Tag: mini PC

MINIX Elite ER936-AI Mini PC Review

My latest video review looks at the new Minix Elite ER936-AI Mini PC. It’s powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, part of the Strix line, which gives it ten cores and a surprisingly capable built-in GPU. My review unit came configured with 32 gigabytes of DDR5 memory running at 5600 MHz and a one-terabyte NVMe SSD. You can find it over at Amazon, or direct at Minix’s online store (compensated affiliate links).

I’ve reviewed a number of Minix devices before and have generally found them to be well built, and this one fits right in with that reputation. It’s designed to be easily serviceable, with a tool-less bottom panel that lifts off for access to the internals. Underneath, you’ll find an extra NVMe slot, the Wi-Fi card, and RAM slots.

The port selection is generous for a small system. There are two 40 gigabit USB 4.0 Type-C ports that can handle Thunderbolt and video output, plus multiple 10-gigabit-per-second USB-A ports, dual 2.5-gigabit Ethernet jacks, HDMI, DisplayPort, and a headphone/mic jack placed on the front. Power comes from a 120-watt adapter, and the system draws around 100 watts under heavy load but sips about 10 to 12 watts at idle. A small fan keeps things cool; it’s audible under stress but not particularly loud, and it does a good job of maintaining thermal consistency.

The system ships with Windows 11 Pro preinstalled and activated. General performance was solid across everyday tasks like web browsing and streaming, though I noticed a few dropped frames while playing 4K60 YouTube content. The machine scored 33 on Browserbench’s Speedometer test, putting it in line with other recent AMD and Intel processors. Its graphics capabilities stood out in particular. I tested DaVinci Resolve with 4K footage and saw smooth real-time playback of transitions and a noticeable speed advantage when rendering effects compared to other mini PCs I’ve tested.

I also experimented with local AI tools to see how it handled workloads beyond typical productivity. Using AMD’s GAIA and Lemonade applications, I ran a 20-billion-parameter open-source language model that utilized the GPU. It performed significantly faster than running similar models through Olama on the same hardware which only runs through the CPU. It’s not going to rival cloud-based AI tools, but the fact that it handled local LLM this well shows how far these compact systems have come. For anyone experimenting with automation tools like N8N or other LLM setups, this configuration offers a good entry point.

Gaming performance was better than expected. In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p low settings, frame rates hovered around 45 to 55 frames per second, dipping slightly in more complex scenes. No Man’s Sky performed even better, staying close to 60 FPS on the ground and climbing to around 80 in space. The GPU is the limiting factor, but there’s enough CPU headroom for an external GPU setup if you wanted more performance. On 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark, the system scored 3,504, which puts it close to older desktop GPUs like the Nvidia GTX 1060 and 1650. The stress test showed stable cooling with a 99.3 percent consistency score.

Linux support was also solid. Ubuntu detected all of the system’s components, including Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and audio, without issue. With two NVMe slots, it’s easy to set up a dual-boot configuration for Windows and Linux. This flexibility makes it suitable for home server use or software testing environments where you want both operating systems available.

After spending some time with it, the Minix Elite ER936 feels like a well-balanced small form factor computer that can handle a mix of productivity, light gaming, and local AI tasks. The design is practical, it runs efficiently, and it delivers consistent performance under load.

The Raspberry Pi 500+ Disappoints

The Raspberry Pi 500 Plus is a new take on the age-old keyboard-computer concept that combines a Raspberry Pi 5 with a mechanical keyboard and built-in NVMe storage.

In my latest video review, we take a look at this retro inspired offering from the Raspberry Pi foundation.

It’s selling for about $180 to $185 at official Pi retailers, which is roughly $100 more than the earlier Pi 400. Out of the box, it feels like the most polished of the Pi-in-a-keyboard systems I’ve tried, with better specs and a more comfortable design overall.

Inside, it has 16GB of RAM and a 256GB NVMe SSD that ships with Raspbian OS preinstalled, so it boots right up without any tinkering. You can, of course, use the microSD slot to load other operating systems.

Still, some of the frustrations from the Pi 5 carry over. The two micro-HDMI ports feel unnecessarily small given the space available on the back, and the power situation is still tricky. It requires a 5-volt, 5-amp USB-C power supply, which isn’t as common as you’d think. Most USB-C chargers top out at 3 amps in their 5 volt mode, and using one of those will trigger low-power warnings when you plug in peripherals and possibly lead to performance issues under load. Even Apple’s chargers don’t work properly with it, so it’s worth getting the official supply. I picked up one of these low cost ones at Amazon (compensated affiliate link).

Ports include two USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and the familiar GPIO header under a rubber cover. AC Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in, and dual 4K60 HDMI output is supported (although it’s super sluggish in 4k). During testing, I was able to get a 1080p display running at 144Hz without issue which felt pretty nice. The overall setup feels like a complete Raspberry Pi experience—ready to experiment with projects right out of the box.

Performance, however, leaves something to be desired. Running the Chromium browser at 1080p worked fine for light tasks, but the system bogged down on heavier pages with animation or video. At 4K, it felt even slower.

On the Speedometer browser benchmark, the Pi 500 Plus scored 4.54—less than half the score of an Intel N150 mini PC that costs the same or less. On the bright side, power draw was remarkably low: about 4 to 5 watts at idle and around 10 watts under load. That efficiency might make it appealing for someone experimenting with a home lab or lightweight Docker containers, but it’s not suited for media serving or anything that needs significant processing power.

The keyboard uses low-profile blue Gateron switches, and the keys are replaceable. The bright backlighting is nicely implemented, with adjustable colors and effects. There’s even a novelty game—Flappy Bird—that runs directly on the keyboard’s LEDs. The typing feel is solid, and having a dedicated power button is a welcome touch.

Overall, while the design is fun and nostalgic, the price puts it in direct competition with faster and more capable mini PCs. The keyboard is genuinely nice, but it drives up the cost of what’s still a modest performer. For light server duties or educational projects, it might find a niche, but the same money could buy more performance elsewhere.

I still like the charm of a computer built into a keyboard, but I’m hoping the next generation of the flagship Pi computer will push things further and correct some of the annoyances of the current generation. The Pi 500 Plus is a reminder of how far we’ve come since the $35 Raspberry Pi revolution—and how much the landscape has changed since then.

See more of my Raspberry Pi videos here! And my other Mini PC reviews here.

Disclosure: I paid for the Pi with my own funds. This is not a sponsored post nor did anyone review or approve this content prior to uploading.

Blackview MP100 Mini PC Review

My latest Mini PC review takes a look at the Blackview MP100, a budget mini PC that is powered by AMD’s Ryzen 7430U — a six-core, twelve-thread chip with RDNA2 graphics. It’s not the newest processor out there, but it’s still plenty capable for light workloads and even some gaming.

See it in action in my video review.

The biggest limitation out of the box is that it only comes with a single stick of RAM, which means you lose out on dual-channel performance. That’s an easy fix, though: adding another stick of RAM dramatically improves its graphical capabilities.

