What do you think about mini computers? Honestly, the entire DIY PC market is not doing well. Traditional desktop computers have caused many DIY enthusiasts to leave due to graphics card issues over the past few years. Now that mining has stopped, prices for CPUs, motherboards, cooling systems, and power supplies have all increased. However, the prices of memory and hard drives have plummeted, becoming cheaper. Even so, the demand for building computers continues to decline. At the end of last year, Xiaomi released its first mini host, which caught the attention of many Xiaomi followers and sparked interest in mini host products. People began to realize that mini computers, which are palm-sized, can perform similarly to mainstream desktop computers and are particularly space-saving. So the question arises: can mini computers replace traditional desktops?

In fact, not only Xiaomi has entered the mini host market; there are many brands that have been doing this longer and offer better cost-performance ratios. Xiaomi’s mini host is priced too high; it features an Intel i5 1240P processor and is priced around 4000 yuan. Comparatively, products from established mini host manufacturers are much cheaper for similar performance, leading to much debate about Xiaomi’s first product in this space. Many users who previously focused on Xiaomi’s mini host have opted for established brands like Intel’s NUC or domestic brands like Lingke and Datang. Recently, I purchased a highly cost-effective mini host from Datang priced around 2000 yuan.

This Maxtang Datang mini host uses an AMD Ryzen R5-5600U processor, which many laptop users should be familiar with. Laptops with this processor are typically priced around 4000 yuan. The mini host uses a mobile processor, so it can be considered a laptop without a screen. However, it is thicker than a laptop, allowing for better cooling. Next, let’s take a look at its performance.

First, I want to clarify that I purchased this host myself. Initially, I planned to buy the barebones version without memory and hard drive, but I found the version with 16GB of memory and a 512GB hard drive was also very cost-effective. The total price came to 1999 yuan, which is under 2000, making it a great deal. For me, this configuration offers the best cost-performance ratio. The experiences and opinions shared here are based on my use of this host as my main office computer for over a month, where I have discovered and summarized some issues. Let’s discuss both the pros and cons, especially concerning whether it can replace a desktop.

First, let’s talk about the appearance. The design of the Datang mini host is quite distinctive, featuring a square shape with dimensions of 128*128*42mm, making it very compact.

On the front of the host, there are two USB 3.0 ports, one USB-C port (which does not support video output), a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microphone jack, with the power button located on the far right.

On the back of the unit, there are two USB 2.0 ports and a gigabit Ethernet port. Additionally, the Datang mini host is equipped with two HDMI ports, allowing it to connect to two 4K displays simultaneously and support dual-screen display.

The top of the unit features a black mirror design, which looks aesthetically pleasing but is prone to fingerprints. The overall design uses a metal shell, giving it a high-quality feel.

The sides of the unit serve as air intake vents, with a large channel for airflow and a cooling vent at the back. This design allows for better cooling compared to laptops, making it more efficient.

Speaking of cooling, let’s open it up and see how it’s designed internally. Cooling is a common concern regarding whether mini hosts can replace traditional desktops, as they are at least ten times smaller. How can they ensure good cooling? In fact, the Datang mini host addresses this in several ways. First, the large channel design mentioned earlier helps with airflow. Secondly, mini hosts use mobile CPUs like those in laptops, which generate less heat than desktops. However, since it’s thicker than a laptop, it provides better cooling. Additionally, the AMD 5600U has a low power design, and the internal cooling fan helps to maintain the processor’s performance.

Back to the point, many people may be concerned about the expansion capabilities of mini computers. The internal design of the Datang mini host shows that it has two memory slots, allowing for a dual-channel configuration of 16GB with two 8GB modules. If you want to upgrade, you can easily replace the memory with larger capacity modules. It comes standard with two 8GB DDR4-3200 memory sticks from a reputable brand. As for the hard drive, there is an M.2 NVMe slot, and the original configuration includes a 500GB solid-state drive, which can also be upgraded to a larger capacity if desired.

