Hardware Comparison Guides

Find detailed side-by-side comparisons of Mini PCs, NAS devices, storage solutions, networking equipment, and other technology products to make informed purchasing decisions

Total System RAM Remaining RAM for VMs Heavy VMs
(Windows / Desktop)
Light VMs
(Linux Server / Docker)
Max Recommended Mix
16GB RAM Factory Standard ~14GB 1 to 2 VMs max 5 to 7 VMs max 3 to 5 VMs safely
32GB RAM Upgraded Stick ~30GB 3 to 4 VMs max 12 to 15 VMs max 6 to 10 VMs safely

Best Mini PCs Comparison (2026)

Whether you're looking for an affordable office PC, a compact home server, or a powerful workstation for virtualization and development, these five mini PCs are among the best choices available. The table below compares their processors, performance, upgradeability, networking, and ideal use cases to help you choose the right model.
Mini PC CPU Graphics RAM Storage Networking Best For
Beelink EQ14 Intel Twin Lake N150 (4C/4T) Intel UHD Graphics DDR4 (up to 32GB) 2× M.2 SSD Dual LAN, Wi-Fi 6 Budget office PC, Home Assistant, lightweight Docker, firewall (OPNsense/pfSense), entry-level homelab, media server
Beelink SER8 8745HS AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (8C/16T) Radeon 780M DDR5 (up to 256GB) Dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 2.5GbE, USB4 Virtualization, Proxmox, Docker, software development, light gaming, content creation, homelab
Beelink SER8 8845HS AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (8C/16T) Radeon 780M DDR5 (up to 256GB) Dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 2.5GbE, USB4 Advanced virtualization, AI workloads, Proxmox, Kubernetes, gaming, professional workloads, high-performance homelab
Minisforum UM790 Pro AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (8C/16T) Radeon 780M DDR5 Dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 2.5GbE, USB4 Power users, virtualization, Docker, Plex server, video editing, software development, gaming
Minisforum MS-01 Intel Core i9 / Xeon-class options Intel Iris Xe DDR5 (ECC support on some models) 3× M.2 NVMe SSD (2× PCIe 4.0 x4 + 1× PCIe 3.0 x4) Dual 10GbE + Dual 2.5GbE + SFP+ Enterprise homelab, VMware, Proxmox, TrueNAS, virtualization, networking, AI inference, professional server workloads

Verdict

Beelink EQ14 is an excellent low-power system for office work, Home Assistant, lightweight Docker containers, and entry-level homelabs where energy efficiency matters most.

Beelink SER8 8745HS delivers outstanding value, offering nearly the same performance as the 8845HS while costing less, making it an excellent choice for Proxmox, virtualization, and everyday productivity.

Beelink SER8 8845HS is the best all-rounder for users who want extra CPU and AI performance for demanding workloads, development, virtualization, and light gaming.

Minisforum UM790 Pro remains one of the strongest AMD-based mini PCs for creators, developers, and users who want workstation-class performance in a compact form factor.

Minisforum MS-01 stands apart as the best option for serious homelab enthusiasts and professionals thanks to its enterprise networking, PCIe expansion, three NVMe slots (2× PCIe 4.0 + 1× PCIe 3.0), and virtualization-focused design.

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