Best Expandable Mini PC Under $500?

Elevated Systems • June 24, 2025

Elevated Systems

About

Elevated Systems delivers no-nonsense consumer tech and PC-hardware reviews, practical how-tos, and data-driven benchmarks. From mini PCs, NAS devices, and small-form-factor builds to PC cases, laptops (Framework, Ryzen AI, Intel Core Ultra), GPUs/NPUs (Nvidia, AMD, Intel), and cooling, I test real-world performance, thermals, acoustics, and value. Expect honest recommendations, clear explanations, and user-focused workflows that help you pick the right hardware—and get the most from it. Elevated Systems 6050 Stetson Hills Blvd. STE 223 Colorado Springs, CO 80923

Best Expandable Mini PC Under $500?

Elevated Systems

About

Latest Posts

be quiet! Light Base 500 LX Review – Best Dual Chamber ATX Case?

I Tested UGREEN’s Newest NAS — Here’s the Truth!

M4 Mac Mini vs Intel and AMD Flagships – It's Not Even Close!

The Ultimate Docking Solution? Acasis TBU405 Plus Thunderbolt Hub Review!

You May Also Like

Upgrade Your Desktop Essentials

Intel NUC 13 Pro Mini PC, NUC13ANKI7 Intel Core i7-1360P (12C/16T &amp; Up to 5.0GHz), 32GB 3200Mhz DDR4 RAM &amp; 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, Support 8K/HDR/WiFi6E/BT5.3/Windows 11 Pro/Office/Business

GEEKOM IT13 2025 Mini PC 2025 Edition with 13th Gen Intel i9-13900HK, NUC 13 Mini Computers(14C/20T), 32GB RAM&amp;1T M.2 2280 NVMe Gen4*4 SSD, Windows 11 Pro/Wi-Fi 6E/Bluetooth 5.2/USB 4.0/2.5G LAN

10.1 Inch Touch Portable Monitor IPS Screen 1366x768P 60Hz 400 Brightness 99% sRGB HDMI USB-C Monitors Switch for Xbox PS3/4/5 Laptop Compatible with Raspberry Pi, Mini Touch Screen

ELECROW 8 Inch Portable Monitor, 1280x800 Mini HD Display with Built-in Speakers, USB Powered, Non-Touch LCD Screen for Raspberry Pi, PC, Laptop, Jetson Nano, Game Consoles

7 Inch Portable Monitor Touchscreen HD 1024x600 LED Display Dual HDMI Port Small Monitor for PC Raspberry Pi Laptop Computer Xbox PS4/5 Switch Built-in Speakers

BrosTrend 1800Mbps WiFi 6 Linux WiFi Adapter for PC and Raspberry Pi 2+, Long Range USB WiFi Dongle Linux for Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Zorin, Windows 11/10, Dual Band Wireless Antenna

soundcore P31i by Anker, Real-Time Adaptive Noise Cancelling, Hi-Res Sound, Translation Earbuds, 50H Playtime, Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Earphones, Spatial Audio, Fast Charging, IP55 ClimatePartner certified

Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1) with 4K HDMI Display, 5Gbps - and 2 5Gbps USB-A Data Ports and for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Dell XPS, Lenovo Thinkpad, HP Laptops and More

soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds, 10mm Drivers with Big Bass, Bluetooth 5.3, 30H Long Playtime, IPX5 Water-Resistant, 2 Mics for AI Clear Calls, 22 Preset EQs, Customization via App

Western Digital 2TB WD Blue SA510 SATA Internal Solid State Drive SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5&quot;/7mm, Up to 560 MB/s - WDS200T3B0A

Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage - WDBWLG0040HBK-NESN

Western Digital 4TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0, External HDD with Password Protection and Backup Software - WDBBGB0040HBK-NESN

Western Digital 4TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive HDD, USB 3.0, USB 2.0 Compatible, Black - WDBPKJ0040BBK-WESN

Crucial 64GB DDR5 RAM, 5600MHz (or 5200MHz or 4800MHz) Desktop Memory Kit, UDIMM 288-Pin, Compatible with 13th Gen Intel Core and AMD Ryzen 7000 - CT2K32G56C46U5

Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset: 50mm Drivers - Cardioid Mic - Memory Foam Cushion - Lightweight- Comfortable, Noise Isolating Earcups - for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch - 3.5mm Audio Jack - Black ECOLOGO

Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard With Easy Media Control and Built-in Touchpad, HTPC Keyboard for PC-connected TV, Windows, Android, Chrome OS, Laptop, Tablet - Black

Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse, 2.4GHz with USB Mini Receiver, 12-Month Battery Life, 1000 DPI Optical Tracking, Ambidextrous, Compatible with PC, Mac, Laptop - Black

Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse, Hero 12K Sensor, 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery Life, On-Board Memory, PC/Mac - Black

Logitech G435 Lightspeed and Bluetooth Wireless Gaming Headset - Lightweight Over-Ear Headphones, Built-in mics, 18h Battery, Compatible with Dolby Atmos, PC, Mobile - Black

Dell S2722DC Monitor - 27-inch WQHD (2560x1440) 75Hz 4Ms Display, AMD FreeSync, Built in Speaker, USB Type-C/USB 3.2 Gen 1/HDMI Connectivity, Height/Pivot/Swivel/Tilt Adjustability - Platinum Silver

Dell P2725H 27&quot; Full HD 1920 x 1080 Monitor - 1 Year Warranty, Computer Monitor Screen Bundle with Power Cable + USB 3.0 Upstream Cable + Display Port Cable + HDMI Cable + Microfiber Cloth Included

