Used mini PCs are an excellent solution if you need a dedicated Plex server. CPUs have been more than powerful enough to do the job for years, so there’s no need to splash out cash for something new.
That said, if you buy a mini PC that’s too old, you might end up with a computer that can’t keep up with your Plex needs. So let’s look at how far back you can safely go without ending up with a server that runs out of puff before the show even starts.
Why Intel Quick Sync matters more than CPU power
Maximum acceleration
So here’s the biggest factor: video acceleration. If you have a CPU that supports video transcoding acceleration such as Intel Quick Sync, Plex can use it to seamlessly convert video into the quality and format your client device needs. This is not strictly required. It only matters if transcoding has to happen on the fly.
If you use direct streaming, then any transcoding happens on the client device, or the device just plays the video stream directly without modification. The only job the CPU on your Plex server is doing in this case is sending data across the network.
To give you a practical example, I use a Lenovo ThinkCenter mini PC with a dual-core 4th-generation Haswell CPU.
That’s an old CPU generation and there are only two cores! Surely it must struggle, right? Well as you can see from this Plex Dashboard chart a single 1080p stream doesn’t even make it sweat, and 4K has never been an issue either.
Since my client devices are things like Apple TVs and iPads, there’s more than enough horsepower to decode at the destination. My Haswell PC does have Quick Sync, but only up to the H.264 codec. It doesn’t support HEVC (H.265) which is what a lot of modern files are in, and what you might want to convert your files to anyway because of the space savings.
So, ideally, if I were buying a mini PC for Plex today, it would have hardware acceleration for HEVC unless I absolutely knew that I would not be using it. This is also a good time to point out that hardware acceleration is a paid feature in Plex! You need a lifetime pass or a monthly subscription to make use of it.
Also, why only Intel? Of course you can use an AMD system and those chips are equipped with video decoders, but Intel is the right choice for transcoding. If you have a mini PC or SFF PC that can take a half-height NVIDIA GPU, that may also be a better option for transcoding.
Quiz
Mini PCs: History, hardware, hidden uses
Trivia challenge
From tiny boxes to powerhouse desktops — how much do you really know about mini PCs?
HistoryHardwareBrandsUse CasesDesign
Which company is widely credited with popularizing the modern mini PC form factor with its NUC (Next Unit of Computing) line, launched in 2013?
Correct! Intel introduced the NUC in 2013, defining what many consider the modern mini PC category. The NUC was roughly the size of a paperback book and used laptop-grade components to pack real computing power into a tiny chassis.
Not quite — it was Intel that launched the NUC (Next Unit of Computing) platform in 2013. While ASUS, Zotac, and others followed with their own mini PCs, Intel’s NUC set the template that much of the industry would imitate for years.
The Apple Mac mini, first released in 2005, was marketed with which memorable slogan emphasizing what buyers needed to supply themselves?
Correct! Apple marketed the original Mac mini with “BYODKM” — Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse. It was a clever pitch aimed at Windows switchers who already owned peripherals, letting Apple offer a Mac at the then-low price of $499.
The actual slogan was “BYODKM” — Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse. Apple used this catchy acronym to target Windows users who wanted to try a Mac without buying an entirely new setup, positioning the $499 Mac mini as an affordable entry point.
Most modern mini PCs use which type of processor, originally designed for laptops, to balance performance and thermal output in a compact chassis?
Correct! Mini PCs almost universally rely on mobile-class processors — like Intel’s U-series or H-series, or AMD’s equivalents — because their lower thermal design power (TDP) means less heat and no need for large cooling systems. This is the key engineering trade-off that makes the tiny form factor possible.
The right answer is mobile (U-series or H-series) processors. Full desktop CPUs generate far too much heat for a small enclosure, while ARM microcontrollers are too underpowered for general-purpose computing. Laptop chips hit the sweet spot of performance and efficiency that mini PCs depend on.
Mini PCs are extremely popular for running home media centers. Which open-source media software is most commonly installed on mini PCs for this purpose?
Correct! Kodi (formerly known as XBMC) has long been the go-to open-source software for turning a mini PC into a full home theater PC (HTPC). It supports plugins, streaming services, and local media libraries, making it incredibly flexible for living room setups.
While Plex and Jellyfin are also popular for home media, Kodi is historically the most iconic choice for mini PC home theater builds. Originally called XBMC (Xbox Media Center), Kodi has a massive plugin ecosystem and was practically synonymous with the HTPC mini PC use case for many years.
What storage interface, originally designed for SSDs in laptops, became the standard internal storage connection in most mini PCs, replacing older 2.5-inch SATA drives?
Correct! M.2 NVMe slots became the dominant storage interface in mini PCs because the small card form factor fits easily inside compact chassis, and NVMe speeds far exceed what older SATA connections could offer. Many modern mini PCs include one or two M.2 slots alongside an optional 2.5-inch bay.
The answer is M.2 NVMe. While mSATA was an earlier compact storage standard, it has largely been phased out in favor of M.2, which supports the much faster NVMe protocol. M.2 drives are credit-card-sized and slot directly into the motherboard, making them ideal for space-constrained mini PC designs.
