❶ Domestic Mini PCs are gaining popularity.

Many people might have heard of the famous 【NUC】, which stands for “Next Unit of Computing”. It was launched by Intel in 2013 and features a motherboard size of only 4 inches × 4 inches. Although it uses low-power hardware, the interfaces are still abundant, making it a compact but fully functional device.

The emergence of NUC has also popularized the concept of mini PCs, which have several significant advantages over traditional desktops for users seeking light office and wireless working scenarios:

• “Compact”: With a capacity of less than 1L, it is smaller than a TV box or router, making it suitable for various usage environments and easy to move.

• “Quiet”: The whole machine generates low heat and has minimal cooling noise, making it unobtrusive when placed on a desk.

• “User-friendly”: Comes with a ready-to-use system or bundled version, requiring users to install only memory and hard drives at most.

• “Affordable”: Compared to entry-level laptops, it saves nearly 1000 yuan on display costs.

In the past, mini PCs were mainly dominated by international manufacturers, but with the development of domestic OEM manufacturers, a large number of new mini PC brands have emerged. Today, we will review the SEi12 mini PC from the domestic brand【Beelink】.

Beelink was established in 2011, initially focusing on HD players and set-top box products. It began to venture into mini PCs in 2017, iterating multiple versions. The current product line is primarily divided into AMD Ryzen mobile processor series GTR, SER, and Intel Core mobile processor series SEi, EQ. The SEi12 represents the model based on the 12th generation Intel® Core™ processor, and from the product specifications, we can see that the overall configuration is quite balanced, especially with a rich array of I/O ports.

• “Model”: Beelink SEi12 Mini PC

• “Processor”: 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-12650H mobile processor (10 cores / 16 threads, 3.5 / 4.7GHz)

• “Graphics Card”: Intel Iris® Xe integrated graphics (64 EU / 1.4GHz)

• “Network Communication”: Intel AX200 (Wi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth 5.2)

• “Front Ports”: USB-C (10Gbps) ×1, USB-A (10Gbps) ×2, 3.5mm audio jack, CLR CMOS

• “Rear Ports”: USB-A (480Mbps) ×2, HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, 1000Mbps RJ45, DC power input

• “Cooling Module”: Dual-fan cooling (CPU cooling fan + system fan)

• “Charger”: 100W DC power adapter (19V / 5.26A)

• “Dimensions / Weight”: 126mm (L) × 113mm (W) × 42mm (H) / 0.51kg

❷ Appearance Design and Internal Structure

Next, let’s take a look at the appearance design of the Beelink SEi12 mini PC. The first impression is that it is indeed very compact and lightweight, with dimensions of only 126mm (L) × 113mm (W) × 42mm (H), a capacity of less than 0.6L, and a weight of only 0.51kg, much smaller than my Mac Mini.

In terms of color, the official offers two color options: “Deep Blue” and “Millennium Gray”. The one I got is the former. The top of the host is made with a fabric process, which not only feels great but also helps with heat dissipation and is splash resistant. The top corners also feature an etched Beelink SEi logo.

The front of the host features buttons and an I/O panel, with CLR CMOS, 2 USB-A (10Gbps), 1 USB-C (10Gbps), and a 3.5mm audio jack from left to right, along with a power button. There is also a sticker for the Intel Core i7 in the upper left corner, indicating the Intel Core processor core.

The advantage of front I/O ports is that it is convenient for plugging and unplugging USB drives and external hard drives, and it is also suitable for connecting wired keyboards and mice. If it were a traditional desktop, even with a front I/O panel, one would still have to operate under the desk, but mini PCs have no such issue and can be placed on monitor stands.

The left and right sides of the host feature a metal bottom shell, with a metal air intake mesh in the middle, and a symmetrical design on both sides, allowing a glimpse of the internal components.

The rear of the host also has numerous ports, from left to right: 1Gbps RJ45 port, 2 USB-A (480Mbps), video ports DP 1.4 + HDMI 2.0, and a DC power socket. The grill above the ports serves as the cooling exhaust for the entire machine.

