Many friends probably share the same thoughts as I do when choosing a computer: they love the performance of desktop computers but also appreciate the portability of laptops. Of course, there are high-performance laptop options available if the budget allows. However, even with the smallest ITX motherboard for a DIY desktop, the final product will still be relatively large, which might not meet the expectations of those who desire a clean and tidy desktop space.
Nowadays, more users with similar needs tend to choose mini computers that fit in the palm of their hands. Initially, the Intel NUC series was well-known, but later, the Beelink brand gained popularity for its rich product line and high performance at low prices, quickly becoming the largest mini PC manufacturer in the world. This clearly demonstrates the brand’s influence based on market recognition.
It is worth mentioning that at the beginning of this year, Beelink released a significant upgrade—the SER5 Pro, equipped with the powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, an eight-core, sixteen-thread processor that fully meets the multi-scenario usage needs of business users and even some gamers. The price for the optional barebone version is only 1595 yuan, which seems quite appealing. For lazy users like me who prefer a ready-to-use option, the standard configuration with 32GB RAM and 500GB storage, priced at 2385 yuan, comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Professional, making it very convenient. After all this discussion, I hope this in-depth review can help everyone better understand the performance of Beelink’s mini PC.
| Appearance Design and Interface Layout
Skipping the unboxing part, let’s directly show the accessory list of the SER5 Pro mini PC, which includes the main unit, a power adapter and cables, one long and one short HDMI cable, a monitor mount, a screwdriver, and several spare screws.
Regarding the size of Beelink’s mini PC and power adapter, comparing it to a cigarette pack provides a clear understanding. The dimensions of the main unit are only 12.6cm * 11.3cm * 4.2cm, which is 1/40 the size of a traditional desktop, weighing over 400g. It not only saves desktop space but also offers excellent portability, with some friends using it for mobile office work between their workplace and home. Additionally, the 65W DC power adapter is designed with a wide voltage range and is still manufactured by Huanjia. Currently, while the size is not extreme, based on Beelink’s previous actions of providing free upgrades for smaller power supplies in their GTR6, SER6, and SEi12 series, it is likely that the SER5 Pro will also receive similar support in the future.
The entire SER5 Pro main unit features a black ABS shell with a metal bottom cover. The design includes large heat dissipation vents on the top and both sides, paired with powerful silent dual fans and heat pipes for quiet and stable system operation. The top front and front panel areas use a black acrylic mirror material, enhancing the aesthetic with the Beelink and AMD logos and processor certification stickers, further demonstrating the professionalism of a large manufacturer.
In terms of interfaces, there are plenty. The front panel provides, from left to right, 1 CMOS reset hole, 2 USB 3.0 ports, 1 Type-C port, 1 3.5mm audio jack, and the power button. It is worth noting that the front Type-C port supports not only data transfer but also DP1.2 for 4K@60Hz video output. Additionally, when paired with a 65W GaN power supply, it can also function normally. However, considering that the main unit does not have a built-in battery like a laptop, for stability and data security, it is not recommended for long-term use in this manner.
On the back of the unit, the upper part features three metal heat dissipation fins as exhaust vents, followed by RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port, 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, and the DC power interface. In other words, combined with the front Type-C port, this Beelink mini PC supports triple 4K output, making it versatile for both learning and entertainment, greatly enhancing usage efficiency.
| Simple Disassembly Analysis
As a ready-to-use mini PC, there is generally no need for users to disassemble it unless they need to install an additional hard drive or if they purchase a barebone version that requires them to install memory and M.2 SSD themselves. Of course, using the included screwdriver, it can be easily done in just a few steps. After unscrewing the bottom cover screws, there is a thoughtful red rubber handle designed on one corner of the bottom cover, allowing you to easily lift it off.
Upon opening the bottom cover, the first thing seen is the hard drive expansion compartment, which provides a 2.5-inch SATA SSD expansion interface. Notably, it also includes a dedicated cooling fan for the hard drive.
Further disassembly reveals the motherboard of the Beelink SER5 Pro. The design is quite compact, proving that good things come in small packages. The visible components include dual-channel memory and M.2 SSD, while the CPU layout is naturally on the other side of the motherboard.
The memory is equipped with a single 16GB 3200MHz Crucial DDR4 laptop memory stick, forming a 32GB dual-channel setup. By removing the thermal silicone strip, you can take out the 2280-sized Kingston M.2 SSD, which has a capacity of 512GB, and it can be upgraded to a maximum of 2TB later.