Since mini computers do not come with a screen, keyboard, or mouse, they require additional peripherals for use, similar to desktops. I use a portable monitor to keep my desk tidy, but you can also use a traditional large-screen monitor. For the keyboard, I specifically chose a Ducky K610W wireless mechanical keyboard, which is quite popular in the peripheral market. I recommend that when choosing a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, don’t skimp on quality. Investing in good peripherals greatly enhances the user experience.

For instance, my Ducky K610W white backlight wireless keyboard is a three-mode wireless keyboard that supports 2.4G wireless, Bluetooth, and Type-C wired connections. It can connect to a computer, phone, and tablet simultaneously, making it very convenient.

Regarding the switches, there are four types: brown, silver, red, and silent red. Personally, I prefer the silent red switch because I often use the keyboard at night and don’t want to disturb my family. The silent red switch on the Ducky K610W uses the new Turbo series switch from Kailh, which is made of a high-smooth composite POM material, making it very smooth and responsive while being quiet, perfect for late-night typing. The silent red switch has a trigger travel of 2.0±0.5mm and a trigger pressure of 45±10gf, and supports hot-swapping, making it easy to use for first-timers.

As for the keycaps, it’s worth mentioning that you should choose PBT double-shot keycaps for keyboards. These keycaps are durable and won’t get greasy, making them very user-friendly. With this setup, the mini host, wireless keyboard, and portable monitor fit perfectly even in a cramped space, don’t you think it has advantages over traditional desktops?

Now for the key point: the SER5 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600U processor with a TDP of 35W. This processor uses TSMC’s 7nm FinFET process and Zen 3 architecture, featuring 6 cores and 16 threads, with a base frequency of 2.3GHz and a boost frequency of 4.2GHz, with a thermal design power range of 10W-25W. Additionally, AMD’s integrated graphics have always been strong, and this SoC includes an AMD Radeon Vega 7 GPU with a running frequency of 1800MHz, providing performance comparable to the Geforce MX350 discrete graphics card. Therefore, its overall performance is roughly equivalent to that of a lightweight laptop priced around 4000 yuan.

With a score close to 800,000 in the Lu Master benchmark, the CPU score is around 480,000, the GPU score is over 66,000, the memory score is nearly 100,000, and the hard drive score is 140,000. These scores are comparable to mainstream flagship computers. This performance is sufficient for everyday office software and even for playing many low-graphics 3A games.

Thanks to the dual-channel memory, the memory bandwidth and data throughput of the Datang mini host are also impressive, with the 5600U scoring 580.7 in single-core performance and 4183.3 in multi-core performance in CPU-Z.

Let’s run a performance test on the original solid-state drive using CrystalDiskMark to see how it performs. The results show that the drive reads at 3446.67MB/s and writes at 1017.02MB/s, which is quite good for an M.2 NVMe solid-state drive.

In everyday use, the hardware configuration of this Datang mini host is quite strong. The Radeon Vega 7 GPU it is equipped with can smoothly run many large 3D games at low graphics settings. For example, during a test of the visually stunning game “Genshin Impact” at 1080P resolution with medium effects, the average frame rate was 110 fps.

Of course, for online games like “League of Legends”, there is no pressure at all; at 1080P resolution, the average frame rate can reach 180FPS. Therefore, it’s not just for office work; playing games occasionally is also completely feasible.

Finally, let’s summarize my experience with this Datang mini computer over the past month. Clearly, this mini computer priced around 2000 yuan has performance comparable to laptops priced around 4000 yuan, while also providing better cooling than laptops. However, the purpose of mini computers is not to replace laptops. I believe that if our needs are for smooth office work and occasional gaming without extreme performance demands, then this Datang mini host can completely replace a desktop. Moreover, it is more compact and portable than a desktop, taking up less space on the desk, making it suitable for home use and creating a minimalist desktop setup. As for the three concerns I had earlier regarding cooling and expandability, they have proven to be non-issues. Not only does it support hard drive and memory upgrades, but the two HDMI ports can also support the connection of two 4K displays to meet multi-screen needs. So far, it seems that replacing a desktop is entirely feasible, and at this price point of 2000 yuan, it offers excellent cost performance, sufficient to meet most household computer needs.