Finally, at the bottom of the host, there is a silkscreen of product information, with soft rubber pads on both sides to provide support and prevent slipping.

Next, let’s take a look inside. After removing the four cross screws at the bottom and pulling down the bottom cover using the small handle on the chassis, we can see the internal structure.

The first layer has a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive bay, which is empty by default. We can add a SATA SSD or a 7mm ultra-thin mechanical hard drive designed for laptops. In the image below, I have displayed a Seagate IronWolf 125 2.5-inch SATA SSD.

Below the hard drive is the cooling module. To further disassemble, we need to loosen the two screws at the SATA port carefully and disconnect the cable. Then, remove the two screws diagonally from the cooling module. Be cautious, as the fan has a power line connected to the motherboard, and avoid using excessive force. Finally, we are presented with a dual-layer motherboard, with the I/O port, memory, and hard drive areas on the front, and the CPU located on the underside of the motherboard, accompanied by a cooling fan.

In terms of memory, the host is equipped with 32GB DDR4 3200MHz dual-channel memory, model Crucial CT16G4SF832A; the hard drive is a 500GB PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD, specifically model Crucial CT500P3PSSD8. It is important to note that the official version on sale only has a 16GB memory version, and users can upgrade the memory themselves.

Below the hard drive bay, there is a wireless network card, the Intel AX200NGW, supporting dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi 6 signals. Under a 160MHz bandwidth, it can reach a peak bandwidth of 2400Mbps, and the card also integrates Bluetooth 5.2.

Next, let’s look at the accessories. First, the power adapter provided with the Beelink SEi12 mini PC is a compact 19V / 5.26A 100W DC power adapter. Additionally, the package includes two HDMI 2.0 cables, one long and one short, measuring 15cm and 50cm respectively, as well as a VESA wall mount bracket that can be installed on the back of a monitor using the two reserved screw holes at the bottom of the host.

This concludes the appearance design, internal structure, and accessories of the Beelink SEi12 mini PC. Considering that the C drive has only 500GB of space, to fully showcase its performance, I paired it with a 2TB Seagate FireCuda 530 M.2 SSD.

Previously, in my reviews of the Synology DS1621+ and Intel NUC, I paired them with the Seagate FireCuda 510 and FireCuda 520 SSDs, respectively, and observed a gradient change in performance among the three:

• “Seagate FireCuda 510”: Sequential read speed of 3450MB/s, sequential write speed of 3200MB/s

• “Seagate FireCuda 520”: Sequential read speed of 5000MB/s, sequential write speed of 4400MB/s

• “Seagate FireCuda 530”: Sequential read speed of 7300MB/s, sequential write speed of 6900MB/s

The official information for the Seagate FireCuda 530 states that its sequential read speed is 7300MB/s, sequential write speed is 6900MB/s, and the total write count for the 2TB version is as high as 2550TB, supporting an MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) of 1.8 million hours. The read and write rates exceed those of the FireCuda 510 by more than double, and I am eager to see how it performs in the Beelink SEi12. Let’s see how well the i7-12650H can unleash its full potential.

2. Can the 35W i7-12650H in the Beelink SEi12 support your office productivity?

❶ CPU Theoretical Performance Testing

The Beelink SEi12 mini PC is equipped with“the 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-12650H mobile processor”, which belongs to the high-end Alder Lake-P H series, based on Intel’s 7 process technology, featuring 10 cores and 16 threads, a base frequency of 3.5 GHz, and a maximum turbo frequency of 4.7GHz, along with a 24MB L3 cache.

