Best Mini PC Processor in 2026: Every Chip Ranked Before Black Friday
The processor decides almost everything about a mini PC: how fast it feels, whether it can play games, how loud it gets and how long it stays useful. In 2026 the same 128 mm box can hide a 6W Intel N150 or a 16-core gaming-laptop chip, and the names on Amazon listings rarely make the difference clear. This guide ranks the chips you will actually find in mini PCs this Black Friday, using published benchmarks, and tells you which one fits your use.
In short
For most people, the sweet spot this year is an 8-core Ryzen with Radeon 780M graphics (Ryzen 7 8845HS or H 255) or, on a tighter budget, a Ryzen 5 7640HS. They are fast for everyday work and can play games at 1080p low to medium. Pick an Intel N150 only for basic office or server use, an Intel HX chip (i7-14650HX) for heavy CPU work without gaming, and a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 for the best all-round integrated chip. The new Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 is barely faster than the HX 370, so a discounted HX 370 is the smarter Black Friday buy. Strix Halo (Ryzen AI Max+ 395) is the top tier for local AI and 1440p gaming, at a much higher price.
Best value all-rounder: ACEMAGIC K5 with Ryzen 5 PRO 7640HS, 12 threads and Radeon 760M graphics.
Most CPU power for the money: KAMRUI Hyper H2 with Core i7-14650HX, 16 cores, 32GB and 1TB.
This guide replaces an older article
It merges our earlier “What to expect from a mini PC” guide, whose performance tiers were out of date (it described the Ryzen 7 8745HS as Zen 5; it is Zen 4). The reality checks that still hold, on power limits and NPUs, are below with sources.
The ranking: which processor for which job
Four tiers cover almost every mini PC on sale: entry (N150, Core 5 320), mainstream (i5-12600H, Ryzen 5 7640HS), performance (Ryzen 7 8845HS / H 255, Intel HX) and top integrated (Ryzen AI 300 and 400, Panther Lake, Strix Halo).
| Tier | Processors | Good for | Not for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Intel N150 (4 cores) · Intel Core 5 320 (6 cores, Wildcat Lake) | Email, office, video, two or three screens, home servers, very low power | Games, video editing, heavy multitasking |
| Mainstream | Intel Core i5-12600H (12 cores) · AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS (6 cores, 12 threads) | Family and office PC, many tabs, photo editing, coding; light 1080p gaming on the Ryzen | Modern games on the Intel; large AI models |
| Performance | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS / H 255 (8 cores, Radeon 780M) · Intel i7-14650HX (16 cores) | 1080p gaming on the Ryzen; compiling, VMs and exports on the HX | Gaming on the HX (weak graphics); silent desks |
| Top integrated | Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 / HX 470 (12 cores, Radeon 890M) · Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (Panther Lake, Arc B390) · Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (Strix Halo) | Best all-rounders, Copilot+ features, 1080p to 1440p gaming, local AI on Strix Halo | Tight budgets |
Read the exact processor name on a listing, not the box name: ACEMAGIC sells two very different K5s, and Beelink’s SER9 Pro exists with an H 255 or an HX 370. Our guide to choosing a mini PC covers memory, ports and noise.
Processor benchmarks side by side
In Cinebench R23 multi-core, a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 averages about 20,700 points, eight times an Intel N150 (about 2,500). A Ryzen 7 8845HS sits near 16,200, a Ryzen 5 7640HS near 12,600, and Strix Halo reaches over 37,000 in a high-power mini PC.
