【PConline Single Machine Review】The mini PC is gradually replacing traditional desktop computers in homes, its compact and lightweight features are unmatched by traditional desktops, making it easy to move and space-saving. Anyone would love such a product. If you are not a gaming enthusiast, then a mini PC is your best choice. Although you need to pair it with a monitor, you can choose the size according to your preference, giving you greater freedom.
Today, the product coming to the PConline testing room is the Onda M3-H110 mini PC. Previously, we introduced information about the M3-B81, and this time the Onda M3-H110 has made some changes based on it. The Onda M3-H110 is a product that requires you to assemble it yourself, making it more suitable for hands-on consumers. However, this setup also gives consumers greater freedom in configuration choices.
■ Onda M3-H110: Compact, Exquisite, and Luxurious
The packaging of the Onda M3-H110 is simple and fresh, from which we can roughly guess the color of the product. Opening the box, we first see the top of the Onda M3-H110 unit, with a luxurious gold color that stands out. This is one of the mainstream choices today, as gold is one of the representatives of precious metals, making the product appear more valuable. Of course, how well the product works is the most important thing.
The Onda M3-H110 has a square body with rounded corners to avoid sharp edges, and the use of diamond cutting technology makes the top edges shinier. Onda’s iconic logo sits on the left upper side of the front panel in a simple form. We did not see the power switch button on the front panel or the top of the Onda M3-H110, but turning the unit around, we found it located at the right rear side of the unit, which does not affect the overall aesthetics.
The I/O panel of the Onda M3-H110 is quite rich, with the interfaces from left to right being: Microphone, Headphone, USB 3.0×4, RJ-45, USB 2.0×2, HDMI×3, and power input. Additionally, the two round holes will be introduced later.
The bottom of the Onda M3-H110 features a large area of hollow design, which is very unique and should perform well in terms of heat dissipation. Similarly, there are two round holes on top; what are they used for?
■ Onda M3-H110: DIY Assembly
As mentioned earlier, the Onda M3-H110 needs to be assembled by yourself. So when we opened the unit, we saw that besides a motherboard, there was nothing else inside. Therefore, there should be other components in the box for us to assemble. Removing the top foam pad, we saw that the lower layer contained some accessories: power adapter, power cord, cooler, L-shaped aluminum bracket, T-shaped head bracket, etc… It seems like something is missing? No CPU, memory, or hard drive! What are you doing!?
Reluctantly, I had to borrow a few parts from a colleague: an M.2 SSD, a sixth-generation Core desktop processor, and DDR4 memory were finally gathered. It is worth mentioning that the Onda M3-H110 is the first mini PC product that supports desktop-level processors, which performs better than low-voltage processors, but of course, the price is also different.
After installing the three major components, we finally installed the cooler, arranged the cables, and completed the assembly. As for whether it can be powered on, we will test that later.
■ Onda M3-H110: Two Placement Modes
Generally, mini PCs are simply placed on the desktop, while the Onda M3-H110 comes with two brackets, allowing for two placement modes. The four round holes mentioned earlier will come into play.
By combining the T-shaped head bracket and the L-shaped aluminum bracket, we can achieve the effect shown in the image above. The benefit of this is that it allows the bottom ventilation holes of the unit to fully contact with the air for better heat dissipation while also looking stylish.
If the previous placement mode is horizontal, then this time the placement mode is vertical, achieved with just the L-shaped aluminum bracket, which also achieves sufficient heat dissipation. Users can choose the vertical or horizontal placement mode according to their usage environment, providing great flexibility.
■ Onda M3-H110: Weight and Heat Dissipation Performance
The fully assembled Onda M3-H110 mini PC has been placed on an electronic scale, with the unit alone (excluding the bracket) weighing 1.158kg. The total weight with the adapter is 1.577kg. Even if you choose other processors, memory, and SSDs, the weight difference will not be significant.
● Heat Dissipation Test
For this heat dissipation test, we did not choose traditional extreme load testing but simulated real working conditions. After thirty minutes of use, including Office, Photoshop, and web browsing, we obtained the heat map. The temperature on the top of the Onda M3-H110 mini PC is between 35-40℃, while the bottom, closer to the circuit board, is slightly higher at around 40℃, with a peak temperature of 48.8℃ touching the fan module.
I’m not sure if the high load from the i7-6700 processor I chose is the reason or something else, but during use, the fan of the Onda M3-H110 mini PC occasionally spins at high speed. While this can be understood as beneficial for heat dissipation, the noise is also somewhat louder.
■ Onda M3-H110: Configurable Hardware Options
● Product Configuration and Benchmark Data Table
■ PConline Testing Room Summary
As a mini PC product, the Onda M3-H110 performs very well in terms of appearance, size, heat dissipation, and hardware. As the first mini PC that can support desktop-level processors, its performance can rival that of desktop computers. For performance enthusiasts, the Onda M3-H110 can provide a fantastic experience. The Onda M3-H110’s feature is that you can control the hardware configuration of the product yourself, matching all three major components as needed, and you also have to install it yourself. It may seem cumbersome, but for hands-on consumers, it feels more like a great opportunity to engage in DIY.
Onda M3-H110 Special Details
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