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Mini PC

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the NSA project, seeNetTop.
This article is about Mini PC. Not to be confused withmicrocomputerormicrocontroller.

TheAcer AspireRevonettop

Amini PC(orminiature PC,nettop,orSmart Micro PC) is a small-sized, inexpensive, low-power,[citation needed]legacy-freedesktopcomputer designed for basic tasks such asweb browsing,accessingweb-based applications,document processing, and audio/video playback.[1][2][3]

The wordnettopis aportmanteauofnetworkanddesktop.It is the desktop counterpart of thenetbook.Modern (c.2020) mini PCs orsmall form factorPCs can be much more powerful, being equipped with high-end laptop components or mid-range desktop components.[4][5]

Compared with ordinary desktop computers, nettops are not only smaller and less expensive,[6]but they also consume much less power. For example, CompuLab'sfit-PC2 consumes no more than 8 watts of power[7]whereas a typical desktop would easily consume more than 100 watts of power; consequently, nettops require significantly less cooling and may even be completely fanless. Some do not have anoptical disk driveand use asolid-state drive,making them completely silent. The tradeoff is that the hardware specifications and processing power are usually reduced[8]and hence make nettops less appropriate for running complex or resource-intensiveapplications.

Hardware

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Mac Mini2020 (M1)

There are several platforms that are primarily intended for nettops and netbooks:

  • Intel's Atom platform[9]
  • Nvidia's Ion platform[10]
  • Intel's Core platform
  • AMD's APU platform
  • Apple'sMac Mini
  • VIA's Trinity Platform[11]

Some nettops have also adoptedsystem-on-a-chipdesigns. Although many major parts such as chipsets, video cards and storage devices can also be found on desktops, the CPUs that are put inside nettops are the fundamental component that differentiate them from normal desktops. The list below contains a range of hardware components that a typical nettop may be assembled from.

Intel's Atom processor has been adopted by several hardware manufacturers, such as ASUS, MSI, and Sony, for nettops. Nvidia has also released its first generation ION platform, which puts GeForce 9400M MotherboardGPUalongside the Atom processor to provide betterhigh definition videoplayback ability and lower power consumption.[12]In addition, Nvidia has announced that it will support VIA's CPUs this year.[13]To further reduce the manufacturing cost and improve power efficiency, many manufacturers and start-up companies have chosen to use CPUs that were originally targeted at embedded computing devices such as AMD's Geode and ARM Cortex-based CPUs.

Operating systems

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Many net-top models are x86-processor-based and as such are capable of running standard PC OSes. There are also operating systems designed specifically for nettops and other machines in the same performance class. Some high-end nettops are capable of runningWindows 10.[14]Google'sChromeOSandAndroidare other options. Although Google's Android was originally designed forsmartphones,it has also taken a seat in the nettop market.[15]

Linuxis beginning to be the favorite choice of nettop users (considering the high commercial use of these machines), the flexibility and low-requirement capabilities of theOSare perfect for the product.[citation needed]

Market

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Nettops fell into Intel's category of "Basic PC", which usually cost from $100 to $299.[16]Intel described nettops as a large potential market at that time. Nettops were said to be able serve as an affordable first computer for people in developing countries, or as an environmentally friendly choice as a secondary computer for people in developed countries.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^http://techreport.com/articles.x/21556Zotac's Zbox Nano AD10 Plus nettop – Zacate in the palm of your hand
  2. ^'Netbooks,' 'Nettops' target secondary PC usersArchived11 June 2008 at theWayback Machine
  3. ^hexus.net: What is a nettop
  4. ^"The Best Mini Desktop PCS".The New York Times.7 June 2021.
  5. ^"The Best Windows Mini PCS for 2021".
  6. ^Intel Nettop is all about cost cutting
  7. ^Fit-PC2 Specifications
  8. ^"Is a Nettop Right for You?".Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2013.Retrieved6 September2017.
  9. ^[1]Archived22 January 2009 at theWayback Machine
  10. ^"Next-Generation NVIDIA ION Graphics Processors".Nvidia.com.Retrieved15 April2010.
  11. ^"News Release VIA Trinity Platform Brings Hi-Def to Small Spaces – VIA Technologies, Inc".Via.com.tw. 18 December 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 29 October 2010.Retrieved15 April2010.
  12. ^"Nvidia's Ion platform – The Tech Report – Page 1".The Tech Report. 3 February 2009.Retrieved15 April2010.
  13. ^"NVIDIA Ion platform to support VIA Nano processors this year".Engadget.Retrieved15 April2010.
  14. ^"The 9 Best Mini PCs to Buy in 2018".lifewire.Retrieved14 October2018.
  15. ^"Asustek to Make Google Android Netbook, Says Report".PCWorld. 20 February 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 5 September 2010.Retrieved15 April2010.
  16. ^CNet article
  17. ^Netbooks and Nettops New category of emerging Internet Devices
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