[SIC] Really good Ryzen mini PC

[networked]

Asrock A520M - $125
AMD 5600G - $244 (comes with AMD Wraith Stealth cooler)
InWin Chopin ITX case - $125

2x8GB 3200 MHz RAM - $75
500TB M2 SSD - $80

... total $649 for a good browser/homework PC for kids? Am I missing anything?

form factor.

i had mine one tucked under my 55 inch tv frame.

 

[celsus]

Chopin case got VESA mount. I hope to stick behind a monitor also but never try before

 

[Entry Level PC]

Asrock A520M - $125
AMD 5600G - $244 (comes with AMD Wraith Stealth cooler)
InWin Chopin ITX case - $125

2x8GB 3200 MHz RAM - $75
500TB M2 SSD - $80

... total $649 for a good browser/homework PC for kids? Am I missing anything?

MATX Mobo can fit in your ITX case?

Also Height Allowance for the MOBO + Case can still use the AMD Wraith Stealth Cooler or you need to top up more for Low Profile Cooler?

 

[celsus]

MATX Mobo can fit in your ITX case?

Also Height Allowance for the MOBO + Case can still use the AMD Wraith Stealth Cooler or you need to top up more for Low Profile Cooler?

https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/A520M-ITXac/index.asp is ITX leh

I google Wraith Stealth confirm can fit but must remove the hood

Edit: Oic 520M-ITX is more like $180...

 

[Entry Level PC]

https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/A520M-ITXac/index.asp is ITX leh
I google Wraith Stealth confirm can fit but must remove the hood
Edit: Oic 520M-ITX is more like $180...

Yup more exp as well.
Beelink might be more wuhua.
Smaller form factor as well.

https://www.bee-link.com/computer-73493777
Example
4800U 8xCore 16 Threads
16GB
500GB SSD
Around USD$400 Only!

 

[celsus]

Yup more exp as well.
Beelink might be more wuhua.
Smaller form factor as well.

https://www.bee-link.com/computer-73493777
Example
4800U 8xCore 16 Threads
16GB
500GB SSD
Around USD$400 Only!

At USD400 no brainer but on Amazon.sg is $749... must order direct from Beelink?

 

[HexenHeretic]

ASROCK x300 has VESA mount...

 

[Entry Level PC]

At USD400 no brainer but on Amazon.sg is $749... must order direct from Beelink?

yup current its On-Sale Price.
That's why so cheap.

 

[Entry Level PC]

moi saving my money and continue to tan gu gu for 6000 series mini pc with USB4 for eGPU

 

[wtfh4x]

At USD400 no brainer but on Amazon.sg is $749... must order direct from Beelink?

This kind of PC if anything spoil can't repair though, CPU even slower than 5600G.
I think whole package this vs 5600G rig almost the same price, but 5600G rig will be cheaper to repair in the long run. There are SFF case options available for mATX rigs as well like the Tecware Fusion.

So consider carefully if you really need a tiny PC, or if you can live with a small PC and benefit from better upgradability and repairability in the future.

 

[Entry Level PC]

This kind of PC if anything spoil can't repair though, CPU even slower than 5600G.
I think whole package this vs 5600G rig almost the same price, but 5600G rig will be cheaper to repair in the long run. There are SFF case options available for mATX rigs as well like the Tecware Fusion.

So consider carefully if you really need a tiny PC, or if you can live with a small PC and benefit from better upgradability and repairability in the future.

minipc/laptop are getting more affordable compared to DIY ITX
agree to repair ability and upgrade for DIY RIG assuming you can re-use the Case and Power Supply
change mobo or upgrade cpu also very limited due to limited expensive ITX mobo available and chipset limitation for future upgrade

 

[celsus]

This kind of PC if anything spoil can't repair though, CPU even slower than 5600G.
I think whole package this vs 5600G rig almost the same price, but 5600G rig will be cheaper to repair in the long run. There are SFF case options available for mATX rigs as well like the Tecware Fusion.

So consider carefully if you really need a tiny PC, or if you can live with a small PC and benefit from better upgradability and repairability in the future.

I somewhat agree... i look up 4800U and it really is quite slow. More recent CPU is faster but price becomes more ex than DIY. I think wait until Ryzen 7000 launch so hopefully 5600G go on offer

 

[watzup_ken]

Asrock A520M - $125
AMD 5600G - $244 (comes with AMD Wraith Stealth cooler)
InWin Chopin ITX case - $125

2x8GB 3200 MHz RAM - $75
500TB M2 SSD - $80

... total $649 for a good browser/homework PC for kids? Am I missing anything?

