The mini PC is gradually becoming the mainstream choice for computer users, capable of handling both office work and entertainment, while its small size and low power consumption are absolute advantages that traditional desktop computers cannot surpass. The rise of mini PCs also indicates a shift in consumer preferences, as they occupy our desktops with strong momentum, especially with the influx of high-performance mobile chips in recent years, which has given this category a significant boost. For example, the newly launched Zero刻 SEi12 is very user-friendly, equipped with an Intel Core i7-12650H processor, and the barebones version costs less than two thousand, supporting a 30-day free trial, which is sufficient to meet the needs of 90% of computer users.

This model comes in two versions: i5-12450H and i7-12650H, with a price difference of five hundred. The former is more suitable for general office scenarios, while the latter is significantly more powerful, capable of handling not only office tasks but also video editing, design, and light entertainment scenarios.

In terms of graphics performance, it integrates Intel UHD graphics based on the Xe architecture, providing 64 execution units with a running frequency of 1.4GHz. The current single-core performance is not weak, combined with a 24MB L3 cache and 6 large cores for performance assurance, making it a cost-effective choice for most users.

Looking at this Zero刻 SEi12, it features the Alder Lake architecture i7-12650H processor, which includes 6 performance cores and 4 efficient cores, supporting up to 16 threads. The performance cluster can boost up to 4.7GHz. Coupled with high-speed DDR4 memory, PCIe 4.0 storage, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and Bluetooth 5.2, the overall performance is very reliable.

Choosing a mini PC is about saving space and portability. With dimensions of only 126*113*49mm, it is about the size of an adult’s palm, making it easy to place anywhere, and it even supports mounting at the back of a monitor, making it much more convenient to carry than a laptop.

In terms of interfaces, although the Zero刻 SEi12 is positioned for office use, it offers a good number of ports: 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) ports on the front, a 10Gbps Type-C data port, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack, making it quite comprehensive for its size.

On the back, the interfaces from left to right include a gigabit LAN port, 2 USB 2.0 (480Mbps) ports, 1 DP 1.4 (4K 144Hz), and 1 HDMI 2.0 (4K 60Hz) port, covering the commonly used interface types. The combination of DP and HDMI supports dual-screen 3840×2160 4K display, which is very good for users with multi-screen office needs.

This unit is configured with 32GB RAM and a 500GB SSD. Honestly, the memory is a bit excessive, and the storage is currently sufficient. If the hard drive runs out of space later, it can be upgraded easily, as the design allows for easy access to upgrade memory and storage by just removing a few screws from the back cover.

The Zero刻 SEi12 supports a maximum of 64GB DDR4 dual-channel memory (3200MHz) and M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 4.0 storage, which can be freely expanded later. However, it should be noted that the machine is reserved for an M.2 2280 slot, and if SATA installation is needed, a special small board must be purchased separately.

The BIOS also offers three performance modes for easy switching, with different performance levels affecting CPU and memory limits significantly. Of course, the fan noise varies with the settings, allowing users to choose flexibly based on their computer’s stability.

After discussing the appearance and configuration, we will now conduct performance and actual experience tests. First, using the latest version of 鲁大师 for benchmarking, we can see a score of 900,000, which is quite standard for a machine positioned for office use.

Using disk benchmarking software, the read and write scores of 4855MB/s and 1928MB/s are also quite good, meeting the performance expectations of PCIe 4.0 storage, significantly improving the speed of copying and program responsiveness, which greatly impacts the user experience.

In the 3DMARK advanced version Time Spy, the score is 1313, with the graphics card and CPU scoring 1147 and 7306 respectively, indicating an estimated 40+ FPS in Apex games at 1080P quality.

In the Flre Strlike test, the graphics card scored 4079 and the CPU scored 17313, with a total score of 1386, estimating 40+ FPS in Apex games.

In the Night Raid test, the graphics card and processor scored 16283 and 9107 respectively, estimating over 140+ FPS in GTA V at 1080P, receiving a “good” rating.

The i7-12650H is considered a mid-to-high-end processor in the mobile segment, with laptops using this processor priced around five to six thousand. It features 10 cores (6P+4E), 16 threads, 24MB L3 cache, a base frequency of 3.50GHz, and a maximum turbo frequency of 4.70GHz, with a base power consumption of 45W. The 24MB L3 cache even surpasses the high-end product 6900HX, making its actual performance and power consumption quite impressive.

In CINEBENCH R23, it scored 1619 in single-core and 8854 in multi-core.

In gaming, testing PUBG at 1080P low settings yielded 40+ frames, which is playable. At full high settings, with rendering set to 90%, it dropped to 30 frames, resulting in noticeable lag. I can understand this performance, as the integrated graphics have limitations, and the optimization of this game is not great; the Zero刻 SEi12 is not particularly suitable for games that require high graphics performance.

In the League of Legends test, at 1080P ultra-high settings, it can maintain over 100 frames, delivering a smooth experience without any lag in any scene.

Apex Legends, another popular battle royale game from EA, has slightly lower requirements than PUBG. At 1080P medium settings, it can maintain over 40 frames, which is acceptable. Other games like Crossfire and CS can be easily handled, as they do not demand high graphics performance.

In terms of productivity, with the rise of short videos, learning editing has become mainstream. I tested the popular editing software 剪映 and found that the Zero刻 SEi12 handled material loading, adjustments, previews, and rendering very smoothly, even with multiple materials mixed together, it remained stable. It seems that Intel is still leading in productivity.

Intel’s video decoding capability is definitely a plus. During various high-definition video playback tests, everything played smoothly, making it a great option for a home media player.

Regarding cooling, many people worry about the cooling of mini PCs, but after using several models, I believe this concern is unnecessary. Especially with Zero刻 products, which generally adopt a unique dual cooling solution, ensuring the machine operates normally even under full load.

Finally, regarding noise, Zero刻 products have very stable noise control. During use, it’s almost inaudible, even under full load, it only reaches about 40 decibels, which is definitely not loud and can be ignored.

I have been using the Zero刻 SEi12 as my main machine for a few days now. I frequently use software like PS and 剪映, and overall, it feels very smooth and stable. For most people, it is definitely a suitable alternative to traditional computers, and its size easily beats that of a PC. Especially for temporary outings, it can be easily carried around.

Moreover, while the number of ports may not be many, it includes USB 3.2, Type-C, DP, and HDMI, which is sufficient for daily peripheral connections. Some may feel that the graphics processing capability of a mini PC is its biggest limitation, and I admit this. For professional design or high-end gaming that requires extreme graphics quality, users should stick to high-end desktops priced above ten thousand. However, the Zero刻 SEi12 can smoothly run CAD, PS, AI, LOL, Apex, DNF, and similar games, which I think is sufficient given its price.

As for the price, with a budget of 2000, you really can’t buy a “high-end computer”. For a desktop with a discrete graphics card, this amount might only be enough for a graphics card. Searching for laptops with the i7-12650H processor, they all start from 5-6k. Hardware is currently very transparent, so if your needs are just for daily learning and office tasks, the Zero刻 SEi12 is quite cost-effective. It’s ready to use right out of the box and comes with a three-year warranty, which is perfect for users who don’t like to tinker.