HP Elite Mini 800 G9

Buy it for a tidy, quiet office workhorse. But if you need any graphical oomph or plan to store more than a few files locally, you'll outgrow this thing fast.

HP's Elite Mini 800 G9 is a pint-sized desktop that does one thing really well: tidy office work. It's not a gaming rig, not a creative powerhouse, but if you need a Windows 11 Pro machine that disappears behind your monitor and handles a dozen Chrome tabs, Outlook, and Excel without breaking a sweat, this little box delivers. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM and the Core i5-12500T are perfectly suited for that, even if the 256GB SSD feels stingy.

However, the compact design comes with trade-offs. The integrated graphics are only good for basic display output, and that 256GB drive is going to fill up fast once you install a few apps and start syncing your OneDrive. Our performance database shows it's in the bottom 20% for storage capacity, which is a bummer when some competitors start with 512GB.

What surprised us is how composed this mini PC stays under load. The 12500T is a low-power chip, so it never gets loud, and it sips just 90W. It's not a speed demon—our numbers put it in the lower half for CPU muscle—but for everyday office tasks, everything feels instant. It boots in under 10 seconds, Word opens instantly, and we never noticed a stutter during a full day of video calls and browser tabs. Just don't try to do any 3D rendering or serious photo editing; the integrated graphics bog down fast, with GPU performance ranking near the bottom third of all desktops we've tested.

We've seen this exact configuration listed anywhere from $795 to an absurd $28,590—clearly some sellers are smoking something. At the real street price around $800, it's a fair deal for a business-oriented mini PC with Windows 11 Pro. But if you're paying over a grand, you're getting fleeced. Keep an eye on HP's official store; they often have the best price for this model.

The obvious rival is Apple's Mac mini M4. That machine crushes the HP in raw performance, sips even less power, and starts with 256GB storage too—but you're locked into macOS. For Windows-based offices, the Elite Mini 800 G9 makes sense, especially with its five USB-A ports for older peripherals. The Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny or Dell OptiPlex Micro are similar Windows alternatives, but the HP's build quality and port selection give it a slight edge in a crowded field.

Skip this if you're a gamer, a video editor, or anyone who hoards files. The integrated graphics choke on anything beyond Solitaire, and 256GB will have you juggling USB drives in a month. Grab a Lenovo Legion Tower 5i if you need a GPU, or the Mac mini M4 if macOS is on the table and you want more power per dollar.

The HP Elite Mini 800 G9 is a solid pick for a no-fuss office PC, provided you get it at a reasonable price and accept that 256GB is just enough to get started. It's quiet, unobtrusive, and handles real work without complaint. For a hybrid worker who wants a Windows machine that can bounce between home and office, this is a great little desktop. Just factor in a USB-C hub or external SSD if you need more connectivity or storage.