Unless otherwise specified, the testing environment for this article is set to a closed space at 16-20°C, with BIOS version ALDER112, operating system version Win11 (21H2), Intel graphics driver version 31.0.101.5084, and power set to high-performance mode. Let’s first take a look at the“CPU Theoretical Performance Testing”, with the following results:

• “CPU-Z”: Single-core performance score of 686.1, multi-core performance of 3957.6

• “CINEBENCH R15”: Single-core performance of 249cb, multi-core performance of 1427cb

• “CINEBENCH R20”: Single-core performance of 688cb, multi-core performance of 3631cb

• “CINEBENCH R23”: Single-core performance score of 1753pts, multi-core performance score of 9498pts

• “CINEBENCH 2024”: Single-core performance score of 104pts, multi-core performance score of 564pts

Through the“CINEBENCH R15 continuous test results”, we can see that the i7-12650H released a performance range of 1417-1432cb, with a decay rate of 1.05%. I compared it with previous tests of the i7-1260P and i5-1240P notebooks and found that the i7-12650H in the Beelink SEi12 has an average performance between the two.

I also used some professional software to test the performance of the i7-12650H mobile processor, and the summarized data is as follows for your reference:

• “GeekBench 5”: Single-core performance of 1653, multi-core performance of 7355

• “GeekBench 6”: Single-core performance of 2353, multi-core performance of 8325

• “3DMark-CPU Profile”: Single thread 864 points, maximum threads 4291 points

• “FritzChess Benchmark”: Relative performance multiple 37.95, steps per second 18214

• “V-Ray”: Processor score of 6476

• “Super PI”: 32M (single-core performance) took 7 minutes 39.622 seconds

• “7 Zip Compression Test”: Compression score 54.654GIPS, decompression 53.632GIPS, total score 54.143GIPS

• “Corona 1.3 Benchmark”: Rendering test took 2 minutes 31 seconds

❷ GPU Theoretical Performance Testing

In terms of GPU, the Beelink SEi12 mini PC features the integrated graphics of the i7-12650H“Intel Iris® Xe”, which has 64 EU, with a GPU frequency ranging from 299 to 1397 MHz.

Through the“3DMark test”, we can see that the Intel Iris® Xe scored 1286 points in the Time Spy (DX12) test, with a graphics score of 1123; in the Fire Strike (DX11) test, it scored 3624 points, with a graphics score of 3890. In the Night Raid (integrated graphics) scenario test, it scored 13357 points, with a graphics score of 14531.

In the graphics testing software“Superposition Benchmark”, the Intel Iris® Xe scored 5430 points in the 720P-Low scene, 2217 points in the 1080P-Medium scene, and 749 points in the 1080P-Extreme scene. In the“V-Ray” test, the Intel Iris® Xe scored 169 points in the GPU-CUDA scene.

❸ Memory / Hard Drive / Network Card Performance

The Beelink SEi12 is equipped with two“Crucial 16GB DDR4 dual-channel memory” modules, totaling 32GB of dual-channel memory. After testing with AIDA64, the memory timing was found to be 22-22-22-52 CR1, with a read speed of 47788MB/s, write speed of 49690MB/s, copy speed of 44309MB/s, and latency of 99.1ns. The L3 Cache read/write/copy data were 320.61GB/s, 166.37GB/s, and 263.55GB/s, with a latency of 22.0ns.

In terms of hard drive, I paired it with a“Seagate FireCuda 530 M.2 SSD” with a capacity of 2TB, using PCIe 4.0 × 4 channels and NVM Express 1.4 standard. The controller chip is Phison PS5018-E18, with SLC cache from SK hynix (Hynix) H5AN8G6NCJ, and flash memory is 3D TLC.

From tests using ATTO Disk Benchmark, TxBENCH, CrystalDiskMark, and other software, we can see that the maximum sequential read speed of the hard drive is around 7000MB/s, with a maximum write speed of 6900MB/s.

Although it is slightly lower than the official stated read speed, this performance is still superior to most PCIe 4.0 SSDs. Additionally, Seagate offers a 5-year warranty and one free data recovery service within 3 years for the FireCuda 530 SSD, which is quite necessary for users concerned about data security.

