Skip the $1,500 laptop - why Mini PCs are the way to go as RAM prices skyrocket

When my desktop died in December I turned to the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini x and found it a capable, budget-friendly replacement. Launched at the end of 2025, the mini PC delivered an experience close to my usual setup and is worth considering if you’re watching costs as RAM shortages push laptop prices higher.

The IdeaCentre runs Windows on ARM with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 processor and Adreno graphics, and my review unit included 32GB of RAM. That combination kept everyday tasks—web browsing, office work and light photo editing—smooth, and it averaged around a 13,290 multi-core score in Geekbench 6.

Graphics-heavy workloads are where it shows limits: it’s not a creator machine, though some games like Monster Hunter Rise ran acceptably after tweaking settings. The chassis is compact, a bit larger than some minis, and the system stays quiet under load; it warms slightly during sustained use but never to a worrying level.

mini pc, lenovo ideacentre, snapdragon x, adreno graphics, 32gb ram, windows arm, geekbench 6, ram shortages, laptop prices, monster hunter