A peek behind a geeky curtain.
I recently replaced two old and very different machines with two identical, newer computers. I’ve become quite enamored with them.
They’re not for everyone, and some of the details I’ll share might be a bit geeky to digest, but if you’re about to replace a desktop computer, the upshot is that this class of PC might be worth your consideration.
My two mini-PCs
I replaced two computers with small, powerful Geekom mini-PCs. One now runs my home file server; the other handles my scanners. They’re fast, quiet, and take up little space. For people who browse, email, and stream, these tiny PCs could easily replace bigger desktop PCs.
Mini-PCs
Not to be confused with minicomputers, mini-PCs are just that: very small PCs. You can see an example of what I mean in the image at the top of the page: the small gold box in the center is the PC. Smaller than the monitor or keyboard, it measures roughly 4.5 inches square by 2 inches high.
They pack a surprising amount of computing capability into a small box. While they’re not as expandable internally as a traditional boxy desktop PC, they include USB ports to which you can connect a plethora of additional devices, HDMI ports for display, and typically an Ethernet port and wireless hardware for connectivity as well.
They’ve been around for a while (Apple has them as well), but this was my first realization that they might fit my needs nicely.
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My selection
I ended up getting two mini-PCs from Geekom. Specifically, the GEEKOM A5 2025 Edition Mini PC1. While I’m not usually all about detailed specs2, they include:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7430U – 12 core, 4.3Ghz
- Video: AMD Radeon RX Vega 7 Graphics – 7680 x 4320, 2xHDMI
- RAM: 16GB DDR4, upgradeable to 64GB
- Disk: 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD
- Connectivity: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Ports: 4 USB-A and 2 USB-C
There’s even a headphone jack and an SD card slot.
This is a middle-to-low-end offering, but it was all I needed. I paid $329 for each.
I figured they’d easily handle the jobs I had in mind.
My NAS wannabe
The computer pictured at the top of the page is my NAS (Network Attached Storage) “wannabe”. Technically, it’s not a NAS, but its primary job is to connect 11 external hard disks and make them available to the other machines on my home network. So it’s… Storage Attached to my Network.
The mini-PC replaced an aging HP desktop machine that had seen better days.
The old machine had been running Ubuntu Linux’s server edition (meaning there’s no graphical interface or GUI, only the command line). While the Geekom came with Windows 11 pre-installed, my first act was to install the latest version of Ubuntu instead, followed by the Webmin server management package. This allowed me to manage the server using its interface, and more importantly, manage it from the machine in my office rather than needing to visit the basement repeatedly.
I plugged in the external drives (most notably the SABRENT 10-Bay USB 3.2 Gen 2 SATA Docking Station — ten drives via a single USB-C connection!), configured sharing in Linux3, and my new not-an-NAS was up and running and more responsive than before. It also gave me a chance to clean up the workbench on which it lived. 
Scanner central
I got the second mini-PC to repurpose what I called my backup laptop, an early-generation Framework. It had been dedicated to the various scanners I have in my office. After having run the Geekom above for a couple of months, it dawned on me that another one would be a perfect fit for this role.
That’s a drawer in a cabinet behind my desk. On the table above it are three scanners:
- A Fujitsu ScanSnap document scanner.
- An Epson Perfection V600 flatbed scanner.
- A Plustek OpticFilm 8200i slide and negative scanner.
On this mini-PC, I completed the Windows 11 install and installed assorted scanning software. I also installed Dropbox, which I use to collect the scanned images, and remote-desktop software for easier access.
Removing the laptop left me with no screen. I bought a small 11.6-inch portable monitor that connects using HDMI and is powered via USB-C. (Sometimes remote desktop just doesn’t cut it, and you need a real screen.)
I was impressed
I am impressed by the capabilities of these “little” machines. They’ll never replace my primary desktop machine — I need more expansion capabilities for things like higher-end graphics cards and video editing — but I can see them being perfect for more typical users.
As I said, mine are medium-to-low end, and they’re still quite capable.
One aspect that amused me is that they came with a mounting plate: they could be mounted to the back of a monitor, freeing up even more desk space and simulating an all-in-one computer.
If you mainly browse, do email, stream, or work in documents, a mini-PC might give you all the power you need without the clutter.
Do this
I’m an outlier with unusual computing needs and use cases. In a sense, though, that goes to show the flexibility of these machines. Depending on your situation, you might not need a “big” desktop or tower computer anymore.
For me, these little machines turned out to be wins: quiet, efficient, affordable, and more than capable.
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Footnotes & References
1: Most links are likely to be affiliate links.
2: I find that past a point, obsessing over specs is a waste of time and effort.
3: Still not as easy as we’d like, particularly when sharing with Windows and Mac machines, as I do. Fortunately, I had the previous machine’s configuration to build on.
Adjacent to the article , I’m curious of your scanner choices. Specifically the film scanner vs using a flatbed scanner that can have that capability ( I have such an Epson flatbed with backlight in the lid and negative strip and slide holding jig).
I’d like to understand why you chose a dedicated film and slide scanner. The IR based dust and scratch removal does seem appealing if it can do a better job than my efforts in photoshop/photopaint.
I have (and had) a lot of slides and negatives to scan. The process with the dedicated slide/negative scanner is more physically efficient (and I’m therefor more likely to actually do it 🙂 ).
I had a slide/negative adaptor for my flatbed scanner, which was enough for me. I scanned a few hundred slides and negatives, and it took a few weeks of part-time scanning. After that, I don’t think I ever needed the negative scanner again because I no longer use film.
I’m a little surprised you have a negative scanner. Do you still use film?
I do not. But I have decades of family photos.
Leo, What a timely article! I’ve been reviewing mini-PCs to replace both mine and my wife’s systems. My question for you is why wouldn’t you consider a more powerful mini-PC to replace your desktop? They do come in configurations for video editing with powerful GPUs.
Thanks for all you do!
My desktop needs many more USB slots (hubs are good, but not good always good enough), and a more powerful GPU than are available in the mini configuration.
Hey man, I watch your videos all the time. Fantastic work! You’re a great speaker and internet personality. So if askleo.com ever stops being profitable, you might consider just… ya know, being a youtuber, not necessarily a tech youtuber.
But anyway, the reason I’m stopping by is to let you know the 7430U is 12-thread, not 12-core.
I’ve always wished I could get a laptop with enough USB ports, especially USB-C. I have hubs, but every so often they glitch. Nothing serious, but more ports would be much cleaner.
My framework laptop comes with 4. (Well, 4 slots you can configure/reconfigure as needed.) Right now it has 2 USB-A and 2 USB-C.
Leo: Love your videos and this was timely. What monitor would you suggest for 65 yr old w aging eyes needing decent specs for 1-4 hr viewing, mostly mix of web pages browsing, word docs, and some youtube videos, email, etc. 22 inch min size, mid range budget.
I am not a 65 y.o., but for you I would think any anti-glare (matte) monitor would work as oppose to glossy monitors which are brighter but also have lots of blue/cold colours. Go on amazon there are tons of great deals for portable monitors (like Leo has one for his mini-pc to run printers), you basically fire it up with USB-c so no wall power brick is needed. They come in variety of specs but you can get one under $100 today that has full HD, 60 hz, IPS, matte (anti-glare) screen. I personally go with bright, RGB glossy ones, but they can be intensive on eyes (perhaps if you don’t increase the brightness much on them, they also might be an option)