150 group. There is one M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 NVMe position for the system drive and a second M.2 2242 position that is SATA-only, useful for a second volume but not for anything that needs more than SATA throughput. Networking is handled by an Intel I226-V 2.5GbE controller on documented revisions, which is the part you want; wireless is Realtek 8852BE Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth 5.2. Dual HDMI covers two 4K displays.
Two caveats come with the low entry point. The first is memory: GMKtec claims support up to 32 GB of DDR4-3200, while Intel documents a 16 GB maximum for the N150 processor. A 32 GB module may well work, but 16 GB is the specification-backed configuration to build around. The second is the barebone maths itself — the moment you add a 16 GB SO-DIMM, a 1 TB NVMe drive and a Windows licence, the gap between this and a fully configured N150 machine narrows to the point where the barebone premium is only worth paying if you are reusing parts you already own. Availability is also the thinnest of any pick here; regional stock has been intermittent.
Specs
- Intel N150, 4 cores / 4 threads, up to 3.6 GHz, 6 W processor base power, 6 MB cache
- Intel Graphics, 24 EUs up to 1.0 GHz, Quick Sync Video
- 1× DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM (GMKtec claims up to 32 GB; Intel documents 16 GB)
- 1× M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 NVMe + 1× M.2 2242 SATA
- Intel I226-V 2.5GbE
- Realtek 8852BE Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
- Dual HDMI, 4K output
- Approximately 114 × 106 × 42.5 mm
Pros
- Lowest entry point into an N150 platform if you supply your own RAM and SSD
- Full 24-EU graphics block, not the cut-down N95 version
- Intel I226-V 2.5GbE rather than Realtek
- Two storage positions for its size
Cons
- Barebone: the real cost includes RAM, SSD and an OS licence
- Second M.2 slot is SATA-only, not NVMe
- Vendor memory claim exceeds Intel's documented 16 GB ceiling for the processor
- Intermittent regional stock
Verdict: An excellent buy for someone with spare DDR4 and an NVMe drive. For everyone else, price the complete build first — the saving is smaller than the barebone listing implies.
Perfect for: tinkerers reusing existing parts, secondary nodes, small office desktops.
Tier: $ (budget) — Check price on Amazon
3. Minisforum UN150P (Intel N150) — The N150 With a 2.5-Inch Bay
The UN150P is the successor to the older N100-based UN100D, and it makes one clear trade: it drops the second Ethernet port and gains a proper 2.5-inch SATA bay and replaceable memory. For a media server or a general desktop, that is the right way round.
Under the lid you get the N150 with its 24-EU graphics block at up to 1.0 GHz, one DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM officially rated to 16 GB, and two storage paths — an M.2 2280 position that accepts SATA or PCIe drives, and a 2.5-inch SATA bay. The bay is the feature that keeps this machine cheap to run long term: a large-capacity 2.5-inch SSD for a media library or a backup dataset costs far less per terabyte than filling two M.2 slots with NVMe drives, and on a mini PC that mostly streams, SATA throughput is never the bottleneck.
Networking is a single 2.5GbE port, plus USB-C, two USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A on the front, two faster Type-A ports at the rear, dual HDMI, microSD and audio. That port count supports two displays natively from the HDMI outputs, with a third path depending on the configuration you buy.
The single NIC is the deciding factor. One 2.5GbE port is plenty for a desktop, a media server or a Docker host. It is not enough for a firewall appliance without resorting to VLANs on a single interface — a technique that works, but which is more fragile and harder to reason about than two physical ports. If a router is the goal, the UN100D below is the better chassis.
Specs
- Intel N150, 4 cores / 4 threads, up to 3.6 GHz, 6 W processor base power
- Intel Graphics, 24 EUs up to 1.0 GHz, Quick Sync Video
- 1× DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM, officially up to 16 GB
- 1× M.2 2280 (SATA/PCIe) + 1× 2.5-inch SATA bay
- 1× 2.5GbE
- Dual HDMI plus USB-C video, microSD
- VESA support via Minisforum's mounting ecosystem
Pros
- 2.5-inch SATA bay makes bulk storage genuinely cheap
- Replaceable DDR4 memory rather than soldered LPDDR5
- Current-generation N150 with the full 24-EU graphics block
- Two independent storage paths
Cons
- Only one Ethernet port, so it is not the firewall pick
- Processor memory ceiling is 16 GB
- No dual-NIC option in this chassis
Verdict: The most sensible N150 for a media server or an everyday desktop, because the 2.5-inch bay solves storage cost better than a second M.2 slot ever will.
Perfect for: Plex and Jellyfin servers, general desktops, single-node Docker hosts.