For school work, this is more than enough. But do note, there are 2 versions for the InWin Chopin. There is a non Pro and a Pro model where the latter sports a 200W PSU. The non Pro 150W PSU can get scalding hot when you load the system with say games because the stock PSU fan is not good. I think there are reviews out there that can validate my claim, and that is based on my own experience as well. So my counter recommendation will be to consider the InWin B1 Mesh (please don't choose the glass panel because of poor to no airflow).

 

[Entry Level PC]

I somewhat agree... i look up 4800U and it really is quite slow. More recent CPU is faster but price becomes more ex than DIY. I think wait until Ryzen 7000 launch so hopefully 5600G go on offer

won't go on offer too much.
AM4 stopping with 5600G/5700G
your best offer maybe Black Friday

the bigger problem is ITX mobo are expensive
low supply also, so ITX won't be cheap

also 5800H already crushed 5600G
6000 series mobile CPU have better onboard GPU than 5600G/5700G

 

[wtfh4x]

I somewhat agree... i look up 4800U and it really is quite slow. More recent CPU is faster but price becomes more ex than DIY. I think wait until Ryzen 7000 launch so hopefully 5600G go on offer

5600G is already at its lowest price yet. I bought at $360+ one year ago for just the chip, now is $260+. Combo with a basic board in SLS is $375-$400. That is as low as a Ryzen 5/ i5 CPU combo gets in my experience, so I would just buy if you need.

 

[wtfh4x]

minipc/laptop are getting more affordable compared to DIY ITX
agree to repair ability and upgrade for DIY RIG assuming you can re-use the Case and Power Supply
change mobo or upgrade cpu also very limited due to limited expensive ITX mobo available and chipset limitation for future upgrade

Mini PC and laptop especially Chinese brand are very cheap, but the question is do they last? And do you even get any form of warranty?

Not long ago there was some super cheap Chinese laptop on this forum, Maibenben or something, you can go search and after a while someone's keyboard broke. Upon return to the local warranty centre, they said no parts, use USB keyboard with your laptop. Is that a solution you can live with?

If you pick your DIY parts properly definitely you can reuse the case and power supply, that's the great thing about PC form factors. They don't really change over the years.

And again, ITX is not a necessity. SFF mATX like the Tecware Fusion is a perfectly decent, very affordable option where you don't have to pay the ITX premium. At the end of the day, socketed CPUs are a far superior option to soldered CPUs. Even if the motherboard dies and you can't find another, sell your CPU and get some money back to put into a new CPU+MB with the newest socket.

Better than tossing out the whole Mini PC or laptop which gets you $0.

 

[Entry Level PC]

Mini PC and laptop especially Chinese brand are very cheap, but the question is do they last? And do you even get any form of warranty?

Not long ago there was some super cheap Chinese laptop on this forum, Maibenben or something, you can go search and after a while someone's keyboard broke. Upon return to the local warranty centre, they said no parts, use USB keyboard with your laptop. Is that a solution you can live with?

If you pick your DIY parts properly definitely you can reuse the case and power supply, that's the great thing about PC form factors. They don't really change over the years.

And again, ITX is not a necessity. SFF mATX like the Tecware Fusion is a perfectly decent, very affordable option where you don't have to pay the ITX premium. At the end of the day, socketed CPUs are a far superior option to soldered CPUs. Even if the motherboard dies and you can't find another, sell your CPU and get some money back to put into a new CPU+MB with the newest socket.

Better than tossing out the whole Mini PC or laptop which gets you $0.

Not long ago there was some super cheap Chinese laptop on this forum, Maibenben or something, you can go search and after a while someone's keyboard broke. Upon return to the local warranty centre, they said no parts, use USB keyboard with your laptop. Is that a solution you can live with?

I using
Maibenben 2500U
mini pc 25

LAN port and m.2 wifi DOA (I got post in that Maibenben Thread)
I bought it barebone @ SGD$300 from Aliexpress
Other than that no issues.
I running it 24/7
Now more than 1.5 year liao still okay

Maibenben is lower quality compared to
Minisforum/Beelink

And again, ITX is not a necessity. SFF mATX like the Tecware Fusion is a perfectly decent, very affordable option where you don't have to pay the ITX premium. At the end of the day, socketed CPUs are a far superior option to soldered CPUs. Even if the motherboard dies and you can't find another, sell your CPU and get some money back to put into a new CPU+MB with the newest socket.

1) Form Factor alot bigger than mini pc also alot more power consumption 15-25W Mobile CPU vs 65W Desktop CPU (I ran 24/7, 1 year save over $100 in power saving cost)

2) People usually don't upgrade CPU due to chipset and CPU limitation for upgrading

Better than tossing out the whole Mini PC or laptop which gets you $0.

