re: Monitor Mounted Mini-PC

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Any thoughts generally on the Beelink?

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Know nothing about them specifically, but I like the mITX form factor refurbished computers found by the dozens on Amazon and eBay.

HP, Dell, and Lenovo have the most of them.

There’s a bit of art in finding them. The real trick I’ve found is start by searching with the processor. Generally start with about 2 generations old, but start with “10700t” sort by low to high. Too much? Either bump down to 10500t for the i5 version or back up a generation to “9700t”

Once you find around the horsepower you want, the. You can add ram or ssd specs to the search string to filter out. Generally just search for (x700t, x500t, x300t). There are other processors in the machines. And you can search by the devices themselves (prodesk 600 g3 etc), but I find the former to be the easiest way to narrow it down.


THEN just be aware:
1) sometimes you will see HDMI ports. Sometimes DisplayPort. Some people report getting inaccurate machines based on pictures or descriptions- this has not happened to me (I have bought about ten of these).




I usually refresh the install of windows and throw away the “free wireless dongle” that has Chinese instructions and requires software with Chinese characters in it.



But it’s the best way to buy a $150-250 computer that will satisfy typical home/small office use.


So far, I’m 5 years in on the oldest ones. I replaced one failed SSD. I had another SSD that would not backup to my synology because of bad sectors, but check disk couldn’t find them. I did replace that one, too. But the others hum along fine. I believe those machines have 3 or 4 series intel cpu.



There are ryzen ones as well. I’m too lazy to learn the nomenclature to buy them and search for them.




But I see no reason why you couldn’t/shouldn’t buy a Beelink.