Tier: $ (budget) — Check price on Amazon
4. Beelink Mini S12 (Intel N95) — Cheapest New Machine With a Live Retail Listing
Beelink's Mini S12 family has been on sale long enough to become the default answer to "what is the cheapest mini PC", and it is the only machine in this roundup with a verified, currently listed retail configuration rather than a marketplace search. That configuration ships with an N95, 8 GB of DDR4 and a 480 GB M.2 drive in a compact chassis with dual-monitor output and VESA mounting.
The N95 is where the value calculation gets interesting. It is a 4-core, 4-thread part with a 15 W processor base power and only 16 execution units — two-thirds the graphics block of every other N-series chip discussed here. For a DNS resolver, a Home Assistant box, a light Docker host or a small office desktop, that is entirely sufficient, and Quick Sync still gives it modern codec support that older Celeron machines lack. For anything that leans on the iGPU, it is the wrong part.
The family has a sibling worth knowing about: the Mini S12 Pro, built around the N100 with the full 24-EU graphics block and the lower 6 W power envelope. When an N100 S12 Pro listing is available at a comparable figure, it is the better machine and should win the comparison. If it is not, or if the price gap is wide, the N95 version is a sound purchase. One thing to weigh on the Pro specifically: owner reports of power and board failures at roughly the 18-to-24-month mark recur often enough in long-running threads that warranty terms deserve a place in the decision. That is not enough evidence to call it a systemic defect, but it is enough to make support quality part of the arithmetic.
Specs
- Intel N95, 4 cores / 4 threads, up to 3.4 GHz, 15 W processor base power, 6 MB cache
- Intel UHD Graphics, 16 EUs up to 1.2 GHz, Quick Sync Video
- 1× DDR4 SO-DIMM (8 GB in the listed configuration)
- M.2 storage (480 GB in the listed configuration), M.2 SATA or PCIe depending on revision
- 1GbE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Dual-monitor capable, multiple USB-A ports, HDMI output
- VESA support on retail configurations
Pros
- The cheapest new, currently listed mini PC in this roundup
- Quick Sync gives it modern hardware video decode
- Compact, quiet, VESA-mountable, comes with RAM and storage fitted
- Ideal for low-demand always-on services
Cons
- 16-EU graphics block — half the iGPU of an N100 or N150
- 15 W processor base power versus 6 W on the N100/N150
- N100-based S12 Pro is the better machine when it is available at a similar figure
- Single 1GbE port
Verdict: Buy it when it is meaningfully cheaper than an N100 or N150 equivalent. Buy the S12 Pro instead if both are available at close to the same number.
Perfect for: DNS and ad-blocking, Home Assistant, a light office desktop, a first always-on server.
Tier: $ (budget) — Check price on Amazon
5. GMKtec NucBox G5 (Intel N97) — Cheapest Ultra-Compact Appliance
The G5 is the smallest machine here by a wide margin, and it is built around the one N-series chip that behaves differently from the rest. The N97 keeps 4 cores and 4 threads but runs a 12 W power envelope and clocks its 24-EU graphics block up to 1.2 GHz — higher than both the N100 and the N150. In short bursts the G5 feels quicker than its price suggests.
At roughly 72 × 72 × 44.5 mm it occupies less desk space than a stack of coasters, and it drives two displays over HDMI at up to 4K60. Wireless is Wi-Fi 5 with Bluetooth 4.2, and there is a single 1GbE port.
The trade-offs are structural rather than incidental, and they define what this machine is for. Memory is 12 GB of soldered LPDDR5-4800: fast, compact, and permanently fixed. The internal storage position is an M.2 2242 slot that accepts SATA drives only — no NVMe — which caps both throughput and the useful life of the machine as anything other than an appliance. The higher 12 W envelope also means it is not automatically the lowest-idle option in the family, despite the tiny footprint.
Treat the G5 as a fixed-purpose device. It is excellent at being a small, silent, always-on box for a defined job, and it is the wrong purchase for anyone who expects to upgrade memory or storage later.
Specs
- Intel N97, 4 cores / 4 threads, up to 3.6 GHz, 12 W processor base power
- Intel UHD Graphics, 24 EUs up to 1.2 GHz, Quick Sync Video
- 12 GB LPDDR5-4800, soldered
- 1× M.2 2242 SATA SSD (no NVMe support), up to 2 TB
- 1GbE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2
- Dual HDMI up to 4K60, microSD, USB-C-style 12 V power input
- Approximately 72 × 72 × 44.5 mm
Pros
- The smallest chassis in this roundup by a large margin
- 24-EU graphics at a 1.2 GHz clock — the highest iGPU clock of the N-series group
- Enough burst performance for a defined always-on role
- Dual 4K60 display output
Cons
- 12 GB of soldered LPDDR5, non-upgradeable
- M.2 2242 SATA only — no NVMe path at all
- Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 rather than Wi-Fi 6
- Single 1GbE, and the higher power envelope is not the most efficient choice
Verdict: An appliance, not a platform. Buy it for a job that will not change; skip it if you might outgrow 12 GB.
