What is the upgrade in best mini PC under $500? Easy to Setup, Easy to Upgrade, Easy to Configure. Multiple Usage Scenarios: Gaming, Office Work, Media Center, Mini Server, Education, Digital Signage. They come with Plenty of Ports and Connectors – like USB-C, USB 3.1, USB 3.0, HDMI, Display Port, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, Wifi5, Bluetooth 5.1, Digital MIC, 3.5mm Audio Jack. High Definition 4K/60Hz 3 Displays Simultaneously. Which one should you buy?
What is the best mini PC under $500 in 2022?
ADLOKO Mini PC
This is an ideal little PC for the office, home, or road. It has all the features you need in a small package, with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and a WiFi module. It’s great for multitasking, with HDMI and VGA ports for easy connectivity. With Windows 10 Home 64-bit pre-installed, it’s ready to go straight out of the box.
ADLOKO J4205 is indeed a mini PC that is easy to use and have full Windows 10, the built-in Intel Apollo Lake Celeron J4205 Quad-core CPU, which support the latest Windows 10 64-bit, and the eight-core dual-core Intel HD Graphics 500 eGPU that support 4K display with 60Hz refresh rate, which is the fastest GPU on its class.
This mini PC is a perfect combination of awesome performance, safety, and mini size. It is small in size but powerful. It comes with the latest Windows 10 Operating System and 4GB RAM. It has got 2*HDMI which can be used to connect to your HDTV or HD monitor. It supports a Micro SD card up to 128GB and has smooth performance due to its 64-bit architecture. It is powered by an Intel Celeron N3060 processor, clocked at 1.6GHz and 512MB DDR3 RAM.
The ADLOKO J4205 is perfect for users who want to upgrade their old laptop but do not have enough money for a new one, PC users who want to game in 4K without any bottleneck, and those who are often on the road. It is also certified by TUV Rheinland Germany as ENERGY STAR certified.
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B – best mini PC under $500 for projects
SPECIFICATIONS
Size (Inches): 3.4 x 2.2 x 0.4Weight: 1.6 ouncesCPU : ARM Cortex A72Storage: No onboard storageGeekbench 3 Score: N/A
REASONS TO BUY
+Significantly more powerful than past models+Supports dual 4K video output, USB 3.0 and USB Type-C for power
REASONS TO AVOID
-Not compatible with older Raspberry Pi cases-Software compatibility is hit or missAdvertisement
The Raspberry Pi ushered in a new era of DIY tech, and the latest model, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, pushes that to new heights with a more powerful processor, 4K video output and an improved part selection. The latest model, the $35 Raspberry Pi 4 Model B offers enormous value for projects ranging from simple to complex, from its enhanced processing and graphics to offering broad compatibility with older accessories.
If you want to do something different with your technology, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is the best mini PC for tinkering and experimenting. Whether you buy it alone or in a kit, the Raspberry Pi is hard to beat.
Since our review, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B has been updated with a new model that has 8GB of RAM, significantly improving on the 2GB memory of the base model.
AMD Ryzen 5 3400G mini PC – best gaming mini PC under $500
AMD was ahead of the game when it came to integrated graphics, launching their first APUs back in 2011 and this progress shows, with the Ryzen 5 3400G capable of topping 50fps on average in GTA V at 1080p on ‘high’ settings. With more modern games you’ll have to drop your resolution down to 720p to get some decent gaming performance. But if you’re just after this as an esports-ready machine then it will absolutely fly with Overwatch, LoL, and Dota 2.
The ultra-low-profile Noctua L9a is almost the only AM4 cooler we could have used for this machine because of the limited space available in our compact PC chassis. We’ve paired up this InWin Chopin case with the Gigabyte Aorus B450 I to create the smallest of our gaming rigs. We went for the Chopin as it comes with a built-in 150W PSU, which delivers just enough juice to keep the Ryzen 5 3400G APU running, even with both the CPU and GPU components overclocked.
For system storage, we went for an NVMe SSD, primarily because they take up much less space, but the speed is a huge plus, too. The 1TB WD Blue NVMe SSD will give you super-speedy loading times in games and on boot up. It’s the best SSD on a budget as we discovered in our WD Blue SN550 review. If you ever need more storage, you could always go for the 2TB option. For RAM we chose a single stick of Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB DDR4. Again, space is key.
MeLE Mini PC Stick
The best Windows 10 PC sticks allow you to carry around what appears to be a pint-sized USB drive in your pocket. All you need to do is add a screen with an HDMI port and you have a Windows 10 PC ready to go. The MeLE Mini is an excellent low-cost option with enough performance for streaming, web browsing, word processing, and any other light work you might need to take care of while you’re on the move.
Models that cost about $200 have inside an Intel Celeron J4125 CPU with 4 cores and 4 threads, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. For about $150 more, you can find sticks with the same CPU but twice as much RAM and storage.