When I opened it up, I found it surprisingly upgrade-friendly. It includes a 2.5-inch SATA bay for an extra hard drive, a spare NVMe slot, and upgradable RAM — you can go all the way up to 64 GB. My review unit had 16 GB in a single channel and a 512 GB NVMe SSD. There’s also decent cooling inside, which helps keep performance consistent under load.

The ports are practical: two USB-C connectors on the front (one of them full-function with DisplayPort output), USB-A ports, Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, and a headphone jack. You can drive a 4K display at 144 Hz through DisplayPort, which makes it an interesting option for streaming via GeForce Now or other cloud-gaming services. The case itself is plastic, and it has RGB lighting on the top that can be customized or turned off through Blackview’s included software. That software uses a USB-to-serial driver for control, which looked a bit odd at first but turned out to be harmless after some malware testing.

Day-to-day tasks like browsing, watching 4K video, and general productivity felt smooth even with single-channel memory. YouTube playback at 4K 60 fps ran fine, and benchmarks put it in line with other mid-range Ryzen mini PCs.

Where the second RAM stick really matters is gaming and creative workloads. In No Man’s Sky, performance jumped from around 20–25 fps to 35–40 fps after installing dual-channel memory. 3DMark Time Spy scores told a similar story: 956 with one stick, 1,373 with two. Even emulation saw tangible benefits, particularly for PlayStation 2 titles.

Thermals and acoustics are well-managed for a small system. The fan isn’t loud during heavy use, though it can spin up unexpectedly when idle. Power draw hovered around 10–11 watts at rest and roughly 46 watts at full load.

Linux support was excellent — everything from networking to Bluetooth worked without issue with Ubuntu, making it a solid choice for running containers or self-hosted apps.

What stood out most was how close this system comes to being great with just a minor configuration change. Splitting that single 16 GB stick into two eights would’ve unlocked the full GPU potential without raising costs much. As it stands, the MP100 feels like a solid, efficient little computer with real potential once you make that one upgrade. It also carries a three-year warranty, which isn’t common in this price range.

Disclosure: Blackview sent the Mini PC free of charge. No other compensation was received, they did not review or approve the video or this post before publication and all opinions are my own.

MeLE Overclock4C N150 Mini PC Review

My latest Mini PC review is of the Mele Overclock4C, a mini PC built around Intel’s N150 processor. Despite the name, it isn’t actually overclocked, but the cooling solution sets it apart. Unlike some of Mele’s other fanless designs, this one uses a fan paired with a sizable copper heat sink. That design choice helps it sustain performance better under load while keeping noise levels surprisingly low. Even when the fan spins up, it remains quiet enough to be unobtrusive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QCArhYDYoY

The model I tested came with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB NVMe drive, both of which are accessible if you want to swap or upgrade components. The RAM is expandable up to 32 GB, and storage upgrades are straightforward. The case itself is mostly plastic with a metal base, and a VESA mount is included for attaching it to a display.

You can see all of the configurations over at Amazon (compensated affiliate link).

Connectivity is decent. There are two USB 3.0 ports, a USB 2.0 port, dual HDMI outputs, a headphone jack, an SD card slot, and a full-service USB-C port that supports video, data, and power, though it lacks Thunderbolt or USB4.

Networking is where the system feels dated, limited to gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi AC, while many similar N150 devices now ship with 2.5 gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6. Power draw is modest—about 13 watts at idle and up to 32 watts under load.

Performance is what you would expect from the N150 line. General computing tasks at 4K resolution ran smoothly, with no issues using applications like Word, Excel, or browsing the web. Video playback was reliable, handling 4K60 streams without hiccups beyond a brief stutter on startup.

Benchmark results lined up with other N150-based systems I’ve looked at. Gaming is possible if you set your expectations accordingly. Grand Theft Auto V ran at around 30 frames per second on low settings at 720p, and PlayStation 2 emulation was mostly full speed. Streaming from GeForce Now at 4K60 was smooth over Ethernet, further broadening the system’s gaming options.

Thermals are where this PC stands out. A stress test confirmed stable performance with little to no throttling, holding steady at around 47°C, lower than comparable fanless or less robustly cooled designs. The stronger cooling doesn’t make the N150 chip any faster, but it ensures consistency during prolonged heavy use.

On Linux, the system behaved as expected with one exception—the built-in Intel AC 9560 Wi-Fi chipset wasn’t recognized by the latest Ubuntu release. Ethernet worked fine, and with the right drivers, Wi-Fi should too. That small issue aside, it has the potential to serve well as a compact server, whether for Docker containers or media streaming.

The Mele Overclock4C doesn’t deliver more raw performance than other N150 mini PCs, but its cooling design makes it a better fit for those who plan to run it under sustained workloads. It’s a practical little system that can handle everyday tasks, some light gaming, and server duties without struggling to keep its performance stable over time.

See more Mini PC reviews here!

Disclaimer: Mele sent the computer to the channel free of charge no other compensation was received. They did not review or approve this content prior to uploading, all opinions are my own.

GMKTec EVO-T1 Mini PC Review – With Intel Core Ultra 9

I recently spent some time testing out the GMKTec EVO-T1, which sits at the higher end of the mini PC spectrum. You can see it in action in my latest video.

It’s larger than most of the mini PCs I usually look at, but that extra size supports a more robust cooling system, allowing it to house an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor—the Ultra 9 285H specifically. With 16 cores (six performance, eight efficiency, and two low-power), it offers a lot of CPU capacity for a Mini PC.

As configured, it retails for $999 on GMKtek’s website (compensated affiliate link) and includes 64GB of DDR5-5600 RAM and a 1TB NVMe drive. A barebones version is also available for $899, but the fully-loaded configuration is a better value right now. For those buying on Amazon (compensated affiliate link), it’s worth hunting for a coupon link to bring the price in line with the direct sale.

The Evo T1’s upgradability was a highlight. It supports up to 128GB of RAM and has three PCIe 4.0 NVMe slots. While the build quality feels a bit more “plasticky” than some of their earlier models—likely to accommodate the vapor chamber for cooling—the internal layout is straightforward and accessible.

Port selection is generous. On the front, there are three USB-A 3.2 ports, a USB-C port with display output, and a headphone jack. The back offers two 2.5G Ethernet ports using Realtek controllers, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, a USB 4/Thunderbolt port, another headphone jack, and an Oculink port for high-speed external GPU connectivity. The included 150W GaN power supply is compact and external.

One setup note: by default, the system runs in a balanced 54W power mode. I switched it to 70W performance mode in the BIOS, which unlocked noticeably better performance without thermal throttling. There’s also a “fan mode” button on top, but that’s just to change the LED lighting color—not the actual fan speed or performance.

Out of the box, the PC came with a fully activated version of Windows 11 Pro. It was fast and responsive in basic use and handled 4K60 YouTube playback with only a single dropped frame at the start. Benchmarks landed where expected, with a Browserbench.org Speedometer test score of 35.5. It’s worth noting that Apple’s Mac Mini with the M4 chip edges out this machine in browser performance, but from an Intel and Windows standpoint, it delivers solid results.