Perfect for: ultra-compact DNS/Home Assistant nodes, digital signage, a desktop where a full-size case is impossible.
Tier: $ (budget) — Check price on Amazon
6. Minisforum UN100D (Intel N100) — Cheapest Dual-2.5GbE Lab and Firewall Box
The UN100D is the machine for anyone whose definition of "cheap mini PC" includes two real network ports. It pairs the N100 with dual Intel I226-V 2.5GbE controllers, and that detail is the whole point: it is the cheapest way to build a router or firewall with two physical, driver-friendly interfaces and no USB networking anywhere in the chain.
The rest of the chassis is a genuinely useful homelab node. There is an M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 ×2 position for the system drive plus a 2.5-inch SATA bay for bulk storage, three display outputs (HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C), Intel Wireless-AC 9560 Wi-Fi, and a footprint of around 115 × 110 × 46 mm. Independent testing has measured the platform around 7 W at the wall at idle, with CPU package limits observed near 18 W for short bursts and around 9 W sustained — a useful reminder that Intel's 6 W figure describes the processor, not the complete machine.
The bottleneck is memory. LPDDR5-4800 is soldered in 8 GB or 16 GB configurations, which is plenty for pfSense, a media server or a light Proxmox node, and a hard stop for a virtualisation host you intend to grow. For a Proxmox buyer who expects to run several VMs alongside a NAS, 16 GB is a real ceiling, and it cannot be raised.
Beelink's EQ12 is the alternative on this list with a similar brief — N100, dual 2.5GbE, DDR5 SO-DIMM, an M.2 slot plus a 2.5-inch bay — and it has the advantage of replaceable memory. Its boards have changed over the product's life, so the controller and port count should be checked against the specific unit before you treat it as a firewall appliance.
Specs
- Intel N100, 4 cores / 4 threads, up to 3.4 GHz, 6 W processor base power
- Intel UHD Graphics, 24 EUs up to 750 MHz, Quick Sync Video
- Soldered LPDDR5-4800, 8 GB or 16 GB
- 1× M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 ×2 + 1× 2.5-inch SATA bay
- Dual Intel I226-V 2.5GbE
- Intel Wireless-AC 9560, Wi-Fi 5
- HDMI + DisplayPort + USB-C video, approximately 115 × 110 × 46 mm
- Approximately 7 W measured idle; CPU package limits observed near 18 W short-term and 9 W sustained
Pros
- Two Intel I226-V 2.5GbE ports — the correct silicon for pfSense and OPNsense
- 2.5-inch bay plus an M.2 slot
- Genuinely low idle draw, around 7 W in independent testing
- Three display outputs
Cons
- Memory is soldered at 8 or 16 GB and cannot be upgraded
- N100 rather than N150
- M.2 slot is PCIe 3.0 ×2, not ×4
- Effectively superseded in Minisforum's own line by the UN150P
Verdict: The best value in this list if two Intel NICs are a requirement. The soldered memory is the price of entry, and it is a price worth paying only if your workload fits inside 16 GB.
Perfect for: pfSense and OPNsense appliances, Proxmox nodes with a NAS on the side, dual-NIC media servers.
Tier: $ (budget) — Check price on Amazon
7. Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q Tiny (Core i5-8500T) — Best Budget Homelab Host
This is the pick that changes what a cheap mini PC can do. The M720q is a one-litre ex-corporate desktop with a 6-core, 6-thread Core i5-8500T running at 2.1–3.5 GHz inside a 35 W envelope that can be configured down to 25 W, Intel UHD 630 graphics with Quick Sync, two socketed DDR4 SO-DIMM slots generally populated to 32 GB, an M.2 NVMe slot plus a 2.5-inch SATA bay — and one thing almost no one-litre mini PC has.
A physical PCIe ×8 slot, exposed through Lenovo's proprietary riser. That slot accepts an Intel I350 or X520-class network card, which turns the machine into a genuine multi-port router, a 10GbE node, or a firewall with four dedicated physical interfaces. Homelab users do exactly this, and the result is architecturally cleaner than any USB Ethernet workaround and cheaper than any new machine with comparable connectivity.
The practical caveats are the riser itself — a proprietary part, often sold separately, sometimes with the bracket — and thermals. A multi-port adapter such as an I350-T4 runs hot, and a one-litre chassis has limited airflow, so plan for that if you go down this route. Windows 11 support is not a problem: 8th-generation Core processors sit comfortably inside Microsoft's supported CPU list.