There’s also a microSD card reader if you’re looking to expand storage (it will handle up to 128GB). The PC stick comes with Windows 10 Pro installed, and it should be compatible with Windows 11. It has Wi-Fi 5 boosted by an attached antenna, and Bluetooth 4.2 allows you to connect your favorite wireless accessories. There are also a couple of USB-A ports on the side of the stick for extra accessories, an Ethernet port on the end for wired connectivity, and a lock slot to keep it in place.
Pros
- Cost-effective PC solution
- Can expand storage with microSD
- Two USB-A ports for accessories
- Quad-core Celeron CPU performs well
Cons
- Don’t expect Intel Core performance
- Won’t really replace a full-size PC
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X – another best mini PC under $500 for gaming
The best high-end mini PC for gaming is this AMD Ryzen 9 3900X- and Nvidia RTX 2080 Super-based system.
Because of the slightly larger case design here, we managed to fit in a 120mm liquid CPU cooler from Cooler Master with RGB lighting. Storage-wise, we’ve again gone for a 1TB Western Digital NVMe SSD. However, the NZXT case does have spare 3.5″ hard drive slots available if you want to expand on this for your large collection of games.
If you’re not desperate to squeeze a mini gaming PC into a shoebox and are prepared for a little heft without the full ATX tower aesthetic, then the sleek design of the NZXT H210i chassis – with a great system for helping you manage cables, and USB-C connectivity on the front panel – is perfect for a mini tower PC build.
For the motherboard, we’re using an ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming, which is one of the best gaming motherboards you can buy, allowing us to take the step up to an X570 chipset and a 24-thread Ryzen 9 3900X processor. Combine it with one of the best graphics cards you can buy, the Nvidia RTX 2080 Super, and you’ve got one of the most space efficient setups.
We would’ve preferred the latest RTX 3080, but with Nvidia’s Ampere card stock issues continuing to be a problem for a few months at least, you’re only going to find an RTX 2080 Super at the moment – besides, you’ll be seriously challenged to squeeze everything in looking at how big the 30 series cards are. This should let you breeze through any game at 1440p, and handle a large number of games in 4K, too.
Lenovo Tiny Mini PC for gaming under $500
From a spec perspective, this Mini PC can beat any device under 400 categories because it is loaded with bulky specification and it can cost you above 500 but it is a renewed product so that’s why you can buy it under 400 and I guess it can be a good decision. But why it can be a good decision? Okay, let’s find out.
Processor
The processor is the heart as you already know. So Lenovo equipped this Mini PC with 6th Generation Intel Core i5-6500T, this processor can boost the overall system with a boost frequency of 3.0GHz. If you are thinking that who cares if it has i5 then wait for a second, it also has….
Memory
16GB, Yeah you heard right it has 16GB DDR4 RAM, and believe me i5 works super fast with 16GB RAM and can beat i7 with 8GB which is sure. But i5 is becoming old and i7 is still new and expensive. But truly 16GB with i5 in just under 400 is perfect for many.
Storage
Not only it is loaded from memory or processor side but it is also fulfilling the needs of most peeps with 512GB SSD which is still much more enough for doing tasks like emulations or watching films. And according to my opinion 512GB is enough and doesn’t need to be upgraded otherwise you can use cloud storage so yeah you can say it is money-saving if you see it from a different perspective.
Design
Design is okay but not eye-catching, if you are a fan of ThinkPad and loves red and black combo then it is a safer way to fall in love with it. Whole-body is made out of Aluminum, it has long and large airflow vents that provide enough passage for internal cooling via cooling fan but yeah long passages are more likely a home for dust. It can give you the feeling of having a Mini Desktop without an optical drive.
Connectivity Ports
It fulfills all needs by giving you enough connectivity ports, but it is an old device and it doesn’t have HDMI ports but it has dual Display Port that supports 4k res, four USB 3.0 Type A ports, LAN port, and two audio jacks.
Features
Before talking about features, if you are feeling sad that it has display ports with 4K support then I want to tell you that you can easily purchase DP to HDMI adapter under 5 dollars, Solution!! Now it has USB ports and all of them are 3.0, it has Bluetooth connectivity. Although Another sad thing is that it doesn’t have WiFi, but listen! To full this need, they will provide you free WiFi dongle with wired keyboard and mouse, so it becomes a win-win situation. Right.
| Processor | Intel Core i5-6500T |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel HD Graphics |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4 RAM |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit |
| Weight | 7.98 pounds |
| Material | Aluminum |
Benefits
- 4K support.
- Old But Gold.
- 16GB RAM with i5 is a perfect combo.
- No need to upgrade.
- Aluminum Body.
- Free WiFi Dongle, Keyboard, and Mouse.
Drawbacks
- It should have internal WiFi.