Dell P2425H Computer Monitor Screen 24&quot; 16:9 IPS Display 100Hz w/Stand - 1 Year Warranty, Full HD, 1920 x 1080 with Power Cord + DisplayPort Cable + HDMI Cable + USB 3.0 Cable + Microfiber Cloth

Acer PM161Q Bbmiuux 15.6&quot; Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen Portable IPS Display | AMD FreeSync Technology | 4ms (G to G) | 2 Speakers | USB Type-C Cable and Mini HDMI Cable

Acer EDA270U Pbmiipx 27" WQHD (2560 x 1440) 1500R Curved Widescreen Gaming Display | AMD FreeSync Premium | 1ms (VRB) | up to 170Hz Refresh | HDR 10 | 2 Speakers | Display Port and HDMI Cable Incl.

TP-Link USB WiFi Adapter for PC(TL-WN725N), N150 Wireless Network Adapter for Desktop - Nano Size WiFi Dongle for Windows 11/10/7/8/8.1/XP/ Mac OS 10.9-10.15 Linux Kernel 2.6.18-4.4.3, 2.4GHz Only

TP-Link USB WiFi Adapter for Desktop PC (Archer T3U Plus) - AC1300Mbps USB 3.0 WiFi Dual Band Network Adapter with 2.4GHz/5GHz High Gain Antenna, MU-MIMO, Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS 10.9-10.15

TP-Link AC1300 USB WiFi Adapter (Archer T3U) - 2.4G/5G Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter for PC Desktop, MU-MIMO WiFi Dongle, USB 3.0, Supports Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS 10.9-10.14

TP-Link AC1300 High Gain WiFi USB Adapter (Archer T4U)- Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter for Desktop with 2.4GHz/5GHz High Gain Antennas, MU-MIMO, Support Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS

CORSAIR Hydro X Series iCUE Link XH405i Custom Cooling Kit – Hardline Water Cooling Loop – XC7 Elite CPU Water Block – XD5 Elite D5 Pump Res – XR5 360mm Radiator – 3X QX120 RGB Fans

Industrial Mini PC Win 10 Pro Mini fanless PC Core i5 4200U, 6xRS232 COM, Dual Gigabit LAN, 8G RAM 256G SSD, HD, VGA, WiFi, BT 4.0, 3G/4G SIM Slot, Industrial Computer for CNC/IOT/Billboard

Fanless Mini PC 13th Gen Core i7 1355U(10C/12T), Win11 Pro Mini Desktop PC Dual 2.5G LAN Mini PC Fanless, Iris Xe Graphics, Dual HD+ DP Triple Display, USB-C, WiFi6, BT5.2, 64GB RAM 1TB NVME SSD

WEIDIAN Mini PC Fanless Industrial Win 11 Pro PC Core i7 10810U 64GB RAM 1TB SSD Mini Desktop Computer GPIO, 4K 2HD+DP, 2LAN, 2COM RS232/422/485, 6USB WiFi&amp;BT RAID Wake On LAN Auto Power On

BOSGAME AG40 Mini PC Fanless, Intel Celeron N4020(up to 2.8GHz), 4GB DDR4 64GB eMMC Mini Desktop Computer, Support 4K HDMI+VGA/WiFi5&amp;BT5.0, 3*USB3.0, Gigabit Network

Loading...

Intel NUC 13 Pro Mini PC, NUC13ANKI7 Intel Core i7-1360P (12C/16T & Up to 5.0GHz), 32GB 3200Mhz DDR4 RAM & 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, Support 8K/HDR/WiFi6E/BT5.3/Windows 11 Pro/Office/Business

GEEKOM IT13 2025 Mini PC 2025 Edition with 13th Gen Intel i9-13900HK, NUC 13 Mini Computers(14C/20T), 32GB RAM&1T M.2 2280 NVMe Gen4*4 SSD, Windows 11 Pro/Wi-Fi 6E/Bluetooth 5.2/USB 4.0/2.5G LAN

Western Digital 2TB WD Blue SA510 SATA Internal Solid State Drive SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5"/7mm, Up to 560 MB/s - WDS200T3B0A

Dell P2725H 27" Full HD 1920 x 1080 Monitor - 1 Year Warranty, Computer Monitor Screen Bundle with Power Cable + USB 3.0 Upstream Cable + Display Port Cable + HDMI Cable + Microfiber Cloth Included

Dell P2425H Computer Monitor Screen 24" 16:9 IPS Display 100Hz w/Stand - 1 Year Warranty, Full HD, 1920 x 1080 with Power Cord + DisplayPort Cable + HDMI Cable + USB 3.0 Cable + Microfiber Cloth

Acer PM161Q Bbmiuux 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen Portable IPS Display | AMD FreeSync Technology | 4ms (G to G) | 2 Speakers | USB Type-C Cable and Mini HDMI Cable

WEIDIAN Mini PC Fanless Industrial Win 11 Pro PC Core i7 10810U 64GB RAM 1TB SSD Mini Desktop Computer GPIO, 4K 2HD+DP, 2LAN, 2COM RS232/422/485, 6USB WiFi&BT RAID Wake On LAN Auto Power On

BOSGAME AG40 Mini PC Fanless, Intel Celeron N4020(up to 2.8GHz), 4GB DDR4 64GB eMMC Mini Desktop Computer, Support 4K HDMI+VGA/WiFi5&BT5.0, 3*USB3.0, Gigabit Network