@Em0nM4stodon I don't know whether it's the best but my favorite such setup is a System76 Merkaat with Linux Mint Cinnamon:

https://journal.paoloamoroso.com/system76-merkaat-with-linux-mint-first-impressions

These days I would probably go with a Tuxedo device though.

@Em0nM4stodon Hardware: any N100 or N150 based mini PC from Beelink, GMKTec, AceMagic, or Minisforum. Lots of them out for under $200 with 16GB RAM and a 500GB SSD (though that may be going up with RAM prices). If you need more horsepower look at those same vendors for anything with a Zen3 or newer processor that has RDNA2 or newer integrated graphics. The channel ETA Prime on YouTube reviews a bunch for gaming use cases. Linux: whatever your favorite distro is that supports the hardware :)

@Em0nM4stodon I got one of these, HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini Intel I5-7500 3.40GHZ 16GB RAM 256GB Windows 11 pro, formatted it first thing (after opening it and making sure everything was good). I installed Proxmox on it, and have my HAOS running on it now. My pi3b+ needed to be replaced and the sdcard died so

@Em0nM4stodon MiniPC? I have had an ITX system with an AMD 5700G for a few years and its nice. Otherwise I really liked my Pi02W with archlinux and i3wm. Not powerful enough to run GUI apps but terminal based stuff was great.

@Em0nM4stodon
The steamdeck. It is a mini PC with a Nintendo Switch form factor. Great to use on any TV not just yours. Awesome on the train. Shipped with Linux so beginner friendly.

@Em0nM4stodon I have a second hand Lenovo ThinkCentre M92p + Manjaro, it's pretty old but for my needs it's great!

@Em0nM4stodon My next mini pc is going to be a HIGOLEPC Mini PC (Celeron N5095 with 16GB DDR4) that I will be installing Debian on to set up for hamradio using 73 Linux.

@Em0nM4stodon

I have a self-built PC running CachyOS with i3 + XLibre. It's a content creation PC that I share with my producer.

@Em0nM4stodon MeLE Quieter 4C running Void Linux. Everything works and it’s actually very performant for a “low end” system.

@Em0nM4stodon Mine indeed 😉

Linux Mint + HP pro Mini 400 G9

Why ?

Its price : second hand used mini PC -> 250 euros
Linux mint : using it for years without errors (failed update only once)

2 x 27" screens ( Hmdi + display port)

I have added a 4TO SSD, and it fulfills all my needs.

@Em0nM4stodon lenovo thinkcenter m910 and Debian. Perfect homelab combo.

The thinkcenter uses a notebook i5 that runs at 4-15 Wats on average and 35 watts when it uses 100% CPU (like Immich classification).

There exists a ton of spare parts and extensions for them. Easy to open and tinker with. And there are many refurbished ones available at around 100€.

@Em0nM4stodon does it need to have no screen? Because I still haven't gotten over how awesome GPD MicroPC 2 is for the price. It's certainly very mini.

And, well, arch btw, ofc.

@Em0nM4stodon@infosec.exchange Beelink SER5 Pro, with Debian 13. upgraded to 62 GB RAM and 4 TB nvme.
https://dasnetzundich.de/neuer-server-daheim/

@Em0nM4stodon #pandering

@Em0nM4stodon KolibriOS, because it is a lightweight heavcy champion:) It floats like a butterfly & sting like a bee. xD

@Em0nM4stodon any old hardware with a dgpu at 4+GB of ram and Bazzite. You'll be able to emulate and play stuff the steam deck can and just have a hassle free time. I want moar but I know it's possible to have fun with very little

@Em0nM4stodon Pretty "vanilla":

OS: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm) x86_64
Host: HP EliteDesk 800 G5 Desktop Mini SBKPF
Shell: zsh 5.9
Resolution: 3840x2160
DE: GNOME 43.9
WM: Mutter
WM Theme: Adwaita
Theme: Adwaita [GTK2/3]
Icons: Adwaita [GTK2/3]
Terminal: gnome-terminal
CPU: Intel i5-9500T (6) @ 3.700GHz
GPU: Intel CoffeeLake-S GT2 [UHD Graphics 630]
Memory: 6799MiB / 31432MiB
Disk: Sandisk Corp WD Black SN770 NVMe SSD (1TB)

(I also don't know how to markdown, apparently)

@Em0nM4stodon got one of those Chinese beelink ones to play around with from work. Messing around with virtualisation is great, let's you do weird cursed stuff and then quickly pretend like nothing happened.