Types of Mini PCs: Features and What Types Are There

Actually, even a smartphone is a mini PC . However, as a general rule , small-format desktop computers , also known as SFF (small form factor), are known as mini PCs. In this article we are going to tell you what types of mini PCs exist and what characteristics each one has .

The definition of mini PC is somewhat confusing. The standard in a desktop PC is the ATX, so starting from there, we can consider mini PCs to be the complete desktop systems of small format and that fall within the SFF range, that is, they use mini ITX motherboards or smaller .

On the other hand, to be considered a PC, which means Personal Computer or Personal Computer, we must take into consideration only user-oriented equipment that allows interaction.

mini pc

Types of mini PCs that you can buy in the market

Let’s go to see the types of mini PCs that can be purchased – it would be absurd to list those that are not available – without defining specific models, but only the types that exist.

ITX Mini PC

Mini PC en formato ITX

This type of mini PCs is the most common, basically because you can assemble it yourself by pieces. Their common feature is that they use mini ITX format motherboards , and although some are capable of accommodating full-size graphics cards and power supplies, they are generally intended to be used with SFF material, such as SFX sources, low profile graphics and low profile heatsinks.

The biggest advantage that these teams have is their great versatility, since we can assemble them by parts just as we assemble a normal desktop PC, only we will be limited in terms of the maximum size of the components.

NUC type

Mini PC Intel NUC

This type of equipment has a mini STX format motherboard, also known as Intel 5 × 5. The pioneer in this format was Intel and for this reason the rest of the pre-assembled equipment with this format is known as “NUC type”. They are usually barebones, which means they come with everything needed to function except RAM and storage, thus giving the user the freedom to install as much RAM or storage as they want or need.

Micro PC

Un micro PC con forma de cubo

These types of mini PCs are even smaller, and as a general rule involve a custom format motherboard, that is, they do not have a specific format. They are the second smallest mini PCs that exist, but despite that they usually provide ample connectivity. Many of them are so low consumption that they can work even connecting them to a USB of a normal PC.

Raspberry Pi type

Raspberry Pi

Who has not heard of Raspberry Pi? Essentially they are actually development boards, but they have advanced so much that they can be used perfectly as mini PCs. As with the Intel NUC, the Raspberry Pi were the first to present this format, so the rest (Orange Pi, Banana Pi , etc.) are known as “Raspberry Pi type”.

Compute Stick

Mini PC Intel Compute Stick

These are the smallest mini PCs that exist, and their common denominator is that they have a male HDMI connector to connect them directly to a TV or monitor, in addition to a USB connector that they use as an electrical outlet. They are devices with very low consumption and, therefore, also with very low power. However, they are excellent media players for television, or even light office work, Internet browsing, and general entertainment.

Other types of mini PC

We have already told you what are the most common types of mini PCs that we can find, but then within these there are many manufacturers that have created their own variants. For example, we have the manufacturer ECS with its family of Liva devices, Zotac with its ZBOX or ASUS with its Vivomini, but they are still variants of the ones we have previously told you about (and be careful because most are barebones without storage or RAM).

Specifically, in the image above you can see a first generation Liva ECS, which despite having an elongated shape uses an Intel NUC type system.