The T1 shipped with a preinstalled app called “AI PC,” which runs a stripped down version of DeepSeek—a large language model—locally. It ran on the GPU, which provided better performance than when I tried the same model using Ollama on the CPU. Still, I was cautious about this preinstalled software and opted to run several malware scans, all of which came back clean. I’d still recommend using open-source tools like Ollama for local AI workloads.

For video editing, DaVinci Resolve handled simple 4K60 edits smoothly, although more complex effects introduced some slowdowns. An external GPU might help here, and the Oculink port makes that possible. Gaming performance was respectable for a mini PC with integrated graphics. No Man’s Sky and Cyberpunk 2077 were playable at 1080p on low settings, staying in the 45–60 fps range depending on the scene.

On the 3DMark Time Spy test, the system scored 4,180, with the CPU performance notably stronger than the Core Ultra 7 I tested on a laptop previously. Thermals held up well even under stress, with consistent performance and quiet fan operation. Power consumption under load peaked around 90W, while idle usage hovered around 12 to 15W.

I also tested Linux compatibility using Ubuntu. The system ran well overall, though Wi-Fi and Bluetooth weren’t detected despite using an Intel AX201 chipset. That could be a temporary driver issue. For server use, though, the system’s NVMe slots and efficient idle power draw make it a strong candidate.

Despite its higher price tag, the Evo T1 packs a lot of power and flexibility. Enthusiasts looking for a machine to experiment with in a home lab or as a local AI box might find this an interesting option.

Disclosure: GMKTec provided the Mini PC to the channel free of charge. However they did not review or approve this content before it was uploaded and no other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

GMKTec G10 Mini PC Review

In my latest Mini PC review video, I take a look at the new GMKTec G10. This one is on the lower-end of the price scale (compensated affiliate link), and reminded me a bit of their other low cost machine G3 Plus, which I liked for its low cost and practical design. The G10 comes in a bit higher in price but swaps in a Ryzen processor, specifically the older 3500U that can perform a little better in some applications.

My G10 review unit came with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and it’s easy to open up and upgrade. There are two NVMe slots inside, and the unit can support up to 64GB of RAM and 16TB of total storage—though you’ll need to work around a pretty tight layout. One NVMe slot overlaps the RAM modules, which makes things a little cramped. It’s all housed in a plastic case, nothing premium, but serviceable.

On the front are two 5Gbps USB-A ports and a headphone/mic jack. Around back, there’s a USB-C port that supports data, video, and power delivery, along with a second USB-C port that’s power-only. There’s also USB 2.0, 2.5Gb Ethernet, HDMI, and DisplayPort outputs. Combined with the USB-C video output, you can run three independent displays. Wi-Fi is limited to Wi-Fi 5, and the Ethernet and wireless chips use Realtek controllers.

Right out of the box, performance is a bit underwhelming. By default, the BIOS is set to a balanced mode that limits the processor to 15W. Switching to the high-performance mode bumps that up to 35W, which improves performance, but thermal issues start cropping up. I ran a 3DMark stress test and initially got poor results—even in performance mode—until I manually configured the fan to run at 100%. With the fan running constantly, I got much better stability and higher benchmark scores. It’s louder than I’d like, but not the worst I’ve seen.

Windows 11 Pro comes pre-installed and activated. In high-performance mode, it feels snappier than Intel N150-based mini PCs, especially at 4K60. Browsing is responsive, though I noticed some dropped frames when playing back 4K60 video from YouTube. It eventually smooths out, but not quite to the level I’ve seen from newer Intel chips in the same price range.

Benchmarking with browserbench.org’s Speedometer test gave me a score of 11.2 in performance mode and 7.63 in balanced mode. It does beat the N150 when pushed in the higher TDP, but just barely.

Gaming is possible at the low end. GTA V at 720p and minimum settings averaged around 45 to 50 frames per second. Emulation performance was mixed. PS2 titles like Burnout Revenge didn’t run very smoothly, even with performance settings. Older consoles and retro-style games should run fine, but don’t expect this to handle more demanding emulators consistently.

In the Time Spy benchmark, the G10 scored 756 in performance mode and 394 in balanced mode. On paper, that’s better than the N150, but in practice, I saw smoother emulation on the Intel system. I suspect that the older CPU architecture and slower RAM are contributing to that gap.

Linux support seems solid. I tried Ubuntu 25.04 and had working Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, audio, and video. An earlier version of Ubuntu didn’t detect Ethernet, but the latest build corrected that. Linux felt more responsive than Windows in balanced mode, likely due to lower system overhead.

Idle power consumption came in at around 11–12 watts in balanced mode and 20 watts in performance mode. For those thinking of using it as a low-cost server, it could work, but you’ll want to put it somewhere where the fan noise won’t be a annoyance.

Overall there are some compromises with this device. Thermals need hands-on tweaking, and the older chip architecture shows in areas like video playback and emulation. I’d probably still recommend the Intel N150-based mini PCs for most people, especially if your budget is tight and you’re looking for a quieter and more polished experience. Still, for the right use case—like a small home server or a Linux box—the G10 has its place.

Disclosure: GMKTec sent the Mini PC to the channel free of charge. They did not review or approve this video prior to uploading, no additional compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

NVME Six Pack: Beelink ME Mini Server / NAS

I recently got a look at a compact mini PC from Beelink called the ME, and what makes it stand out is its ability to hold six NVMe drives internally. This device is built with network-attached storage in mind, and while I’m demoing it here with Unraid, it also supports other NAS operating systems and Linux distributions. It even ships with a licensed copy of Windows if you want to go that route.

You can see it in action in my latest review.

Inside, it runs on an Intel N150 processor—definitely on the lower end—but well-suited for light server tasks and Docker containers. You can find it on Amazon or direct with a few more configuration options on their website directly (compensated affiliate links).

My review unit included a Crucial-branded NVMe drive pre-installed in slot 4. All the bundled storage options appear to use Crucial, which I’ve been using myself for years.

The drives insert vertically and make contact with a heat pad that connects to a large central heatsink. That design does a noticeably better job at keeping drives cool than other compact NAS units I’ve tested recently. The slots themselves are mostly 1x PCIe interfaces, with slot 4 being the faster with a 2x lane slot. Even so, it maxed out around 1.3 GB/s with the Crucial PCIe 4.0 SSD out of that slot. The rest are slower but the bottleneck in most NAS applications will be the network, not the drive speeds.

This unit includes two 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, which gave me around 200–250 MB/s throughput over the network during my tests. It’s unlikely you’ll saturate even the slowest drive slot with this kind of networking. Internally, the device has 12GB of soldered Crucial RAM. That’s not expandable, but for NAS and home server purposes, it’s enough. There’s also an Intel AX101 Wi-Fi 6 card if you’d rather go wireless.