- Heavy.
- It should have HDMI ports but common, it is so affordable and no one is providing 16GB RAM in such price tag, Again it is up to you.
Partaker Mini PC – popular mini PC under $500
Moving forward another mini PC under $500 is coming from the same Mini PC company which is ruling the second position, Partaker Mini PCs are new in the market. So to build the brand name, they are providing some best features in their Mini PCs which is best in their own leagues and they are affordable also. So let see what this Mini PC is holding for us.
Processor
Talking about the processor, this Mini PC is also equipped with 4th Generation Intel Core i5-4200U. This process is way beyond normal Apollo or Gemini Lake processor that mostly used in Mini PC that can cost under 200. But this processing unit is different from others.
Memory
To sync with the processor and make perfect combo this Mini PC is equipped with 8GB DDR3 RAM, 8GB RAM works really perfectly with the i5 processor.
Storage
With 128GB M.2 SSD storage capacity, you can store much to this size stored. The M.2 SSD storage is still widely used in Mini PCs because it is way better than any HDD. You will be amazed by feeling its fast loading, and reading/writing rate. If you are a guy who cares about hefty storage capacities then you can easily increase it by using 2.5 inch HDD or M.2 SSD with up to 2TB.
Design
Design is pretty nice, and tend to be different because it is a fanless Mini PC, So it has Heat Dissipation Fins which help the Aluminum Body to cooled down the working conditions and stabilize its working performances. However, it is up to you how you place it because it can stable in Vertical and Horizontal positions. The color is silver but it can customize by choosing different color options like golden and blueish silver.
Connectivity Ports
Interfaces in this Mini PC are normal but more in numbers, So it has almost seven USB Type A ports in which four are 3.0 and three are 2.0, it has full-sized HDMI ports and VGA port, LAN port, Two audio jacks, and Micro SD card slot.
Features
The design is perfect, and with immersive Heat Dissipation Fins this Mini PC becomes more durable, it has enough amount of Connectivity Ports, it supports dual monitors in which one can provide 4K res and the second monitor can give 1080p res. It has built-in WiFi and Built-in Bluetooth. Same like HUNSN Mini PC it also has long dual Antenna which provides a wide range of connections.
| Processor | Intel Core i5-4200U |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel HD 4400 Graphics |
| Storage | 128GB M.2 SSD |
| Memory | 8GB DDR3 RAM |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit |
| Weight | 5.5 Pounds |
| Material | Aluminum |
Benefits
- You can upgrade By SD card slot.
- Durable.
- Fanless Cooling.
- Quite Credible.
- Light In weight
Drawbacks
- It should have dual HDMI ports.
Best mini PC under $500 alternative
Apple Mac mini with M1
SPECIFICATIONS
Size (Inches): 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4Weight: 2.6 poundsCPU: Apple M1Storage: 256GB SSDGeekbench 5 Score: 6,005
REASONS TO BUY
+Seriously fast performance+Seamless support for most software+More affordable than ever before
REASONS TO AVOID
-No aftermarket upgrades-Fewer Thunderbolt 3 ports-A few minor hiccups with compatibility and features
The latest version of the Apple Mac mini may look unchanged from its predecessors, but there’s a revolution hiding inside – the Apple M1 processor, Apple’s first big step away from using Intel processors in Macs. The new chip offers a surprising amount of power, taking on more expensive Intel Core i3 and Core i5 systems and coming out the victor. Paired with Apple’s Mac OS Big Sur and Rosetta 2, it will run pretty much anything you need it to, as long as it’s not Windows.
It’s not a perfect desktop – a smaller port selection and support for only two displays is a real letdown – but the overall value you get in the Mac mini is more than we ever expected for the new, more affordable price.
Alienware Aurora R11
What We Like
- Amazing specs
- Sleek, compact design
- Configurable to suit your needs/budget
What We Don’t Like
- Slightly more expensive than some manufacturers
While this otherworldly PC stretches the definition of mini, when you need an absolute powerhouse of a computer for gaming, graphic design, or video rendering, the Aurora R11 is a spectacular choice. This desktop PC packs a ton of power into a small, gorgeous chassis.
Four baseline configurations can be tweaked and customized into thousands of potential permutations, meaning you can go from a reasonably priced rig that’s still outfitted with the latest tech to a screaming devil box with dual 2080 Tis (or even one of Nvidia’s latest 3000-series cards).
It features liquid-cooled, 10th-generation Intel CPUs and the latest graphics cards from Nvidia, whether you want a ray-tracing enabled flagship RTX card for unbelievable graphics horsepower or one of the new Pascal-in-Turing-architecture GTX 1660 cards (which are significantly less expensive but still quite efficient).
CPU: Intel Core i5, i7, or i9 | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce or AMD | RAM: 8 to 128GB | Storage: Up to 2TB