| Processor | Cores / threads | Cinebench R23 multi | Cinebench 2024 multi | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel N150 | 4 / 4 | ~2,490 (average) | 135 (Beelink ME mini) | Notebookcheck · TechRadar |
| Intel Core 5 320 | 6 / 6 | Not published | 402 (ACEMAGIC K5) | TechRadar |
| AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS | 6 / 12 | 12,554 (average) | 698 (average) | Notebookcheck |
| Intel Core i5-12600H | 12 / 16 | Up to 13,730 (best result) | — | LaptopMedia |
| AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS | 8 / 16 | 16,165 (average) | 869 (average) | Notebookcheck |
| AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 | 8 / 16 | 16,402 (Beelink SER9 Pro) | 923 | Notebookcheck |
| Intel Core i7-14650HX | 16 / 24 | 20,454 (average) · 23,840 (KAMRUI H2) | — | Notebookcheck · MiniPC-Review |
| AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | 12 / 24 | 20,658 (average of 32 systems) | 1,100 (Beelink SER9) | Notebookcheck |
| AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 | 12 / 24 | 23,997 (BOSGAME VTA-439) · 23,208 (Minisforum AI X1 Pro) | 1,118 (AI X1 Pro) | Notebookcheck |
| AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | 16 / 32 | 37,334 (Minisforum MS-S1 Max) | 1,912 | Notebookcheck |
Averages mix laptops and mini PCs run at different power limits; single results come from one machine. Intel’s Panther Lake Core Ultra X7 358H scored 16,461 in Geekbench 6 multi-core in Notebookcheck’s Khadas Mind Pro test, roughly HX 370 territory. Treat gaps under 10% as noise.
Single-core speed, which drives how snappy Windows feels, is much closer: everything from the Core 5 320 up feels quick in daily use. The multi-core gap shows when you export video, compile code or run virtual machines.
Graphics: the bigger difference between chips
In 3DMark Time Spy graphics, a Radeon 760M scores about 2,260, a Radeon 780M about 3,080 and a Radeon 890M about 3,550. Intel’s new Arc B390 in Panther Lake reached 6,984, nearly twice the 890M. Intel HX and N-series chips have only basic graphics.
| Graphics | Found with | Time Spy graphics | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Graphics (24 EU) · UHD (16 EU) | N150 · i7-14650HX | Far below the Radeon 760M | Video, desktops, retro emulation; no modern games |
| Intel Xe (2 Xe cores) | Core 5 320 | 1,693 overall score (TechRadar, K5) | Good media engine; very light games only |
| Radeon 760M (8 CU) | Ryzen 5 7640HS | ~2,260 (average) | Many games at 1080p low |
| Radeon 780M (12 CU) | Ryzen 7 8845HS / H 255 | 3,077 (SER9 Pro) | 1080p low to medium, esports at high frame rates |
| Radeon 890M (16 CU) | Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 / HX 470 | 3,546 (SER9) | About 15–20% faster than the 780M |
| Arc B390 (12 Xe3 cores) | Core Ultra X7 358H | 6,984 (Khadas Mind Pro) | Notebookcheck found it ahead of an RTX 4050 laptop GPU with upscaling |
| Radeon 8060S (40 CU) | Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | Close to a desktop RTX 4060 | 1440p gaming with upscaling; large local AI models |
Sources: Notebookcheck (760M average, SER9 Pro, SER9, Khadas Mind Pro, MS-S1 Max), TechRadar (ACEMAGIC K5). TechRadar’s figure is an overall score, not graphics only, so it is not directly comparable.
This is why a Ryzen 7 8845HS at about 16,000 Cinebench points can be a better buy than an i7-14650HX at 20,000-plus: the Ryzen plays games, the Intel HX does not. Integrated graphics also need two memory channels to perform: a single memory stick can cost a large share of GPU speed, as Notebookcheck found on a Minisforum AI X1 Pro shipped with one module. Our gaming mini PC guide goes further, including dedicated graphics.
Entry tier: Intel N150 and Core 5 320
The N150 is the cheapest chip worth buying in 2026 for office work and home servers. The Core 5 320 is about three times faster in multi-core work, idles at a few watts, and adds a 16 TOPS NPU.
