A comprehensive comparison of the best mini-PCs for running Linux development environments, including specifications, pricing, and recommendations.
Price: $749
Rating: 9.9/10
Key Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (8-core, up to 4.9GHz)
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- RAM: 32GB DDR5-5600MHz (expandable to 96GB)
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- Storage: 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD (expandable to 4TB)
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- GPU: AMD Radeon 780M
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- Connectivity: Dual 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB4 Type-C (40Gbps), 5x USB 3.2, 2x HDMI
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- Special Features: IceBlast 2.0 cooling system, multiple performance modes (Quiet/Normal/Performance)
Why it's great for development:
Powerful AMD processor with excellent multi-threading, generous RAM, fast storage, and excellent connectivity options. The dual LAN ports are perfect for network development and testing.
Price: $718.99
Rating: 9.8/10
Key Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i9-13900HK (14-core/20-thread, up to 5.4GHz, 24MB cache)
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- RAM: 32GB DDR5-5600MHz (expandable to 64GB)
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- Storage: 1TB PCIe X4 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD (up to 12TB expandable)
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- Connectivity: 4x USB 2.0, 4x USB 3.2, 2x HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, Type-C, 2.5G Ethernet, COM port
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- Special Features: COM port for industrial/embedded development, supports up to 3x M.2 2280 PCIE slots
Why it's great for development:
Top-tier Intel performance, COM port for hardware development, excellent expandability, and multi-display support (up to 4 screens in 8K).
Price: $299.99
Rating: 9.7/10
Key Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U (quad-core, up to 3.7GHz)
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- RAM: 16GB DDR4-2400 (expandable to 64GB)
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- Storage: 512GB SSD (expandable to 16TB)
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- GPU: AMD Radeon Vega 8
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- Connectivity: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5G Ethernet, USB-C, dual USB 3.2
Why it's great for development:
Excellent value for money, sufficient power for most development tasks, expandable storage and memory, very compact.
Price: $300-$1000 (depending on configuration)
Key Specs:
- CPU: Intel 11th gen processor (various options)
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- RAM: Up to 64GB
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- Storage: M.2 SSD support
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- GPU: Radeon Vega Graphics (in some models)
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- Connectivity: 2x LAN ports, HDMI, USB Type-C, WiFi 6, Bluetooth
Why it's great for development:
Intel NUCs are renowned for excellent Linux compatibility. You can install any Linux distribution easily. Widely supported by the Linux community with extensive documentation.
Price: Starting at $474
Key Specs:
- CPU: Intel i3/i5/i7 (various configurations)
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- RAM: Up to 64GB
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- Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 SATA SSD
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- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
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- OS: Pop!_OS pre-installed (Ubuntu-based)
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- Connectivity: WiFi 6, 1Gb NIC, 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB Type-C
Why it's great for development:
Made by System76, a company that exclusively deals with Ubuntu-based systems. Comes with Pop!_OS pre-installed, excellent Linux support and community.
| Model | Price | CPU Performance | RAM | Storage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEEKOM AX8 Max | $749 | 32GB | 1TB | Heavy workloads, VMs | |
| GMKtec K10 | $719 | 32GB | 1TB | Intel preference, multi-display | |
| GMKtec G10 | $300 | 16GB | 512GB | Budget-conscious developers | |
| Intel NUC 11 Pro | $300-1000 | Up to 64GB | Varies | Maximum compatibility | |
| System76 Meerkat | $474+ | Up to 64GB | Up to 2TB | Native Linux experience |
Get the GEEKOM AX8 Max or GMKtec K10. Both offer exceptional performance with 32GB RAM, 1TB storage, and powerful CPUs perfect for running VMs, containers, and heavy compilation tasks.
The GMKtec G10 at $300 is fantastic value with expandable RAM/storage and sufficient power for most development tasks.
The Intel NUC 11 Pro or System76 Meerkat are excellent choices with proven Linux support and active communities.
All of these mini-PCs will run Linux excellently and handle development tasks including:
- IDEs (VS Code, JetBrains suite, etc.)
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- Containers (Docker, Podman)
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- Virtual machines (VirtualBox, KVM, QEMU)
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- Compilation and build processes
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- Web development servers
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- Database management
The choice depends on your budget and specific performance needs. For most developers, any of these options will provide a powerful, compact, and energy-efficient Linux development environment.
Last updated: November 2024