Ports include two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (one USB-A, one USB-C), HDMI, USB 2.0, and a power jack—no external power brick here, just a built-in 45W supply. The casing is plastic but feels solid and clean, especially for a device that may sit out in the open. Video output supports 4K60, and I tested it with Ubuntu and Windows 11 Pro, both of which ran without issues. The hardware was properly recognized under Linux, and the preinstalled Windows license activated without a problem.

To test Unraid, I simply took the drives out of a GMKtec NAS I had been using and inserted them into this one. Everything came up immediately, including my external USB drive array. The only hiccup came from the USB-C port not playing nicely with my drive array; switching to the USB-A port resolved it, but I did lose my parity drive in the process. That seems more like a controller compatibility issue than a fatal flaw, though it’s something to be aware of.

I’m now considering moving entirely to solid-state storage, especially since this device gives me two more NVMe slots than the GMKtec box did. With Unraid’s parity setup, five slots can be used for storage and one for parity, giving me up to 20TB of usable space if I install 4TB drives across the board. I’ve only got about 9TB of data right now, so it’s feasible. 4TB NVME storage is pretty pricey at the moment so I’ll probably piece it together with smaller drives.

Power consumption is low—about 18–20 watts idle with five NVMe drives installed and a couple of Docker containers running. Under load, like when writing large files or playing back a Plex stream with hardware-accelerated 4K HDR tone mapping, it edged up to around 26-30 watts. Hardware transcoding works just fine in Unraid as long as you remember to add /dev/dri to your container configuration. I detail that in the video.

Temperatures on the drives were impressive. A WD cache drive that previously idled at 69°C in the GMKtec unit now hovers around 50–51°C in this one. Under load, those numbers go up a bit, but they’re still dramatically better than before. It’s a testament to the improved passive cooling inside this unit. The fan is also whisper-quiet—much less noticeable than my spinning external drives.

One downside is thermal throttling under extended CPU load. A 3DMark Time Spy stress test resulted in a fail grade, with performance dropping around 16%. That’s shouldn’t impact most NAS workloads, but I wouldn’t use this for anything that demands sustained CPU performance.

Overall, this mini PC has proven to be a capable, efficient little box for self-hosting in tight spaces. I’ve got some reconfiguring to do now—time to dig through my parts bin and see which higher-capacity NVMe drives I can consolidate onto this unit. It feels like there’s real potential to go all solid-state here and simplify the setup.

GMKTec K11 Mini PC Review – Decent Price and Performance

The Mini PCs keep coming! This time I take a look at the GMKTec K11, which offers a solid mix of price and performance. You can watch my video review here.

It’s running a Ryzen 8945HS processor with eight cores and sixteen threads, with performance not far off from some of the pricier Ryzen AI models. You can find it here at Amazon (compensated affiliate link).

Before we dive too much further, another option to consider if you want to save a little more is the GMKTec K8 Plus (compensated affiliate link), which I looked at recently. It has similar performance, the same case, and sometimes comes in cheaper. Either way, this mid-range category is delivering a lot right now.

The specs include 32GB of DDR5 RAM running at 5600 MHz and a 1TB NVMe SSD. Inside, there’s room to expand: you can go up to 96GB of RAM and add a second NVMe SSD, making it possible to dual boot Linux and Windows or just have some extra storage.

The K11 is equipped with an Oculink port, which allows direct bus connections to external desktop GPUs and other PCIe cards. I’ve covered that in other videos. GMKTec also sells a hardcover book-sized eGPU that connects through Oculink you can see my review of that product here.

Alongside that port is a USB 4 connection rated at 40 Gbps and compatible with Thunderbolt, which means you could hook up multiple GPUs if you really wanted to. It also includes two USB-A ports at 10 Gbps, a headphone/mic jack, and on the back, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, plus another USB 4 port. You can drive up to four displays making use of the two display outputs and the USB 4 ports. Networking is solid too, with dual 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports that performed well on both upstream and downstream in my testing.

Wi-Fi performance is a bit better than some of the other mini PCs I’ve tested, but not perfect. The downstream was a little lower than expected but upstream was close to what I should get off of my Wifi 6 access point. Still, it outperformed some previous models from GMK Tech.

There’s also a colorful RGB-lit fan on top, which you can disable in the BIOS if that’s not your thing.

Windows 11 Pro comes pre-installed and activated. Browsing performance is fast and responsive, as expected. I tested YouTube at 4K 60fps and only saw a few dropped frames—nothing disruptive. The Speedometer browser benchmark gave it a score of 29.4, putting it in line with similar systems, including newer Ryzen AI chips.

In DaVinci Resolve, simple 4K 60fps video edits with basic transitions played back in real time using the integrated GPU. More advanced effects required waiting, though, and that’s where something like an external GPU becomes important. For simple video projects like I do on the channel, this should be more than sufficient. It would also likely hold up well for livestreaming, especially with the high-speed I/O ports.

For gaming I tested Cyberpunk 2077. At 1080p and low settings, frame rates hovered above 45 fps and held steady. It’s not meant to be a high-end gaming rig, but it gets by. For retro emulation, it’s more than capable. On the 3DMark TimeSpy benchmark test, it scored 3,349, which puts it close to the more expensive Evo X1 running an AI 9 chip.

Its thermal performance is also decent, with a passing grade of a 97.2% on the 3DMark stress test. Fan noise is there under significant load, but it’s not a terribly loud or distracting fan. Under most day-to-day use cases the fan is practically silent. Power consumption sits around 13.5 watts at idle and peaks around 96 watts under full load.

With 32GB of RAM and plenty of expansion room, I also tested some local AI models. I ran the Gemma 3 12B model locally, and despite the fact that Ollama isn’t currently using the GPU for processing on these Mini PCs (even with the Ryzen AI chips), performance on the CPU was about the same as what I’ve seen on more expensive mini PCs.

I finished up by booting into Ubuntu. Everything was detected properly—Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, audio, and video all worked at 4K 60 without a hitch. It’s a smooth Linux experience and could even serve as a compact server or DIY NAS core with the right configuration.

Disclosure: GMKTec provided the Mini PC free of charge for this review. No other compensation was received and they did not review or approve this post or my video before it was uploaded.

Geekom Mini IT 13S Mini PC Review

My latest mini PC review is of the Geekom Mini IT13S, a compact computer powered by Intel’s i9-13900HK mobile processor. This chip isn’t something we usually see in a device this small, and it offers 10 cores and 16 threads—enough horsepower for media serving or other compute-heavy applications. While this machine isn’t the most powerful mini PC available at around its price point, I was curious to see how it holds up in real-world testing. Check it out in my latest review.

You can find the current price over at Amazon (compensated affiliate link), at the time of recording this video it was a little more than the lower end devices I typically look at, and a little less vs. some of the Ryzen AI PCs we’ve reviewed recently.

The PC is powered by that i9 processor, and includes 32GB of DDR4 RAM along with a 1TB NVMe SSD. The NVME SSD can be swapped out and you also have the option to add two additional drives: there’s a 2.5″ SATA slot along with 2242 M.2 SATA slot on the main board. I would’ve preferred seeing a second NVMe slot instead. RAM can be upgraded to a maximum of 64GB.