The Intel N150 is a 2025 refresh of the N100 with the same four efficient cores; on Notebookcheck’s averages it is not measurably faster (see our N150 vs N100 vs N97 comparison). It handles office apps, video calls, 4K streaming, Plex transcoding and Home Assistant on very little power, and struggles with heavy multitasking and anything 3D.
The Core 5 320 is Intel’s 2026 successor in this class (Wildcat Lake). TechRadar measured the ACEMAGIC K5 at 402 points in Cinebench 2024 multi-core against 135 for an N150 box, and CNX Software measured about 4W at idle on the Core 3 version of the same PC. Its graphics remain basic. It is the better office PC if the price gap with an N150 is small.
ACEMAGIC K5 (Intel Core 5 320)
Wildcat Lake with 6 cores, 16GB of LPDDR5-6400, 2.5GbE, a 20Gbps USB-C port that can power it, and three 4K outputs.
Check current price on AmazonRead our ACEMAGIC K5 (Intel Core 5 320) review
- About 3x an N150 in multi-core
- About 4W idle (Core 3 version)
- 16 TOPS NPU
- Basic graphics
- 16GB soldered
- Slower bundled SSD
For the cheapest possible office PC or a 24/7 server, an N150 box such as the Beelink EQ14 (dual 2.5GbE, internal power supply) remains the safe choice.
Mainstream tier: Core i5-12600H and Ryzen 5 7640HS
Both reach roughly 12,500 to 13,700 points in Cinebench R23, about five times an N150. Choose the Ryzen 5 7640HS if you want to play games, the i5-12600H if you want upgradable memory.
The Core i5-12600H is a 2022 laptop chip (4 performance and 8 efficient cores) that has become a budget favorite in mini PCs. Its Iris Xe graphics need two memory sticks to run at full speed, and mini PCs such as the KAMRUI Pinova P2 use SO-DIMM slots, so memory can grow later.
The Ryzen 5 PRO 7640HS has six Zen 4 cores with 12 threads and Radeon 760M graphics: many games at 1080p low, which no Intel chip in this tier can match. In the ACEMAGIC K5, memory is soldered at 16GB, which is fine for a family PC but fixed for life. Our ACEMAGIC K5 review compares it with the Intel K5.
ACEMAGIC K5 (Ryzen 5 PRO 7640HS)
Six Zen 4 cores and 12 threads, Radeon 760M graphics, 2.5GbE and three 4K outputs in a 128 mm box.
Check current price on AmazonRead our ACEMAGIC K5 (Ryzen 5 PRO 7640HS) review
- Radeon 760M plays at 1080p low
- 12 threads
- 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 6
- 16GB soldered
- No USB4 or OCuLink
KAMRUI Pinova P2 (Core i5-12600H)
12 cores and 16 threads with two SO-DIMM slots, two M.2 slots and three 4K outputs.
Check current price on AmazonRead our KAMRUI Pinova P2 (i5-12600H) review
- Memory up to 64GB
- Two M.2 slots
- Three 4K60 screens
- Iris Xe needs two sticks
- Gigabit Ethernet only
- Not for modern games
Performance tier: Ryzen 7 8845HS / H 255 and Intel HX
The Ryzen 7 8845HS and H 255 (about 16,200 points) are the best balance of CPU, graphics and price this year. The Intel i7-14650HX (about 20,500 to 23,800) is faster for pure CPU work, but its graphics are basic.
The Ryzen 7 8845HS and the Ryzen 7 H 255 (a 2025 name for the 8745H design, without an active NPU according to Notebookcheck) pair eight Zen 4 cores with Radeon 780M graphics. They handle development, video editing and 1080p gaming at low to medium settings, often with USB4 or OCuLink for an external graphics card. I use a GMKtec K8 Plus with an 8845HS as my main PC for web development and spreadsheets: it is more than enough for that, and its fan is clearly audible in performance mode in a quiet room, while the balanced mode is much calmer.
