Mini PCs vs PC Sticks: Differences and use cases for each

Computers are so ubiquitous that you often forget they’re even there. Sure, every employee has one on their desk, and every company spreadsheet is actually stored on a server somewhere, but that’s only scratching the surface. Tiny computers power everything from smart kitchen appliances to car entertainment systems to your office’s digital bulletin board. 

Mini PCs and PC sticks are fantastic options if you need a small, basic, cheap computer to display messages, updates, and dashboards. Both are typically more powerful than devices like the Chromecast with Google TV while retaining the small form factor. There aren’t strict definitions for mini PCs and PC sticks, though, making it hard to find and pick the best device for your end goals.

What is a mini PC?

A mini PC, sometimes known as a small form factor (SFF) PC, comes with almost all the same hardware that a laptop or desktop computer has but with a smaller footprint. Granted, mini PCs are not as fast as larger computers, but they have a processor, RAM, storage, and ports for connecting peripherals like monitors, keyboards, and mice. They can run operating systems like Windows, ChromeOS, or Linux and can handle basic web browsing, productivity apps, and multimedia playback.

Depending on the specs and configuration, a Mini PC is usually around the same size and shape as a hardcover book. Some are optimized for lots of onboard storage, some for faster processors, and some for specific use cases, like powering tradeshow kiosks, security systems, or digital signage screens.

Since there’s no universal standard for mini PC specs, it isn’t easy to establish a narrow price range. Asus’s Chromebox 5, for example, has variants ranging from $299 to $980, all with the same size dimensions.

Generally, we recommend looking for a mini PC from a reputable manufacturer with at least 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a VESA mount. Some of our favorites include MSI’s PRO DP21 or their Cubi 5, Apple’s Mac Mini, and Asus’s ExpertCenter PN64 or Chromebox 5. PCs are less powerful than any of those options and don’t have any advantages over a smaller form factor device like a Chromecast with Google TV, Station P1 Pro, or PC stick.

What is a PC stick?

A PC stick, also known as a computer stick, is like a mini PC that’s been shrunk down to the size of an oversized USB flash drive. Stick PCs have a processor, RAM, and storage, but one thing that sets them apart from mini PCs is that instead of connecting to a screen or monitor via HDMI cable, stick computers have an HDMI output attached flush against the body of the device.

While they tend to look almost identical to Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, PC sticks are around 3-4x larger and often come with slots for USB, microSD, ethernet, and other inputs. Their processors are almost always less powerful than a mini PC but sometimes come with as much as 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

It’s getting harder to find a PC on a stick than a few years ago. In 2015, we got both Intel’s incredible Compute Stick and Asus’s Google Chromebit. Unfortunately, both had short runs, with no ongoing software support or follow-up generations. Today, your PC stick options are limited to MeLE’s Fanless PC Stick, Azulle’s Access4, or, when speed isn’t essential, the AIOEXPC PC Stick, with prices ranging from $130 to $310.

Like all hardware purchases, beware of anything that doesn’t have at least 100 reviews or sufficient documentation. Too-good-to-be-true deals from unknown dealers come with malware and extremely unreliable performance.

How to know if you need a mini PC or a PC stick

Depending on your use case, you’ll likely want to prioritize one of three hardware variables: processor speed, RAM, or onboard storage. Plenty of other minor differences affect how and where these types of devices work best, but for most people, they’re too in the weeds.

If you’ll need your computer to handle a lot of user input (e.g. editing images or PowerPoint presentations) or multitasking, processing power will be priority number one, go with a mini PC. 

Lots of RAM has benefits similar to those of a faster processor. But it can also play a significant role when running a standalone, mostly passive app that renders a lot of data (e.g., dashboards, data visualizations, etc.). For use cases when your PC needs to access and manipulate large datasets, go with a mini PC with 16GB of RAM.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for more of a basic media player (e.g., digital signage or an advertising screen), try to estimate how much storage space your content will take up and go with a PC stick if the total is 128GB or less.

Digital signage screens powered by mini PCs and PC stick

Remotely pushing employee and customer engagement messages to screens is one of the most effective uses of small form factor computers. The best digital signage devices have a low profile and rarely require significant processing power, RAM, or storage. Sub-$50 streaming sticks can get the job done but have a low ceiling for capacity, compatibility, and customizability. A full-blown PC running a familiar operating system opens up all kinds of options.

If information-sharing is your primary goal, a PC stick would be more than enough to power a simple slide that consolidates notifications from several team apps or combines separate calendars into a single source of truth.

Upgrade your setup to a mini PC, and you could create more powerful, professional signage, like a screen that moderates user-generated content or a dashboard with an independent zone for showing upcoming office or clinic visitors. And when you want to push more to your screen than the hardware can handle, you can always turn a mini PC into a thin client that merely “streams” content handled by another computer in the cloud or on your local network.

Create screens that communicate with hardware you already have

All it takes to create eye-catching signage is a screen and a WiFi connection. Mini PCs and PC sticks are a convenient, affordable way to add more power to older displays, but they’re not the only option. You’re spoiled for choices when it comes to digital media players, with passable devices as cheap as $35 and high-end hardware coming in just under $600.

ScreenCloud’s compatibility with Android, ChromeOS, Windows, and MacOS, combined with its free 14-day day trial, means you can start experimenting with digital signage in just a few minutes. Plug in that old screen you have lying around, plug in an internet-connected device, and start building!