Repurposed Desktop vs New Mini Pc (2026)
An old desktop is free and typically idles at many times the power of a modern mini PC, which over a year of continuous running can cost more than the mini PC did. It is also larger, louder and lacks modern hardware transcoding. Use the old desktop to find out whether you want a server; buy the mini PC once you know you do.
At a glance
| ASUS NUC 15 Pro Barebones Mini PC | Raspberry Pi 5, 8GB | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase cost | High | Low |
| Idle power | Low | Very low |
| Noise | Quiet | Silent |
| Hardware transcoding | Yes | Limited |
| Expandability | Limited | Very limited |
| Running cost per year | Low | Negligible |
Choose the ASUS NUC 15 Pro Barebones Mini PC if…
You are running services continuously and the machine never sleeps. Work out the annual electricity cost of an old desktop at its actual idle draw before deciding it is free, because that number surprises people.
Check ASUS NUC 15 Pro Barebones Mini PC on Amazon
Choose the Raspberry Pi 5, 8GB if…
Your workload is light. A Pi running DNS filtering and home automation costs almost nothing to run and will do that job for years without attention.
Check Raspberry Pi 5, 8GB on Amazon
Related
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Deciding on a specific model? We review the Minisforum Venus UM790 Pro review and ASUS NUC 15 Pro Tall barebones mini PC review in full.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure idle power?
A plug-in energy meter, which costs very little and answers the question in an hour. Estimating from the power supply rating tells you nothing useful.
Is old server hardware a good idea?
Enterprise gear is cheap secondhand and often loud and power hungry, having been designed for a data centre. Check the idle draw and the fan noise before putting one in a house.
What about running services on a machine I already use?
Perfectly reasonable to start, and the limitation is that rebooting your desktop takes the services down. Separation is the reason people move to dedicated hardware.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, drive datasheets, published reliability statistics and verified owner reviews. We do not test hardware in person, and we are not tied to any NAS vendor. Capacity and power figures here are researched guidance, not a warranty. RAID protects against drive failure, not against deletion, ransomware, fire or theft, so keep verified backups regardless of what any calculator tells you.
Working out your own cost per usable terabyte? The Home Server Build Planner is the paid version of these pages: 8 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, plus the full PDF, $29.