Build quality is solid thanks to the metal case and frame. The system stays cool under load, and I was pleased with the overall thermal performance. I also liked the inclusion of an SD card slot, along with plenty of connectivity on the front and rear panels. That includes two USB-A 10Gbps ports in front and a headphone jack on the front, and on the back two 40 gigabit USB 4 ports (Thunderbolt compatible), dual HDMI outputs, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, an additional USB-A 10Gbps port, and one USB-A 2.0 port. The USB 4 ports performed well in my testing, supporting both fast data transfers and video output.

Wired networking worked well, with speeds up to 2.3Gbps on my multi-gigabit internet connection. Wi-Fi, on the other hand, wasn’t as strong. Despite having Wi-Fi 6E support, it struggled to hit expected speeds—likely due to internal antenna placement. I measured only around 250Mbps downstream where 700Mbps would be typical.

In day-to-day use, the system handled basic tasks easily. Web browsing and office work were quick and responsive, even on a 4K 60Hz display. Playback of 4K video worked smoothly as well, with only a few dropped frames at the beginning. On the browserbench.org Speedometer test, the IT 13S scored 24.3, which is expected for this generation of Intel chips, but there are newer processors starting to edge past that mark.

For light video editing, the system performed well in DaVinci Resolve when applying basic effects to 4K60 footage. More demanding tasks like color grading or advanced effects began to push its limits, and that’s where the lack of a discrete GPU becomes noticeable. The USB 4 ports can support an external GPU if needed. I’m fond of the GMKTec eGPU I reviewed a few weeks ago.

Gaming isn’t a strong suit for this system. I tested Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p on the lowest settings and averaged under 30 frames per second. Other newer mini PCs using Ryzen AI chips or Intel’s latest integrated graphics tend to perform better in this area. The 3DMark Time Spy score came in at 1,882, and that lines up with what I’d expect from this generation of Intel mobile graphics.

The good news is that thermal performance was consistent. The fan stayed quiet during idle and light tasks, and the 3DMark stress test score of 98.9% suggests minimal throttling. Under load the fan is audible but not distracting. Power consumption was also low—about 10 watts at idle and a maximum of 57 watts under load.

It ships with Windows 11 Professional but supports Linux as well. I tested the latest Ubuntu release and everything worked out of the box, including audio, video, networking, and Bluetooth. If you’re planning to dual boot or run this as a Linux-based server, it’s a viable option.

Ultimately, this is a well-built mini PC with decent performance for general productivity and media use. I think a small price reduction would help it compete more effectively, especially given the rising number of mini PCs offering stronger graphical performance in the same range.

Disclosure: Geekom provided the PC to the channel free of charge. However no additional compensation was received and they did not review or approve my content prior to uploading and publication. All opinions are my own.

Beelink SER9 Pro with Ryzen AI 9 365 Review

We might be in the “golden era” of Mini PCs with many high performance options hitting the market like the amazing Mac Mini and many PC options that offer comparable performance.

In my latest review, we take a look at a new high-end unit from Beelink called the SER9 Pro.

Equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI9 365 processor, this compact machine aims to deliver solid performance for everyday tasks, media consumption, and even gaming. With a high price tag, it offers a blend of power and efficiency, though there are some trade-offs to consider. You can find the current price on Amazon here (affiliate link).

The Ryzen A I9 365 inside the Beelink SER9 is a 10-core CPU with a 12-core GPU. While it carries the AI branding, it’s important to keep expectations in check. This machine won’t be running large-scale AI models locally, but it does provide some AI-assisted enhancements in video and photo editing applications. The system also features 32GB of LPDDR5X-8000 RAM, though it’s soldered onto the motherboard per AMD requirements, making future upgrades impossible. On the storage side, it includes 1TB of NVMe storage with an additional NVME slot for expansion.

The front panel includes a USB-C 3.2 port, a USB 3.0 port, and a headphone/microphone jack. The rear panel offers additional ports, including two USB-A 2.0 ports, one USB-A 3.2 port, dual video outputs (DisplayPort and HDMI), and a USB 4.0 port that supports 40 gps Thunderbolt devices like eGPUs. There’s also a 2.5Gb Ethernet port for high-speed wired networking. Its Wi-Fi 6 performance falls slightly below expectations compared to other devices tested on the same access point.

In real-world use, the Beelink SER9 handles everyday tasks smoothly. Web browsing at 4K resolution feels snappy, and even demanding applications like DaVinci Resolve can run well for basic video editing. Heavier tasks, such as applying complex effects, do slow down playback slightly, but for general content creation, this system performs well.

Gaming on the Beelink SER9 is surprisingly decent for a Mini PC. Running Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p on the lowest settings yields nearly 60 frames per second, with smooth performance in other demanding games like Red Dead Redemption 2. Benchmarks put its performance in line with older GPUs like the GTX 1060, but with significantly less power consumption. Under full load, the system draws around 95 watts, and fan noise remains minimal, making it a quiet option even during intensive tasks. Idle consumption is around 10-11 watts.

For those considering alternative operating systems, the SER9 runs Linux without issues. Everything from audio to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is detected properly, making dual-booting a viable option.

While the Beelink SER9 is an impressive performer in the Mini PC category, potential buyers should weigh their options. A comparably priced laptop with similar specs could offer the same performance with added portability. However, for those who need a small, quiet, and efficient desktop alternative, the SER9 delivers on many fronts. Its sleek design, solid performance, and energy efficiency make it a strong contender in the Mini PC market, despite a few limitations.

GMKTec G9 Compact NVME NAS Review

For nearly a decade, I relied on a WD MyCloud PR2100 NAS device as the backbone of my home media setup. It served as my Plex server, managed my HDHomeRun DVR, and generally functioned as the central hub for all my media needs.

While it continued to perform reliably, the hardware was starting to show its age. It was limited to gigabit Ethernet despite my upgraded multi-gig network, and its processor struggled with newer video formats, particularly for hardware-based transcoding in Plex. I decided it was time to explore an alternative that offered more flexibility, particularly for installing Docker containers and other self-hosted applications.

Enter my latest experiment: the GMKtec G9 and a Wavlink USB drive enclosure, which is the subject of my latest review.

This compact Intel N150-powered mini PC is marketed as a NAS device, thanks to its four NVMe slots that allow for a solid-state storage array. It also features a USB-C 3.2 port capable of 10 Gbps speeds, which enabled me to integrate a Wavlink four-bay USB drive enclosure. With a combination of SSDs and spinning drives, I set out to see if this unconventional setup could handle my media server needs.

For the operating system, I opted for Unraid. Having explored Unraid in the past, I was already familiar with its capabilities, particularly its flexibility with storage and Docker applications. While Unraid doesn’t yet support the N150 processor’s GPU for hardware transcoding, that feature is expected in version 7.1 next month. For now, that means this setup isn’t ideal for Plex transcoding, but it works fine for direct streaming and other media-related tasks which is what I typically do at home.

