Mini PCs 2023 - any good?

[Teo Ming Ern]

how is the performance bro?
fast bootup? good reponsive windows?
output to monitor ok?

Receiving the package only on Wed, 25 Jan according to Amazon SG... will update when I set it up.

My previous setup is DVI to an AOC 32" 2K monitor so that I can port the audio out via the 3.5mm cable to a set of PC speakers. Right now, I am tempted to use HDMI and figure out how to port out the audio via USB to my new Creative Stage Air V2... cos I want to keep my sole 3.5mm port at the front for headphones... unfortunately, the soundbar arrives only on 30 Jan, the mini PC on 25 Jan, and the HDD enclosure on 26 Jan... so earliest for setting up is really the next weekend... sigh...

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

Got another question... that extra SATA HDD slot on the bottom cover of the mini PC... anyone knows if it would take a Samsung 850 EVO SATA III SSD? I checked YouTube reviews and just one of them said you could slot in an SSD data drive... I am intending to repurpose by current desktop's Samsung 850EVO SATA III SSD as a data SSD... not sure if possible or not...

 

[watzup_ken]

Got another question... that extra SATA HDD slot on the bottom cover of the mini PC... anyone knows if it would take a Samsung 850 EVO SATA III SSD? I checked YouTube reviews and just one of them said you could slot in an SSD data drive... I am intending to repurpose by current desktop's Samsung 850EVO SATA III SSD as a data SSD... not sure if possible or not...

If they provided you with the connector, then yes. But I suggest you check how is the fan in the system pulling air into the system. There are many mini PCs where the main vent is the one below, with some slits on the side of the casing. If the main vent is at the bottom, and you install a SSD over it (this is usually where the SATA SSD is going to be installed), it is likely to hamper cooling performance.

 

[keith]

If they provided you with the connector, then yes. But I suggest you check how is the fan in the system pulling air into the system. There are many mini PCs where the main vent is the one below, with some slits on the side of the casing. If the main vent is at the bottom, and you install a SSD over it (this is usually where the SATA SSD is going to be installed), it is likely to hamper cooling performance.

careful if you adding an additional drive. its a hit and miss.
I am using a headless beelink SEi8, for 24/7 x 2 yrs, all's fine and it refuse to boot when i added an additional SSD.

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

If they provided you with the connector, then yes. But I suggest you check how is the fan in the system pulling air into the system. There are many mini PCs where the main vent is the one below, with some slits on the side of the casing. If the main vent is at the bottom, and you install a SSD over it (this is usually where the SATA SSD is going to be installed), it is likely to hamper cooling performance.

Cooling fan at the top of the box while SSD slot is below... so I think it exhausts air from the top and draws in air from the sides...

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

careful if you adding an additional drive. its a hit and miss.
I am using a headless beelink SEi8, for 24/7 x 2 yrs, all's fine and it refuse to boot when i added an additional SSD.

Just to clarify... you added the SSD after using the mini PC for 2 years? This is a new blank SSD or did it contain a previous boot drive?

My SSD is question is a Windows 10 boot drive of my current PC... I want to pop it in to the mini PC to use as a Download drive for random stuff that gets downloaded (like forms, etc) to reduce the read/write load on my HDD which contain more valuable data... not sure if this will mess up the boot up big time or not... cos there will now be 2 boot devices, one with Windows 11 which should be the primary boot device and a second one with Windows 10 which I want to format and use as a simple data drive...

I actually have a 2-bay docking drive for HDD for my additional back up... that's SATA too... wonder if can plug in my SSD first then connect via USB 3.0 to my mini PC and get my mini PC already running Windows 11 to format as an external drive... not sure if the docking drive can take my SSD or not...

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

My mini PC arrived yesterday afternoon... sorry about the orientation of the photos... it's upright on my phone but rotated after uploading to a web gallery... not sure how to fix that...

Arrived as indicated by Amazon.sg... pretty amazed by their efficiency... ordered 22 Jan and arrived 25 Jan over the CNY is quite something...

Now waiting for my HDD enclosure... which should arrive today... then I can start work... hopefully the Creative Stage Air V2 soundbar comes along today but not hopeful... local company probably still celebrating CNY... device is at the fulfillment centre but still no movement for delivery... never mind, use headphones to wade through the setup first lor...

