In the context of a highly mature PC market, where the traditional PC market is a sea of red, the compact mini PC host has emerged as a niche category. Currently, besides the well-known Mac mini, there are Intel’s Skull Canyon NUC with the “strongest integrated graphics” Iris Pro 580, the extremely compact Gigabyte Brix, the gaming-oriented Alienware Alpha, and the modular Acer Revo Build… These models have each established a foothold in the market with their differentiated designs.
The Elite Slice modular PC is a newly launched Mini PC from HP that features a modular design. In addition to its compact host, HP has specially developed dedicated B&O audio modules, optical drive modules, and VESA base modules, allowing for a “building block” style modular expansion experience. For HP, the Elite Slice modular PC embodies the vision of “redefining the workspace,” aiming for a simpler, more professional, and more collaborative environment. In addition to the standard version launched in China in March (which only features a mechanical hard drive), the Elite Slice modular PC will also have a conference-specific version (the one we’re reviewing) and a version with a wireless charging panel available soon.
What performance can we expect from the Elite Slice modular PC, which boasts mainstream desktop-level processors and a good appearance? With this question in mind, the MC Review team brought in the HP Elite Slice modular PC for this experience. To create an even simpler desktop, we paired it with the HP S240uj monitor, which can be powered and transmit video through a single Type C cable.
HP Elite Slice Modular PC Product Specifications
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-6500T quad-core, four-thread (2.5~3.1GHz)
Memory: 8GB DDR4 2133 (4GB×2)
Storage: 256GB SSD (Samsung SM951, PCIe)/2TB HDD (5400 rpm)
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 520
Wireless Network Card: Intel Wireless-AC 7265 867Mbps
Wired Network Card: Intel i219LM Gigabit Ethernet
Dimensions: 165mm×165mm×35mm
Weight: 1.05kg (standalone)
Pros: Excellent design, decent performance
Cons: Top surface not resistant to dirt
Reference Price: $698/¥5499 (China, HDD)
Screen Size: 23.8 inches
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Panel Type: IPS
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Resolution: 2560×1440
Ports: HDMI (MHL)×1/DisplayPort 1.2×1/USB Type C×1/USB 3.0×3
Pros: Beautiful appearance, rich features, excellent display quality
Cons: Price is on the high side
Reference Price: ¥3999
The design of the HP Elite Slice modular PC has a strong sense of integration, with a color scheme of black and gold reminiscent of last year’s highly praised HP Spectre 13. The entire unit is made of metal, with a matte finish on the sides, providing a good feel and resistance to fingerprints—however, the top panel is not dirt-resistant, and fingerprints from daily use can easily affect its appearance.
The conference-specific version we tested features five dedicated phone conference function keys (answer, microphone mute, volume down, volume up, hang up) located at the front top of the unit, designed with a touch interface. The dimensions of the Elite Slice modular PC are slightly smaller than the Mac mini but larger than products like the Gigabyte Brix, occupying approximately the same footprint as two common 5.5-inch smartphones on the desk.
▲ The right side of the host features a square fingerprint reader.
In terms of ports, the back of the unit has, from left to right, the power button, power socket, RJ-45 Ethernet port, Type C, DP, HDMI, and two USB 3.0 ports. The Type C port at the back is particularly noteworthy; it can not only transmit data (5Gbps) like a regular USB port but also output video signals via DP, supporting a maximum current input of 60W—this simplifies the typical external connections that would usually require multiple cables into a single one (provided the monitor supports Type C power output).
▲ Overview of the back ports of the host; despite the “one cable” capability, the host still has all common ports available for backup.
Specifically, through this Type C port, we can output signals to an external display while simultaneously powering the host through the power supplied by the display; 60W input is sufficient for the Elite Slice modular PC, which uses a low-power 35W TDP processor, meaning no power cable is needed for the host. Additionally, if the monitor has regular USB 3.0 ports, users can connect their USB drives, keyboards, and mice to the monitor, making cable management easier and enhancing desktop simplicity. Furthermore, the left side of the Elite Slice modular PC has another Type C (which cannot output video) and a 3.5mm headphone jack, while the right side features a fingerprint recognition module. For a Mini PC, the Elite Slice modular PC offers a very rich array of ports.
▲ Simply connect the host and monitor with a single Type C cable (included with the S240uj monitor); all other cables can be connected to the back ports of the monitor for easy cable management.
However, currently, there are not many monitors on the market that support this “one cable” functionality. Fortunately, HP has recently released the HP EliteDisplay S240uj on its official website. This monitor features a resolution of 2K, and its base supports wireless charging for devices placed on it (provided the user’s device supports wireless charging, such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge). The EliteDisplay S240uj is now available on HP’s online store in China for ¥3999. While not cheap in the 24-inch monitor category, the S240uj’s features, including a powered Type C port (which automatically recognizes voltages of 5V, 5.25V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 20V, with a current of 3A), narrow bezels, 2K resolution, and over 76% NTSC color gamut, paired with its appealing appearance, make it a perfect match for the Elite Slice modular PC. However, with the combined price of the Elite Slice modular PC and the S240uj monitor approaching ¥10,000, one might wonder why not choose other brand models at this price point? This raises the question of HP’s insight into the needs of business users.
▲ Overview of the back ports of the S240uj monitor.
▲ The S240uj monitor was tested to have an NTSC color gamut exceeding 72%, which is greater than 100% sRGB.
