ACEMAGICIAN S3A Mini PC: Ryzen 7 H 255, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Radeon 780M

WiseSpaniel8225

Sep 3, 2026 6:03 PM

15 Comments

Joined Jun 2023

WiseSpaniel8225Sep 3, 2026 6:03 PM

15 Comments

I bought an acemagic earlier this year for running proxmox. It's nice to see the H255 coming down in price

I had to return/replace my unit, because i was hitting crashes after installing. Turns out i had faulty memory chips. Running a memory test on the unit before the return window closes is good wisdom

1

MagentaRose2467

Sep 3, 2026 10:24 PM

1 Comments

Joined Sep 2026

MagentaRose2467Sep 3, 2026 10:24 PM

1 Comments

Quote from Dr.W

:

By "spyware" you mean like Sony, with their rootkit, or Apple with their forced U2 album, Ford and Chevy both covering up fatality causing defects in their vehicles which they deemed cheaper to pay lawsuits than repair, that sort of "bad faith"? Spare me the fake outrage. It is just as bad to claim something is still happening when it isn't. That's bad faith as well.

Acemagic: "Our software developers, in an effort to enhance user experience by reducing initial boot time, made adjustments to the Microsoft source code, including network settings, without obtaining software digital signatures, and the RGB lighting control software was also without one. This oversight led to isolated reports of virus-infected mini PCs manufactured before November 18, 2023."
They were lax in their digital signature network security a couple of years ago when trying to make their slow devices faster. That resulted in viruses able to get onto systems. There was no hardware or software "malware" installed, the digital security software has long since been strengthened, and there have been no repeats of the problem. Fake outrage over things like this when trying to get a computer on the cheap is silly.

The magic word here is unaware. Clearly, you provide no proof when asked about the spyware being legitimate or currently present as well. All you do is repeat the same redundant thing as if you're knowledgeable on the matter and confuse others. How about sticking to facts in the present tense, with the present device, such as information on whether it lives up to its stated specs and prices. Regardless, it's good practice to wipe the OS on any Mini-PC that one buys.

Am i the only one who finds the fact he explicitly describes malware and then asks for proof of malware funny? Making adjustments to Microsoft products/code and not obtaining signatures is actually a violation of the EULA/ToS, which by its very definition can only be considered "malware". Especially considering the fact it is not made known to the customer of said changes. If you are modifying things, and hiding it, that is the LITERAL definition of malware. Malware does not mean "make computer go boom boom".

Now, Microsoft digital signatures are an extortion racket by Microsoft, so I would understand not obtaining them on a matter of principle. However, that would be for third party software, not actually modification of Microsoft products. Especially when there is no opt-in. You are being forced from the moment you power on the device to accept their changes with no real security guarantee, with no way around it (aside from installing the OS yourself, which most people cant/wont do).

Absolutely people should avoid these units if they value anything on their computer, as you can not trust anything with be safe/secure.

As for the RGB lighting control, that is without a doubt spyware. I have yet to see a single one of these control software's which are not spyware. Asus, acer, gigabyte, pick your favorite company name, ALL of their control software is spyware. Literally all of them. So you expect people to believe the rando china brand (who made unsigned/unverified changes to the windows OS without telling users at all), is NOT spyware? What kind of delusional state are you living in?

Honestly, I cant imagine trusting ANY software that is not open source in 2026. Like how dumb and ignorant do you have to be to still believe in companies not seeking to abuse and exploit you in every way possible. Still shocked at the fact people buy ring cameras and fitbits and other such devices which are proven beyond all doubt, obscene levels of spyware. So the fact that American companies which are "bound" (loosly, very very loosely) to the American laws, are openly exploiting and spying on people, you think rando Chinese company (whom can not be sued ever for anything ever, and thus have absolutely ZERO risk/cost for implementing spyware/etc) would not? What, do you believe they would care about their "brand reputation" when they can just rebrand as Xuyuxopy brand like its nothing? (and they probably have done it 12 times already at this point???)

If you have the slightest understanding of what you are doing, and are installing linux/bsd/other OS that is not windows, these units are probably fine and usable (assuming you trust the hardware reliability/warranty of the company). If you wanted to keep windows, 100% reinstall a clean image, as you would/should do on ANY prebuilt/preconfigred PC anyway, regardless of anything. The issue is there could be custom firmware/bios which can reinfect a windows based machine on a clean install. Linux could technically still be a target, but its significantly less likely for multiple reasons. But if you already know what you are doing, why the hell would you be listening to rando internet posts for advice?

So these posts should be for people who are just going to buy it, turn it on and use it, without thinking a second thought, and those types of people should absolutely stay far away from these.

Last edited by MagentaRose2467 September 3, 2026 at 03:32 PM.

1

3

samuraiX20

Sep 4, 2026 4:35 AM

2.3K Comments

Joined Apr 2008

samuraiX20Sep 4, 2026 4:35 AM

2.3K Comments

Quote from leecewest

:

I got my last ACEMAGICIAN with 32GB of DDR5 right before the prices jumped. About 6 months later its cheap memory started having errors. Their warranty policy apparently maxes out at $100 refund. The did offer to give me an extra year of warranty, but they refused to give me any terms. Eventually they got tired of me asking for a better resolution and refunded $100 without me agreeing.

This is better criticism than people saying that there's a mythic bio / firmware malware that can't be removed with a fresh install, making it ewaste, and providing no proof of it...

... aside the old videos and articles from 2-3 years ago that wasn't even that bad and required only a fresh reinstall of windows (or Linux if you want to stick it to Microsoft) to fix the problem.

Last edited by samuraiX20 September 5, 2026 at 09:33 PM.

1

Lazarus2345

Sep 6, 2026 9:38 PM

84 Comments

Joined Oct 2019

Lazarus2345Sep 6, 2026 9:38 PM

84 Comments

Quote from thinkbonobo

:

Windows reinstall wouldn't override custom firmware changes which a hardware vendor could have access to

There's never been a documented case of corrupted BIOS. Reinstall Windows and move on, E-Z P-Z.

krnprogamer

Sep 10, 2026 9:21 PM

1.8K Comments

Joined Apr 2018

krnprogamerSep 10, 2026 9:21 PM

1.8K Comments

hopefully no one gets their nude pics hacked

Last edited by krnprogamer September 10, 2026 at 02:24 PM.

TerenceP

Sep 10, 2026 9:31 PM

583 Comments

Joined Jan 2013

TerencePSep 10, 2026 9:31 PM

583 Comments

Temu has the 32gb version of this minipc for $510, still the same price as what I got it for, I just got it in the mail and i'm setting up right now with debian to use as a local ollama box

TerenceP

Sep 10, 2026 9:46 PM

583 Comments

Joined Jan 2013

TerencePSep 10, 2026 9:46 PM

583 Comments

Also, I noticed by default, mine was trying to run the ram at 7500 even though it was advertised at 6400. You'll have memory errors unless you set it to 6400 via the secret bios menu: ctrl+f1

Onepagebook

Sep 13, 2026 1:31 AM

175 Comments

Joined Aug 2019

OnepagebookSep 13, 2026 1:31 AM

175 Comments

These are perfect for arcade cabs. Just turn off wifi and who cares about updates when its not needed to run emulation. If you need internet access youre better off getting a mainstream laptop.

ACEMAGICIAN S3A Mini PC: Ryzen 7 H 255, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Radeon 780M

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