Specs
- Intel Core i5-8500T, 6 cores / 6 threads, 2.1–3.5 GHz, 35 W TDP, 25 W configurable-down
- Intel UHD 630 with Quick Sync Video
- 2× DDR4 SO-DIMM, commonly configured up to 32 GB
- 1× M.2 PCIe/NVMe + 1× 2.5-inch SATA bay
- Onboard 1GbE plus PCIe ×8 physical expansion via Lenovo riser
- Approximately one-litre chassis, VESA and Tiny-in-One mounting
- 8th-generation Core, officially supported for Windows 11
Pros
- A real PCIe slot in a one-litre chassis — unique at this price level
- Six real CPU cores, versus four on the N-series
- Two socketed memory slots and two storage positions
- Corporate-grade parts availability and documented platform
Cons
- Riser card and bracket are extra parts and are model-specific
- Multi-port NICs run hot inside a one-litre chassis
- 8th-generation platform, so no AV1 decode
- Used-market condition varies; verify the complete configuration
Verdict: The single most capable cheap mini PC on this list if you are willing to source one extra part. Nothing new at anywhere near the same outlay offers an internal PCIe slot.
Perfect for: multi-port routers and firewalls, virtualisation nodes, 10GbE lab hosts, anyone who needs expansion that USB cannot provide.
Tier: $ (budget) — Check price on Amazon
8. HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini (Core i5-8500T) — Best Refurb All-Rounder
Where the M720q wins on expansion, the EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini wins on storage. On the appropriate Mini configurations, HP fitted two M.2 storage connectors in addition to a 2.5-inch SATA bay — three storage devices in a one-litre chassis, with no riser required and no proprietary parts to source.
The rest of the specification is the familiar, well-proven corporate package: a Core i5-8500T with six cores and UHD 630 Quick Sync, two DDR4-2666 SO-DIMM slots officially up to 32 GB, Intel I219-LM 1GbE networking, optional Intel AC 9560 wireless, dual DisplayPort with a configurable flex I/O port, and HP's mounting ecosystem for VESA arms and monitor-integrated deployment.
Power is better than the raw 35 W figure suggests. One owner reported roughly 6 W at idle from a machine running an i7-8700T with 16 GB of memory, two NVMe drives and a SATA drive — an anecdote rather than a benchmark, but a useful demonstration that a corporate one-litre machine with a T-suffix CPU can idle in the same territory as an N100 box while offering considerably more compute.
The trade-offs are the ones that come with age: 8th-generation Intel means no AV1 hardware decode, and the platform predates Wi-Fi 6. For a Proxmox node, a NAS front end or a media server working with H.264 and HEVC, neither matters much.
Specs
- Intel Core i5-8500T, 6 cores / 6 threads, 2.1–3.5 GHz, 35 W TDP
- Intel UHD 630 with Quick Sync Video
- 2× DDR4-2666 SO-DIMM, officially up to 32 GB
- Two M.2 storage connectors on supported Mini configurations + 2.5-inch SATA bay
- Intel I219-LM 1GbE
- Intel AC 9560 wireless on common configurations
- Multiple USB-A, front USB-C, dual DisplayPort plus optional flex I/O
- VESA and HP monitor-mount ecosystem
Pros
- Three storage devices in a one-litre chassis on the right configuration
- Six cores, two socketed memory slots, Intel networking
- Idle draw can rival an N-series box when configured modestly
- Widely available with strong parts documentation
Cons
- No AV1 hardware decode
- Wi-Fi 5 era, so add a card or use Ethernet if wireless matters
- Configurations vary: the second M.2 connector is not present on every Mini build
- Used units often ship without the mounting bracket or power adapter
Verdict: The easiest refurb recommendation for someone who wants maximum storage flexibility without hunting for proprietary parts. Three drives, six cores, and an idle figure that undercuts its reputation.
Perfect for: Proxmox and Docker hosts, NAS front ends, media servers, cluster nodes.
Tier: $ (budget) — Check price on Amazon
9. Dell OptiPlex 7060 Micro (Core i5-8500T) — Best First Refurb
The OptiPlex 7060 Micro is the least complicated way into the used enterprise market. The specification is straightforward — a Core i5-8500T with six cores and UHD 630 Quick Sync, two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, an M.2 NVMe slot plus a 2.5-inch SATA bay, and Intel I219-LM gigabit networking — and supply is deep enough that you can be selective about condition rather than taking whatever appears.
Power behaviour is well documented. Independent testing of one-litre nodes with 35 W processors puts the 7060 Micro around 9–12 W at idle in typical configurations, which is a fair comparison point against the roughly 8–9 W measured on N100 mini PCs such as the GEEKOM Air12 and Beelink Mini S12 Pro. For similar electricity, you are trading a newer media engine for two additional physical cores, 32 GB of addressable memory and a 2.5-inch bay.
That is the entire argument for the refurb tier in one sentence, and it is worth being explicit about where each side wins. Choose the N100/N150 machine when AV1 decode, warranty coverage, physical size or silence matter most. Choose the 7060 Micro when CPU throughput, memory capacity, storage expansion and upgradeability matter most. The 8th-generation Core platform is inside Microsoft's supported Windows 11 CPU list, so the usual refurb objection does not apply here.