One of the main considerations with this setup was cost. The GMKtec G9, priced around $239 with a 512GB SSD pre-installed (compensated affiliate link), offers a relatively affordable entry point for a NAS-like system. The Wavlink drive array, at about $115 without disks, provides a budget-friendly option for additional storage, though it lacks some of the conveniences of higher-end NAS enclosures, such as hot-swappable bays. Instead, drives are secured in trays that require screws, making swaps more labor-intensive. One other important note is that the Wavlink device doesn’t support software RAID on Windows – it’s basically a JBOD array which makes it a good fit for Unraid.

From a hardware perspective, the GMKtec G9 is a compact but capable device. It has 12GB of soldered RAM, which isn’t upgradeable—a potential limitation for users running multiple self-hosted applications. However, in my use case, RAM hasn’t been an issue; even with Plex and a few Docker containers running, memory usage remains low. The back panel offers two 2.5-gigabit Ethernet ports, multiple USB ports, and HDMI outputs, allowing it to function as a compact desktop PC if needed. In fact it comes with a fully licensed version of Windows 11 Pro preinstalled!

One concern I encountered early on was heat management. The NVMe slots lack active cooling, and while I added heat sinks to mitigate the issue, temperatures are still running higher than I would like. Selecting lower-powered NVMe drives may help, but it’s something to keep in mind when configuring this setup especially if you plan to work the array heavily.

With Unraid up and running, I configured my storage into an array that includes four 4TB hard drives, one of which serves as the parity drive for data protection. I also designated an NVMe drive as a cache to improve performance, particularly for media applications. One of the key lessons from this project was the importance of caching in Unraid. Initially, I configured my media share to write directly to the spinning drives, but this significantly slowed write speeds due to the parity configuration. Enabling the cache drive drastically improved performance, allowing for smooth file transfers without the mid-transfer slowdowns I initially encountered.

For applications, I set up Plex, the HDHomeRun DVR, and Immich, an open-source photo organization tool. Plex has been responsive, particularly when browsing the library, thanks to the NVMe storage. However, without Unraid’s GPU support for hardware transcoding on the N150, it’s not yet an ideal solution for remote streaming of high-bitrate content. Once Unraid 7.1 is released, I plan to revisit the transcoding capabilities.

As a whole, this setup has been surprisingly functional. While it lacks the polish of a dedicated NAS, the combination of a mini PC with external storage provides a flexible and cost-effective alternative. It’s not the most elegant solution—there are cables everywhere—but it works. Unraid’s flexibility means that if I decide to transition to a different hardware setup in the future, I can easily migrate my storage and applications without major disruptions.

I’ll be keeping this system running for a while until I come across a better solution. One of the advantages of Unraid is the ability to pick up the drives and plop them into another PC without any need for reconfiguration. More to come on this project!

Disclosure: the NAS Box came in free of charge from GMKTec and the Wavlink SATA Array came in free of charge through the Amazon Vine program. No additional compensation was received nor did anyone review or approve this review before it was uploaded. See more on my disclosures here.

The GMKTec G3 Plus is a Small Upgrade to my Favorite Mini PC – Now with an Intel N150

When it comes to compact PCs, the GMKTec G3 has always been a standout option, given just how inexpensive it is for the performance and flexibility it brings. Last week I picked up the new G3 Plus (compensated affiliate link) to see how it stacks up against the original. You can check it out in my latest review.

It features Intel’s latest low-end processor, the N150, and comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of NVMe storage for a super low price. Like the original, it also runs a fully licensed copy of Windows 11 Pro and remains highly upgradeable.

The design of the G3 Plus mirrors its predecessor. The top pops off easily, revealing two storage slots: one occupied by the included NVMe storage and the other compatible with M.2 SATA drives. This allows for dual-booting between operating systems. For my setup, I’ve installed both Windows and Linux. The RAM is also easy to access and replace. While DDR5 RAM could offer faster speeds, the DDR4 3200 RAM included here is sufficient for most users.

The port configuration is identical to the original G3, with two HDMI outputs supporting 4K at 60Hz, four USB 3.0 ports, and a 2.5Gb Ethernet port that performs as expected. The Wi-Fi performance, however, is less impressive, consistent with what I observed on the earlier model. Power consumption is low, making it a practical option for home lab environments or scenarios where the device may idle for extended periods. During testing, it consumed 30 to 32 watts under load and just 12 to 14 watts while idle in Linux.

Performance-wise, the G3 Plus feels quite similar to the original. Tasks like word processing and web browsing, even at 4K resolution, are smooth and responsive. Benchmark tests showed only marginal improvements over the G3. For instance, the 3DMark Time Spy test recorded a 22% performance increase, but this didn’t translate into noticeably better real-world performance. Gaming capabilities remain modest but improved slightly; older titles like GTA V run smoothly at 720p on the lowest settings, maintaining frame rates of around 30fps. Retro game emulation also performs well, with the PS2 emulator handling native resolution games without significant lag.

One of the standout improvements in the G3 Plus is the fan. Unlike the original, which could get quite noisy under load, this model operates almost silently, even during heavy use.

Linux performance on the G3 Plus is seamless. Everything from display scaling to Bluetooth worked without issue, and the efficiency of Linux as an operating system makes it a great choice for this hardware. Compared to a Raspberry Pi 5, the G3 Plus offers significantly better performance and comes at a comparable price when factoring in accessories. And unlike the Pi, the original G3 and now the G3 Plus make excellent transcoding Plex servers when running Linux as the base OS.

For those already using the original G3, upgrading to the G3 Plus might not be necessary. The performance gains are incremental and unlikely to justify replacing the existing device. However, if you’re purchasing a mini PC for the first time or need an additional unit, the G3 Plus’s quieter fan and updated processor make it a solid choice. This compact and affordable PC continues to offer impressive value for the price point.

Beelink SER8 Mini PC (with Ryzen 8745HS) Review

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.

The GMKTec G5, a Mini, Mini-PC, Packs a Punch

The GMKTec Nucbox G5, a “mini” mini-PC, packs a surprising punch with its Intel N97 processor and 12 GB of DDR5 RAM. You can see it in action in my latest review.

The G5 is priced at $149 for the 256GB storage version (compensated affiliate link) and $200 for the 512GB variant. Unlike some of the larger mini PCs with two storage bays, this model offers only one. But both the M.2 2242 storage and bluetooth / wifi card are replaceable and upgradeable.

In terms of ports, the G5 is equipped with two USB 3.0 ports, a USB Type-C for power only, a gigabit Ethernet port, and two HDMI outputs that support 4K at 60Hz. Although it has fewer ports than other mini PCs, it remains practical for basic tasks.

Performance-wise, the G5 handles web browsing and video playback smoothly, even at 4K. It managed to play back a 4K YouTube video without drop frames after initial buffering. The device’s fan is noticeable during intensive tasks, yet it maintains a manageable noise level.

For office tasks, the G5 is more than adequate, running Microsoft Word at 4K without lag. However, it lacked a VESA mount plate in the box, limiting its mounting options. Despite this, its small footprint makes it a convenient desktop addition.

