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forum thread Posted by Suryasis • Dec 5, 2024
forum thread Posted by Suryasis • Dec 5, 2024

Minisforum NAB6 Lite Mini PC: i5-12600H, 16GB DDR4, 512GB Gen4 SSD, Dual 2.5G Lan, 4x Video Out, Win11 @ $319 & More + F/S

$319

$499

36% off
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16GB Ram + 512GB SSD [minisforum.com] @ $319
32GB Ram + 512GB SSD [minisforum.com] @ $359
32GB Ram + 1TB SSD [minisforum.com] @ $379

Coupon: $100 Off via DNAB6 for Non-Barebone Models. Automatically Applies to the Cart

Spec:
  • Windows 11 Home
  • Core i5-12600H (4P+8E)/16T (4.5 GHz Turbo, 18MB Cache)
  • Intel Iris Xe Graphis (80 EU)
  • 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 SSD with Active SSD Cooler
  • 1x 2.5" SATA Slot (SATA 3.0 6 Gb/s)
  • 16GB (8GBx2) DDR4 3200 MT/s memory (64GB Max)
  • 1x M.2 2230 Slot for NIC (Populated)
  • Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 + Bluetooth 5.3
  • Ports:
    • 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps
    • 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (Data Only, Front)
    • 1x USB-C 3.2 Display Out Only (DisplayPort 1.4, 4k@60Hz)
    • 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DP 1.4, Data, Power Delivery Out, 4k@60Hz)
    • 2x HDMI 2.0
    • 2x Intel i225-v or Intel i226-v 2.5G Ethernet
    • 1x DMIC
    • 1x 3.5mm Audio Combo Jack
    • 1x Clear CMOS
    • 1x DC-In
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
16GB Ram + 512GB SSD [minisforum.com] @ $319
32GB Ram + 512GB SSD [minisforum.com] @ $359
32GB Ram + 1TB SSD [minisforum.com] @ $379

Coupon: $100 Off via DNAB6 for Non-Barebone Models. Automatically Applies to the Cart

Spec:
  • Windows 11 Home
  • Core i5-12600H (4P+8E)/16T (4.5 GHz Turbo, 18MB Cache)
  • Intel Iris Xe Graphis (80 EU)
  • 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 SSD with Active SSD Cooler
  • 1x 2.5" SATA Slot (SATA 3.0 6 Gb/s)
  • 16GB (8GBx2) DDR4 3200 MT/s memory (64GB Max)
  • 1x M.2 2230 Slot for NIC (Populated)
  • Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 + Bluetooth 5.3
  • Ports:
    • 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps
    • 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (Data Only, Front)
    • 1x USB-C 3.2 Display Out Only (DisplayPort 1.4, 4k@60Hz)
    • 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DP 1.4, Data, Power Delivery Out, 4k@60Hz)
    • 2x HDMI 2.0
    • 2x Intel i225-v or Intel i226-v 2.5G Ethernet
    • 1x DMIC
    • 1x 3.5mm Audio Combo Jack
    • 1x Clear CMOS
    • 1x DC-In

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+16
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13 Comments

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Dec 6, 2024
525 Posts
Joined Jul 2013
Dec 6, 2024
JohnJ2996
Dec 6, 2024
525 Posts
for $80 more ($500 - $100 clicked coupon = $400), you can go from i5 to Ryzen 9 with gaming 680m

https://a.co/d/6e1BsuX

no brainer to get the Ryzen 9
Last edited by JohnJ2996 December 5, 2024 at 10:00 PM.
1
Dec 6, 2024
29 Posts
Joined Jun 2020
Dec 6, 2024
VioletCrayon5714
Dec 6, 2024
29 Posts
Quote from JohnJ2996 :
for $80 more ($500 - $100 clicked coupon = $400), you can go from low end i5 to high end Ryzen 9 with gaming 680mhttps://a.co/d/6e1BsuXno brainer to get the Ryzen 9
If you consider 32gb+1tb config, only 20$ more
1
Original Poster
Pro
Expert
This user is an Expert in Computers
Dec 6, 2024
19,835 Posts
Joined Jul 2015
Dec 6, 2024
Suryasis
Dec 6, 2024
Original Poster
Pro
Expert
This user is an Expert in Computers
19,835 Posts
Quote from JohnJ2996 :
for $80 more ($500 - $100 clicked coupon = $400), you can go from low end i5 to high end Ryzen 9 with gaming 680m

