Best Mini PCs for Self-Hosting in 2026

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Why a Mini PC?

A mini PC is the sweet spot for self-hosting. More powerful than a Raspberry Pi, quieter and more efficient than a full server, and small enough to sit on a shelf. Most self-hosters will be perfectly served by a mini PC running Docker.

Quick Picks

BudgetBest ChoiceCPURAMPrice
Under $150Beelink Mini S12 ProIntel N10016GB~$140
$150-300Beelink SER5AMD Ryzen 5 5560U16GB~$250
$300+Beelink SER7AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS32GB~$450

The N100: The Self-Hosting Sweet Spot

The Intel N100 processor has become the go-to chip for self-hosting. It draws only 6W TDP, handles dozens of Docker containers without breaking a sweat, and supports hardware video transcoding via Intel Quick Sync. For most self-hosters running 10-30 containers, an N100-based mini PC is all you need.

What to Look For

  • RAM: 16GB minimum. 32GB if you plan to run memory-hungry apps like Nextcloud or Immich.
  • Storage: NVMe SSD for the OS and Docker. Add an external USB drive or NAS for bulk storage.
  • Networking: Gigabit Ethernet is essential. Dual NICs are a bonus for router/firewall setups.
  • Power consumption: Under 15W idle is the target. Your electricity bill matters over years of 24/7 operation.

Our Recommendation

Start with a Beelink Mini S12 Pro (Intel N100, 16GB RAM). It’s under $150, whisper-quiet, and powerful enough for everything most self-hosters need. Upgrade to the SER5 or SER7 only if you need heavy transcoding or plan to run resource-intensive workloads.

See also: Getting started with self-hosting | NAS buying guide