Gaming on the G5 proved impressive for its size. Running a remastered version of “Dark Forces” at 1080p maintained 60fps. GTA V at 720p at its lowest settings hovered around 40 fps, showcasing its capability with older, resource-intensive games. Emulating PS2 games via PCSX2 delivered a consistent 60fps running at the default settings and the games’ native resolution.

Benchmarking on 3DMark TimeSpy resulted in a score of 487, surpassing similar mini PCs with the N100 processor. While it may not match Ryzen or Intel Core Ultra machines, its performance remains commendable for the price. On the 3DMark stress test, it achieved a passing grade of 97.9%, indicating stable performance under load despite its smaller fan having to work harder.

The G5, like many of the Mini PCs we’ve looked at recently comes with what appears to be a legitimately licensed and activated copy of Windows 11 Pro. No malware was detected during testing, but it allowed local account creation without needing a Microsoft account. I suspect that they are buying up bulk OEM Pro licenses and assigning them to these PCs.

Linux performance on the G5 was seamless, with all hardware components functioning properly on the latest version of Ubuntu. As we saw recently with the N100 processor, the G5 has great potential for Plex serving with its slightly faster N97 chip. It is of course limited by its internal storage capacity, necessitating USB drives for expansion.

I recently conducted a live stream where I tested a few other Mini PCs from an upcoming review. You can also see all of my Mini PC reviews here. It’s fun to see how far they’ve come over the last decade.

Overall, the GMKTec Nucbox G5 is a versatile mini PC, suitable for office tasks, light gaming, and media serving. Its compact size and decent performance make it an excellent secondary computer for various uses. But I still prefer the N100 based G3 as it offers more expandability.

Disclosure: The G5 was provided to the channel free of charge for this review. No other compensation was received, nor did anyone review or approve the review before it was uploaded. All opinions are my own.

GMKTec Nucbox K9 Mini PC Review

I’ve been reviewing a lot of mini PCs lately, and I’ve got another one in from GMKtec that stands out due to its Intel Core Ultra 5. You can see what it’s all about in my latest review.

The price point on this will vary quite a bit. In most cases you’ll see a coupon code on Amazon that will dramatically reduce its price so be sure to click that before checking out.

The GMKtec Nucbox K9 features an Intel Core Ultra 125H running at a 65-watt TDP. It comes with 32 GB of DDR5 5600 MHz RAM, which is upgradeable to 64 GB, and two NVMe SSD slots. The unit includes a 1 TB NVMe SSD from Mason Semi, and you can add or swap out SSDs as needed.

In terms of ports, the Nucbox K9 is well-equipped. There’s an audio input/output, a full-service USB 4.0 port running at 40 Gbps, capable of video output and powering the computer up to 100 watts. However, the included 120-watt power supply is recommended for regular use. I tested the USB 4 port with a Thunderbolt SSD, confirming it delivers the full bandwidth. There are also two USB 3 ports on the front, two USB-A ports, a DisplayPort out, an HDMI out for three simultaneous 4K displays, and two 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, both performing at full bandwidth. The Ethernet chipset is from Realtek.

The Nucbox K9 runs Windows 11 Pro, though the onboarding process uses a local account instead of connecting to a Microsoft account. However, a scan for malware and viruses came up clean. Web performance is excellent, and it handles 4K 60 FPS video on YouTube without drop frames.

For video editing, I tested DaVinci Resolve with a 4K 60 FPS project. It handled transitions effortlessly without needing an external GPU, suitable for simple editing tasks.

Gaming performance is also notable. Running No Man’s Sky at 1080p on standard settings achieved just under 60 FPS. Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1080p on the lowest settings performed well, between 40 and 50 FPS. Grand Theft Auto 5 at 1080p on high settings stayed mostly above 60 FPS.

Linux performance was decent, with most hardware detected except for audio. Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and video worked well.

Overall, the GMKtec Nucbox K9 offers a lot of hardware for its price, including ample RAM, storage, and a high-performing processor. It’s a good option if you’re comfortable with potential support issues from an overseas company. Despite the higher cost compared to previous models, it delivers impressive performance and is a solid choice for those willing to take a slight risk on long-term support.

Disclosure: GMKTech provided the Mini PC free of charge. No other compensation was received nor did they did not review or approve this review before it was uploaded.

Lenovo Chromebox Micro Review

We haven’t looked at a Chromebox in awhile so I was excited to see Lenovo has something new in this product category with their Chromebox Micro. This is a fanless mini PC powered by an older Intel N4500 processor along with 8GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage. You can see the full review here.

In the review I mention its high price of $379 – but as it turns out that’s the price with a Google Management Console license included. Without that license the price is $249 (compensated affiliate link) – still a little steep for the hardware configuration but more reasonable. It does not come with a keyboard, mouse or display.

Surprisingly the Chromebox Micro can output to three displays simultaneously – one via its HDMI port, and two additional outputs using its USB-C ports. It also ingests power via USB-C. It worked fine with a USB-C docking station adding some additional connectivity opportunities. In addition to the HDMI and USB-C ports it has two USB-A ports, a headphone/microphone jack, and gigabit ethernet.

Performance-wise, the Chromebox Micro handles basic tasks efficiently. Browsing websites like NASA.gov and Google Apps showed quick loading and smooth performance. The device also manages 1080p media playback well although its HDMI port is limited to only 30 fps at 4k. Its Wifi performance was adequate thanks to the Wifi 6 radio on board. Gaming is limited to less demanding Android games or cloud-based services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce Now.

Like other ChromeOS devices this Chromebox supports both Android apps and Linux applications, the latter once enabled in settings.

Despite its compact and silent profile, the price point remains a hurdle especially when compared to better performing MiniPCs available on Amazon we’ve looked at recently. A $199 price-point would be more attractive here.

Disclosure: This Mini PC was provided on loan by Lenovo. They did not review or approve the content prior to uploading/posting and all opinions are my own.

The GMKtec G3 Mini PC Delivers a Lot for a Low Price

My latest review, I dive into the GMKTec G3, a budget-friendly Mini PC equipped with an Intel N100 processor.

The model reviewed came with 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. The base model with the same processor but 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD starts at around $140 on Amazon after discounts. The device offers easy upgrades, with two drive slots and replaceable single-channel DDR4 RAM. Despite the plastic build, the Mini PC manages heat well and includes sufficient ports for basic connectivity, though it lacks USB Type-C.

Upon setup, the Windows 11 Pro installation process was straightforward, adhering to Microsoft’s standard onboarding procedure. The device includes Wi-Fi 6 capabilities, though speeds were slightly below what I would expect. The 2.5 gigabit Ethernet, powered by an Intel chipset, performed well.

Performance tests showed the GMKTec G3 handling 4K video smoothly, even on high-resolution displays, with no frame drops. The integrated Intel graphics managed to run GTA 5 at a playable 30 frames per second at 720p with low settings and it was able to handle PS2 emulation effectively. While it won’t run many modern AAA titles it does make for a decent emulation station that can run games from the mid 2000’s back.

