There is no universal winner. To find out whether a mini PC or VPS costs less for 24/7 YouTube streaming, measure the mini PC’s average power draw at the wall while it encodes your intended stream, apply your electricity plan’s usage rates, and compare that total—including hardware cost—with a current VPS quote covering the right region, instance, data and storage. A mini PC’s electricity bill alone is not the whole comparison, and a VPS price without its traffic terms is not a like-for-like figure.
How much does it cost to run a mini PC 24/7 in Australia? The short answer is that cost depends on its measured wattage and your tariff. The examples below show the arithmetic, not measured mini-PC results or a single Australian average.
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How to calculate a mini PC’s 24/7 electricity cost
For an ordinary 365-day year, use:
Annual electricity cost (AUD) = average wall draw (W) × 8,760 ÷ 1,000 × usage rate (AUD/kWh)
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →That is also average watts × 8.76 × dollars per kWh. The calculation assumes the device draws the same average power continuously; a leap year has 8,784 hours. Use the usage charge for your plan, not the supply charge, unless you are calculating a broader bill change. A separate internet-plan cost is not incremental unless streaming changes your plan or bandwidth bill.
#1 Best Overall
- 【AMD Ryzen 4300U True 4-Core CPU: Outperforms N95 & i3-10110U】KAMRUI P2 Mini PC is equipped with true 4-core AMD Ryzen 4300U processor built on advanced 7nm Zen2 architecture，This means you get consistent, unthrottled performance for hours on end, whether you’re running multiple browser tabs, streaming 4K content, or managing virtual machines. Compare that to Intel N95 (4 efficiency cores that throttle under load) or Intel i3-10110U (only 2 cores total), and the difference is night and day: The KAMRUI P2 AMD Ryzen 4300U (28W) is 40% faster than the Intel i3-10110U and 25% faster than the Intel N95 in multi-core tasks, ensuring smooth, lag-free performance even during heavy workloads.
- 【Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics: 2.5X Stronger for Tri 4K】The KAMRUI P2 AMD 4300U Mini PC have unlocked the full potential of the built-in AMD Radeon Vega 5 graphics with 28W power delivery, making it 2.5 times stronger than the Intel UHD graphics found in the N95 and i3-10110U. This means you can enjoy Tri 4K@60Hz displays without a single stutter, perfect for productivity setups, home theaters, or even light photo/video editing and casual gaming. While the Intel N95/i3-10110U struggle to run a single 4K display without lag, The KAMRUI AMD 4300U Mini PC handles Tri 4K effortlessly, turning your workspace into a high-efficiency hub or your living room into a premium entertainment center.
- 【Large Storage Capacity, Easy Expansion】KAMRUI Pinova P2 mini computers is equipped with 16GB LPDDR4 for faster multitasking and smooth application switching. 512GB M.2 SSD ensures fast startup, fast file transfers and plenty of storage space,eliminating slow loading times and ensuring fast responsiveness. the two storage slots (1x M.2 2280 SATA/NVMe PCIe3.0 slot, 1x M.2 2280 SATA slot) can be combined to provide up to 4TB of total storage(Not included). This gives you enough space for all your projects, media and data.
- 【4K Triple Display】KAMRUI Pinova P2 4300U mini desktop computers is equipped with HDMI2.0 ×1 +DP1.4 ×1+USB3.2 Gen2 Type-C ×1 interfaces for faster transmission, Triple 4K@60Hz Display, KAMRUI P2 mini computer is ideal for visual home entertainment, home office, conference rooms, etc. USB3.2 Gen2 Type-A port ×2 with a transfer speed of up to 10 Gbps (21 times faster than USB 2.0) for efficient data transfer. Ideal for seamless multitasking between spreadsheets, browsers and presentations, or for an immersive entertainment experience.
- 【USB3.2 Gen2 Type-C 10Gbps, Versatile connectivity】KAMRUI P2 mini desktop pc fast and versatile connectivity! The USB3.2 Gen2 Type-C port offers a data transfer rate of 10Gbps and simultaneously supports DisplayPort 1.4 video output. The P2 AMD Ryzen 4300U Mini PC is complemented by Gigabit LAN, WiFi and Bluetooth, so nothing stands in the way of a productive working environment.
Measure the workload, not just idle power
- Connect a plug-in power meter between the mini PC and the wall outlet.
- Run the actual streaming workload: intended encoder, codec, resolution, frame rate, audio and any other software you will keep running.
- Measure over a representative period that captures normal operation, then use the average watts in the formula. An idle-only reading may understate the draw during encoding.
