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This is a really nice miniPC if you need windows, x86 btw. I've tested a lot of miniPCs and this has been one of the quietest/most stable ones I've tested.
Just beware wi-fi/bluetooth with all of these chinese miniPC's, usually not great. Use ethernet and if you need wi-fi an external usb card/antenna can help.
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from RelaxedPencil532
:
this or the new apple mini?
For daily usage, mac mini m4 or even m3 by far.
Buy this machine if you need:
- Lots of storage (2tb+) or ram (64gb+)... Apple charges insane amounts for it. You could add an external USB3 or USB4/TB4 enclosure though. RAM you are stuck with.
- If you want to play mid level PC games on the 780M igpu
- If you want to run it as a linux server on bare metal (plex, jellyfin, file server, etc)
- Windows/x86 only software
They are pretty close in multi-core performance and graphics, but the M4 blows it away in single threaded performance and efficiency. Apple stuff is esp good in the sub 15w range when it comes to performance/watt.
Beelink has a newer SER9 model with strix point that is faster, but you can't upgrade the RAM on it because they used LPDDR5 ram so the SER8 is kind of in a sweet spot for the money right now.
Last edited by ls1dreams November 8, 2024 at 09:08 AM.
This is a really nice miniPC if you need windows, x86 btw. I've tested a lot of miniPCs and this has been one of the quietest/most stable ones I've tested.
Just beware wi-fi/bluetooth with all of these chinese miniPC's, usually not great. Use ethernet and if you need wi-fi an external usb card/antenna can help.
I am not familiar with mini PC. I am assuming like Mac mini, these are largely unupgradable?
I am not familiar with mini PC. I am assuming like Mac mini, these are largely unupgradable?
You can upgrade ram, SSD, add second SSD and upgrade wireless card. I have had good luck with the wireless card, but a wireless Ethernet bridge is always an option. I find the beelink ser series offers great value if you prefer x86 or need large amount of Memory/storage.
If the MAC SSD ends up easily upgradable I would pick Mac Mini. I know you could run a Thunderbolt external SSD but I rather have internal if given the option.
Last edited by Ponder November 8, 2024 at 09:41 AM.
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from PeteyTheStriker
:
Lol, what a ridiculous notion. If your afraid of some secret hidden spyware wipe the OS and put on Linux or buy your own windows OS. If not just get a virus/spyware protection suite and problem solved. There is nothing special about a mini pc compared to a standard sized or laptop that would make them more susceptible to security issues.
Disagree. While you can wipe the OS, you can't do anything about built in bios/microcontroller type stuff that can inject code later.
However, Beelink is a long time miniPC supplier so I generally trust them. Them, minisforum, and minix have been around like 13yrs+ and aren't a flash in the pan minipc company that popped up in the last 2yrs.
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Nov 8, 2024 6:49 PM
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Just beware wi-fi/bluetooth with all of these chinese miniPC's, usually not great. Use ethernet and if you need wi-fi an external usb card/antenna can help.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank
Buy this machine if you need:
- Lots of storage (2tb+) or ram (64gb+)... Apple charges insane amounts for it. You could add an external USB3 or USB4/TB4 enclosure though. RAM you are stuck with.
- If you want to play mid level PC games on the 780M igpu
- If you want to run it as a linux server on bare metal (plex, jellyfin, file server, etc)
- Windows/x86 only software
They are pretty close in multi-core performance and graphics, but the M4 blows it away in single threaded performance and efficiency. Apple stuff is esp good in the sub 15w range when it comes to performance/watt.
Beelink has a newer SER9 model with strix point that is faster, but you can't upgrade the RAM on it because they used LPDDR5 ram so the SER8 is kind of in a sweet spot for the money right now.
Just beware wi-fi/bluetooth with all of these chinese miniPC's, usually not great. Use ethernet and if you need wi-fi an external usb card/antenna can help.
Single nic is a bummer though.
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If the MAC SSD ends up easily upgradable I would pick Mac Mini. I know you could run a Thunderbolt external SSD but I rather have internal if given the option.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank
However, Beelink is a long time miniPC supplier so I generally trust them. Them, minisforum, and minix have been around like 13yrs+ and aren't a flash in the pan minipc company that popped up in the last 2yrs.
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