https://a.co/d/6e1BsuX

no brainer to get the Ryzen 9
CPU performance is about the same but yes, GPU performance is better with 680M. CPU wise, 6900HX is Zen 3+ which is same as 5th Gen 5900HX.
Dec 6, 2024
10 Posts
Joined Jan 2020
Dec 6, 2024
bencolt45
Dec 6, 2024
10 Posts
Quote from JohnJ2996 :
for $80 more ($500 - $100 clicked coupon = $400), you can go from i5 to Ryzen 9 with gaming 680mhttps://a.co/d/6e1BsuXno brainer to get the Ryzen 9
If I were using this as a Plex server, which would be better at transcoding?
1
Dec 6, 2024
913 Posts
Joined Sep 2007
Dec 6, 2024
liljay2k
Dec 6, 2024
913 Posts
Quote from bencolt45 :
If I were using this as a Plex server, which would be better at transcoding?
An Intel CPU with Quick Sync. I think 7th gen and up is your best bet.
1
Dec 7, 2024
2,234 Posts
Joined Feb 2014
Dec 7, 2024
elefante72
Dec 7, 2024
2,234 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank elefante72

Quote from liljay2k :
An Intel CPU with Quick Sync. I think 7th gen and up is your best bet.
Quick on gen. Alder lake and newer support hardware AV1 decode, any many sources are starting to use that so YMMV but 12th gen or newer (if you are going to buy new) is probably more future proof.

TL;DR

QuickSync is used for encoding but yes agreed that is the common name which everyone is familiar with. The VPL is the library used for decode and encode. Keep in mind iGPU some support only decode and not encode of certain codecs, so gen 11 or older do NOT support AV1 decode.

Transcoding is a decode operation, and dependent upon the O/S for it's sw library. What you are looking for Intel is "Intel Media Engine" because that is where the magic happens for specific video chains (some, SRT, and audio, etc) happens in the CPU. Some CPU have 1 ME, some have 2. Intel ARC have 2 ME in them by default, even the cheapest A310 and buying a faster GPU is a waste of money for transcoding.

In general people don't understand a more powerful CPU or GPU in the same Intel family doesn't really impact transcoding performance, but does operations outside of transcoding which are typically fewer. So millions overpay for the same transcoding performance Frown

Decode operation:
Windows -> DXVA2, Linux -> VAAPI

Jellyfin and Plex allow AMD transcoding but they are not officially supported so if you are going to use these, your best bet for COMPATIBILITY is to use Apple silicon or Intel. So YMMV on AMD GPU for these programs.

For transcoding an N100 processors will do just fine as it has an Alder Lake Xe GPU, which ironically also can hardware decode AV1, so you don't have to waste money (or power because these idle at 7-8W) to do Plex. They are even powerful enough to do containers for many applications. So if you are just doing Plex and a few other things an N100 system will be just fine.

N100 GPU (N97/N95) are all fungible:
Reference: https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/igp...alder_lake

The 12650H has more EU, is a more powerful GPU, and has multi-channel memory channels but essentially the same transcoding performance (within percentages) because it has the SAME single media engine. It also has P-cores which the N100 doesn't however I have the NAB6 and it idles at 24-25W (3x higher than an N100). If have pricy utilities this adds up.

Now if you step up to a non-laptop 12600 that has TWO media engines, but alas for a vast majority of folks a single IME is more than enough.

I hope this helps out on people's quest for Plex/Jellyfin and you really don't need to spend big (and waste power) to get a satisfactory setup.
Last edited by elefante72 December 7, 2024 at 02:08 PM.
8
Dec 9, 2024
72 Posts
Joined Apr 2019
Dec 9, 2024
Petergunn2
Dec 9, 2024
72 Posts
FYI - I have a NAB6 12650H running Ubuntu 24.04 and it idles pretty low. Here is my unscientific measurement....

$ perl -e '$prev = cat /sys/class/powercap/intel-rapl:0/energy_uj; while (1) { sleep 1; $now = cat /sys/class/powercap/intel-rapl:0/energy_uj; printf("%.6f W\n", ($now - $prev) / 1_000_000); $prev = $now; }'
5.923935 W
4.207692 W
5.864426 W
4.176076 W
5.819565 W
...

Thats without TLP or powertop auto-tuning. My Atomman G7 idles at least 3x more with TLP tuning.
(yes, I know that looks like an Intel specific feature but it does work on the AMD based Atomman G7)

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Dec 9, 2024
320 Posts
Joined Sep 2019
Dec 9, 2024
FabulousStranger526
Dec 9, 2024
320 Posts
Quote from JohnJ2996 :
for $80 more ($500 - $100 clicked coupon = $400), you can go from i5 to Ryzen 9 with gaming 680m

https://a.co/d/6e1BsuX

no brainer to get the Ryzen 9

That sku has only 1 Ethernet port. Not viable for a DIY Router.

The 12600H and 6900HX are pretty much on-par performance-wise with the efficiency advantage going to AMD.