❹ Overall Performance

In terms of overall performance, the Beelink SEi12 scored 4562 points in the“PCMark10 EXTENDED” benchmark scenario, with a basic functionality score of 9804, productivity score of 6877, digital content creation score of 6877, and gaming score of 2991. The“CrossMark” total score was 1537, with productivity score of 1503, creativity score of 1546, and responsiveness score of 1613.

❺ Stress Testing

Finally, we conducted a stress test on the Beelink SEi12 to observe its performance release and heat generation by performing“AIDA64 single-core FPU” for 30 minutes. Overall, the single-core CPU curves were quite stable, with an average CPU frequency of 2.1GHz, CPU package power around 33W, and average temperature at 87°C. The maximum temperature on the top was 27.9°C, while the bottom reached a maximum of 46°C. The temperatures of the front and rear I/O ports were slightly higher, exceeding 60°C.

• “CPU Frequency”: Maximum frequency of 4.1898GHz / Average frequency of 2.100GHz

• “CPU Package Power”: Maximum power of 35.300W / Average power of 33.128W

• “CPU Temperature”: Maximum temperature of 89°C / Average temperature of 87°C

From the observations, it can be seen that the Beelink SEi12 mini PC limits the CPU’s PL1 power to 35W and PL2 power to 55W. Compared to gaming laptops with the same processor, which often release around 78W of power, this is relatively conservative. (Note: PL1 limits the maximum power for the CPU to run for extended periods, while PL2 limits the maximum power for short bursts.)

However, considering that the cooling modules of the two are different, this is a compromise made from the perspectives of noise reduction and performance. For users with higher performance demands, it is also possible to unlock power limits in the BIOS, but it is recommended not to exceed 50W, as it may damage the lifespan of the device due to inadequate cooling, and fan noise will increase.

3. How to leverage the Beelink SEi12 mini PC for office, creative, and entertainment scenarios?

In the third part, we will showcase the performance of the Beelink SEi12 mini PC in office, creative, and entertainment scenarios.

❶ Office Scenario

In the productivity scenario test, I tested the Office 2021 suite’s“Office Productivity”, scoring a total of 4549 points, with Word scoring 6305, Excel scoring 2950, PowerPoint scoring 5924, and Outlook scoring 3223. Overall, the performance aligns with the CPU’s performance range, being stronger than U-series laptops but slightly weaker than P-series laptops.

The office advantages of a mini PC extend beyond performance; its compact form allows it to fit on various desktops. If your budget allows, you can set it up with multiple monitors to maximize office efficiency.

In my workspace, I initially had a Mac Mini with a 35-inch ultrawide monitor, and recently added a 15.6-inch Cforce 4K OLED portable screen. The Beelink SEi12 also has dual video ports of HDMI 2.0 + DP 1.4, so it can easily handle dual-screen scenarios.

In a dual-screen setup, you can work on the large screen while chatting or browsing on the smaller screen, achieving a balance between work and entertainment. Thanks to the compact size of the Beelink SEi12, it can be completely hidden behind the portable screen. In contrast, the larger Mac Mini on the left can only be vertically placed in the book area.

❷ Content Creation

In terms of image processing and video editing performance, I tested using Procyon. In the Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom“Procyon photo editing benchmark test”, the image retouching score was 5163, batch processing score was 2692, and total score was 3728. In the“Pugetbench for Adobe Photoshop” test, the score was 810.

In the Adobe Premiere Pro“Procyon video editing scenario test”, the video editing export score was 2055. In the“Pugetbench for Adobe Premiere Pro” test, the score was 300. Overall, it should handle basic processing of DSLR photos and editing of 1080P short videos without issues.

❸ Gaming Performance

In terms of gaming performance, I tested three popular online games. The first is“League of Legends”, which is the most popular online game that integrated graphics can handle, even after 13 years since its release.

I tested the performance at three resolutions: 1080p, 1440p, and 2160p with maximum settings. At 1080P, the average frame rate reached 134fps; at 1440P, the average frame rate was 121fps; and at 2160P, it maintained an average frame rate of 58fps. If you have higher frame rate requirements, you can lower the graphics settings for smoother gameplay.

