The Best Mini PC for Linux!

Discover the best Mini PC for Linux beginners in 2024! Join me, CJ from Elevated Systems, as I explore the Minisforum Venus Series UM1290, a powerful yet affordable Mini PC perfect for new Linux users. I'll cover the specs, installation process, and performance on popular Linux distros like Ubuntu, Manjaro, and Fedora. Whether you're new to Linux or looking for a budget-friendly option, this video has everything you need to get started. Don't miss out on finding your ideal Linux Mini PC!

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Timecodes:
00:00 - Opener
00:31 - Intro
01:37 - Considerations
05:44 - The Linux Pick!
06:31 - Specs & Features
08:04 - The Linux Distros Tested
08:24 - Not to Techy Performacne Results
09:07 - Simple Linux Instalation
11:47 - it's Supported!
12:25 - It Just Works!
13:51 - Dedicated Linux Mini PCs
14:36 - Final Thoughts

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Audio file(s) provided by Epidemic Sound

[sysdrum]

Video is amazing, product not so much. This not your fault you picked the best product that met with your goals. For anyone reading this comment please watch the video before reading my spoiler.
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Spoiler ---

I have two Minisforum UN1290's - I bought both from amazon. One of them worked out of box the other:
The fan would never kick on and it would TT all the time. I put win 11 back on it and the fan would work.
Not sure the cause - So I returned the one that failed to work with linux and got a replacement witch works so if you run into the issue with the fan just send it back and get another one.

I have this issue with some U700 and U850 as well. All of of the AMD version minus the Wireless cards have been solid out of the box.
I setup kiosk/wallboards for charter schools and SMB's - So many mini PC's - They do the job and commodity hardware.
Better then the days of the M900's...

[HeyBuddays]

If you are looking for something that is not windows, Mac Mini is pretty much unmatched in terms of power, speed and affordability. I've never been a huge Apple fan but that hardware is unmatched. Silent too. Complete game changer compared to any other mini pc.

[UncleSpellbinder]

All these mini PC companies either need to stop with the headphone jack in front and place it in back where it belongs, or add a 2nd to the back.

[doomnationalist]

Awesome video! Extremely well edited, such an underrated channel.

[Crackalacking_Z]

You really did your homework, this video is very detail orientated and everything said rings true!

[barrykirkby]

Got 6 of these mini pc's all of various types and all now have Linux on them, mostly mint but a few have different flavors.. all work really well. I plan to buy more to build a cluster.

[erikferguson]

I have a Blackview mini PC with 16 GB RAM and a dual boot of Lubuntu and Linux Mint Cinnamon. It's pretty fantastic.

[YannBOYERDev]

I use a GMKtec NucBox K6 on Gentoo Linux, Ryzen 7 7840HS 8C/16T 5.1GHz, 64GB RAM DDR5 4800MHz, Radeon 780M 4GB(set in the UEFI) iGPU and a 2TB Western Digital SN770 PCIe NVMe SSD it works so well, I use it as my main PC. :D

[allenellisdewitt]

Might consider Mint for future tests/videos that have newbies in mind. Good video, tho!

[phxsisko]

A few months ago I got my Minisforum MS-01 /w the 13900H. I haven't had any issues, but given what has come to light, I wish I had gotten the Gen 12 version. hopefully Steve/GN can put some real pressure on Intel to do something, but it's not looking good. They definitely don't want to recall millions of CPUs. Still, the unit works great (today), especially given I have both 10Gbit SFP+ ports connected to a Qotom mini PC I am using as a switch/router. One port for LAN traffic and one dedicated for WAN traffic works out great.

[brads]

Good point on WiFi and removing MediaTek platforms. IMHO WiFi compatibility is one of the top problems with Linux compatibility. So far I've had machines with the Intel ax series

[deersakamoto]

4:13 Thanks for the tip on avoiding all current AMD Ryzen based mini PCs due to their use of Mediatek wifi adapter

[giedmich]

An my beelink n100 mini pc i can't find option in bios to turn off always on usb port. So for example my usb dac led is still glowing even if the pc is shut down. Super annoying.

[mikeinal]

System 76 Mini, slightly over priced intel nuc but from a US based company with a decent history and lifetime Linux support. And it doesn't come with Windows.

[samuelbanya]

Wi-Fi is fucking shitty for a lot of these, beware. Unless you want it to live near your router or take a dice roll to figure out a USB Wi-Fi adapter, you will have a bad time.

I tried a few distros on the Beelink S12, and it's ok at best. It really only performs better on its pre-installed Windows 11 instance.

I have Fedora Workstation with Gnome on it so far and it's ok. Mint would not install correctly either m.

[begrackled]

I'm gonna politely disagree that the Gnome 3 UI that comes with Ubuntu is going to be familiar and intuitive to Windows users. The shortcomings of Ubuntu going with Gnome 3 were directly responsible for the launching of the Mint project. Gnome 3 is a half-baked tablet UI that stumbles around drunkenly trying to be a desktop UI.

In the grand scheme of things, that's a minor quibble. Pretty much all of the popular Linux distros are easier to set up and use than Windows; particularly networking. Administration in general, and networking in particular, are doable but a pile of stinky, weirdly idiosyncratic misery on Windows 11.

tl;dr: Gnome 3 is a trainwreck of contempt for end users rendering the two major distros largely unusable for people who want to defect from Microsoft, Linux Mint (and several others) actually *are* familiar and intuitive for Windows defectors, and Linux has ended up being mostly easier to use than Windows. What a time to be alive.

[Phil]

Show us mini PCs between 100 and 250 € and it will be interesting, beyond these prices it is better to buy a real PC that is upgradeable... you have to be crazy to spend 800 € on a mini PC ;-(