Ultra compact HTPC

aisle9 · May 25, 2021

So I'm looking for an HTPC because my current one (Beelink U55), while incredibly compact, is loud as hell and the iGPU can't hold 1080p resolution on YouTube videos. Repasting and cleaning did nothing to help this. I mean, it stays silent for another 10 seconds or so before going rocket mode, then spins down a little early. That's nice, but it just means that it now has a cycle of loud to quiet instead of just staying loud, and the cycle's almost worse. My options are below. I can get the two mini-PCs for well below the listed price. The Celeron stick would actually cost me less than the Pi 4, so that might be useful info there.

Option 1: Yes, it's a passively cooled Celeron stick. But I can get it for under $100, it's got UHD 600 graphics that are, at least theoretically, capable of 30 Hz 4K video, and it's fanless. Oh, and it's insanely portable. I'd want to put Linux on it and maybe treat it as a little portable emulation stick for NES/SNES/Genesis stuff. But it's still a low-clocked Celeron. A four-core Celeron at least, but a Celeron.

Option 2: A Raspberry Pi 4, 4GB or 8GB. I do not have any accessories for this and would want at least a passive case, plus the power supply for it. At 4GB, a basic kit + passive case would cost a little more than the Celeron stick.

Option 3: It's not going to be this. But damn, do I want it to be this. Lots of power in a tiny box, and I could get it well under $200. Unfortunately, the reviews all talk about the fan being blisteringly loud, and that's what I'm trying to get away from...

Option 4: Man up and keep using the U55, even though this is in my bedroom.

Any ideas?