- Multiply by your applicable usage rate. If your tariff changes by time of day, estimate the energy used in each period and apply that period’s rate rather than treating the whole day as off-peak.
The meter reading is specific to that device and workload. A “mini PC” label does not establish a typical 24/7 encoding wattage.
Australian electricity rates: use your own tariff
The Australian Energy Regulator’s 2026–27 Default Market Offer took effect on 1 July 2026. It is a reference and safety-net offer for standing offers in New South Wales, South Australia and South East Queensland—not a national tariff, a market-plan quote or necessarily the lowest available price. Retailer, distribution area, plan and tariff determine what you pay. Check your bill or current local offer; if you use a time-of-use plan, include the hours spent in each rate window. The AER’s current DMO tables show the relevant area and tariff examples, while its 2026–27 release explains the determination.
Rank #2
- 【Great power in a small computer】Get fast performance from the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U CPU (2.1GHz-3.7GHz, 4 Cores 8 Threads) inside this mini pc, TDP 15W up to 25W. It's perfect for all your home office and business use, like daily computing, web browsing, and smooth media streaming. This small desktop computer handles everyday tasks easily and quietly.
- 【Work on many things at once with lots of storage】This mini PC comes with 16GB of fast DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 32GB), allowing you to smoothly run multiple programs, dozens of browser tabs, and large files all at once. It also features a spacious 512GB NVMe SSD that provides ample storage and delivers dramatically faster boot-ups, app launches, and file transfers compared to a traditional hard drive.
- 【See everything clearly on one or two 4K screens】Connect one or two monitors for more space to work or play. Dual HDMI ports on this mini pc support super sharp 4K Ultra HD video. It's great for doubling your work area for business or watching movies in high definition.
- 【Fast modern connections in a tiny box】Enjoy a better and more stable internet connection with the latest WiFi 6. Use Bluetooth 5.3 to connect wireless headphones, keyboards, and mice without wires. This small pc is very compact to save desk space and has extra USB ports (USB 2.0×2, USB 3.0×2, Type-c 2.0×1, Type-c 3.2 full featured×1, HDMI×2) for your printer, webcam, or other computer accessories.
- 【Reliable Warranty and Support】We provides 1 year warranty for each Mini computers. So you don't need to worry about any product problems. If you have any questions about the product, please contact our customer service, we will provide 24-hour professional technical support and serve you at any time.
For illustration, the AER’s current DMO page lists an Ausgrid NSW residential flat usage rate of 33.14 c/kWh. It also lists an Ausgrid time-of-use example of 24.04 c/kWh from 9:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 60.20 c/kWh from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm, plus a 24.15 c/kWh overnight example for a different region. These are regulated standing-offer examples, not recommended rates or prices that necessarily apply to your plan. Continuous streaming crosses tariff windows, so do not use the off-peak rate for all 24 hours.
Illustrative annual costs at two example rates
The following values are arithmetic scenarios, not measured power draws for any particular mini PC. They apply the formula above to the cited example rates.
Rank #3
- 【AMD Ryzen 3 5300U CPU: Outperforms N150 & 3500U】 BOSGAME E5 mini PC is powered by the TSMC 7nm FinFET architecture AMD Ryzen 3 5300U processor (4 Cores, 8 Threads, up to 3.8GHz boost, 6MB total cache). Compared to low-end Intel N150 or 3500U chips which only have 4 single threads and throttle under load, the 5300U delivers over 30% faster multi-core speed. Run 30+ browser tabs, large Excel sheets, and Zoom meetings simultaneously without system lag.
- 【8GB DDR4 RAM & 256GB NVMe SSD Storage】 Installed with high-speed 8GB DDR4 dual-channel memory and a fast 256GB M.2 2280 SSD, eliminating slow boot times and application loading delays. To accommodate growing data requirements, the upgradeable hardware design features dual SODIMM slots that allow you to expand memory up to 64GB RAM, ensuring smooth operation during heavy multitasking.
- 【High-Capacity Dual M.2 SSD Storage Expansion】 Never worry about running out of space for your business files. In addition to the pre-installed 256GB system drive, the motherboard houses an extra empty internal M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 slot. This allows you to easily add a second solid-state drive for up to an additional 2TB of storage capacity (upgrades not included) without needing to remove or reinstall the original operating system.
- 【Radeon 6-Core Graphics & Triple 4K Displays】 Integrated with official AMD Radeon Graphics (6 Graphics Cores, 1500 MHz frequency) for casual gaming, photo editing, and crisp 4K media decoding. Featuring 1x HDMI 2.0 port, 1x DisplayPort, and 1x Full-Function Type-C port, the E5 outputs true 4K@60Hz resolution to three monitors at once. This multi-screen setup eliminates constant window-switching for traders, programmers, and office workers.
