Our Methodology

This page exists so you can judge how much weight to give anything we publish. It covers what we actually do, and more importantly what we do not do.

What we do not claim

We do not run a test bench, and we never write as though we do. You will not find a sentence on this site saying we measured a machine's idle draw or timed a transcode, because we did not. Sites that invent those numbers are common and the numbers are worthless, because nothing constrains them.

Instead, every power figure, transcode count, VM density estimate and benchmark on this site is attributed to a named source: a reviewer's wall-meter reading, a manufacturer's specification sheet, official project documentation, or consistent reports from owners. If we cannot source a figure, we say the manufacturer does not publish it rather than filling the gap with something plausible.

Where genuine first-hand experience exists, because the hardware or software is actually run by the author, we say so specifically. Diluting that with invented claims would make the real experience worthless too.

What we verify before publishing

• Every product is checked against its live retail listing. We confirm the listing resolves to the product we are describing, that it is in stock, and what it currently costs. Models we find unavailable are removed rather than left as a dead link.
• Specifications are cross-checked against the manufacturer's own documentation, because retail listings routinely contain errors. Where the two disagree, we say so in the article rather than picking the flattering one.
• We read the product photography. Manufacturer diagrams frequently settle a specification that the title and bullet points get wrong, particularly network controller part numbers, port speeds, and whether memory is socketed or soldered.
• We read the critical reviews, not just the favourable ones. Recurring complaints about thermal throttling, driver support or hardware failure belong in a review, and we put them there.
• We check whether a newer model has replaced the one we are recommending.

How our calculators work

The tools on this site follow one rule: a documented fact and a derived estimate are never presented with the same confidence.

When a vendor publishes a sizing rule, the tool applies that rule and shows you the source next to the number it produced. The TrueNAS calculator adds memory line by line according to the published guide, and names the rule behind each line. The transcode calculator answers codec support as a plain yes or no, because a chip either has that fixed-function block or it does not.

When a figure is genuinely an estimate, it is labelled as one. And when a vendor publishes nothing we can build on, the tool says so instead of inventing a number. The UPS calculator will tell you outright that a manufacturer does not publish a runtime figure for a given model rather than showing you a confident-looking guess.

Prices and availability

Retail prices change hourly, so we use approximate ranges and link to the current price rather than stating a figure as fact. Any price you see here was accurate when checked and may not be now. Where a product is sold by a third-party seller rather than the retailer directly, we say so, because it affects both price and warranty.

Affiliate links

This site earns commission through the Amazon Associates programme. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Every article containing affiliate links says so at the top.

What this does not do is decide our recommendations. Commission rates do not vary enough between the products we cover to be worth distorting advice over, and a recommendation that costs a reader money destroys the only thing this site has. Every product section includes who should not buy it, and we name products we think are the wrong choice for this audience even when they would pay us the same.

Corrections

When we find an error we fix it in place and update the article's revision date. Where a correction is significant we say what changed. Publication dates are the real date of first publication and are never backdated to look fresher.

Who writes this

Mini PC Lab is written and maintained by Max. More about the site is on the about page, and thedisclaimer covers the legal position.