Inexpensive mini PC I can leave connected to eGPU when not in use?  

@crimsonnight, just made a late recently added an intro blurb to the builds page. given the recent increase in mini-PC eGPU attachment interest, that may help you with some candidate systems to shortlist.

To see Mini-PC system builds, set [LCD] dropdown to none. A sprinkling of headerless display systems will also be included.

Along with the note above, you'd set the [eGPU port] dropdown to Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 & USB4v1 to further shortlist the listed systems to allow attachment of your existing TB3 eGPU.

@nando4, cheers, there's not much on there for my specific eGPU enclosure, but I don't suppose that really matters. I didn't realise Mac Minis were a viable open as a Windows machine, there are quite a few of those on FB Marketplace - if I grab one, what's the minimum year I should go for? Also, I'm guessing there are no issues in terms of things like WOL etc?

Posted by: @crimsonnight

if I grab one, what's the minimum year I should go for? Also, I'm guessing there are no issues in terms of things like WOL etc?

NP. Agree, if plentiful on FB seems like a good Mini PC candidate.

There are only 2018 Mac Mini builds. Earlier ones didn't have TB3 ports and subsequent ones went Apple Silicon only a few years later.

Apol, never had a Mac Mini to be able to answer about WOL support.

Maybe someone else can chime in or can find the answer elsewhere?

Also worth referring to the following topic if want macOS eGPU support (hint: AMD GPUs up to RX 6900 XT are supported, Nvidia GPUs much less so)

Definitive macOS Thunderbolt eGPU Compatibility Registry

@nando4, ah, I have a RTX 2070 eGPU so it may not be the route for me in that case!

Posted by: @crimsonnight

@nando4, ah, I have a RTX 2070 eGPU so it may not be the route for me in that case!

The Mac Mini Mini PC eGPU candidate route would depend on your intended target OS.

There's 6 NVidia RTX + 2018 Mac Mini eGPU builds under Win10 or 11, linked below:

https://egpu.io/builds/?table_filter =""2018 Mac Mini" "Nvidia RTX""

You wouldn't however be able to use your Nvidia RTX under macOS as shown in the Definitive macOS Thunderbolt eGPU Compatibility Registry.

@nando4, cheers for the link Interesting, so based on those results, this could be a good shout?: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/185892311194685/

I'd just need to find out about WOL as that's vital. And also curious to hear if there are any more suitable alternatives. Still not sure if a Mac Mini would be the best bang for my buck as obviously it's fairly dated now. Although I wouldn't be using it portably, I wonder if something like a laptop may make more sense as they tend to depreciate in value quicker, or even something like a GPD Win.

@crimsonnight, f FB Mac Mini could perhaps be, low cost, ready available prototype to see if can service your needs with your existing TB3 gear, or resell and move to another solution if not. Recycles the gear too.

If consider new gear then Mini PC has so many bias variables to skew component choice:  CPU performance-per-watt, eGPU performance (direct PCIe or encoded TB3/TB4/USB4v1),ports, aesthetic, power consumption, form factor, cost, time investment to acquire and customize it.

eg: if are chasing CPU & eGPU performance then could look at :

AMD Zen4 70W Ryzen 7040H MinisForum 'EliteMini UM780 XTX Mini PC' SFF PC includes a OCuLink eGPU port -> host a x4 eGPU!

or other 2022-2023 Mini PC build examples by MinisForum, Topton, Beelink across different eGPU port interfaces, with USB4v1 being compatible with your existing TB3 eGPU:

https://egpu.io/best-external-graphics-card-builds/?table_filter =""(2022|2023) " ^((?!inch).)*$"