Can somebody please deliver the software engineering mini-PC of my dreams? It looks like all the parts are out there. I just need it packaged for software development and content creation.
The AMD Strix Halo architecture packages a very attractive bundle of computer power. Lots of resolution - up to 7680x4320 @ 60Hz. Sixteen cores, 32 threads, LPDDR5X memory up to 128GB, high speed WiFi, Bluetooth (BT), USB4, and Ethernet LAN. I’m delighted to see this kind of computing power delivered in a handheld box for prices less than $2K.
But the current wave of hyper-muscular video servers that are masquerading as Strix mini-PCs doesn’t do it for me. All of the mini-PC I’ve seen have a "plethora" of ports. That’s great for a video server on the back-side of a monitor running a build-status display. That’s great for the dedicated kiosk processor with application specific touch-pads or custom controllers.
For a development machine, its a horrible rat's nest of dongles and wasted opportunities. Let’s take that available screen resolution of 7680x4320 @ 60Hz. Typical delivery on that bandwidth is 1 DP port, 1 HDMI port, and 2 USB-C 4 w/ DP-alt mode ports. This sounds perfect for a kiosk video server. A kiosk OEM might even swap out screen components based on what is cheapest today.
My base station has three 27” Dell UltraSharp monitors, each getting a DP (DisplayPort) feed. I’ll need at least two adapters to drive my monitors. That mini-PC ain’t so mini any more.
The Bad Legacy of Video Servers
I’m just guessing here, but the current offerings for mini-PC look like last season’s video server with a hyper-muscular compute package swapped in. From the outside, it feels like the mini-PC builders took their hyper-flexible video server motherboards and swapped out the old pin-pad for an FP11 socket. The result feels like a NASCAR funny car, too much power and not freeway legal.
The crazy mix of video output sources is just the tip of the iceberg. I get that Strix Halo has built-in controllers for every flavor of USB (4, 3.2, 2.0) and multiple ethernet ports, but let’s focus on the ones that are useful for a dedicated development machine.
Take those ethernet connectors. Two of them? Why? Is this device a router? Maybe this is great if you’re daisy chaining a whole hall filled with video servers, but its wasted real estate for a development machine. In that role, a mini-PC is destined for a life as a network terminal device, not a network communication device. Those RJ-45 ethernet connectors are huge. Drop one, and give me two more USB-C ports. Or use the space for one of the three DP ports that I want.
Audio output? For headphones? Really? Great for driving that speaker in a kiosk. In a kiosk, nobody cares about the fidelity anyway. If I’m going to use the mini-PC for audio, it’s probably with my BT headphones. Maybe one on the front, but some mini-PCs have two!
What’s Needed For Software Development
My development machine is pretty static. I have multiple monitors, but the other peripherals I use are very conventional.
- Three 27” Dell UltraSharp monitors for video display. It’s a sweet setup, but it isn’t very mobile.
- Both the mouse and keyboard are wireless.
- An external video camera for conference calls.
- An external hard drive provides backup.
- I should use a wired Ethernet connection, but WiFi is surprisingly good enough.
That’s it. Everything that isn’t wireless or Ethernet is USB-C.
I can see that folks working with audio or video content would need additional support for media, so an SD slot in front makes sense. Similarly, the Strix Halo is a strong video system, but support for OcuLink to an external GPU seems valuable for content creation.
Getting There
For a mini-PC that targets software developers and content creators, it is essential to focus on a few core principles. Trying to deliver everything for anyone makes it a misfit for me.
Commit to good video, and provide 3 or 4 DP ports for video. I understand the technical appeal of USB-C 4 w/ DP-alt mode, and the marketing push for HDMI to support consumer grade television screens, but none of that is really relevant for a development machine.
Commit to USB-C w/ PD (PowerDelivery). USB-C is the EU standard, it makes sense, it works well. PD helps with everything, too. If I need to connect to a USB-A device, I’ll add a hub. Instead of a barrel connector for DC-in, the USB PD 3.1 EPR standard provides up to 240W.
Detailed Specs
Ranting about problems and spouting platitudes is great fun, but the real work is defining the right mini-PC for software development and content creation work.
I’ve tried to read between the lines of what is out there and what is possible with the available chipsets. It’s not my engineering forte, but here’s my stab at the right device.
Architecture
- AMD Strix Halo
- WiFi
- BT
- 64GB RAM (or more)
- 1TB SSD (slot expandable to 4TB)
- 1x Open SSD (slot expandable to 4TB)
- Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
- Compatible with Linux
Frontside Ports
- Power Button
- Status light
- USB-C 4.0 w /PD out. out
- ? Media Port -> use a hub
- ? Audio -> if marketing insists
Backside Ports
- 3x - 4x DP ports
- 1x RJ-45 Ethernet
- 4x - 6x USB-C 4.0 w /PD out. No DP-alt mode.
- 1x USB w/PD 3.1 EPR in as power (up to 240W).
- ? Kensington Lock
- ? OcuLink
That USB-C w/PD on the front isn’t just another port. I know I will use it to charge my phone.
How About It?
Let's call this the “Strix Halo - Content Generators Edition”. Let it deliver that massive compute power to all the software developers that can really enjoy it and exploit it. But targeting any possible configuration of video and peripherals is such a wasted opportunity.
A system like this probably calls for a new motherboard, with a whole different set of headers for the different IO ports. That engineering is outside of my expertise.
I get this is a niche machine. A market of maybe a few million software and content developers is nothing compared to the billions of video servers out there. Surely there to be enough of us to cover the upfront engineering costs.
Bring it on. Please.
Top comments (2)
Appreciate the detailed research and thoughtful spec—this reads like a solid brief for a dev-first mini PC. If you had to compromise to get it built, is 3–4 native DP non-negotiable, or would 2 DP plus 2 USB‑C (DP‑alt) be acceptable? Also, what would you want preinstalled out of the box (Windows + WSL2/Docker, or a Linux distro)?
I'm open to compromise, but I'm gonna start by dreaming big.
2x DP + 2x C-alt mode is is better than most rigs out there. Do the Halo chips make it difficult to split out the different ports?
Pre-installed Win11 Pro is the safe bet. Linux compatibly is good, but everyone likes their own flavor (Ubuntu, SUSE, etc.).
Do you have this available?