Today I want to share with you a mini PC that I just purchased – the Zero刻 SER5 PRO. This mini PC has been released in three versions with processors R7-5560U, R7-5700U, and R7-5800H. The price for the 5560U version is 1130 yuan, the 5700U version is 1299 yuan, and the 5800H version is 1576 yuan. However, unfortunately, the 5560U is sold out and the 5800H is also out of stock, which shows that this computer is very popular, especially considering its cost-performance ratio.
Why choose a mini PC?
The main reason is that AMD has been continuously improving its integrated graphics in the past two years, allowing mini PCs to significantly enhance their graphics processing capabilities. For simple office work and light entertainment, a mini PC can be a great choice compared to traditional desktop computers or laptops.
For laptop users, in certain scenarios, a mini PC may not completely replace a laptop. However, weighing less than 500 grams, it is indeed very portable. Taking it home from work feels even more convenient than a laptop; just throw it in your bag and plug it into a monitor at home to continue working. Furthermore, my version with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage costs only 1800 yuan, while laptops with the 5700U processor are around 3500 yuan. I think saving half the price is quite appealing.
Moreover, the rich array of ports on the mini PC surpasses that of laptops and desktops. It has four USB ports, a full-featured Type-C port, DP1.4, HDMI 2.0, and a 3.5mm audio jack, allowing for easy setup of a “three-screen display” without needing to buy a docking station.
The advantages over traditional desktops are numerous; it takes up only 1/40 of the volume and can be placed anywhere without occupying space, whether on the desk or behind the monitor. Additionally, it is more energy-efficient. If you are concerned about not being able to play games, you can choose the Zero刻 GTR high-end series, or even add a graphics dock to play any game in the universe.
Therefore, when purchasing a computer, one must consider their needs. For example, my configuration with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD using DDR4 and PCIe 3.0 is just right, and it costs only a little over 1800 yuan, including a genuine Windows 11 license. It is sufficient for daily tasks like Photoshop, Premiere, and spreadsheets, and can handle occasional gaming like CF, Dota, and DNF, so I decided to buy it without waiting for a price drop (the prices of Zero刻 products are really stable, and they don’t drop even after a long wait).
Is the mini PC configuration sufficient?
With dimensions of 126*113*42mm, it is palm-sized for adults. The Zero刻 SER5 PRO is very well-made, paying great attention to detail. The bottom case and top heat dissipation mesh are metallic, while the body is made of ABS plastic. Compared to the all-metal bodies of the SER7 and GTR7, I don’t think this is a downgrade; it actually helps with WiFi and Bluetooth signal transmission.
The front ports include two USB 3.2 and a full-featured Type-C port, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack (compatible with microphones), which is sufficient for daily use. I should mention that the full-featured Type-C port not only supports 4K 60Hz video transmission but also allows for a “one-cable connection” to portable monitors, reducing cable clutter on the desk.
The rear ports include a USB 3.2, a USB 2.0, an HDMI 2.0, and a DP1.4 port, with a gigabit Ethernet port, proving that even small devices can be fully equipped.
Another advantage of mini PCs is that they retain plenty of DIY fun. By removing the bottom panel, you can see the interior, making it easy to upgrade or replace memory and hard drives, regardless of whether you choose the barebone or the complete system. This mini PC supports the installation of one M.2 2280 SSD (up to 2TB) and also allows for an additional 2.5-inch hard drive.
First, you can see the unique cooling fan bracket created by Zero刻, which, along with the CPU cooling fan, greatly enhances the overall cooling of the mini PC and solves the problem of “heat accumulation” in mini PCs. You also don’t have to worry about noise, as there are dedicated tests for cooling and noise levels.
The dual 8GB memory configuration results in a total of 16GB RAM, which significantly enhances performance, with a maximum expansion capacity of 64GB (single-channel 32GB). The SSD used is from Crucial, and with the current low prices of SSDs, upgrading is always an option.
The network card is the AX200, but if you enjoy tinkering, you can swap it for the AX210, which offers differences between WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E. It integrates Bluetooth 5.2, which I feel is stable and efficient enough.