You're not gonna be gaming much on a 680m anyways. If an entry into PC gaming is important to you, spend an extra $100-$200 on a gaming laptop with a 4050. That'll wipe the floor with any of these mini-desktops.
Dec 10, 2024
93 Posts
Joined Jun 2022
Dec 10, 2024
HilariousMallard343
Dec 10, 2024
93 Posts
7735hs with 24gb is less than this one
Dec 11, 2024
746 Posts
Joined Sep 2014
Dec 11, 2024
Enoch42
Dec 11, 2024
746 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Enoch42

Quote from elefante72 :
Quick on gen. Alder lake and newer support hardware AV1 decode, any many sources are starting to use that so YMMV but 12th gen or newer (if you are going to buy new) is probably more future proof.

TL;DR

QuickSync is used for encoding but yes agreed that is the common name which everyone is familiar with. The VPL is the library used for decode and encode. Keep in mind iGPU some support only decode and not encode of certain codecs, so gen 11 or older do NOT support AV1 decode.

Transcoding is a decode operation, and dependent upon the O/S for it's sw library. What you are looking for Intel is "Intel Media Engine" because that is where the magic happens for specific video chains (some, SRT, and audio, etc) happens in the CPU. Some CPU have 1 ME, some have 2. Intel ARC have 2 ME in them by default, even the cheapest A310 and buying a faster GPU is a waste of money for transcoding.

In general people don't understand a more powerful CPU or GPU in the same Intel family doesn't really impact transcoding performance, but does operations outside of transcoding which are typically fewer. So millions overpay for the same transcoding performance Frown

Decode operation:
Windows -> DXVA2, Linux -> VAAPI

Jellyfin and Plex allow AMD transcoding but they are not officially supported so if you are going to use these, your best bet for COMPATIBILITY is to use Apple silicon or Intel. So YMMV on AMD GPU for these programs.

For transcoding an N100 processors will do just fine as it has an Alder Lake Xe GPU, which ironically also can hardware decode AV1, so you don't have to waste money (or power because these idle at 7-8W) to do Plex. They are even powerful enough to do containers for many applications. So if you are just doing Plex and a few other things an N100 system will be just fine.

N100 GPU (N97/N95) are all fungible:
Reference: https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/igp...alder_lake

The 12650H has more EU, is a more powerful GPU, and has multi-channel memory channels but essentially the same transcoding performance (within percentages) because it has the SAME single media engine. It also has P-cores which the N100 doesn't however I have the NAB6 and it idles at 24-25W (3x higher than an N100). If have pricy utilities this adds up.

Now if you step up to a non-laptop 12600 that has TWO media engines, but alas for a vast majority of folks a single IME is more than enough.

I hope this helps out on people's quest for Plex/Jellyfin and you really don't need to spend big (and waste power) to get a satisfactory setup.
This is the type of info we are all here to see. You should be paid. Repped. Thank you.
1
Dec 11, 2024
160 Posts
Joined Oct 2019
Dec 11, 2024
Harims
Dec 11, 2024
160 Posts
Quote from JohnJ2996 :
for $80 more ($500 - $100 clicked coupon = $400), you can go from i5 to Ryzen 9 with gaming 680m

https://a.co/d/6e1BsuX

no brainer to get the Ryzen 9
Except for a plex server. In that case intel is still better since it has better support for video encoding
Dec 12, 2024
1,861 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
Dec 12, 2024
jackharvest
Dec 12, 2024
1,861 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank jackharvest

I'm just some guy, BUT, I would like to chime in and just mention that I've run this NAB6, running Windows Server 2022 (now Server 2025), 64GB Memory, Storage Spaces with 8x8TB drives (M.2 broken out to cheap Dell LSI SAS card), both 2.5Gbe NICs running at 2.5Gbe, 10 VMs over USB C to NVME chassis... for 24/7, since MAY 2023. [My 3D Printed Rig [jackharvest.com]]

This box is the sh!t. If you're not here for gaming, and just need a micro footprint server, this is a competent setup that lets you shovel in your DDR4 Sodimm ram that you're pulling out of stuff since you're moving on to DDR5.
Last edited by jackharvest December 11, 2024 at 08:11 PM.
1
Dec 23, 2024
138 Posts
Joined Apr 2012
Dec 23, 2024
BadOcean
Dec 23, 2024
138 Posts
Quote from jackharvest :
I'm just some guy, BUT, I would like to chime in and just mention that I've run this NAB6, running Windows Server 2022 (now Server 2025), 64GB Memory, Storage Spaces with 8x8TB drives (M.2 broken out to cheap Dell LSI SAS card), both 2.5Gbe NICs running at 2.5Gbe, 10 VMs over USB C to NVME chassis... for 24/7, since MAY 2023. [My 3D Printed Rig [jackharvest.com]]

This box is the sh!t. If you're not here for gaming, and just need a micro footprint server, this is a competent setup that lets you shovel in your DDR4 Sodimm ram that you're pulling out of stuff since you're moving on to DDR5.
Dude, that's badass. I want one.

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