Tiny But Powerful Desktop Computers to Save Space

Laptops and tablets have become the most popular types of computer, but desktops still offer more power, more flexibility if you ever want to upgrade, and a lower price point. But what if you don’t have room for a big tower? Mini-desktops have become a shockingly viable solution.

Mini-desktops are super small computers, a sort of in-between zone with laptops on one side and desktops on the other. Mini-desktops will allow some upgrades (usually RAM and storage disks), offer lots of ports, and allow you to swap out peripherals like keyboards, mice, and monitors.

When buying a mini-desktop, make sure you’re getting legitimate desktop-class power. Some mini-desktops use mobile processors, which has about the same amount of power as a laptop. Most processors start with a letter, followed by a number—the higher the number, the more powerful your processor will be. For example, a G7 processor will be more powerful than a G1. “G” means the processor is optimized for graphics.

You might ask, why get a mini-desktop instead of an all-in-one? The big reasons are cost and flexibility. With a mini-desktop, you can get a separate monitor and come out cheaper than if you’d bought an all-in-one. Another big advantage is the ability to upgrade. All-in-ones are generally locked systems; if you want to speed up your computer in a couple years by adding some memory, an all-in-one won’t let you. But a mini-desktop usually will, allowing for cheap upgrades to extend the life of your nice computer.