- 【Dual 2.5GbE LAN Ports for Advanced Networking】 Experience fast wired network transmission speeds up to 2500Mbps without lagging or buffering. The integration of dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports (powered by Realtek RTL8125 controller) makes this compact computer an exceptional hardware choice for tech enthusiasts. Easily configure it into software routers, hardware firewalls (pfSense, OpnSense), home NAS servers, or local homelabs.
| Average wall draw | Annual energy | At 24.15 c/kWh | At 33.14 c/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 W | 87.6 kWh | About A$21.16/year | About A$29.04/year |
| 20 W | 175.2 kWh | About A$42.31/year | About A$58.08/year |
| 30 W | 262.8 kWh | About A$63.47/year | About A$87.12/year |
Both rates are examples listed on the AER’s current 2026–27 DMO page, not an Australian average or an indication of your particular bill. Replace them with your actual rate; for time-of-use billing, weight the rate by the hours in each tariff period.
Is a mini PC cheaper than a VPS for 24/7 YouTube streaming?
It cannot be determined from electricity cost alone. A fair annual comparison includes the mini PC’s measured electricity, purchase cost spread over the replacement period you choose, and any material peripherals, against the VPS’s current total charges for the required region and workload. Verify whether outbound video traffic is included or billed, and whether storage or other charges apply. Do not assume egress is always free or always charged.
Rank #4
- Office Gaming Mini PC - UPGRADED GMKtec Nucbox M5 Ultra Series is equipped with the powerful AMD Ryzen 7 7730U processor, 8 Cores/16 Threads, Base 2.00GHz (Power Saving Quiet Mode) with Turbo Boost up to 4.50GHz (Performance Mode) in BIOS settings, Based on the ZEN 3+ architecture, this small but powerful mini pc delivers satisfying results in productivity, office work, and gaming. 35% Performance increase over AMD Ryzen 5 7430U/ Ryzen 7 5700U, 5600U, 5560U, 5500U.
- 16GB DDR4 RAM & 256GB PCIe SSD - Installed with DDR4 16GB RAM (1x16GB), the Nucbox M5 Ultra mini pc support expansion to 64GB RAM. Featured with 256GB M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 SSD, support dual slot expansion to 4TB SSD. (Upgrades not included)
- DUAL NIC LAN 2.5G RJ45 - Fast Network Speeds: Enjoy up to 2500Mbps data transmission speed without worrying about lagging. Ideal for working, gaming, and surfing the internet. Great for Untangle, Pfsense or as a server office PC.
- Mini Desktop Computer with 4K Triple Screen Display - Nucbox M5 Ultra integrates AMD Radeon Graphics 8 Cores 2000 MHz GPU to deliver powerful graphics processing power to easily handle the demands of complex design software, 4K@60Hz UHD video editing, and playback. It can connect to 3 display screens simultaneously.
- Fast Internet WiFi 6E + BT5.2 Connection - GMKtec Mini PC with WiFi-6E Wireless, have 2.5G/5G/6G triple band, more faster and lower latency. Bluetooth 5.2 allowing you more quickly to connect other wireless devices (headset, mouse, keyboard, etc.) Interface features 2*USB3.2 ports, 2*USB2.0 ports, 1*HDMI 2.0 port(4K@60Hz), 1*USB-C port(PD/DP/DATA), 1*DP Port, 1*Audio 3.5mm (HP&MIC), 1*DC Power Port.
| Comparison factor | Mini PC at home | VPS |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring cost | Measured average watts × annual hours × your usage rate | Current quote for the instance and region, plus applicable data, storage and other charges; a comparable price is not established here |
| Up-front cost | Purchase price, plus material peripherals | Depends on the provider and selected service; obtain a current quote |
| Encoding capability | Must sustain the chosen codec, resolution and frame rate | Must sustain the chosen codec, resolution and frame rate |
| Network and traffic | Home upload must sustain the stream; account for tariff and bandwidth terms | Check region, outbound-video traffic terms and network service details |
| Operations | You provide monitoring, maintenance and recovery | Check what monitoring, restart behavior, support and recovery the selected service provides |
Neither option is guaranteed to encode reliably just because it is a mini PC or VPS. The correct comparison depends on a named device tested under your target workload and a dated VPS quote with its data and storage terms. Those inputs can change which option is cheaper.
