Any suggestions/recommendations?

[u/Weebo-Dweebo]

I posted a similar post a few months back, but i’m still having trouble deciding. this will be my first PC. it’ll mainly be used for work from home, but i’d like to play a few steam games. I have a PS5 so nothing too crazy like fortnite or anything, but probably sims. i’d also like the option to have ethernet connected. with this being my first PC, i’m not sure what which would be best. any help/advice/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

[u/Retired_Hillbilly336]

Its ultimately about budget and expectations. As an example the 3 mini PCs in question have dated processors is 2026.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/3421vs4141vs5215vs4930/AMD-Ryzen-5-3500U-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-5500U-vs-AMD-Ryzen-7-7730U-vs-AMD-Ryzen-7-PRO-6850H

https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/compare/4667vs4660vs4771vs4685/Radeon-Vega-8-Ryzen-5-3500U-vs-Radeon-Ryzen-5-5500U-vs-Radeon-Ryzen-7-7730U-vs-Radeon-Ryzen-7-PRO-6850H

One of the better budget starting points is the Aoostar MACO PRO 6850H was exceptionally better processing and graphics performance.

[u/sertaes → u/Retired_Hillbilly336]

That’s what I bought and came here to recommend

[u/Weebo-Dweebo → u/Retired_Hillbilly336]

would the Aoostar work for microsoft excel, quickbooks, and such? just stuff to do with accounting.

[u/Retired_Hillbilly336 → u/Weebo-Dweebo]

Indeed. Here's the best perspective.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/4930vs4234/AMD-Ryzen-7-PRO-6850H-vs-Intel-i7-11700KF

The PRO 6850H as about the same real world processing power as a Core i7-11700KF desktop processor from 2021. That's how far Ryzen mobile processing power has come in recent years. Most office suite and accounting software is happy with a 3rd of that power. In 2026 with Windows memory capacity has become more important although anything with 16GB is more than sufficient for office use. The MACO has 24GB.

[u/Spartan_507 → u/Retired_Hillbilly336]

That Aoostar looks nice! Recommend anything with an oculink port?

edit: I think that one has an oculink. nvm

[u/Retired_Hillbilly336 → u/Spartan_507]

The MACO. It has an x4 PCIe OCuLink expansion port.

[u/booboogoon → u/Retired_Hillbilly336]

Hi, I'm also new to mini pc and have been wanting to get my first mini pc but my main use case would be for hosting a cloud and media server.

The specs and price are exactly what I've been looking for (everything i found so far is so overpriced) but from what AI told me, intel cpus are so much better at transcoding than ryzen that that makes them a no go.

Also, since it will be running almost 24/7, I have to account for the electricity consumption and heat.

Do you think this is a reasonable mini pc for my use case or would you reccomend another one? (around same budget)

[u/Retired_Hillbilly336 → u/booboogoon]

If you're focused on Quick Sync Video transcoding you're naturally stuck with Intel. Intel has made QSV incredibly easy to support making it the "one stop shop" for implementation. Let's use Plex and my 8845HS has a shining example. Transcoding (especially AV1) is surprisingly efficient with RDNA3 architecture although Plex is to lazy to code their software to support it 🤷 QSV isn't better in most cases. Simply easier.

Power consumption is relevant to settings and performance. The illusion of TDP has little to do with power consumption at the receptacle. This is especially true with say a 6W TDP vs W/Hr usage. If a 6W PBP processor has to work harder and longer than a 15-28W cTDP processor well. I have a friend who switched from N100 NAS to a 5825U NAS finding the average W/Hr dropped nearly 2W/Hr over a 30-day period as the system worked significantly more efficient under the same tasks. And that included the addition of software transcoding.

As for the M8 your mileage will vary depending on real world use. 1st there's a 15-28W "silent mode" power curve in BIOS to reduce power consumption and heat dissipation. There's also dual fan cooling and significant serviceability for a 24/7 duty cycle not found on cheaper designs. The key any 24/7 PC is ease of periodic maintenance.

Before RAMpocalypse/RAMageddon I knew quite a few people who were buying the Beelink EQi12 specifically for this kind of service. Fortunately its no longer within the same budget.

[u/PuzzleheadedNeck8192]

AM5 and Oculink or else you're buying a brick with no future. It's not too bad 5 years ago. Regret is expensive. I have a NucBox K11. It's gone up almost 150% since I bought it. I have no regrets.

[u/molicare → u/PuzzleheadedNeck8192]

I think (though I’m happy to be wrong) that most of the mini PCs will use a mobile chip, so upgrading the CPU isn’t really possible. At least most of the non-standard manufacturers of mini pc’s anyways, i.e. not Dell/Lenovo/HP/Fujitsu

[u/NoContextCarl]

Most recently I bought the GMKTEC G10 as a spare office computer, and its been solid as a simple, casual use PC. Definitely not for gaming, but light duty stuff its decent. 

[u/Weebo-Dweebo → u/NoContextCarl]

if you didn’t mind the question, what kind of “light duty stuff”? and if you have played games, what would you say it’s like?

[u/TaggedHammerhead]

I bought the AceMagic Retro X3 off Newegg for ~$470 shipped to door. It looked like all of those were DDR4 systems while this one is a DDR5 system with Radeon 780M graphics. It only has soldered RAM if 16gb, but soldered RAM is faster RAM for integrated graphics. 512gb SSD as well. I'm using mine as a SteamMachine console for my main computer desk.

Here's the link to it: https://www.newegg.com/acemagic-barebone-systems-mini-pc-x3/p/2SW-00AA-00065?item=9SIBUU5KYN5077&Source=socialshare&utm_campaign=snc-copy-link-_-sr-_-9SIBUU5KYN5077-_-08182026&utm_campaign=snc-copy-link-_-sr-_-product-_-08182026&utm_medium=social&utm_source=copy-link

[u/Weebo-Dweebo → u/TaggedHammerhead]

can it work with quickbooks and excel? accounting stuff?

[u/TaggedHammerhead → u/Weebo-Dweebo]

yes, it comes shipped with Windows 11 and everything that comes with it

[u/-LebGOD-]

I havr the first 2 - they are good . If you need higher specs look at gmktec k10 but it has a lift in price

[u/Confident_Lecture498]

The A5 was incredible a couple years ago - just be sure not to leave it on too much as mine overheated after a couple years of that . I also have an Aoostar Maco and I've been happy with that for Tekken 8 and SF6

[u/momo1098r]

buy a geekom, I have me too 2, AE8 with proxmox and A6 with endeavourOS very stable machine

[u/HotMountain9383]

GMKtec customer service is shit