Guide · Mini PCs

The best mini PC for a home lab under $300

By Tiny · how I pick

Updated October 2026. Picks are based on published specs and reliability that owners report. I haven't tested every unit, and I say so where it matters.

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Under $300 you have two good options: a new, low-power mini PC with an Intel N100-class chip, or a used business mini PC coming off a company lease. Both are solid buys.

Comparing the new Intel chips? See N100 vs N150 vs N305.

Words you'll see in this guide
  • Home lab: a computer or two at home that you use to run your own services and learn on.
  • SODIMM: the two sizes of RAM stick. SODIMM is the small laptop and mini PC size; DIMM is the longer desktop size.
  • NVMe SSD: a small, fast storage drive that plugs straight into the motherboard. Much quicker than a hard drive or SD card.
  • Idle power draw: how much electricity a computer uses when it's on but not busy. For an always-on server, this number drives your power bill.
  • Intel Quick Sync: a video engine built into many Intel chips that converts video fast and with little power.
  • Proxmox: free software that splits one computer into several virtual computers.

See the full glossary

What matters (hint: not the processor)

Almost any processor from the last eight years can run Pi-hole, Home Assistant, and a handful of Docker containers without trouble. These are the specs that decide whether you'll outgrow the box in a year:

My top 3 picks

1
Mini PC
Best overall, new

Beelink Mini S12 Pro (Intel N100, 16 GB / 500 GB)

The Beelink Mini S12 Pro uses roughly 8 to 12 W at idle and stays silent under light load. The N100 handles more than you'd expect: Pi-hole, Home Assistant, Jellyfin with Quick Sync, and a dozen containers.

Not for you if: you want lots of virtual machines. It has a single RAM slot with 16 GB, and that's its real limit. Think of it as a box for running services.

Check price on Amazon
2
Used business mini PC
Best value, used

Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q / M920q Tiny (i5-8500T class)

Used ThinkCentre M720q units coming off company leases regularly sell in this price range. The 8th-generation i5 is comfortably faster than an N100. It takes up to 64 GB of RAM across two slots, has an NVMe slot plus a 2.5" bay, and includes Quick Sync.

Trade-offs: idle draw is higher, roughly 10 to 18 W, and you get a seller's warranty at best. For the money, though, nothing new comes close.

Check price on Amazon
3
Mini PC
Most power under $300

Beelink SER5 (Ryzen 7 5800H class, 16 GB / 500 GB)

Eight cores puts the Beelink SER5 close to a light workstation, and running Proxmox with several virtual machines is realistic.

Trade-offs: higher idle draw, about 15 to 25 W, and no Quick Sync, so streaming video leans on the processor. Pick this if virtual machines matter more to you than your power bill.

Check price on Amazon

Also worth considering

Good alternatives if the top three don't fit your budget or plans.

Side by side

PickMax RAMIdle drawQuick SyncBest for
Beelink S12 Pro16 GBAbout 8 to 12 WYesA silent box for services, always on
ThinkCentre M720q (used)64 GBAbout 10 to 18 WYesBest performance per dollar
Beelink SER564 GBAbout 15 to 25 WNoVirtual machines and heavier work
NucBox G3 Plus16 to 32 GBAbout 7 to 10 WYesCheapest sensible start

Prices change constantly, so I link to current listings instead of quoting numbers that go out of date.

Before you buy used: used business mini PCs are the best value in this hobby, but you're buying a four-year-old office machine. Plan to:
  • Replace the CMOS battery (about $3).
  • Maybe replace the thermal paste on the cooler.
  • Check the SSD's wear level on day one.
If that sounds like a chore instead of fun, buy new.

What I'd buy

Either one will still be useful five years from now. Wondering whether they can run local AI models? Put the specs into the Server Calculator.

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