From a design perspective, the Elite Slice modular PC is very similar to the modular Moto Z phone, both placing core components in the main product body. Even without purchasing additional modules, it can still be used as a regular device. In addition to the PC host itself, the Elite Slice modular PC offers three modules: the B&O audio module, optical drive module, and VESA base module, priced at ¥599 each; the modules and host are connected through a dedicated data transmission interface for power and data transfer, with clips for securing them. In terms of module installation and use, the Elite Slice modular PC provides a good experience, as the modules can be easily attached or detached, allowing users to “stack” one or multiple modules as needed. It’s a bit unfortunate that the modules for the Elite Slice modular PC do not support hot swapping; after installing a module, the computer must be restarted for it to function.
▲ The HP Elite Slice modular PC and its three modules in a family photo.
In terms of functionality, the VESA base module is the easiest to understand, as it allows the host to be secured to the back of the monitor or a wall mount using VESA standard holes; the optical drive module is often necessary for business users, as this DVD-RW drive can help users install legitimate software from discs and back up data; after actual use, I believe the B&O audio module significantly improves sound quality compared to the built-in audio unit of the host (which is limited in effectiveness due to its small size), and it features a dual microphone array with a pickup distance of up to 5 meters, paired with the pre-installed noise reduction software, providing good call and conference quality. The optical drive module has data transmission interfaces on both the top and bottom, while the B&O audio module only has one on the top. Therefore, if you want to use both the optical drive module and the B&O audio module, the optical drive module must be placed above the B&O audio module.
To be frank, in terms of functionality, the audio module and optical drive module are not particularly exciting, as one could easily buy a USB optical drive and a similarly priced Bluetooth speaker for less than ¥599. However, the seamless integration of these official modules with the host (in terms of appearance) and HP’s entire software ecosystem is their irreplaceable aspect. Of course, if HP could provide a dedicated graphics card module like we experienced with the Haoxin modular PC, that would be even better, but let’s put that aside for now. As a commercial machine from HP, the Elite Slice modular PC also excels in its “basic skills”—by utilizing the integrated fingerprint reader and HP Client Security’s integrated password management features, it can save time and help users remember various complex passwords; HP Client Security can also manage device permissions and smart cards to adapt to different corporate environments.
The model of the Elite Slice modular PC we tested is a mid-range version, with an Intel Sky Lake architecture Core i5-6500T processor, a low-power desktop CPU with a TDP of 35W, featuring four cores and eight threads, a base clock of 2.8 GHz, and a maximum turbo frequency of 3.1 GHz, integrated with HD530 graphics. It does not use the latest Kaby Lake architecture processor. For business and enterprise users, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing—most industry software (such as in healthcare, manufacturing, OA, CRM, etc.) still has the best compatibility with Windows 7, and enterprises are typically much slower to update their software than the operating system’s iteration speed; thus, Microsoft has extended official support for Windows 7 on the Sky Lake platform until 2020 at the request of OEM manufacturers and many industry users. The Elite Slice modular PC also comes with two 4GB DDR4 2133 memory sticks from Samsung, and the storage is a 256GB Samsung SM951 NVMe PCIe SSD. Aside from being limited in size and heat dissipation, which prevents high-performance discrete graphics from being installed, the performance of this computer is already quite sufficient. In the PCMark 8 Office application benchmark test, we found that Word, Excel, and PowerPoint open almost instantaneously, thanks to the dual-channel memory and MVMe high-speed SSD.
▲ The SSD performance in the host is quite impressive.
▲ In Office performance tests, the Elite Slice modular PC can achieve “instant opening”.
To address cooling issues, the HP Elite Slice modular PC is equipped with two cooling fans, and copper heat sinks can be seen from the sides of the unit. In actual operation, the cooling performance of the Elite Slice modular PC is quite good. To test stability under extreme loads, we ran the Passmark BurnInTest software for 60 minutes in an environment of 22℃. The highest temperature recorded on the exterior of the unit during full load of the main components was 43.9℃, while the highest temperature on the top conference panel, which users frequently touch, was about 27℃, meaning users need not worry during regular use.
▲ The heat performance under high load.
In the PCMark 8 test, this model’s video chat (Videochat) frame rates were all above 30fps, completely meeting the needs for high-definition video conferencing. Aside from work, in the current trend of SOHO-style offices, if a PC can handle both work and entertainment, it is certainly a good thing; thus, we specifically conducted a 4K video playback test, and the results indicated that its entertainment performance is satisfactory for an office computer. Interestingly, I initially thought this host was fanless because I couldn’t perceive any noise during use; however, when I pressed my ear against the host, I could still vaguely hear the sound of the built-in fan, demonstrating its quietness.
▲ When playing back 4K video at a bitrate of up to 60Mbps, the CPU usage remains below 5%, and the playback effect is smooth.
▲ Overview of the stability test process; the core components of the host passed the 60-minute PassMark BurnInTest 100% stress test, ensuring stability during daily use.
The modern business environment is flexible and ever-changing, which places high demands on commercial PCs in terms of adaptability—they need to be secure, reliable, stable, and even aesthetically pleasing. Based on the scores from PCMark and other testing programs, the Core i5 processor platform not only provides a smooth business experience for this all-in-one machine but also meets mainstream entertainment needs. If ordinary PCs can satisfy 90% of users’ needs, then commercial machines are designed for the remaining 10% of industry users; these users require not only pure performance but also higher demands for brand image, after-sales service, and security. Beyond these requirements, the HP Elite Slice modular PC has also made some intentional attempts in terms of playability and possibilities. For the “moneyed” business elite, it might be worth considering allowing it and the “one cable” capable S240uj monitor to occupy your desktop.