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Account for hardware life and replacement
Electricity is a recurring cost; hardware purchase is an up-front cost. To compare total cost of ownership over a chosen number of years, add the measured annual power cost for each year and allocate the purchase cost over the replacement horizon you consider realistic. Include peripherals only where they add a material cost. Avoid treating the full purchase price as a recurring annual charge or ignoring it altogether.
Best Value
- WHY CHOOSE G3 ULTRA MINI PC PENTIUM GOLD 7505 - Choose the Intel Pentium Gold 7505 for snappier everyday responsiveness: It delivers up to 30% faster single-core performance than the Ryzen 5 3500U, making office apps and web browsing feel noticeably quicker, while its Intel UHD Graphics (48 EUs) provides 2.4x the GPU performance of the N100 & N150's 24-EU graphics, ensuring smoother 4K streaming and light photo editing.
- 16GB RAM MEMORY & 512GB STORAGE - GMKtec Nucbox G3 Ultra mini computer is prebuilt with 16GB LPDDR4 RAM at 3200 MT/s, you will enjoy a speedier experience with Built-in 512GB M.2 SATA Hard Drive. Our mini desktop pc boots up in seconds, work on multiple browser tabs, software applications and quickly transfers files. There is a primary slot and secondary expansion storage. Primary slot is M.2 2280 PCIE and secondary slot is M.2 2280 SATA.
- RICH INTERFACE - Nucbox pentium mini computer is equipped with 3* USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, up to 10Gbps/S, 1*USB 2.0, HDMI(4K@60Hz)*2, 3.5mm Audio Jack. Supports WiFi 6, and Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 2.5GbE network connectivity, Bluetooth 5.2. This Mini PC supports multiple device connection and can be used with servers, monitoring equipment, office equipment, displays, projectors, televisions, etc.
- 4K DUAL SCREEN DISPLAY - Mini desktop computer is equipped with upgraded Intel Graphics(max 1000MHz), supports 4K video playback and AV1 decoding, connect the pc with a projector as a home theatre, enjoy a variety of entertainments. Two HDMI 2.0 ports allows you to multi-task efficiently on two 4K@60Hz displays.
- UPGRADED COOLING FAN - The G3 Ultra has upgraded the cooling fan to reduce fan noise and thermals. We are using an upgraded thermal paste as well to help reduce heat on the CPU.
Check that the setup can keep the stream healthy
Cost matters only if the setup can deliver the intended stream. YouTube says live streaming requires a verified channel with no live-stream restrictions in the previous 90 days. For an encoder stream, test it in advance, preview it in Live Control Room and monitor stream health. YouTube recommends tests with audio and movement representative of the actual broadcast. YouTube’s encoder setup guidance covers setup requirements; its encoder settings page lists ingest guidance.
Match the encoder settings to the stream
YouTube lists RTMP/RTMPS ingest and supports H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 video codecs, with frame rates up to 60 fps. Its recommended bitrate varies by codec, resolution and frame rate. For H.264, the settings page lists 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended for 1080p30, and 6 Mbps minimum and 17 Mbps recommended for 1080p60. These are YouTube ingest recommendations; they do not show that a particular computer can encode at those settings continuously.
Confirm that the chosen encoder can sustain your target settings with representative motion and audio. YouTube advises testing before going live and watching stream health rather than relying on a successful configuration screen alone.
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YouTube recommends 20% upload headroom above the total stream bitrate. Test sustained upload under the conditions in which the stream will run; a nominal broadband or VPS network specification does not guarantee uninterrupted delivery. YouTube warns that a connectivity disruption can break the stream. Its streaming tips explain the headroom guidance and network considerations.
Cost and reliability troubleshooting
- Your bill is higher than the estimate: Check that the meter captured encoding rather than idle draw, confirm the usage rate and tariff window, and account for other devices only if they are part of the incremental workload.
- A time-of-use calculation looks unusually cheap: Make sure you did not apply an off-peak price to all 24 hours. Weight each rate by its actual period.
- The VPS looks much cheaper: Check the quote’s region, instance, outbound-video data, storage and other charges before comparing annual totals. A base instance price may not represent the full workload cost.
- The stream drops or has poor health: Check sustained upload, available headroom, encoder stability and YouTube’s Live Control Room health status. A disruption in connectivity can break the stream; include monitoring and recovery in the operational comparison.
- The mini PC runs hot, drops frames or cannot hold settings: Test the exact codec, resolution and frame rate with representative content. Lower the target workload or choose hardware that can sustain it; low power draw is not useful if encoding is unreliable.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you would rather not keep a computer and home connection running, StreamNeo keeps an uploaded video or playlist looping as a 24/7 YouTube live stream. The steps are: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, then go live. It runs in the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Every slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or start the free day.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
