https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/ Mini PCs forged for your homelab — the IRONHOLD blog. en https://forgepicks.net/favicon.svg https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/ https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/beelink-eqi-304-wildcat-lake.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/beelink-eqi-304-wildcat-lake.html Beelink EQi 304 evaluated: Intel Wildcat Lake, dual Thunderbolt 4, 10GbE + 2.5GbE, from $469. Does it earn an IRONHOLD shortlist slot, or stay a watch-list box? Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/wildcat-lake-vs-eq12.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/wildcat-lake-vs-eq12.html The first Wildcat Lake mini PCs land around $390 — twice the EQ12's $199 — with soldered 12GB RAM and a single 2.5GbE port. The new chip's NPU and USB4 are real wins, but for a home server the older box still wins. Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/what-is-a-nuc.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/what-is-a-nuc.html Intel invented the category in 2013, ASUS carries the badge now, and everyone uses the name for everything. The history - and the three boring reasons no NUC makes our list. Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/mini-pc-and-nas.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/mini-pc-and-nas.html The NAS as a standalone Plex-and-containers box, the brain-and-vault split, a mini PC as the NAS itself, and the USB shortcut to avoid - four patterns, one decision table. Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/what-is-a-mini-pc.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/what-is-a-mini-pc.html The five tiers, the five features that actually separate them (RAM sockets above all), a decision table that starts from the job - and an honest section on when a mini PC is the wrong tool entirely. Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/ram-price-hikes-mini-pc-2026.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/ram-price-hikes-mini-pc-2026.html DRAM prices keep climbing: Corsair hiked its Strix Halo boxes, Acer warned of ~20% PC increases, and the cheapest 32GB DDR5-6000 kit hit $449.97. What it means for your home server. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/gorgon-halo-price-war-2026.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/gorgon-halo-price-war-2026.html AMD's Gorgon Halo platform went from one overpriced box to a four-way price war in a week. What the 192GB Ryzen AI Max+ 495 boxes actually offer — and why none of them are picks. Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/raspberry-pi-5-price-hike-2026.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/raspberry-pi-5-price-hike-2026.html The Pi 5 8GB went from $80 to $175 in three DRAM-driven price hikes. A kitted-out Pi now costs more than our top mini PC pick — so when does the Pi still win? Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/n100-vs-n150-docker-plex.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/n100-vs-n150-docker-plex.html Intel's N150 is a mild refresh of the N100. We break down what actually changes for containers and media serving — and when to just buy the cheaper chip. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/beelink-eq14-vs-gmktec-g3-plus.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/beelink-eq14-vs-gmktec-g3-plus.html Two N150 mini PCs, same silicon, different price tags. A spec-by-spec comparison for home server duty — and why the cheaper one probably wins. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/how-much-idle-power-home-server.html https://forgepicks.net/mini-pcs/blog/how-much-idle-power-home-server.html Your server idles 95% of the time, so idle watts are the spec that matters most. Realistic targets, what reviewers report, and how to measure your own box. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT