Windows Alternative to Mac Mini? If you’re searching for an amazing machine that can alternate Mac Mini, that works perfectly on Windows devices, you’re in the right place. This article will give you the best Windows alternative to Mac Mini. The old Mac Mini was the most affordable MacOS-based machine one can buy. Apple has incorporated the Apple M1 chip in the new 2020 Mac Mini. However, it comes with 8 CPU cores and 8 GPU cores.
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Windows Alternative to Mac Mini
The entry-level Mac Mini now spots Apple’s own silicon, the 8-core processor with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. It begins with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD storage and relies on the onboard 8-core GPU for graphics as well as a 16-core Neural Engine for other computing tasks.
The mini desktop or small form factor segment has seen a decline as more people move to an all-in-one machine or a laptop. Here are the top 5 best Mac Mini alternatives;
Intel NUC Performance Mini PC
The latest series 11 NUC Performance Mini PC is out. It is highly powered by up to Intel Core i7-1165G7. The system lets you take advantage of Intel’s powerful Iris Xe embedded Graphics that offer discrete graphic performance.
Further, the ultra-small form factor PCs from Intel are offered as a ready-to-use or as a kit. This means you can get your hands into the configuration and assembly of your own mini-PC.
Therefore, for most people, the ready-to-use option, configured and tuned by Intel with Windows 10 installed will be the better answer. Also, you get a choice of processors with the Intel NUC 10 Performance mini-PC.
HP Z2 Mini G5 Workstation
HP Z2 is a purpose-built workstation that comes from a long line of powerful machines. They are small in size, that is, small enough to mount to the back of a monitor, under the desk or rack-mounted. So, to give you an idea of how far the Z series mini workstation has come, the earlier G3 specification begins with an Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB RAM memory and 1TB HDD storage.
The HP Z2 Mini G4 has a 9th-generation Intel Core-I processor. Beginning from Intel Core i3-9100, Intel Core i5-9500, and Core i5-9600 to Core i7-9700 and Core i7-9700K to Intel Core i9-9900. So, with no doubt, the HP Z2 Mini G5 is a high-end machine with a crazy amount of power capable of taking on workstation-level tasks.
ASUS PN51 Mini PC and PN50 Mini PC
ASUS PN50, a baritone system with AMD Ryzen 4000 series chip. And Barebones systems are the only way that enthusiasts and PC builders can get their hands on the 4000 series chip as these are not available on their own.
However, the PN51 uses a more impressive AMD Ryzen 5000 series, which is capable of supporting up to four 4K monitors or 8K UHD display at 60Hz, 64GB DDR4 RAM, M.2 SSD, WIFI 6, and dual USB3.2 Gen 2 Type C ports.
MSI CUBI 5 10M Barebone Mini PC
CUBI 5 is another Barebones PC. It comes with a similar profile to the Intel NUC and ASUS PN series above. Greatly powered by 10th generation Intel Core i3, Core i5, or Core i7, however, you can specify this as a full system, if you do not wish to get your hands dirty or as a barebone system. If you decide to go for the latter, you can choose your own storage and memory.
Their recommended system is powered by Intel Core i7-10510U, the energy-efficient Comet Lake processor. This lets the design of the small form factor desktop be super small with a tiny footprint of 12.4cm cube. Also, with a VESA mount onboard, it can be stuck to the back of the monitor taking up no desktop space whatsoever.
Gigabyte BRIX H series
BRIX from Gigabyte, another Barebones, powered by AMD Ryzen 4000 series chip, you can get the low-profile K series of this higher model, the H series. Users will need to select their choice of factory-fitted CPU. However, for longevity and maximum performance, select the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U, an octa-core processor that supports 16 threads.
You can now select up to 64GB of DDR4 memory for the dual SODIMM slots and pick up a store of your choice. Thus, for the latter, you can use either the NVME M.2 SSD slot or the 2.5-inch HDD/SSD drive bay.
Microsoft Surface Studio
The Microsoft Surface Studio is an all-in-one desktop computer that offers a high-resolution touch screen and pen input. While it’s not as small as the Mac Mini, it provides an elegant and versatile Windows computing experience.
Custom-Built Mini PCs
If you’re tech-savvy, you can build your custom mini PC using components from manufacturers like Gigabyte, Zotac, and ASRock. This allows you to tailor the hardware to your specific needs and preferences.
When choosing a Windows alternative to the Mac Mini, consider factors like processor performance, RAM, storage capacity, and any specific requirements you have. Also, check for compatibility with your preferred software and peripherals. These compact desktop options can provide similar performance and versatility to the Mac Mini while running the Windows operating system.
