AOOSTAR mini PC is a 3-in-1 AMD Ryzen 5 5500U mini PC with two 3.5-inch SATA bays making it usable as a NAS, and two 2.5GbE networking interfaces to use the mini PC as a software 2.5GbE router that has recently shown up on Amazon for $399. The mini PC ships with a 512GB NVMe SSD preloaded with Windows 11 by default, as well as 16GB DDR4 memory. It can drive up to three independent 4K displays using HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C ports, and comes with five USB ports including one 10 Gbps USB Type-C port. AOOSTAR mini PC specifications: SoC – AMD Ryzen 5 5500U hexa-core-12-thread processor @ up to 4.0GHz with AMD Radeon Graphics; TDP: 10-25W System Memory – 16GB DDR4, upgradeable up to 64GB DDR4 3200MHz (2x 32GB running in dual-channel mode) Storage 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD, 1x extra M.2 NVMe SSD socket 2-bay NAS compatible with […]
GEEKOM AS 6 review – Part 2: An AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX mini PC tested with Windows 11 Pro
We’ve previously checked out the hardware of the GEEKOM AS 6 mini PC, the retail version of the ASUS PN53, using an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU with unboxing, teardown, and the first boot in the first part of the review. We’ve now spent more time with Windows 11 Pro on GEEKOM AS 6 for a thorough review, it’s one of the fastest mini PCs we’ve tested so far, and there are only a few downsides as we’ll see in the second part of the review. Software overview and features testing Our GEEKOM AS 6 sample shipped with Windows 11 Pro 21H2 build 22000.1281, and Windows system information confirms we have a system with a 3.3 GHz AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU and 32GB RAM. If we look at more details, we can confirm the reported specifications match the advertised ones with an 8-core/16-thread CPU, an ASUS PN53 motherboard, etc… […]
$200 CHUWI LarkBox X gets Processor N100 option
Initially launched with an AMD Ryzen 7 3700U mobile processor last year, the CHUWI LarkBox X mini PC is now available with an Intel Processor N100 Alder Lake-N CPU and sold on Amazon for $199. The mini PC also got its RAM bumped from 8GB DDR4 to 12GB RAM, and its storage capacity has been doubled with 512GB NVMe SSD. The rest of the specifications look to be identical with triple 4K display support, two Ethernet ports, WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2, as well as four USB 3.0 ports. CHUWI LarkBox X (2023) preliminary specifications: SoC – Intel Processor N100 Alder Lake-N quad-core processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel HD graphics @ up to 750 MHz; TDP: 6W System Memory – 12GB RAM Storage – 512GB NVMe M.2 2280 SSD Video Output 1x HDMI 2.0 up to 4Kp60 1x DisplayPort up to 4Kp60 1x […]
Zotac PI430AJ Pico mini PC features Airjet solid-state active cooling chips
ZOTAC PI430AJ Pico is the first mini PC equipped with (two) Airjet solid-state active cooling chips introduced at CES 2023, doing without the metal case required by typical fanless systems, and instead relying on a plastic case. The PI430AJ Pico is powered by a recent 7W Intel Core i3-N300 octa-core Alder Lake-N processor coupled with up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and an M.2 NVMe SSD up to 1TB capacity. The mini PC is showcased at COMPUTEX 2023 with a transparent cover to showcase the two FRORE Systems Airjet mini PC, but it will eventually be sold with a black plastic enclosure. ZOTAC PI430AJ Pico preliminary specifications: SoC – Intel Core i3-N300 octa-core processor up to 3.8 GHz with 6MB cache, 32EU Intel UHD Graphics Gen 12 @ 1.25 GHz; TDP: 7W System Memory – Up to 16GB LPDDR5 Storage – Up to 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD, microSD card slot Video […]
Intel NUC 13 Rugged “Bravo Canyon” fanless Alder Lake-N mini PC is designed for 24/7 operation
