My latest Mini PC review is of the Beelink SER8, a compact device equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor. The best way to describe this one is as the “low end of the high end” coming in at a reasonable price for the performance it delivers.
Priced at just under $500, the SER8 offers competitive specifications, though potential buyers should monitor available coupons on retail platforms.
The 8745HS chip is notable for lacking the neural processing unit (NPU) found in the pricier 8845HS variant, which primarily supports on-device AI tasks. For general-purpose users, the NPU’s absence is unlikely to affect daily tasks, making the SER8 a practical, cost-effective choice.
This Mini PC ships with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD, both of which are upgradeable. RAM can reach an impressive 256GB, and the dual NVMe slots provide additional storage flexibility. It also features robust cooling with a large heatsink covering the SSD slots, ensuring efficient thermal management.
The port selection is expansive. Up front, it includes USB-A and USB-C ports, a headphone/microphone jack, and the power button. The back houses additional USB-A ports, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI, and a USB 4 port capable of handling 40Gbps and is compatible with Thunderbolt devices. Testing confirmed the port’s capability to handle high-speed external SSDs and even an external GPU, although the SER8 lacks an Oculink direct bus port we saw recently on a GMKTec K8 Plus mini PC.
Wi-Fi performance is subpar, likely hindered by the device’s all-metal casing. While the Intel AX Wi-Fi 6 card supports modern standards, speeds hovered around 300-400 Mbps. Wired Ethernet, in contrast, performed flawlessly at its rated speeds.
Performance-wise, the SER8 delivers solid results. Its Ryzen processor easily handles 4K video playback, general web browsing and office tasks with speedy, lag free performance.
From a creative standpoint, the SER8 is well-suited for basic video editing and light content creation. Tests with 4K 60fps video editing demonstrated smooth rendering, though power users needing real-time previews or advanced workflows might find it lacking without an external GPU.
Gaming on the SER8 also impresses within its limitations. Titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, No Man’s Sky, and Doom Eternal were playable at 1080p on low settings, with frame rates hovering around 50-75 FPS. Emulation fans will appreciate its capacity to handle PS2-era games and older systems seamlessly.
For Linux users, the SER8 is a good choice. Booting Ubuntu showed full functionality, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 4K output at 60Hz. This makes it a versatile platform for experimenting with alternative operating systems or retro gaming setups.
All in this is a decent Mac Mini alternative for those looking for a compact, portable system. The SER8 is upgradeable and delivers surprisingly good performance given its limited form factor. See more of my Mini PC reviews here.
Disclosure: Beelink provided the SER8 to the channel free of charge. No additional compensation was received and they did not review or approve this content before it was uploaded. All opinions are my own.