The main limitation relative to the M720q is expansion: there is no riser slot, so the networking ceiling is the onboard controller unless you add a USB adapter, which you should not do for a firewall.
Specs
- Intel Core i5-8500T, 6 cores / 6 threads, 2.1–3.5 GHz, 35 W TDP
- Intel UHD 630 with Quick Sync Video
- 2× DDR4 SO-DIMM, commonly configured to 32 GB
- 1× M.2 NVMe + 1× 2.5-inch SATA bay
- Intel I219-LM 1GbE
- Optional M.2 wireless card
- Dual DisplayPort-class business layout with configurable additional I/O
- Approximately 9–12 W idle observed on 35 W configurations
Pros
- Deep supply makes it easy to buy a clean example with a known configuration
- Six cores, two socketed memory slots, M.2 plus a 2.5-inch bay
- Intel I219-LM networking, not Realtek
- Supported for Windows 11, and equally happy on Proxmox or a Linux server
- Idle draw close to an N100 box in real terms
Cons
- No PCIe expansion slot, unlike the ThinkCentre M720q
- No AV1 hardware decode
- Used listings frequently omit the power adapter or mounting bracket
- 2018-era platform with no new firmware features coming
Verdict: The safest refurb purchase. If you have never bought ex-corporate hardware before, start here — the specification is predictable, the platform is documented, and the price bracket is the same as an entry-level new mini PC.
Perfect for: first homelab server, Proxmox node, home file server, general-purpose desktop.
Tier: $ (budget) — Check price on Amazon
10. Lenovo ThinkCentre M910q Tiny (Core i5-7500T) — Cheapest Usable Desktop
At the very bottom of the working market sits the M910q, a 2017-era one-litre machine with a Core i5-7500T — four cores, four threads, 2.7–3.3 GHz in a 35 W envelope — Intel HD 630 graphics with Quick Sync, two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots commonly populated up to 32 GB, and the standard Lenovo combination of an M.2 NVMe slot and a 2.5-inch SATA bay. VESA and Tiny-in-One mounting are supported, as they are across the Tiny line.
Even in the cheapest refurb bracket, this is a far more capable computer than the ancient Atom and Celeron boxes that occasionally get marketed as budget mini PCs. Four Skylake-era cores, socketed memory, two storage positions and business-grade build quality for the same money as a barebones N-series chassis is a genuine value proposition, and for a headless Linux box the platform's age barely registers.
Two things hold it back. The first is CPU headroom: the i5-8500T found in the 7060 Micro, 800 G4 and M720q has two more cores, and for virtualisation that difference is substantial. Buy the M910q only when it undercuts the 8th-generation machines clearly — a small saving is not worth losing two cores. The second is Windows: 7th-generation Core processors fall outside Microsoft's officially supported Windows 11 CPU list. Linux, Proxmox, Home Assistant, TrueNAS and pfSense users are entirely unaffected by that, but anyone planning a mainstream Windows desktop should step up a generation.
Specs
- Intel Core i5-7500T, 4 cores / 4 threads, 2.7–3.3 GHz, 35 W TDP
- Intel HD 630 with Quick Sync Video
- 2× DDR4 SO-DIMM, commonly configured up to 32 GB
- 1× M.2 NVMe + 1× 2.5-inch SATA bay
- 1GbE, business-class controller by machine type
- DisplayPort plus a configurable second display output depending on the installed module
- One-litre chassis, VESA and Tiny-in-One mounting
Pros
- The lowest entry point into a genuinely usable machine
- Socketed memory and two storage positions
- Quick Sync for hardware video transcoding
- Silent, compact, and built for years of continuous operation
Cons
- Four cores, versus six on the 8th-generation alternatives
- Outside Microsoft's supported Windows 11 CPU list
- No AV1 decode
- Only worth buying when it is clearly cheaper than an i5-8500T machine
Verdict: The floor of the usable market. For a Linux server it is a bargain; for a Windows desktop it is a dead end.
Perfect for: headless Linux servers, Home Assistant, DNS and Pi-hole duties, lightweight Proxmox nodes, cheap desktops.
Tier: $ (budget) — Check price on Amazon
11. ACEMAGIC AM06 Pro (Ryzen 7 5700U) — The Step-Up Worth Taking on Sale
The AM06 Pro is on this list for one reason: when it is discounted, an 8-core, 16-thread Ryzen 7 5700U with 64 GB of upgradeable memory is a different class of machine from anything else here, at a price that can approach the N-series bracket. At list price it belongs nowhere near a "cheapest mini PC" shortlist, and that distinction should govern the decision.