The Intel NUC 13 Rugged, codenamed “Bravo Canyon, is an upcoming fanless and dust-resistant mini PC powered by an Alder Lake-N processor and designed for 24/7 operation suitable for business and industrial applications, albeit just in a 0°C to 40°C or 50°C temperature range. The rugged computer is offered with either an external or internal heatsink, supports up to 16GB DDR5 memory, comes with 64GB eMMC flash, M.2 sockets for NVMe and/or SATA SSDs, two 4Kp60 capable HDMI 2.1 ports, two 2.5GbE networking interfaces, four USB 3.2/2.0 ports, and optional support for WiFi 6, 4G LTE cellular connectivity, and an internal expansion bay. Intel NUC 13 specifications: Alder Lake-N SoC (one or the other) Intel Atom x7425E quad-core processor up to 3.4 GHz with 6MB L3 cache, Intel UHD Graphics; 12W TDP Intel Atom x7211E dual-core processor up to 3.2 GHz with 6MB L3 cache, Intel UHD Graphics; 6W TDP […]
Pocket-sized 2.8-inch mini PC features an Intel N100 processor, 12GB RAM, up to 2TB storage
A pocket-sized 2.8-inch (72 x 72 x 45mm) mini PC based on an Intel Processor N100 SoC with 12GB LPDDR5, and up to 2TB storage has started to show up on Aliexpress for $154 and up under the names ZX01 Plus and Topton M6S. This is the most compact Alder Lake-N mini PC we’ve seen so far, yet it still comes with two HDMI 2.0 ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, Gigabit Ethernet and WiFi 5 connectivity, and three USB 3.2 ports, plus a non-standard 12V USB-C port that’s now common for this type of mini PC. ZX01 Plus / Topton M6S specifications: SoC – Intel Processor N100 Alder Lake-N quad-core processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24 EU Intel HD graphics @ up to 750 MHz; TDP: 6W System Memory – 12GB LPDDR5 @ 4800 MHz Storage Optional 128GB to 2TB M.2 2242 SATA SSD, but […]
Beelink EQ12 Review – An Intel Processor N100 mini PC tested with Windows 11, TrueNAS, pfSense, Ubuntu, and more
Beelink’s new EQ series of mini PCs form their base product range and feature low-powered Jasper Lake and Alder Lake-N processors with relatively basic port and memory/storage configurations. Perhaps more importantly, they are also the cheapest mini PCs they offer. Having recently announced the EQ12 mini PC featuring an Intel Processor N100 ‘Alder Lake-N’ CPU with up to 16GB RAM, Beelink have now sent one for review. Whilst I’ll cover the basic Windows operation and performance, I’ll also explore how this new mini PC performs when used as an integrated router and NAS. Beelink EQ12 specifications Beelink list the EQ12 specifications as: It is worth noting that the Processor N100 processor only supports a single memory channel and that according to Intel’s specification for the processor, the maximum memory supported is only 16 GB. Intel’s specification for the number of graphical execution units (EUs) also states 24 however software such […]
GEEKOM AS 6 (Ryzen 9 6900HX) mini PC review – Part 1: unboxing, teardown, and first try
GEEKOM AS 6 is a mini PC based on AMD Ryzen 6000HX CPU with up to 64GB dual-channel DDR5 RAM memory, two PCIe Gen 4×4 M.2 2280 SSD sockets, WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, and a range of ports, made in collaboration with ASUS (that’s the PN53 model) and which the company advertises as an alternative to the Intel NUC 13 Pro “Arena Canyon”. GEEKOM sent us a sample of the AS 6 mini PC with an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX octa-core processor with Radeon 680M graphics, 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD for review, and in the first part of the review, we’ll look at the specifications, check the package content, teardown the system, and give it a first try, before testing it more thoroughly with the pre-installed Windows 11 and Ubuntu 22.04 in the next parts. GEEKOM AS 6 specifications Here’s how GEEKOM AS 6 specifications compare the […]