Used business mini PC vs a new Intel N100 mini PC for a home server
Updated 2026-09-25
New Intel N100/N150 boxes are the other common starting point for a home server. Both are good choices; they are good at different things. The N100 figures below are from Intel's specification page.
| Intel N100 (new mini PC) | Typical used 1-litre business PC | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4 cores / 4 threads, 6 W TDP | 2–14 cores, 35 W "T" desktop CPUs (e.g. i5-8500T: 6 cores) |
| Max memory | 16 GB (Intel spec), single channel | 32–64 GB official, two SODIMM slots |
| Media decode | Includes AV1 decode | 10-bit HEVC from 7th gen; AV1 from 11th gen |
| Expansion | Varies by model; many have 2.5GbE ports built in | PCIe riser on some Lenovo Tiny models; vendor NIC modules on HP |
| CPU upgrade | Soldered | Socketed on most (swap to a better CPU of the same generation) |
| Warranty | New, with warranty | Usually a short seller warranty |
Pick the N100 if
- You want the lowest likely idle power, built-in 2.5GbE and a warranty.
- Your services fit in 16 GB (Home Assistant, Pi-hole, a few containers, Jellyfin with AV1).
Pick a used business mini PC if
- You need more than 16 GB of RAM for VMs, or more CPU threads.
- You want a PCIe slot for 10GbE or a multi-port NIC, or plan a matching three-node cluster cheaply.
Used models that decode AV1 too: filter the finder for AV1 decode.
Intel-based used models in our database: 22.