The specification is genuinely strong for the size. Eight Zen 2 cores running 1.8 GHz base and up to 4.3 GHz boost, Radeon Vega 8 graphics clocked up to 1,900 MHz, two DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64 GB, an M.2 2280 slot that accepts NVMe or SATA, dual Ethernet in a 2.5GbE plus 1GbE combination, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, and three display outputs — HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C — all rated for 4K60.
For virtualisation, the 64 GB memory ceiling and sixteen threads are the headline. For CPU-heavy workloads that scale across cores, it will comfortably outrun any four-core N-series box. Where it loses ground is media: AMD's hardware video path is capable, but it is not as well trodden as Intel Quick Sync, and Plex in particular documents Intel more favourably than AMD. If a media server is the primary job, an N100 or N150 machine is the simpler, better-supported answer despite having far less CPU.
The 2.5GbE plus 1GbE pairing is also worth reading carefully before buying for firewall duty. Two ports of different silicon are not the same as two matched Intel controllers, and the board revision determines what you actually get.
Specs
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, 8 cores / 16 threads, 1.8 GHz base, up to 4.3 GHz boost
- AMD Radeon Vega 8, 8 GPU cores up to 1,900 MHz
- 2× DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM, up to 64 GB
- 1× M.2 2280, NVMe or SATA, up to 2 TB
- Dual Ethernet: 2.5GbE + 1GbE
- M.2 2230 Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
- HDMI 2.0 + DisplayPort 1.4 + USB-C, all rated 4K60
- Multiple USB-A ports plus USB-C
Pros
- Sixteen threads and a 64 GB memory ceiling — far beyond any N-series machine
- Three 4K60 display outputs
- Dual Ethernet built in
- Strong value specifically when discounted
Cons
- Out of the budget tier at full price
- Intel Quick Sync remains the easier, better-documented path for Plex
- Mixed 2.5GbE and 1GbE controllers rather than a matched pair
- Verify the exact configuration, and clean-install the operating system on any budget-brand machine
Verdict: A step-up, not a bargain. Buy it when a promotion brings it into range and you want CPU and memory headroom more than you want AV1 decode and a warranty.
Perfect for: virtualisation hosts, multi-VM labs, CPU-heavy workloads, discounted step-up builds.
Tier: $$ (mid, sale-dependent) — Check price on Amazon
Budget Upgrades That Change the Total Price
These four parts decide whether a barebone or a used corporate machine is actually cheaper than a complete new one. Add them to the arithmetic before you commit.
Crucial 16GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM (CT16G4SFRA32A)
The right module for every DDR4 machine in this guide: the Beelink Mini S12, the GMKtec G3 Plus, the Minisforum UN150P and the corporate Tinys. On older 2400 and 2666 MHz hosts it simply downclocks to the supported speed, so a 3200 MHz module is never wasted. It is not compatible with DDR5 slots or with machines using soldered LPDDR5 such as the Minisforum UN100D and GMKtec G5.
→ Check the Crucial 16GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM on Amazon
Crucial 16GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM (CT16G48C40S5)
For DDR5 platforms — the Beelink EQ12 and the GEEKOM Air12 family — where one SO-DIMM is all the board accepts. It shares its physical dimensions with the DDR4 module above and is electrically incompatible with it, so check the machine's slot type before ordering.
→ Check the Crucial 16GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM on Amazon
WD Blue SN580 1TB NVMe SSD
A 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 drive that drops into a Gen3 host without issue, running at the host's link speed — which is exactly what a budget mini PC needs, since no N-series machine will saturate a flagship drive. Fits the Beelink, GMKtec, Minisforum and GEEKOM NVMe slots and the M.2 position in every corporate Tiny here. It will not fit the GMKtec G5's SATA-only M.2 2242 slot.
→ Check the WD Blue SN580 1TB on Amazon
Crucial BX500 1TB 2.5-inch SATA SSD
The cheapest way to add a terabyte to a machine with a 2.5-inch bay — the Minisforum UN150P and UN100D, the Beelink EQ12, and essentially every Lenovo, HP and Dell one-litre chassis. SATA throughput is more than adequate for media libraries, backup datasets and secondary VM storage, and the cost per terabyte undercuts NVMe considerably.