Intel’s 14th-gen HX chips come from gaming laptops. In the KAMRUI Hyper H2, MiniPC-Review measured 23,840 points with the i7-14650HX and about 55W sustained. That makes it the cheapest route to 16 cores for compiling, Docker, virtual machines and CPU video encoding. The trade-offs: basic graphics, Gigabit Ethernet and an audible fan under long loads. Our KAMRUI H2 vs ACEMAGIC M5 comparison covers both HX boxes.
KAMRUI Hyper H2 (Core i7-14650HX, 32GB, 1TB)
16 cores and 24 threads with 32GB of dual-channel DDR4 and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, upgradable to 64GB.
Check current price on AmazonRead our KAMRUI Hyper H2 (i7-14650HX, 32GB, 1TB) review
- 16 cores / 24 threads
- 32GB in two SO-DIMM slots
- Three 4K outputs
- Basic graphics, not for games
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Loud during long renders
Top tier: Ryzen AI 300 and 400, Panther Lake, Strix Halo
The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is the best all-round integrated chip at a reasonable price. The 2026 HX 470 adds about 7% on average, so a discounted HX 370 is the better deal. Panther Lake brings much stronger Intel graphics; Strix Halo is in a class of its own.
The HX 370 combines 12 Zen 5 cores, Radeon 890M graphics and a 50 TOPS NPU that qualifies for Copilot+ features. In the Beelink SER9, Wccftech measured about 10W at idle and 56W under load at the default setting. Its 2026 refresh, the HX 470, keeps the same graphics and features: Notebookcheck measured a BOSGAME VTA-439 at 23,997 points in Cinebench R23 against a 20,658 average for the HX 370, but only about 7% ahead of the average HX 370 system across its tests, and concluded that “this year’s refresh is arguably a holdover in terms of performance and features”. In the same Minisforum chassis, the HX 470 was only 2% ahead in Cinebench R23 and behind in Cinebench 2024, because that unit shipped with a single memory stick. Pay extra for the HX 470 only if the price gap is tiny.
Intel’s Panther Lake (Core Ultra series 3) reached mini PCs in 2026. The Core Ultra X7 358H with Arc B390 graphics nearly doubles the Radeon 890M in Time Spy, but few boxes carry it yet, and lower models such as the Core Ultra 7 356H in the ASUS NUC 16 Pro lack the B390 (Notebookcheck). Check the exact graphics before paying for “Panther Lake”.
Strix Halo (Ryzen AI Max+ 395) is the top of the range: 16 Zen 5 cores, a 40-CU Radeon 8060S and up to 128GB of shared memory. It is the only integrated chip that runs 70B to 120B AI models at home. See our Strix Halo explainer and local AI guide.
Reality check: power limits, NPUs and memory
A mini PC runs laptop chips at about 25 to 65W sustained, so the same processor can score differently from one box to another. NPUs matter for Copilot+ features, not for chatbots. And memory is getting more expensive, so buy enough now.
- Power limits decide performance. The KAMRUI H2 holds its HX chip at about 55W sustained (MiniPC-Review), the Beelink SER9 its HX 370 at 54W (Notebookcheck), and the Minisforum MS-S1 Max lets Strix Halo reach 160W.
- NPUs are for Windows features. Copilot+ needs a 40 TOPS NPU: the HX 370, HX 470, Strix Halo and Panther Lake qualify; the 8845HS (16 TOPS), Core 5 320 (about 16) and 7640HS (10) don’t. Local chatbots mostly run on the GPU and memory instead: see what an NPU really does.
- Memory prices keep rising. TrendForce expects conventional DRAM contract prices to rise another 10 to 15% in the fourth quarter of 2026, and NAND flash 15 to 20%. Soldered memory can never be upgraded, so choose 32GB now if you plan to keep the PC for years. Background in our RAM crisis guide.