Additionally, below the M.2 SSD, you can see that it is equipped with an Intel AX200NGW wireless card that supports WiFi 6 protocol, also using an M.2 interface with a 2230 size. Therefore, it is evident that Beelink chose well-known brands for the components, ensuring quality.
| Comprehensive Performance and Stability Testing
First, as per tradition, I used a benchmarking tool to get a simple score, with over 84,000 points, which is relatively good and indicates a mid-to-high level of hardware. Therefore, it can handle daily learning, office work, and even some light 1080P gaming with ease, and watching high-definition movies is certainly not an issue.
Using CPU-Z and GPU-Z, I checked the core information of the Ryzen 7 5800H processor equipped in the Beelink SER5 Pro. The 7nm Ryzen 7 5800H features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a TDP of 45W and a boost frequency of up to 4.4GHz; the integrated graphics is Vega 8, with a frequency of 2000MHz.
Using the memory testing tool in AIDA64, I found that the single 16GB 3200MHz Crucial DDR4 memory had timings of 22-22-22-52, with read, write, and copy rates being quite fast.
I used the well-known AS SSD Benchmark to test the performance of the Kingston M.2 SSD, measuring its sustained read and write and 4K random read and write performance. The final results showed a read speed of 2747.74 MB/s and a write speed of 1247.63 MB/s, indicating that booting, gaming, and program loading will be very fast.
Next, I continued to use CINEBENCH R23 to test the CPU’s single-core and multi-core performance, ultimately achieving a single-core score of 1435pts and a multi-core score of 9896pts, which is a pretty good result.
The comprehensive PCMARK 10 score for the Beelink SER5 Pro is 6255, with a basic functionality score of 10025, a productivity score of 9906, and a digital content creation score of 6686. Therefore, the performance of the Beelink SER5 Pro can fully meet the mainstream office needs of users.
Additionally, I also tested the Beelink SER5 Pro using 3DMARK software for the TimeSpy benchmark score in a DX12 environment, achieving a score of 1422 and estimating an FPS of 35+ for Battlefield 5 at 1080P. Finally, it passed the TimeSpy stress test with a 99.9% success rate.
Not unexpectedly, I also conducted an AIDA64 single-burn test on the Beelink SER5 Pro. After 20 minutes of 100% CPU load, the measured core temperature reached 90 degrees, but the unit remained very stable. Perhaps due to noise considerations, the preset fan speed is quite conservative, so even under full CPU load, the machine remains quite quiet. Users can choose a more aggressive fan speed strategy based on their needs. I specifically conducted the noise test late at night and couldn’t hear the fan noise unless I got close to the unit, which is roughly equivalent to the ambient noise during the day.
In an environment with a room temperature of 18 degrees, after running the Beelink SER5 Pro for two hours, the average temperature measured at the rear exhaust vent was around 42 degrees, which is the hottest area of the unit, indicating that the cooling performance of this mini PC is quite reassuring.
After completing all the software tests, I also took the opportunity to play a few games. The 3D MMORPG “Genshin Impact” achieved an average FPS of 50 at 1920*1080 resolution with low graphics settings, allowing for a relatively smooth gaming experience.
“Need for Speed: Heat” achieved an average FPS of 35 at low graphics settings and 1920*1080 resolution, allowing for a relatively smooth gaming experience despite sacrificing graphics quality.
The “Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition” has a self-test function that can directly show the gaming performance score and FPS results of the Beelink SER5 Pro. At high graphics settings and 1920*1080 resolution, the FPS can reach over 174, which is great news for fans of this fighting game.
| Summary and Comments
I would prefer to use the Beelink SER5 Pro as my daily productivity tool and leisure entertainment device, whether for editing photos in Photoshop or using multiple screens to watch shows while keeping an eye on the stock market. In short, this mini computer offers excellent overall performance without taking up desktop space, making it easy to say goodbye to traditional bulky computer cases, and the purchase cost is quite affordable.
In conclusion, I believe that after reading my in-depth experience sharing about the Beelink SER5 Pro, everyone has gained a better understanding of this high cost-performance mini PC. In fact, the Beelink SER5 Pro model was launched last year with the Ryzen 5 5600H processor, but this year’s SER5 Pro is not just a simple upgrade to the more powerful Ryzen 7 5800H processor with more cores, threads, and frequency; it also offers a choice of 16GB*2 memory combinations, upgrades the previous MediaTek card to an Intel card, and provides a dedicated cooling fan for SSD expansion. It is worth noting that despite the performance upgrades, the price difference for the same 16GB/500GB version is only 100 yuan, which is a great value in the industry. For users with spare memory and hard drives, the barebone version priced at 1595 yuan is undoubtedly an incredible deal. In comparison, whether it is Intel NUC, the industry leader, or the later Xiaomi mini PC, consumers ultimately benefit from Beelink’s strength.
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