The Mini PC’s cooling system is relatively quiet and usually silent when the machine isn’t placed under heavy load. My testing did not reveal any significant thermal throttling when placed under load.

Linux is also a good use case for this machine with the latest version of Ubuntu booting up without issue and performing just as well as Windows did in my testing.

In summation, the GMKTec G3 is a great alternative to a Raspberry Pi for small server applications, general computing and gaming. You’ll spend about the same getting everything needed for a Pi 5 to do the same things but here you’ll get better performance and Windows compatibility.

Be sure to check out my other Mini PC reviews!

Disclosure: GMKTec provided this to the channel for my review but no other compensation was received. They did not review or approve my video or this post before it was uploaded.

GMKTech K8 Nucbox Mini PC Revew – With Ryzen 8845HS Processor

My latest review is of the GMKtec K8 “NucBox” Mini PC, featuring a Ryzen 8845HS processor. Find it on Amazon here (compensated affiliate link). This mini PC merges notable performance with a compact form factor. But it has some shortcomings in networking and USB 4.0 performance.

Upon unboxing, I found the K8 to lack the metal design of some of the other Mini PC’s we’ve looked at lately. However, the real appeal of this device lies beneath its modest exterior. Equipped with that Ryzen processor, 32 GB of DDR5 5600 RAM, upgradable to 64 GB, and a 1 TB NVMe SSD with room for expansion, the K8 provides great performance for its price point.

Connectivity options on the K8 are similar to other Mini PCs, with a mix of USB 4.0, USB 3, and USB 2 ports, alongside dual 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports and multiple video output choices. However, during my testing, I encountered issues in the performance disparities between the Ethernet ports and found the USB 4.0 port’s throughput to fall short of its advertised 40 Gb/s capability.

The K8 comes with an activated copy of Windows 11 Pro. Like many PC makers, GMKTec found a loophole in the Microsoft licensing process which means that you will only be allowed to create a local account when first booting up.

The K8 proved itself as a capable for video editing, handling a simple 4K 60fps project effectively without any hiccups or lag running DaVinci Resolve.

Gaming on the K8 was a pleasant surprise; titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and No Man’s Sky ran well at 1080p, showcasing the integrated GPU’s capabilities. While we couldn’t hit consistent 60 FPS rates, most games are comfortably over 30. Emulation performance was equally impressive, with the Dolphin Emulator running demanding titles at full frame rates.

Benchmarking further validated the K8’s performance credentials, positioning it alongside more expensive systems from just a few years ago equipped with dedicated GPUs. The stress test results showed minimal thermal throttling under load, though fan noise became noticeable during intensive tasks.

The K8’s versatility extends to Linux compatibility, with my tests on Ubuntu showing excellent hardware support out of the box. This adaptability makes the K8 a suitable candidate for a range of applications including home labs.

While the K8 may not be the perfect fit for users with high throughput demands for external storage and networking, its performance, upgradability, and competitive pricing make it a decent option for a variety of users. As with any purchase in this category, prospective buyers should weigh the balance of performance, price, and potential compromises to determine if the K8 meets their specific needs and expectations.

Disclaimer: GMKTec provided the Mini PC to the channel free of charge. However they did not review or approve the review before it was uploaded nor was any additional compenstation received.

Fanless Mini PC Review: The Minix Z100-0db

My latest mini PC review takes a look at the Minix Z100-0db, a fanless Mini PC powered by an Intel N100 Alder Lake processor.

Minix’s new offering stands out for its silent operation, courtesy of its robust heat sink that radiates out to the top of the case. The PC feels like a solid block of metal weighing in at over 2 pounds or 900+grams.

It performs surprisingly well given its price point thanks to the N100 inside. Our review unit came with 16GB of DDR4 RAM on a single stick along with a 512GB NVME. RAM, storage, and the WiFi card can be upgraded. It comes equipped with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 card.

Port selection on the Z100-0db is adequate, featuring a data only USB-C port along with two USB-A ports running at USB 3 Gen 2 speeds, another pair at USB 2.0 speeds, a microSD card reader, dual HDMI outputs for 4K 60hz displays, and a single 2.5 gigabit ethernet port. The ethernet port worked at the full 2.5 gig bandwidth but the WiFi was running about 300 megabits per second below what was expected on the downstream. Upstream Wifi speeds were fine.

Windows 11 Pro comes pre-installed, providing a clean, bloatware-free experience right out of the box. Given some security issues we’ve seen with other MiniPCs I ran a few full malware and virus scans and everything came up clean here.

The Mini PC handles web browsing and office tasks with ease, demonstrating the capability of the Intel N100 processor to manage day-to-day activities efficiently.

Gaming and emulation tests were also good. This isn’t a gaming powerhouse by any means, it handles older games and emulation remarkably well, running titles like Half-Life 2 and PlayStation 2 games smoothly. Its performance in benchmarks and stress tests further underscores its stability and efficiency under load with no thermal throttling detected.

The Z100-0db also excels in running Linux, with Ubuntu detecting all hardware out of the box and providing a seamless experience for users interested in a dual-boot setup or dedicated Linux machine.

I’ve been looking at Mini PCs for the better part of a decade now. It’s great to see not only performance increasing year over year but also how it’s still possible to get great performance out of a completely silent fanless PC.

See more mini PC reviews here!

Disclosure: The Z100 was provided to the channel free of charge by Minix. However they did not review or approve this video before it was uploaded, nor was any additional compensation received. All opinions are my own.

Recent Ace Magic / Ace Magician PCs Infected with Malware

A fellow tech creator Net Guy Reviews discovered that a few new mini PCs from Ace Magic were infected with malware that among other things can capture keystrokes from the user.

Having reviewed a few Ace Magic PCs in the past, I wanted to make sure the machines I still had in my possession were clean. Most of them were, although. I did find something concerning in a newer model that I haven’t yet reviewed.

Background on this situation and my findings are the subject of my latest video.

Following the Net Guy’s video, a cascade of reports and articles, including a detailed one from Tom’s Hardware, emerged, outlining the severity of the issue. The spyware, identified as Bladabindi and Redline, is particularly nefarious, capable of stealing passwords from browsers and wallets, logging keystrokes, and transmitting data to a command and control server.

I conducted scans using multiple tools including Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool, Hitman Pro from Sofos, and Microsoft Defender on the three Ace Magic PCs I had in my possession. My AM06Pro and Kamrui Gaming PC both tested clean.

However, the situation was different with a newer model, the AM20, which restricted my access to Windows Defender. One other issue I noted on multiple Ace Magic PCs is that although they have licensed and activated versions of Windows, they only have the user create a local account – it does attempt to connect to a Microsoft online account.

ACE Magic’s response to the crisis has been to assure that the issue has been resolved with their new stock and was limited mostly to the PCs tested by Net Guy Reviews and others.

For the tech-savvy, the solution might be straightforward: wipe the machine clean and install a fresh copy of Windows or a flavor of Linux. But for the average user, this spyware saga is a reminder of the risks inherit with purchasing cheap computers from relatively unknown overseas brands.