Mini PC

[7][8] Compared with ordinary desktop computers, nettops are not only smaller and less expensive,[9] but they also consume much less power.

The tradeoff is that the hardware specifications and processing power are usually reduced[11] and hence make nettops less appropriate for running complex or resource-intensive applications.

Intel's Atom processor has been adopted by several hardware manufacturers, such as ASUS, MSI, and Sony, for nettops.

Nvidia has also released its first generation ION platform, which puts GeForce 9400M Motherboard GPU alongside the Atom processor to provide better high definition video playback ability and lower power consumption.

[16] To further reduce the manufacturing cost and improve power efficiency, many manufacturers and start-up companies have chosen to use CPUs that were originally targeted at embedded computing devices such as AMD's Geode and ARM Cortex-based CPUs.