What's Inside a Hystou Mini PC: A Comprehensive Hardware Guide
Mini PCs have gradually become an indispensable part of people’s lives, thanks to their compact size and powerful performance. However, what kind of precise internal structure is hidden under its small appearance? In this paper, we will explore the Mini PC components from a hardware point of view to reveal its mystery.
Shell Design and Cooling System
Mini computer shell design usually uses aluminium alloy or magnesium alloy and other materials, after a sophisticated manufacturing process to ensure a solid structure and cooling effect. According to data, some mini computer shell surface area of only a few square inches, but can maintain relatively low temperatures under high loads, thanks to its internal precision design of the cooling system. The cooling system usually consists of high-efficiency fans and heat sinks to efficiently dissipate heat into the surrounding environment to maintain stable operation of the device.
Problem: Limited surface area for heat dissipation in compact design
Solution: High-efficiency fans combined with heat-dissipating material casing
Data Verification: Maintains 75°C max temperature under 100% CPU load (Hystou lab test, 2024)
Motherboard and Processor
The motherboards of mini PCs are more compact than traditional desktop motherboards, but they are highly integrated. Some mini PC brands have adopted in-house designed motherboards that make full use of the space to accommodate key components such as processors, memory slots, expansion ports, and so on. Data shows that the processors used in common mini PCs on the market today mainly include the Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9 series and the AMD Ryzen 3/5/7/9 series, whose performance is able to meet or exceed that of similar desktop processors in various benchmark tests.
Problem: Space constraints limiting component integration
Solution: Custom-designed motherboards with stacked component layout
Data Verification: Intel Core i7-1260P scores 12,800 in Cinebench R23 (Tom’s Hardware, 2024)
Storage and Memory
Mini PCs typically utilize solid-state drives (SSDs) as primary storage to deliver rapid system boot times and responsive file operations. In practical application scenarios, the choice between memory types directly impacts performance: DDR4 offers an optimal balance of cost and efficiency for office productivity and media consumption, while DDR5 excels in professional workflows involving 4K video editing and 3D rendering due to its higher bandwidth. For mainstream users, 16GB DDR4 with a 512GB NVMe SSD provides sufficient performance for multitasking and content creation, whereas power users should consider 32GB DDR5 configurations paired with 1TB+ SSDs to handle resource-intensive applications.
Problem: Balancing storage speed and capacity in limited space
Solution: NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSDs with M.2 form factor
Data Verification: According to Tom’s Hardware (2024), SSDs offer 5x faster read speeds (500MB/s) compared to traditional HDDs (100MB/s)
Graphics Card and Display Output
Mini PCs typically integrate graphics processing units (GPUs) directly into the processor (APU) or use dedicated low-profile graphics cards. Common integrated GPUs include Intel UHD/Iris Xe and AMD Radeon Vega/RDNA series, providing sufficient performance for 4K video playback and light gaming. Display output options usually include HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode, supporting multiple monitors simultaneously.
Problem: Limited graphics performance in compact form factor
Solution: Intel Iris Xe / AMD RDNA integrated graphics with shared memory architecture
Data Verification: Intel Iris Xe GPU delivers 1.3 TFLOPS performance (Intel Ark, 2024)
Network Connection and Expansion Interface
Mini PCs feature comprehensive network connectivity including Wi-Fi 6/6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and Gigabit Ethernet as standard. Expansion interfaces typically include USB 3.2/4.0 ports, Thunderbolt 4, SD card readers, and audio jacks. Some models offer optional internal expansion slots for additional storage or wireless modules.
Problem: Limited physical ports in small chassis
Solution: USB4/Thunderbolt 4 with daisy-chaining capability
Data Verification: Wi-Fi 6 achieves 1.2Gbps max theoretical throughput (Wi-Fi Alliance, 2024)
System Management and Power Supply
Mini PCs usually use BIOS or UEFI firmware to manage the system setup and boot process. At the same time, mini PCs are equipped with an efficient power supply system (typically 65W-120W external adapters) to ensure the stable operation of the device. Meanwhile, an external adapter can provide a stable power supply for the device to ensure its normal operation under high load conditions.
Problem: Power efficiency vs performance balance
Solution: 80+ Gold certified external power adapters with dynamic power management
Data Verification: 120W adapter maintains 92% efficiency at 50% load (80+ Gold standard)
The Last
Mini PCs contain high-tech internals in a compact form factor, and their precision design and high-performance hardware provide users with a powerful computing and entertainment experience. With the continuous development and innovation of technology, it is believed that mini PC will have a broader application prospect in the future.
HYSTOU
HYSTOU has established its R&D headquarters in Shenzhen, drawing on over a decade of experience. Our core team members, who previously served at renowned companies such as Inventec and Quanta Computer, form the backbone of our technical expertise. With robust R&D and innovation capabilities, we remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing excellence in the field of technology products.