What to buy this Black Friday
Decide on the tier first, then wait for a real discount on a proven chip: an HX 370, an 8845HS or a 7640HS on sale is a better deal than paying full price for a 2026 refresh.
- Office, school, home server: N150 if the budget is tight, Core 5 320 or i5-12600H if you can spend a little more.
- Family PC that also games: Ryzen 5 7640HS, or Ryzen 7 8845HS / H 255 for more headroom.
- Coding, VMs, exports, no gaming: i7-14650HX with 32GB.
- Best all-rounder with Copilot+: Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (or HX 470 at almost the same price).
- Local AI and 1440p gaming: Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with 64GB or 128GB.
Black Friday falls on November 27 and Cyber Monday on November 30 this year. Inflated list prices are common, so check the price history with our guide to spotting fake deals. We gather verified offers on our Black Friday page and in today’s mini PC deals.
| Model | CPU | Graphics | Memory | Storage | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beelink EQ14 | Intel N150 · 4 cores, 6W | Intel Graphics (24 EU) | 16GB DDR4 · 1 SO-DIMM | 500GB NVMe · M.2 | Dual 2.5GbE · Wi-Fi 6 | Check price |
| ACEMAGIC K5 (Intel Core 5 320) | Core 5 320 (Wildcat Lake) · 6 cores / 6 threads | Intel Xe (2 Xe cores) | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 (soldered) | 512GB NVMe + free M.2 2280 slot (PCIe 4.0 x2) | 2.5GbE · Wi-Fi 6 | Check price |
| ACEMAGIC K5 (Ryzen 5 PRO 7640HS) | Ryzen 5 PRO 7640HS · 6 cores / 12 threads | Radeon 760M (8 CU) | 16GB LPDDR5-5500 (soldered) | 512GB NVMe + free M.2 2280 slot (up to 8TB) | 2.5GbE · Wi-Fi 6 | Check price |
| KAMRUI Pinova P2 (i5-12600H) | Core i5-12600H · 12 cores / 16 threads | Intel Iris Xe (80 EU, dual-channel memory) | 16GB DDR4 · 2× SO-DIMM, up to 64GB | 512GB NVMe + 2nd M.2 slot, up to 4TB | Gigabit LAN · Wi-Fi 6 | Check price |
| GMKtec K8 Plus | Ryzen 7 8845HS · 8 cores / 16 threads | Radeon 780M | DDR5-5600 · 2 SO-DIMM, up to 96GB | 2× M.2 PCIe 4.0 | Dual 2.5GbE · Wi-Fi 6E | Check price |
| KAMRUI Hyper H2 (i7-14650HX, 32GB, 1TB) | Core i7-14650HX · 16 cores / 24 threads | Intel UHD Graphics (16 EU) | 32GB DDR4-3200 · 2× SO-DIMM, up to 64GB | 1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 + 2nd M.2 (NVMe/SATA), up to 4TB | Gigabit LAN · Wi-Fi 6 | Check price |
| Peladn HO5 | Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 · 12 cores | Radeon 890M | 32GB LPDDR5X-7500 (soldered) | 1TB NVMe + free M.2 slot | 2.5GbE · Wi-Fi 7 | Check price |
| GMKtec EVO-X2 | Ryzen AI Max+ 395 · 16 cores | Radeon 8060S · 40 CU (integrated) | 64GB or 128GB LPDDR5X-8000 (soldered) | 1TB NVMe | 2.5GbE · Wi-Fi 7 | Check price |
Complete your setup
Every chip in this guide drives at least two 4K screens, and a 27-inch monitor with a built-in USB hub lets you hide the mini PC behind it.
Amazon Basics 27-inch 120Hz IPS Monitor
A 27-inch 120Hz IPS monitor with a four-port USB hub and a VESA mount, so the mini PC can sit behind the screen.
Check current price on AmazonMore options, from budget screens to 4K USB-C models, in our best monitor for a mini PC guide.
FAQ
What is the best processor for a mini PC in 2026?
