Tag: Minipc

My latest review is of the GMKtec K8 “NucBox” Mini PC, featuring a Ryzen 8845HS processor. Priced around $649—with potential discounts available on platforms like Amazon—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.

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.

I recently had the opportunity to delve into the MINISFORUM EliteMini UM780 XTX Mini PC, a high-performance Mini PC. You can see my full review here.

Priced at around $623, the EliteMini UM780 is equipped with an 8 core Ryzen 7840HS processor, 32 GB of DDR5 RAM (upgradeable to 64GB) along with a 1TB SSD. It has an empty NVME/PCIe 4.0 slot for additional storage or an included Oculink riser board.

Oculink allows for connecting external devices (like a GPU) directly to the PCI Express Bus. Some testing I’ve seen shows that the Oculink connection can provide better performance than a Thunderbolt GPU as there’s less overhead. This might be something we explore in the future.

The device’s rear ports include two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, DisplayPort & HDMI, dual 2.5 Gbit ethernet, and a space for the Oculink card’s port. The ethernet ports deliver impressive performance, but the Wi-Fi capabilities fall short, especially when compared to other Wi-Fi 6 devices.

The device’s USB 4 ports don’t quite deliver the expected performance, particularly when tested with external drives like the Thunderbolt Samsung X5 which is compatible with USB 4.0. The Samsung drive performed at full performance on the Beelink SER7 we looked at recently.

The front of the device features additional USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a USB 4 port, and audio jacks.

The EliteMini UM780 requires a separate 120-watt power supply and offers a TDP of 65 watts, which can be increased to 70 watts for enhanced processor performance.

Aesthetically, the Mini PC includes a customizable LED light on the top, adding a touch of personalization. It also comes with VESA mount and desktop stand options for versatile placement.

In terms of general performance, the EliteMini UM780 excels in basic business tasks and web browsing. It handles 4K video streaming and basic video editing efficiently. Gaming performance is also commendable, with games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Doom Eternal, and No Man’s Sky running smoothly at lower settings.

Benchmark tests place the Mini PC in line with other high-performing devices, and its cooling system effectively manages thermals without excessive noise. The device also offers a solid Linux experience, recognizing all essential hardware components.

In summary, the MINISFORUM EliteMini UM780 XTX Mini PC is a versatile and powerful device that excels in gaming and general performance. While it has areas for improvement, particularly in Wi-Fi and USB 4 port performance, its strengths in processing power, storage speed, and gaming capabilities make it a noteworthy option in the mini PC market.

But at this moment I do think the Beelink SER7 is the superior device.

Disclosure: Minisforum sent the computer to the channel free of charge however this is not a sponsored review nor they did not review or approve this content before it was uploaded. 

I’ve been reviewing mini PCs for almost a decade now, with the first being this fanless Brix PC I looked at way back in 2014. Over time they seem to get incrementally better with newer and more powerful SOCs making their way to market. However, the past year has been quite remarkable, especially with the influx of Ryzen-based mini PCs. Among these, the Beelink SER7 stands out as one of the most impressive I’ve encountered, both in terms of features and performance. You can see more in my latest review.

The Beelink SER7, priced around $600 (depending on configuration), is powered by a Ryzen 7840HS processor. This eight-core processor, built on the Zen 4 architecture, delivers amazing CPU and graphics performance in a very small package.

The unit I reviewed had 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD. It’s also upgradeable. By removing the bottom plate, you’ll find a second NVMe SSD slot. However, to get to the RAM and the other NVMe slot, you’ll need to dig a little deeper and remove a large heat sink. The system can support up to 64GB of RAM.

The front of the SER7 features a headphone/microphone jack and a USB Type-C data port. The back offers more connectivity options, including two USB 2.0 ports, a 2.5-gigabit ethernet port, a DisplayPort & HDMI output, and two USB4 ports that also support video output. These USB4 ports are compatible with Thunderbolt devices, allowing for connections to external GPUs or Thunderbolt hard drives. The ports can deliver 40 gigabits of data transfer each. The device can also be powered through these ports, with a maximum input of 100 watts.

In terms of performance, the SER7 is impressive. Web browsing feels almost instantaneous. I tested 4K 60fps video playback on YouTube, and while it dropped a few frames, it wasn’t significant. The browserbench.org speedometer benchmark test yielded a score of 333, which is consistent with other current-generation Ryzen and Intel processors.

For those interested in video editing, the SER7 handles it well. I loaded up DaVinci Resolve with a 4K 60fps project, and it rendered simple transitions in real-time without any lag. Gaming performance was also commendable. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2 ran smoothly at 1080p with frame rates often exceeding 50fps. Doom Eternal and Fortnite also performed well at low settings, delivering frame rates between 70-90fps at 1080p.

On the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark test, the SER7 scored 3258, which is comparable to a seventh-generation Intel processor-based mini PC with a GTX 1060 GPU. What’s notable is that the SER7 achieves this with a single chip that consumes far less power.

I also tested the SER7 with Linux, using the latest version of Ubuntu. While performance was snappy, there were issues with audio detection and Wi-Fi connectivity. However, ethernet worked without any problems.

In conclusion, the Beelink SER7 is a robust mini PC. Its construction is solid, and the performance is top-notch. The inclusion of USB4 with Thunderbolt support is a significant advantage. While there are some minor issues with Linux compatibility, if you’re a Windows user seeking a compact yet powerful machine, the SER7 is worth considering.

Disclosure: Beelink provided the Mini PC to the channel free of charge for this review however they did not review or approve my review before it was uploaded.