Last month I tried out a mini computer, the Zero刻 EQ59. After publishing the review article, I thought not many people would read it, but unexpectedly, the popularity of mini computers is still very high, and everyone was discussing it “enthusiastically” in the comments section. After checking the comments and private messages from friends, I found that many people have the idea of replacing traditional desktops with mini computers, preferably being able to play games like Genshin Impact or AAA games. In fact, Zero刻 has a mid to high-end mini computer – Zero刻 SER5, which is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 5560U processor, priced at less than 2000 yuan, which can meet the needs of these users.
First, let’s talk about the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U processor. Its TDP-UP is 25W, built on TSMC’s 7nm process, with a base frequency of 2.3GHz, featuring 6 cores and 12 threads, and a boost frequency of up to 4.0GHz. Additionally, it integrates a Radeon RX Vega 6 graphics card, with a maximum frequency of 1600 MHz, outperforming the GeForce MX230.
In other aspects, this mini computer is standard with 16GB of RAM and 500GB of storage, supports WIFI 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, and the overall hardware configuration is at the top level in the same price range. I have been using the Zero刻 SER5 for about a month and have summarized the three most important questions that everyone is concerned about when buying a mini computer:
First, how is the performance of the mini computer? Can it play large games?
Second, is the mini computer more cost-effective compared to self-assembled machines?
Third, how is the heat dissipation performance? Will it experience overheating and throttling, or crashes?
Unlike the EQ59, the packaging of the Zero刻 SER5 adopts a red and black color scheme, which looks much more high-end from the inside out. In terms of accessories, besides the main unit, the box also includes a power adapter, two HDMI cables, a wall mount bracket, a hard drive adapter cable, a manual, and several screws.
The Zero刻 SER5 is currently the smallest mini computer on the market with such performance, with dimensions of 126 X 113 X 42 mm, which is no exaggeration to say it is palm-sized. During normal use, it can be hung behind the screen using the included mount, greatly saving desktop space, and if you need to travel, it is also very convenient to carry.
In terms of interfaces, this mini host is equipped with two USB 3.0 ports, one Type-C port, and one 3.5mm headphone jack on the front. The Type-C port supports DP display protocol, can output 4K@60 frames video, and supports PD 3.0 power supply and data reading and writing functions. If you have a portable screen that supports Type-C power supply + display, then connecting to the Zero刻 SER5 only requires one cable.
On the back of the machine, from left to right, there is a gigabit network port, two USB 2.0 ports, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and a DC power input port. With the Type-C port on the front, this mini host can connect to three screens simultaneously. Usually, I connect two screens in my study and leave one line for the living room TV, accomplishing both work and entertainment with one device.
Careful friends may have noticed that there are air vents designed on the top, left and right sides, and back of the machine, and the top and side air vents also have dust-proof net designs.
To answer the second question, is the Zero刻 SER5 cost-effective?This mini computer is priced at less than 2000 yuan, and its overall hardware configuration and performance can basically match laptops in the 4000-5000 yuan price range. The key point is that it has compressed the size to the extreme, and it comes pre-installed with a genuine Windows 11 operating system, and the manufacturer has already optimized the software and hardware compatibility. So, compared to self-assembly, I think the Zero刻 SER5 is obviously a better choice. Of course, friends who enjoy the process of tinkering can also do it themselves.
Although the size has been compressed to be similar to that of a TV box, the Zero刻 SER5 also offers good expandability. By opening the four screws at the bottom, users can add an HDD, upgrade RAM, and solid-state disk storage space.
The Zero刻 SER5 comes standard with 16GB (8*2) dual-channel DDR4 memory, which is a product of the reputable brand Infinidat, and its quality is trustworthy. Above the memory is a 500GB M.2 solid-state drive (Kingston), which supports self-expansion, with a maximum support of 2TB SSD storage.
Let’s do a quick test of the solid-state drive’s read and write speeds. The maximum read speed exceeds 2500MB/s, while the write speed exceeds 1800MB/s, which is 5-6 times that of ordinary solid-state drives. Thanks to the advantages of large memory and high-speed solid-state drives, this mini host boots up instantly, and games/software load quickly, making it very fast.
The third question is, how is the heat dissipation of the Zero刻 SER5?Even though the body size is very limited, this machine still has a fan inside. With the support of a heat pipe, heat sink, and fan, the Zero刻 SER5 can play Genshin Impact for an hour without getting hot to the touch, performing far better than other machines that use passive cooling.
Let’s do a routine test, the Zero刻 SER5 scored over 720,000 points in the Lu Master benchmark, with the processor score close to 430,000, graphics card score exceeding 570,000, and memory and hard disk scores at 98,000 and 138,000 respectively. Its performance has reached the level of mainstream flagship laptops on the market.
Next, let’s look at the Zero刻 SER5’s scores in 3DMARK’s Time Spy, with a total score of 1126, graphics card score of 988, CPU score of 5478, and estimated gaming performance: maintaining 30+ FPS under 1080P resolution.
Finally, to answer the first question: how is the performance of the Zero刻 SER5?After seeing the hardware configuration and benchmark introductions above, I believe everyone has an answer in mind. Yes, this mini computer indeed has good performance, whether for daily office use or playing most games and some AAA games, it is basically sufficient.
Since I usually play PC games less, I simply tested a few currently popular large games. Games like Ghost Recon, The Witcher 3, and GTA 5 can run at 50 FPS or higher at a resolution of 720P, which is still quite smooth overall.
I usually play Genshin Impact on my phone, and suddenly switching to keyboard operation is a bit uncomfortable. In actual tests, it runs very smoothly, and there is basically no stuttering. Moreover, without recording the screen, the game frame rate can be maintained above 50 FPS, which is quite good for a host in this price range.
Apart from writing articles, I occasionally shoot some VLOGs or digital product review videos. In actual tests, using the Zero刻 SER5 for editing is also fine, with color grading, adding effects, and processing subtitles being very smooth, and the export speed is also fast. Its performance is sufficient for video hobbyists.
Overall, compared to the Zero刻 EQ59 I previously purchased, the improvement of the Zero刻 SER5 is very significant. The former can meet light office needs, while this new product can truly serve as a mini computer for primary use. Similarly, it can also be used as a NAS, home HTPC, soft router, etc., making its application scenarios more diverse than traditional desktops. So, with a budget of less than 2000 yuan, would you choose this product?
