The best mini PCs for Plex servers prioritize multi-core CPU performance, hardware-accelerated transcoding, and storage scalability. Top picks include Intel NUC 13 Pro (i7-1360P) for 4K HDR transcoding, Mac Mini M2 Pro for energy-efficient media handling, and Beelink SER7 (Ryzen 7 7840HS) for budget 8K readiness. Key specs: 16GB+ DDR5 RAM, dual NVMe slots, and 2.5Gbps Ethernet. Pro Tip: Opt for models with Intel Quick Sync or AMD RDNA3 iGPUs to enable Plex Pass hardware transcoding without GPU add-ons.
Small Home Server Build: The Perfect Server with a Mini PC
Table of Contents
Top 5 Mini PCs in 2025
| Rank | Model | Processor | RAM | Storage | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GEEKOM Mini IT12 (Best Performance) | Intel i5-12450H (8C/12T) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD | $379.00 | Check Price |
| 2 | GMKtec N150 (1TB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD | $191.99 | Check Price |
| 3 | KAMRUI GK3Plus (Budget Pick) | Intel N95 (3.4GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB M.2 SSD | $169.99 | Check Price |
| 4 | ACEMAGICIAN N150 (Cheapest 16GB) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | $139.99 | Check Price |
| 5 | GMKtec N150 (512GB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe SSD | $168.99 | Check Price |
What CPU specs matter for Plex transcoding?
Modern Plex servers require CPUs with Quick Sync (Intel) or VCN 4.0 (AMD) for hardware transcoding. For 4K→1080p streams, aim for 2,000+ PassMark score per concurrent transcode. The Intel Core i5-1240P handles 5+ 4K HDR streams via Iris Xe, while Ryzen 7 7840HS manages 8K AV1 decoding.
When building a 24/7 Plex server, thermal design power (TDP) becomes critical. Mini PCs with 15-28W TDP processors like Intel N100 balance performance and energy efficiency, consuming just 8-12W during idle. For heavy users, the Core i7-1360P’s 28W base TDP supports 10+ 1080p transcodes simultaneously. Pro Tip: Disable background apps in Windows Plex hosts—unnecessary processes can hog 15-20% CPU even during idle. Consider Linux-based OS for headless operation.
| CPU | 4K Streams | Power Draw |
|---|---|---|
| Intel N100 | 2 | 6W |
| Ryzen 5 7640U | 5 | 18W |
| Core i7-1360P | 8 | 28W |
Mini PC with 64GB RAM: Unleashing Power in a Compact Design
How much storage is ideal for media libraries?
Plan 2TB+ usable storage per 500 HD movies or 10,000 songs in FLAC. A 4-bay mini PC like Minisforum HX99G supports RAID5 arrays—combine four 8TB SSDs for 24TB protected space. For metadata, allocate 250GB NVMe cache to speed up thumbnail generation.
Beyond raw capacity, throughput matters. SATA SSDs max out at 550MB/s, while PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives hit 7,000MB/s—critical when serving 10+ users simultaneously. Use tiered storage: OS/apps on NVMe, active media on SATA SSD, archives on HDDs. Pro Tip: Implement ZFS file system for automatic data integrity checks. A real-world example: A 12TB library (300 4K remuxes + 5,000 albums) requires 16TB raw storage with 20% overhead for Plex metadata.
Battery Expert Insight
FAQs
Can Raspberry Pi 5 run Plex smoothly?
Only for direct play—its Cortex-A76 CPU lacks hardware transcoding. Use it as a secondary server for music/audiobooks with ≤3 concurrent users.
Is Thunderbolt 4 useful for Plex storage?
Yes—connect Thunderbolt NAS enclosures for 40Gbps throughput. Ideal for housing large 8K RAW libraries externally without bottlenecking the mini PC.