Best desktop mini computer to buy for Ubuntu Mate

Support & Help Requests
#1

I have now successfully migrated over to UM on 2 MacBook laptops and have tested on my iMac as well. It’s working fine however space is an issue as I live in an apartment.

However, starting to consider moving over to a mini desktop and wondering if anyone can recommend the best mini that I should look at for UM?

I recently ran into this article and am interested in several of them but looking first at our community for some feedback.

As always, thanks in advance for your suggestions and replies!

#2

depending on where you live Entroware has a mini desktop with UM installed, for sale that looks pretty decent

#3

Thanks Bernie.

Canada BTW!

#4

Personally, I would buy a NUC. Silent, robust and configurable, so that you can get something quite cheap.

#5

Thanks phocean…will look into.

Appreciate the info!

#6

The last version of intel nuc with vega its a beast. Martin has one with a external gpu

#7

I have the Zotac ci327 Nano and I can recommend it if you’re OK with the specs.

System:    Host: ToyBox Kernel: 4.15.0-38-generic x86_64 bits: 64
           Desktop: MATE 1.20.1  Distro: Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS
Machine:   Device: desktop Mobo: NA model: ZBOX-CI327NANO-GS-01 serial: N/A
           UEFI: American Megatrends v: 5.12 date: 04/13/2017
CPU:       Quad core Intel Celeron N3450 (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB
           clock speeds: max: 2200 MHz 1: 1471 MHz 2: 1775 MHz 3: 1960 MHz
           4: 1948 MHz
Memory:    Array-1 capacity: 16 GB devices: 2 EC: None
           Device-1: ChannelA-DIMM0 size: 4 GB speed: 1600 MT/s type: DDR3
           Device-2: ChannelA-DIMM1 size: 4 GB speed: 1600 MT/s type: DDR3
Graphics:  Card: Intel Device 5a85
           Display Server: X.Org 1.19.6
           drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: [email protected], [email protected]
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 500 (Broxton 2x6)
           version: 4.5 Mesa 18.0.5
Audio:     Card Intel Celeron N3350/Pentium N4200/Atom E3900 Series Audio Cluster
           driver: snd_hda_intel
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-38-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel Wireless 3165 driver: iwlwifi
           IF: wlp1s0 state: up mac: 70:1c:e7:00:00:00
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCIE Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169
           IF: enp2s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full
           mac: 00:01:2e:78:4a:ca
           Card-3: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCIE Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169
           IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full
           mac: 00:01:2e:78:4a:cb
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1120.2GB (78.3% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: LDLC size: 120.0GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdd model: Elements_25A2 size: 1000.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 110G used: 95G (91%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 69.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 266 Uptime: 22 days Memory: 4350.0/7823.3MB
           Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.3.56

It’s not top-of the line hardware, as you can see, however it is a fairly decent desktop and the networking gear does allow you to do interesting things such as this:

There is no driver issue except some tendency of the bluetooth card to lag when running in audio sink mode.

It is a fanless machine so noise is nonexistent if you are running it from a SSD drive.

#8

Thanks for both of the above replies…much appreciated.

I have lots to learn on this subject and will continue to search more into it.

Much appreciated all!