→ Check the Crucial BX500 1TB on Amazon
Comparison Table
| Model | CPU | Memory | Storage | Networking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beelink EQ14 | Intel N150, 4C/4T | 1× DDR4 SO-DIMM, 16 GB | 2× M.2 2280, PCIe 3.0-class | Dual 2.5GbE (Intel I226-V) or dual 1GbE (Realtek) |
| GMKtec G3 Plus | Intel N150, 4C/4T | 1× DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM | M.2 2280 NVMe + M.2 2242 SATA | Intel I226-V 2.5GbE |
| Minisforum UN150P | Intel N150, 4C/4T | 1× DDR4-3200, 16 GB | M.2 2280 (SATA/PCIe) + 2.5-inch SATA | 1× 2.5GbE |
| Beelink Mini S12 | Intel N95, 4C/4T | 1× DDR4 SO-DIMM, 8 GB | M.2 (480 GB fitted) | 1GbE |
| GMKtec G5 | Intel N97, 4C/4T | 12 GB LPDDR5-4800, soldered | M.2 2242 SATA only | 1GbE |
| Minisforum UN100D | Intel N100, 4C/4T | LPDDR5-4800, soldered, 8/16 GB | M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 ×2 + 2.5-inch SATA | Dual Intel I226-V 2.5GbE |
| Lenovo M720q Tiny | Core i5-8500T, 6C/6T | 2× DDR4 SO-DIMM, 32 GB | M.2 NVMe + 2.5-inch SATA | 1GbE + PCIe ×8 expansion |
| HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini | Core i5-8500T, 6C/6T | 2× DDR4-2666, 32 GB | Up to two M.2 + 2.5-inch SATA | Intel I219-LM 1GbE |
| Dell OptiPlex 7060 Micro | Core i5-8500T, 6C/6T | 2× DDR4 SO-DIMM, 32 GB | M.2 NVMe + 2.5-inch SATA | Intel I219-LM 1GbE |
| Lenovo M910q Tiny | Core i5-7500T, 4C/4T | 2× DDR4 SO-DIMM, 32 GB | M.2 NVMe + 2.5-inch SATA | 1GbE |
| ACEMAGIC AM06 Pro | Ryzen 7 5700U, 8C/16T | 2× DDR4-3200, up to 64 GB | M.2 2280 NVMe/SATA | 2.5GbE + 1GbE |
Two naming traps are worth flagging before you search for any of these. The Beelink EQi12 is not an N-series machine at all — it runs 12th-generation Core i3-1220P or i5-1235U processors with two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, two M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots and dual 1GbE, and it sits a tier above everything in this guide. And the GEEKOM Air12 name now covers an N95-based Air12 Lite alongside a separate Pentium Gold 7505 "Air12 2026 Edition", so older reviews of the N100 Air12 describe neither of the machines currently sold under that name.
Which Budget Mini PC Should You Buy?
If you want the cheapest new machine that is still worth owning. The Beelink EQ14 on its Intel I226-V 2.5GbE variant. You get the full 24-EU graphics block, the highest CPU turbo of the 6 W N-series parts, two M.2 slots, an internal power supply and two Intel network ports. Nothing else at this price combines all five.
If you want the cheapest possible entry and already own RAM and an SSD. The GMKtec G3 Plus barebone. Otherwise, price the complete build first — a barebone that needs memory, storage and a licence is frequently not the bargain it appears to be.
If media playback is the main job. Prioritise Quick Sync and the larger graphics block. The Beelink EQ14 or a Mini S12 Pro with the N100 both give you 24 EUs and modern codec support. Community testing of N100 systems reports roughly four to five simultaneous 4K-remux-to-1080p transcodes under favourable codec and tone-mapping conditions, and one user test reached ten simultaneous 1080p downscales before the next stream buffered — treat those as workload-specific observations rather than a specification, because subtitle burn-in, HDR tone mapping, audio conversion and the client's Direct Play support all move the ceiling.
If you are building a Proxmox host that will grow. Skip the soldered-memory machines entirely. The Dell OptiPlex 7060 Micro, the HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini and the Lenovo M720q all give you two socketed SO-DIMM slots, 32 GB of addressable memory, six cores and two storage positions, for roughly what a new entry-level N-series box costs.
If you need a router or firewall with real interfaces. Two matched Intel I226-V ports start with the Minisforum UN100D. If you want ports you can add and choose, the Lenovo M720q's PCIe riser accepts Intel I350 and X520-class cards — a four-port or 10GbE firewall in a one-litre chassis, with no USB networking anywhere in the design.
If you want the cheapest machine running supported Windows 11. Stay at 8th-generation Intel or newer: the OptiPlex 7060 Micro, the EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini and the ThinkCentre M720q all qualify. The 7th-generation M910q does not, which is the single reason to pay a little more for the newer platform.
If you are buying barebone. Compare total build cost, not chassis cost. A barebone plus a 16 GB SO-DIMM, a 1 TB NVMe drive and a Windows licence is often within a narrow margin of a complete system — and the complete system arrives with a warranty on the whole machine rather than on parts you supplied.
If you are considering a discounted Ryzen machine. The AM06 Pro is the one to watch. Sixteen threads and 64 GB of memory for N-series money is a genuinely better computer for virtualisation. For a media server, Intel remains the simpler path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Intel N100 still worth buying?
Yes, for the jobs it was designed for. Four cores and four threads with a 6 W processor base power rating, Intel Quick Sync and 24 execution units of UHD graphics make it a capable media server, DNS resolver, Home Assistant host and light Docker node. It is not a workstation, and software-only 4K transcoding is not a sensible workload for it. Hardware-accelerated transcoding through Quick Sync is.