Which Chinese brand, often compared to a “mini PC powerhouse,” rose to global prominence around 2022–2023 with highly affordable mini PCs like the MinisForum Venus series?
Correct! MinisForum became a standout name in the mini PC space around 2022–2023, gaining attention for packing AMD Ryzen and even discrete GPU options into compact chassis at competitive prices. Their Venus series, featuring dedicated graphics, challenged the idea that mini PCs had to sacrifice gaming performance.
The answer is MinisForum. While Beelink, Geekom, and Acemagic are all legitimate Chinese mini PC brands that gained popularity in the same era, MinisForum made the biggest splash with performance-focused models like the Venus series, which included discrete Radeon graphics in a palm-sized box.
Beyond home use, mini PCs are widely deployed in commercial settings for one particular application. Which of the following is the most common enterprise use case for mini PCs?
Correct! Digital signage and kiosk terminals are one of the most widespread commercial applications for mini PCs. Their small size lets them mount invisibly behind displays, their low power consumption keeps operating costs down, and their standard x86 architecture means they run ordinary Windows or Linux software without special configurations.
The most common enterprise use case is digital signage and kiosk terminals. You’ll find mini PCs hidden behind restaurant menu boards, airport information screens, and retail displays worldwide. They’re ideal because they’re discreet, energy-efficient, and capable of running standard software without the bulk of a traditional PC.
Intel discontinued its own NUC product line in 2023, handing the brand to a partner. Which company took over the NUC brand and product line?
Correct! ASUS acquired Intel’s NUC business in 2023, continuing the lineup under the ASUS NUC branding. Intel decided to exit the finished product business to focus on its core chip manufacturing and design operations, and ASUS — already a major NUC manufacturing partner — was a natural fit to carry the torch.
It was ASUS that took over the NUC brand from Intel in 2023. Intel had long partnered with ASUS for NUC manufacturing, so the transition made sense. Intel’s decision to divest the NUC line was part of a broader strategy to concentrate on semiconductors rather than finished consumer hardware products.
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The real cutoff: Skylake vs. Kaby Lake
Choose with care
On paper, Skylake is the first generation of Intel CPU to support HEVC encoding, but there’s some nuance there. Skylake only supports up to 8-bit HEVC quality. that’s an issue, because it means you won’t get smooth playback from the 10-bit files common for high-quality encodes these days,
That’s why I would put the sweet spot at Kaby Lake, since we now have a generation that is futureproof when it comes to video encoding. However, almost all 7th-gen processors are not officially supported by Windows 11. If you’re going to run a Windows 11 Plex server rather than Linux, then you’ll want Coffee Lake as a minimum.
That said, I run a hacked version of Windows 11 (made using Rufus) on my Haswell PC and it works fine. However, there are no guarantees and if Microsoft pulls the rug one day I’ll switch it over to Linux. Incidentally, if you want to use Linux for Plex on a mini PC you’re going to need our Linux Plex guide for USB drives.
The oldest mini PCs worth buying
This is your stop
Right, so with all that CPU mumbo-jumbo out of the way, and under the assumption that you’ll figure out the operating system situation on Kaby Lake, here are some actual examples of mini PCs that would make good Plex servers with HEVC encoding support.
Dell OptiPlex Micro 7050
They’re compact, easy to service, and widely available thanks to corporate upgrades. Go for the 7050. It’s a meaningful upgrade for Plex workloads compared to the Skylake 7040 model.
- CPU
-
Intel Core i5-7500T
- Memory
-
8GB RAM
A powerful mini PC with all the connectivity you’re likely to need.
HP EliteDesk mini G3
These machines tend to show up with higher-end CPUs and better configurations, making them great value if you’re buying used.
HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini
- CPU
-
Intel Core i7-7700T
- Memory
-
8 GB RAM
- Storage
-
256 GB SSD
- Networking
-
Ethernet, WiFi/Bluetooth
A high-end mini PC from yesteryear with excellent build quality.
Lenovo ThinkCentre tiny M710q
They’re slightly less flashy than Dell or HP, but just as capable—and often cheaper on the second-hand market. This is what I went with and after almost three years of daily Plex duty I couldn’t be happier with my little ThinkCentre.
- CPU
-
Intel Core i5-7400T
- Graphics
-
HD Graphics 630
The ThinkCentre Mini PCs are reliable and numerous, so it’s always possible to find a good deal and configuration for your needs.
Ultimately, buy what works for you
The last thing I want to do is dictate what you should buy, especially since these Kaby Lake mini PCs are still too pricey on the refurbished market if you ask me. For future-proofing 4K HEVC it is the sensible choice, but if you don’t need transcoding or you’re happy to convert your files to the most compatible format offline using something like Handbrake or by using Plex’s own background conversion feature, then getting an older mini PC like my old Haswell for $30 might be the better choice.
That’s the beauty of PC technology, you’re free to pick the thing that’s right for your own specific needs and skirt the line of minimum requirements like the brave and intrepid soul you are.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