How is the performance of the mini PC?
So, how does this mini PC equipped with the R7-5700U perform? The 7nm R7-5700U features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a maximum CPU frequency of 4.3GHz and integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics with a frequency of 1900MHz, and a TDP of 35W. I won’t go into the price advantages; its low power consumption and quiet operation are more suitable for office and study scenarios, which is also a key reason for my choice.
With a score of 730,000 on LuMaster, daily tasks such as web browsing, office work, high-definition videos, and casual gaming pose no issues at all, showcasing typical U-series performance with a quiet and balanced characteristic.
In the CrystalDisk benchmark, the read and write speeds were 3665MB/s and 1914MB/s respectively, with random 4K read speeds of 53MB/s and write speeds of 174MB/s. The Crucial PCIe 3.0 SSD performs quite well.
In the Cinebench R20 test, the single-core and multi-core scores were 482 and 3714 respectively, while in the R23 test, the multi-core score was 9266 and the single-core score was 1245.
PCMARK10 scored 6174 points, which is quite acceptable; it performs well as a productivity tool and for everyday entertainment.
The 3DMARK stress test also passed with high scores.
Compared to last year’s similar products, the Zero刻 SER5 PRO has received a complete upgrade in cooling, and the effects are quite evident in actual testing. In terms of cooling alone, few mini PC brands on the market can compete. During a stress test at room temperature of 25°C, the temperature at the exhaust vent was recorded at 49°C. All my concerns about cooling before purchase now seem unnecessary.
During a 20-minute FurMark stress test, the CPU temperature remained stable at 73°C, and throughout the test, the fan produced no noticeable noise, demonstrating impressive cooling capabilities.
How does it perform for productivity and entertainment?
For gaming tests, I chose “World of Warcraft”, “League of Legends”, and “CS:GO”. As we all know, “World of Warcraft” has a very large map and battle system. At 1080P with maximum/high settings and using accelerators and plugins, the average FPS during the test was over 80, with slight frame drops during multiplayer raids and boss fights.
Games like “CS:GO” run effortlessly without any frame drops, with FPS feeling above 100.
In “League of Legends”, it maintains around 100 FPS.
Media editing is also one of my regular tasks, and the Zero刻 SER5 Pro handles image editing in Photoshop very smoothly, even with multi-layer PSD files.
Using video processing software like Premiere and JIANYING also provides a good experience, with stable software operation and no lag during operations such as dragging, loading, and previewing multiple high-definition materials. Throughout the process, CPU usage remained stable at over 40%, demonstrating stability.
In addition to video editing, post-production tasks such as resizing, flipping, changing resolution, modifying aspect ratio, and cropping are also essential. I use HandBrake as my video compression tool. Compressing a 500MB video takes only 3 minutes, which is very satisfying.
How does the cost-performance ratio of this mini PC stack up?
From my personal experience with the Zero刻 SER5 5500U, whether it’s office work, image processing, or some mid-range gaming, the experience with this mini PC is completely satisfactory. It also supports hardware upgrades, and with a price just over 1000 yuan, I believe that in the next three to five years, this mini PC will not experience significant declines in performance. If someone is looking to replace their computer and wants a cleaner desktop environment, I believe mini PCs like the Zero刻 SER5 5500U are definitely a great choice.
Overall, the Zero刻 SER5 PRO mini PC is more than sufficient for daily office work and multimedia entertainment. Its performance, temperature, and noise levels are well-tuned. The 5560U + 16GB + 512GB configuration is considered mid-to-high-end in today’s market, capable of handling video editing, large-scale image editing, and even some casual 3D gaming, all with a desktop experience. Its compact size also frees up limited desktop space, resulting in a cleaner look. With options for memory, storage, and even graphics docking, if you enjoy tinkering, it also leaves room for future upgrades. With a three-year warranty, you can experiment as much as you want. Priced under 2000 yuan, I think the Zero刻 SER5 is definitely worth considering.