I Replaced My Linux System With This Windows Mini Pc - And It's On Sale For $191

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Minix Z97 mini PC is connected waste for $191.
• This mini PC is simply a powerhouse that's well-suited for regular use.
• Running demanding tasks for illustration section AI workloads puts a strain connected its resources.

The Minix Z97 mini PC comes pinch 12GB of RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD, connected waste now for $191. That's $47 disconnected nan regular price. 

Imagine having a PC that fits successful your manus and performs good capable to get you done nan time (with powerfulness to spare). Such computers exist, but not each of them are created equal.

I've tested plentifulness of these mini form-factor PCs, and a batch of them mightiness beryllium cute, but they deficiency immoderate semblance of powerfulness to do much. Others, for illustration nan Piccolo N150 -- an eight-inch instrumentality I precocious reviewed -- are useful successful circumstantial contexts but aren't for everyone. Because of this, immoderate clip I person 1 for review, I spell into nan reappraisal process pinch a atom of salt. 

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Imagine my astonishment erstwhile I opened nan palm-sized Minix Neo Z97 and realized my assumptions mightiness very good beryllium wrong. 

Minix is simply a institution you mightiness ne'er person heard of, but they create rather a batch of mini form-factor hardware, specified arsenic PCs, car touchscreens, portable monitors, chargers, and wireless displays. Minix's products often impressment and are offered astatine affordable prices. For instance, its caller Z97 Mini PC sells for only $226 connected Amazon. 

Is it worthy nan price? Let's find out.

My experience

First off, nan Neo Z97 shipped pinch Windows 11, and I decided against installing Linux complete it. Since Windows 11 is simply a assets hog, I thought it would beryllium champion to spot really good nan hardware handled nan OS first. Sure, I could instal a Linux distribution connected nan PC, knowing it would vastly outperform Windows, but this clip astir I wanted to acquisition nan default.

Also: This Linux distro makes openSUSE accessible to each - moreover newbies should return a look

As is pinch Windows 11, nan first setup was clip consuming and, inferior to immoderate Linux distribution I've ever used. But this isn't a statement astir Linux vs. Windows (because you cognize wherever I stand connected that); this is each astir nan PC itself.

You'll moreover find 2 RJ45 ethernet jacks connected nan Z97.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Once nan setup was completed, I ran nan mini PC done what would beryllium my normal regular routine, including installing LibreOffice, launching Ollama/Msty, browsing nan web, and watching videos connected YouTube.

As acold arsenic mundane tasks go, nan New Z97 performed acold amended than I expected from specified a mini machine. LibreOffice opened quickly, editing images pinch GIMP was painless, websites loaded arsenic accelerated arsenic they would connected my main desktop PC, and YouTube videos and euphony connected Spotify played without issue.

The astir resource-intensive task was Ollama/Msty (because section AI tin gobble up strategy resources), and it pushed nan Z97 to its limits. To beryllium fair, Ollama/Msty pushes my System76 Thelio (an absolute beast of a computer), truthful I was not astatine each amazed that this mini PC struggled a spot pinch nan section AI. If nan instrumentality included a dedicated GPU, that mightiness not beryllium nan case, but, arsenic is, it's not precisely designed for localized AI usage.

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One point that did astonishment maine was really quiet nan Z97 is. I didn't perceive nan instrumentality footwear successful erstwhile (even during nan first upgrade of Windows 11). It's wholly silent. I had to clasp my receptor up to nan instrumentality to yet perceive nan instrumentality whirring. 

ZDNET's buying advice

I recognize nan inclination for specified mini PCs tends to thin toward kiosks aliases desks pinch very small room, but you'd beryllium mistaken if you thought nan Minix Neo Z97 should beryllium constricted to specified deployments. This mini instrumentality is powerful capable for mundane use. And if you request a triple show setup, nan Z97 has you covered, which intends this small beast tin do immoderate superior work.

Also: 5 of nan easiest, quickest Linux distros to instal - and I've tried them all

Don't beryllium fooled by its size, nan Z97 tin service arsenic your desktop machine pinch easiness and grace. It mightiness not beryllium nan astir powerful instrumentality I've ever utilized (that would beryllium my System76 Thelio), but it's a acold outcry from nan debased end, and astatine $217 connected Amazon, it's a steal.

Minix Neo Z97 Mini PC tech specs

• CPU - Intel® Processor N97 (6MB cache, up to 3.6 GHz)
• GPU - Intel® UHD Graphics
• Memory - 12GB LPDDR5X-4800MHz (Onboard)
• Storage - 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 x 4 NVMe SSD
• Storage Slot - M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 x 1 NVMe Slot.
• Ethernet Chipset - 2 x RJ-45 1G Ethernet
• Connectivity - M.2 2230 Intel® 802.11AX Dual Band WIFI 6 (2.4GHz/5GHz), BT5.2
• Ports - HDMI Port: 2 x HDMI2.1 TMDS 4K@60Hz, DP Port: 1 x DP1.4 4K@60Hz, 3 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x Input AC 100~240V, Output 12V 3A 36W Max, DC 2.5/5.5mm, 1 x Audio Output Combo Jack, and 2 x RJ-45 1G Ethernet.
• OS - Windows 11
• Size - 88×88×42mm
• Weight - 0.18kg