I'd say find one on Amazon and go ahead and get it. Worst case scenario it doesn't do what you want and you return it, no harm no foul. This one is decent (not an affiliate link) and currently $177USD. N5105 should handle most/all of what you're interested in playing. I use a similar model (N5105, but 8GB/256GB) to run a handful of docker containers for home automation, and another N5105 handles all my routing needs via OPNSense.

Without seeing the review about USB you mentioned, I don't know what that person was talking about. The DAC/Amp you linked has its own power input, as do most USB DACs (except for the really teeny tiny ones, which are designed to stay within USB 2.0's 5v 500mA limits). That should be true from the weakest SBC all the way to the beefiest gaming PC.