I swapped my $1,000 desktop for a $300 mini PC and regret nothing

Earlier this year, I impulsively bought a tiny, inexpensive desktop computer for research purposes. I didn't expect this to change my entire computing setup.

But here I am now using $319. Mini PC Beelink SER5 like my everyday workhorse powering ultra-wide monitor with 1440p resolution and 100 Hz frequency and smoothly handled any productivity challenges I threw at it. This little computer was so enjoyable to use that I moved my full-size desktop tower PC to a TV in the basement, where it now serves solely as a gaming rig.

Consider this a lesson in technological excess. With the exception of some specialized use cases, the processing power required to complete tasks may be much less than you think.

Further reading: 5 reasons to buy a mini PC instead of a laptop

Selecting a Mini PC Size

Bilink sells array of miniature computersbut the one I bought now costs $319 with the following characteristics:

• AMD Ryzen 5 5825U Processor
• 16 GB RAM (DDR4)
• 512 GB internal memory (M.2 NVMe)
• Windows 11 Professional
• Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
• Front ports: two USB-A 3.2, one USB-C, 3.5 mm audio jack.
• Rear ports: one USB-A 3.0, one USB-A 2.0, two HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet.

The specs are roughly on par with laptops in the $500 to $700 price range, except of course you'll have to purchase your own mouse, keyboard, and screen. The 5×5-inch frame is small enough to be held in one hand and comes with VESA mounts for mounting your computer to the back of your monitor or TV.

Further reading: The best monitors we've tested

The Beelink SER5 also hides an interesting feature on the bottom side: removing the bottom panel reveals a slot for a 2.5-inch drive. I bought 1TB SSD Store all my OneDrive files locally and the computer recognized them without issue. (The device's RAM and M.2 storage can also be upgraded.)

How it happens

I initially planned to play around with the stock Windows 11 Pro installation on the SER5 for a bit before returning to my regular desktop for work. Even if I didn't use the mini PC regularly, I thought it would be useful for experimenting with other operating systems such as Linux or Chrome OS flexible.

In the end, the transition to day-to-day work was so smooth that I never went back to my old computer.

As a technology journalist, I usually write in ObsidianI communicate on Slack with colleagues(and readers of my newsletter), juggling several dozen browser tabs in Braveand participating in video calls on Zoom or Google Meet. The Beelink SER5 handled all of these tasks without ever slowing down, and it's much quieter than the full-size desktop I've used before.

I also gave the mini PC some more ambitious goals, such as digitizing some old VHS tapesrecording streaming video sources via Play at homeand launching the Plex media server. Even with commercial Plex detection and PlayOn's recording engine running in the background, I continued to work without any noticeable performance hiccups.

And while integrated Radeon graphics can't match a dedicated graphics card, the Beelink SER5 performs well as a budget gaming device. Yakuza Kiwami runs at a smooth 60fps on high settings at 1080p, and both Fortnite and post-apocalyptic cat simulator Wander are played in 1080p resolution at a frame rate of about 30 frames per second. I have also used it to play less demanding games such as Quake II remaster and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowindrelying on Nvidia GeForce now for a more intensive tariff.

All this led to the realization that my bulky desktop computer was just a waste of space, but also too loud and power hungry, and after a couple of weeks I moved it out of the office for good. I did a factory reset, configured it exclusively for basement gamesand now turn it on only when needed.

Lesson learned

When shopping for computers, it's always tempting to make a purchase for every potential use case, both real and envisioned, now and in the future.

US$319: Bilink SER5 it's a reminder that we've reached a point of diminishing returns for most computing use cases. Even though I had a mid-range processor (and one designed for laptops), I never wanted more power or wanted to spend money on a more expensive computer.

But mostly I'm just glad I have a quieter office and better space for the gaming PC that once occupied it.

This story first appeared in advisorJared's weekly tech newsletter. Register to learn new tech tricks every Tuesday.