Q: Is the N150 worth paying more than an N100?
Only a little. Both are 4 cores and 4 threads with a 6 W processor base power rating and the same 24-EU graphics block. The N150 raises the CPU turbo ceiling from 3.4 GHz to 3.6 GHz and the graphics clock from 750 MHz to 1.0 GHz. That is a real improvement for media and multi-display work, and worth a small premium — not worth a large one.
Q: Why does a "6 W" mini PC draw 8–9 W from the wall?
Because 6 W is Intel's processor base power rating, not the consumption of the finished computer. Independent testing of complete N100 systems such as the GEEKOM Air12 and Beelink Mini S12 Pro puts average idle draw around 8–9 W once memory, storage, networking, the power supply and its losses are included. One-litre corporate systems with 35 W processors commonly idle near 10 W, so the efficiency gap between the two categories is far smaller than the CPU labels suggest.
Q: Is a refurbished business mini PC a better value than a new cheap one?
For most homelab work, yes — and it is the option most budget roundups leave out. A used Lenovo ThinkCentre, HP EliteDesk or Dell OptiPlex Micro gives you six physical cores, two socketed memory slots usually populated to 32 GB, an M.2 slot plus a 2.5-inch bay, and on the ThinkCentre M720q a genuine PCIe expansion slot, all for roughly the price of a new entry-level machine. What you give up is the newer media engine, a warranty and AV1 hardware decode. Choose the new machine when those matter; choose the refurb when throughput, memory and expansion do.
Q: Can a cheap mini PC run Proxmox and Home Assistant?
Easily, provided you respect the memory ceiling. An N100 with 16 GB handles Proxmox with a handful of LXC containers, Home Assistant, Pi-hole and a media server without strain — that is exactly the workload the platform was built for. The constraint is capacity, not capability: a machine with soldered 8 GB cannot grow, and a board with a 16 GB processor maximum stays at 16 GB. If you intend to run several full virtual machines, the six-core refurbs with 32 GB of socketed DDR4 are the better foundation.
Q: Can a cheap mini PC work as a pfSense or OPNsense router?
Yes, if you pick the right chassis. The requirement is two physical Ethernet interfaces on known-good silicon: the Minisforum UN100D with its dual Intel I226-V ports, or a Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q with an Intel I350 or X520 card installed in its PCIe riser. A single-NIC machine can be made to work with VLAN tagging on one interface, but that is a compromise rather than a design. USB Ethernet adapters should be avoided for firewall duty — FreeBSD driver support and reliability are both weaker than onboard Intel controllers, and a router is not the place to find out.
Q: What is the difference between the Beelink EQ12 and EQi12?
They are completely different classes of machine that differ by one letter. The EQ12 is an N100 mini PC with DDR5 memory, an M.2 slot and a 2.5-inch bay, notable for its dual 2.5GbE networking — a genuine budget homelab board. The EQi12 runs 12th-generation Core i3-1220P or i5-1235U processors with two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots and two M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots, and sits a tier above the budget bracket entirely. Do not buy one expecting the other.
Q: Should I buy barebone or a complete configuration?
Do the full arithmetic. A barebone chassis plus a 16 GB SO-DIMM, a 1 TB NVMe drive and a Windows licence frequently lands close to the price of a complete machine with the same parts already fitted and tested. Barebone makes sense when you are reusing memory and storage you already own, when you specifically want to choose the SSD — worth doing, since some budget systems ship with slow SATA-class M.2 drives — or when you want a clean operating-system install with no vendor image involved.
Conclusion
There is no single cheapest mini PC, because "cheap" describes three different ways of buying one. If you want the lowest entry point on a new machine that still has modern media hardware, the Beelink EQ14 on its Intel I226-V 2.5GbE variant is the pick — a current N150 with the full 24-EU graphics block, two M.2 slots, an internal power supply and networking that is genuinely useful rather than decorative. The GMKtec G3 Plus covers the barebone route, and the Minisforum UN150P is the right answer when a 2.5-inch bay matters more than a second network port.
The larger realisation is that the cheapest machines here are not new at all. A used Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q, HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini or Dell OptiPlex 7060 Micro delivers six cores, two socketed memory slots, dual storage positions and — on the Lenovo — a real PCIe slot, for about what an entry-level N-series box costs. Independent testing puts those systems near 9–12 W at idle, close enough to the 8–9 W measured on comparable N100 machines that the efficiency argument mostly evaporates. You are trading a newer media engine for substantially more computer.
Whatever you choose, read the exact processor, memory type, storage interface and network controller in the listing you are actually buying. The N-series names get reused, chassis names migrate across generations, and the difference between an Intel I226-V and a Realtek controller, or between an NVMe slot and a SATA-only M.2 position, is the difference between the machine you wanted and one you will replace inside a year.
