What is a mini PC?
A mini PC is a complete computer in a small chassis. It includes a processor, memory, storage, and I/O ports in a body that is often smaller than a hardback book. Mini PCs are used as desktop computers, kiosk controllers, digital signage players, and edge computing nodes where space and power are limited.
Thinvent mini PCs use processors from Intel, AMD and ARM. Intel Core and Celeron processors power the Aero and Treo models. AMD Ryzen 5 processors power the Treo models. The Micro 6 Pro uses an ARM Cortex A55 processor. Memory ranges from 4 GB to 16 GB. Storage uses SSDs from 128 GB to 512 GB, or 32 GB eMMC on the Micro 6 Pro.
Key specifications
| Model | Processor | Cores | Max frequency | Cache | RAM | Storage | WiFi | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i3-1215U | 6 | 4.4 GHz | 10 MB | 8 GB DDR4 | 256 GB SSD | None or Dual Band | Windows 11 Pro or Ubuntu Linux |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core 5 120U | 10 | 5.0 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB DDR4 | 512 GB SSD | Dual Band | Windows 11 Pro |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i5-1335U | 10 | 4.6 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB DDR4 | 512 GB SSD | None | Windows 11 Pro |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i7-1255U | 10 | 4.7 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB DDR4 | 256 GB SSD | None | Windows 11 Pro |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core Ultra 5 125U | 12 | 4.3 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB DDR5 | 256 GB SSD | None | Ubuntu Linux |
| Treo Mini PC | Intel N5095A | 4 | 2.9 GHz | 4 MB | 4 GB DDR4 | 128 GB SSD | None | Ubuntu Linux |
| Treo Mini PC | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | 6 | 4.3 GHz | 16 MB | 8 or 16 GB DDR4 | 256 or 512 GB SSD | Dual Band | Windows 11 Pro |
| Micro 6 Pro | ARM Cortex A55 | 4 | 1.9 GHz | 1 MB | 4 GB onboard | 32 GB eMMC | Dual Antenna | Thinux Embedded Linux |
Use cases
Office and business desktops suit Intel Core and AMD Ryzen 5 models with 8 GB or 16 GB of memory. Multitasking, spreadsheets, video calls and browser work run on these systems. Kiosks, digital signage and embedded control suit the Micro 6 Pro and the N5095A-based Treo, which run Linux and draw low power. Thin client and server-side tasks use mini PCs with Dual LAN, such as the Aero models with Dual LAN ports.
Choosing a mini PC
Choose the processor first. Core i5 and i7 processors and Core Ultra 5 suit heavier workloads. Celeron and ARM suit light, fixed-function tasks. Check memory and storage next, then the operating system. Windows 11 Pro suits business software. Ubuntu Linux and Thinux suit custom and embedded applications. Check WiFi and LAN needs. Some models have no WiFi, so add a wireless module or use the wired port.
Thinvent mini PCs
Thinvent has mini PCs with Intel, AMD and ARM processors, 4 GB to 16 GB of memory, and SSD or eMMC storage. Aero models use Intel Core processors. Treo models use Intel Celeron and AMD Ryzen 5 processors. The Micro 6 Pro uses an ARM Cortex A55 processor with Thinux embedded Linux. Choose the model that matches your processor, memory, storage and operating system needs.