For most buyers, an 8-core Ryzen 7 8845HS or Ryzen 7 H 255 with Radeon 780M graphics offers the best balance of speed, graphics and price. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is the best all-round integrated chip if you can spend more, and the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (Strix Halo) is the top choice for local AI.
Is the Intel N150 good enough?
For email, office apps, video calls, streaming and home servers, yes. It scores about 2,500 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, roughly a fifth of a Ryzen 5 7640HS, so it is too slow for gaming, video editing or heavy multitasking.
Is the Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 worth it over the HX 370?
Rarely. Both have 12 cores, Radeon 890M graphics and a 50 TOPS NPU. Notebookcheck found the HX 470 about 7% faster than the average HX 370, and only 2% ahead in the same Minisforum chassis. Buy whichever is cheaper.
Intel or AMD for a mini PC?
AMD Ryzen chips usually have much stronger integrated graphics, so they are better for gaming and local AI. Intel wins on low power at the entry level (N150, Core 5 320), on raw CPU cores per dollar with the HX chips, and on Quick Sync video transcoding for Plex. Intel’s new Panther Lake with Arc B390 graphics changes the picture at the high end, but few mini PCs use it yet.
Do I need an NPU in a mini PC?
Only for Windows Copilot+ features such as Recall and live captions, which need a 40 TOPS NPU. Local chatbots and image generators mostly run on the GPU and memory, so a powerful GPU and 32GB or more of memory matter more for local AI.
Does the same processor perform the same in every mini PC?
No. Each brand sets its own power limits and cooling. The same HX 370 scored 21,529 to 21,897 points in Cinebench R23 in two mini PCs tested by Notebookcheck, and memory configuration can matter even more: a single memory stick cuts graphics and some CPU performance.
Related
- How to choose a mini PC
- Intel N150 vs N100 vs N97
- ACEMAGIC K5 review
- KAMRUI H2 vs ACEMAGIC M5
- Beelink SER9 Pro AI review
- Black Friday mini PC deals
Sources
- Notebookcheck, Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 vs HX 370 (Jun 24, 2026): BOSGAME VTA-439 results, HX 370 average
- Notebookcheck, Minisforum AI X1 Pro with Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 review (Mar 4, 2026): single-stick memory bottleneck
- Notebookcheck, Khadas Mind Pro (Core Ultra X7 358H) tested (Feb 21, 2026): Geekbench 6, Time Spy
- Notebookcheck, ASUS NUC 16 Pro with Panther Lake (Mar 9, 2026): Core Ultra 7 356H without Arc B390
- Notebookcheck, AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS benchmarks (Cinebench averages, 16 TOPS NPU)
- Notebookcheck, AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS benchmarks (Cinebench averages, NPU)
- Notebookcheck, Intel Core i7-14650HX benchmarks (Cinebench average)
- Notebookcheck, Radeon 760M benchmarks (3DMark average)
- Notebookcheck reviews of the Beelink SER9 (HX 370), Beelink SER9 Pro (Ryzen 7 H 255), GEEKOM A9 Max and Minisforum MS-S1 Max, and Intel N150 averages, as summarized in our linked reviews
- TechRadar, Acemagic K5 review (Sep 29, 2026): Core 5 320 Cinebench 2024 and Time Spy, N150 comparison
- CNX Software, ACEMAGIC Kron Mini K5 (Core 3 304) review (Sep 6, 2026): idle and load power
- LaptopMedia, Intel Core i5-12600H (Cinebench R23 results)
- MiniPC-Review, KAMRUI Hyper H2 review (Oct 13, 2026): i7-14650HX results, sustained power
- Wccftech, Beelink SER9 review: idle and load power at 54W and 65W
- Communications Today, citing TrendForce: DRAM market to stay tight in Q4 as prices rise 10–15% (Sep 30, 2026)
- Microsoft, Copilot+ PCs (40+ TOPS NPU)