Usually you can only salvage Casing + PSU if you DIY
Cos might not be worth it to buy replacement MOBO or CPU say 3 years down the road
If you already on 5700G, there is no further upgrade option available for CPU
At most buy a replacement MOBO if MOBO spoil

 

[watzup_ken]

I somewhat agree... i look up 4800U and it really is quite slow. More recent CPU is faster but price becomes more ex than DIY. I think wait until Ryzen 7000 launch so hopefully 5600G go on offer

To be honest, if you said that its for your kids to use, the 4800U is plenty of processing power, with extra for gaming. It is quite slow as compared to a 5600G is because when you consider the rated power requirement of 15W vs 65W, there exists a gulf of difference. The former can boost up to 28/35W or so depending on the configuration, but the 5600G can boost higher than the rated TDP as well. In my opinion, whether to go with a mini PC or a DIY ITX rig really depends on your preference.
For work, I got a Mini PC running an older Ryzen, 2500U, back then because it was cheap (about 350/370 can't recall now), low in power consumption (I may log in for more than 10 hours each day), and gets the job done well. I can even play some light games on it if I don't want to power up my gaming PC. So while it doesn't seem like a great value at the start, I think I do realize some savings in my power bill when we used to work entirely from home. The flipsides are, (1) 1 year warranty, and, (2) if the CPU/motherboard dies, only things I can salvage are the wifi card, RAM and SSD.
Just 1 thing to note, the InWin Chopin uses a proprietary PSU, even though it looks like it is a PICO form factor PSU. So if the PSU dies, you either have to use an external one, or you may have to change the entire case.

 

[watzup_ken]

Mini PC and laptop especially Chinese brand are very cheap, but the question is do they last? And do you even get any form of warranty?

Not long ago there was some super cheap Chinese laptop on this forum, Maibenben or something, you can go search and after a while someone's keyboard broke. Upon return to the local warranty centre, they said no parts, use USB keyboard with your laptop. Is that a solution you can live with?

If you pick your DIY parts properly definitely you can reuse the case and power supply, that's the great thing about PC form factors. They don't really change over the years.

And again, ITX is not a necessity. SFF mATX like the Tecware Fusion is a perfectly decent, very affordable option where you don't have to pay the ITX premium. At the end of the day, socketed CPUs are a far superior option to soldered CPUs. Even if the motherboard dies and you can't find another, sell your CPU and get some money back to put into a new CPU+MB with the newest socket.

Better than tossing out the whole Mini PC or laptop which gets you $0.

My Maibenben lasted for more than a year, until I sold it off for a laptop for the portability in case I need to log in for work when I am outside. I would recommend not getting the laptop because the main problem seems to stem from the poor keyboard that seems to fail prematurely. At least I've seen a few complaints here before.

 

[wtfh4x]

I using
Maibenben 2500U
mini pc 25

LAN port and m.2 wifi DOA (I got post in that Maibenben Thread)
I bought it barebone @ SGD$300 from Aliexpress
Other than that no issues.
I running it 24/7
Now more than 1.5 year liao still okay

Maibenben is lower quality compared to
Minisforum/Beelink

If they didn't catch both forms of networking broken out of the box, I will straightaway return it and ask for refund. IMO doesn't bode well for QC if they can't catch two problems when it's brand new. Dunno what else they never check properly.

I can't tell for sure that Brand A is better than Brand B, unlike say a motherboard where you have reviewers like HardwareUnboxed comparing the actual quality of a cheap board, so I personally hesitate to recommend such brands.

1) Form Factor alot bigger than mini pc also alot more power consumption 15-25W Mobile CPU vs 65W Desktop CPU (I ran 24/7, 1 year save over $100 in power saving cost)

2) People usually don't upgrade CPU due to chipset and CPU limitation for upgrading

1) Power consumption will get more significant the more you use. If use 24/7, of course the power consumption difference will become large. Anything x 24 x 7 x 365 will become a large number.

Alternatively, if its used 8 hours a day the difference becomes just $33 a year. So that then has to be balanced against warranty lengths and part replacement costs. Is the full 3-5 years warranty on an entire PC's worth of parts worth $33 a year? I would say definitely yes.

2) That's why I said TS must consider if he needs a small PC or needs a really small PC. By upgradability I meant not just CPU, it's the entire DIY PC suite of upgrades. Whether multiple SSDs, 3 HDDs, 4 sticks of RAM, graphic card, CPU cooler, whatever you want to upgrade you also can do. Totally different from a mini PC experience.

Usually you can only salvage Casing + PSU if you DIY
Cos might not be worth it to buy replacement MOBO or CPU say 3 years down the road
If you already on 5700G, there is no further upgrade option available for CPU
At most buy a replacement MOBO if MOBO spoil

As with any standard form factor system, only the parts which break need to be replaced and there is always the option I stated below.

Even if the motherboard dies and you can't find another, sell your CPU and get some money back to put into a new CPU+MB with the newest socket.