 

[kimsix]

wow is really small to fit padded envelope

interesting to see your user experience later

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

wow is really small to fit padded envelope

interesting to see your user experience later

Yes yes... actually the unit is even smaller than the black paper box... it's about 50% of the length... I'll snap a photo of this mini PC vs my midsized ATX tower... the difference in size is ridiculous... ha ha...

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

Got my HDD enclosure... exactly as given by Amazon.sg... pretty impressive...

Still waiting for my soundbar... hopefully tomorrow can get it...

 

[keith]

Just to clarify... you added the SSD after using the mini PC for 2 years? This is a new blank SSD or did it contain a previous boot drive?

My SSD is question is a Windows 10 boot drive of my current PC... I want to pop it in to the mini PC to use as a Download drive for random stuff that gets downloaded (like forms, etc) to reduce the read/write load on my HDD which contain more valuable data... not sure if this will mess up the boot up big time or not... cos there will now be 2 boot devices, one with Windows 11 which should be the primary boot device and a second one with Windows 10 which I want to format and use as a simple data drive...

I actually have a 2-bay docking drive for HDD for my additional back up... that's SATA too... wonder if can plug in my SSD first then connect via USB 3.0 to my mini PC and get my mini PC already running Windows 11 to format as an external drive... not sure if the docking drive can take my SSD or not...

yes, i added an internal SSD after ~ 2 years of use cos running out of space. LOL

i think the issue is the BIOs of the SEi, somehow is unable to detect the 2nd SDD and is stuck in boot loop.

If u use the USB or USB-C then no issue. I have 7 ext hdd drive and a USB-C ext SSD connected.

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

yes, i added an internal SSD after ~ 2 years of use cos running out of space. LOL

i think the issue is the BIOs of the SEi, somehow is unable to detect the 2nd SDD and is stuck in boot loop.

If u use the USB or USB-C then no issue. I have 7 ext hdd drive and a USB-C ext SSD connected.

Wow! 7 HDD... running server?

 

[keith]

Wow! 7 HDD... running server?

farming chia ~70TB ...

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

farming chia ~70TB ...

Seriously? Farming as in crypto farming???

 

[keith]

Seriously? Farming as in crypto farming???

yup ...

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

My soundbar finally arrived... now all the ingredients for my new mini PC are assembled... can finally start the process of setting up and porting stuff over from my old desktop...

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

Got everything up and running without a hitch.... the speed of execution is light years ahead of my old desktop... almost instant loading of webpages, MS Office 2021 runs almost instantly... and Windows 11 runs very smoothly... amazing for something so tiny... some pictures...


Simply amazing something so tiny can be so powerful...


With soundbar...

Added my Samsung 850 EVO SSD SATA 3.0 without a hitch... detected immediately and formatted in disk management...

The Orico HDD enclosure also runs without a hitch... really fast via the front USB 3.0 port...

That's all for now...

 

[Devilsire]

Got everything up and running without a hitch.... the speed of execution is light years ahead of my old desktop... almost instant loading of webpages, MS Office 2021 runs almost instantly... and Windows 11 runs very smoothly... amazing for something so tiny... some pictures...


Simply amazing something so tiny can be so powerful...




With soundbar...

Added my Samsung 850 EVO SSD SATA 3.0 without a hitch... detected immediately and formatted in disk management...

The Orico HDD enclosure also runs without a hitch... really fast via the front USB 3.0 port...

That's all for now...

the power consumption is very low too from what i read, max TDP 15W?
am considering to switch to mini pc for mainly media/surfing usage

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

the power consumption is very low too from what i read, max TDP 15W?
am considering to switch to mini pc for mainly media/surfing usage

No idea what the TDP is but it runs really cool... I left it on since 5 pm... installing and setting up and then idle about 2 hours... I put my hand over the top where the fan exhausts, very cool... not warm at all...

 

[keith]

Got everything up and running without a hitch.... the speed of execution is light years ahead of my old desktop... almost instant loading of webpages, MS Office 2021 runs almost instantly... and Windows 11 runs very smoothly... amazing for something so tiny... some pictures...


Simply amazing something so tiny can be so powerful...


With soundbar...

Added my Samsung 850 EVO SSD SATA 3.0 without a hitch... detected immediately and formatted in disk management...

The Orico HDD enclosure also runs without a hitch... really fast via the front USB 3.0 port...

That's all for now...

do you want to consider to mount it on the back of your monitor ? I think it comes with the bracket too.