The second popular online game is“Genshin Impact”, which is a strong title on PC, accounting for 23.9% of global mobile game revenue, second only to miHoYo’s recently released“Honkai: Star Rail”. Testing it on a desktop to evaluate integrated graphics performance is also worthwhile, as it is a 3D game and struggles at default settings of 1080P-Medium.

At 1080P-Medium settings, the average frame rate was 31fps, primarily due to the numerous vegetation textures and effects during battles. However, it generally maintains a basic level of smoothness. If you want a higher frame rate, switching to low settings can boost the average frame rate to 40fps. To achieve 60fps smooth gameplay, you would need to set it to the lowest settings, but Genshin Impact caps at 60fps, indicating that there is still performance headroom, as the frame rate curve is very stable.

The last game tested is the classic“Counter-Strike 2”, which has evolved from CS:GO to CS 2, utilizing the new Source 2 engine to significantly upgrade graphics, effects, weapon quality, and cosmetics. Unfortunately, the FPS Benchmark suite in the Creative Workshop has been removed. I can only describe that at 1080P + low settings, it runs effortlessly at 60fps. Increasing the graphics settings will certainly lower the frame rate.

❹ Video Decoding

After discussing gaming, many may consider using this mini PC as a TV box in the living room, which places higher demands on the decoding capabilities of the i7-12650H’s integrated graphics. I tested Potplayer with four video specifications for your reference. Overall, apart from the extreme high qualities of 4K/120p and 8K/24p, the other formats of 4K/30-60p and 5K/30p can be played at full frame rates, which should suffice for most TV devices.

• “4K/60p”: Approximately 59-60fps

• “4K/120p”: Approximately 69-70fps

• “5K/30p”: Approximately 29-30fps

• “8K/24p”: Approximately 11-12fps

4. How to evaluate the user experience of the Beelink SEi12 mini PC?

After this review, let’s summarize the experience of the Beelink SEi12. As a mini PC, its capacity is less than 0.6L, and it weighs just over a pound, making it suitable for various desktop, living room, and even outdoor scenarios. Paired with a wireless keyboard and mouse, it can easily create a clean and tidy desktop.

In terms of performance, the Beelink SEi12, equipped with the i7-12650H mobile processor, offers significantly stronger performance than low-power U-series and Celeron N-series processors, which are limited to soft routing and light office tasks. It can handle medium to high load scenarios such as image processing, video editing, gaming, and video playback.

However, it also has some【areas for improvement】. Firstly, the CPU power limit seems a bit conservative, likely due to cooling constraints. I hope future iterations can focus on enhancing the cooling module to further unlock the advantages of H-series processors. Secondly, the host only has one network port; it could consider adding 2 to 4 more to serve soft routing scenarios. Lastly, it is recommended to replace the less frequently used SATA hard drive bay with an M.2 slot or PCIe slot to further enhance the device’s expandability.

Finally, here are some【purchase suggestions】: Currently, the Beelink SEi12 has two processor versions: the i5-12450H and the i7-12650H, with a price difference of around 500 yuan. If you are only looking for light office work, the i5 version is sufficient. However, if you require higher demands for gaming, image, and video processing, prioritize the i7 version.

• “¥ 1490”: i5-12450H / Ready-to-use system

• “¥ 1995”: i5-12450H / 16GB / 500GB

• “¥ 2195”: i5-12450H / 16GB / 1TB

• “¥ 1985”: i7-12650H / Ready-to-use system

• “¥ 2395”: i7-12650H / 16GB / 500GB

• “¥ 2595”: i5-12450H / 16GB / 1TB

For both memory and hard drive, it is recommended to choose the 16GB + 1TB combination, as the current price for the Crucial 16GB DDR4 dual-channel memory is 278 yuan, while the price for the Crucial P3 Plus 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD is around 459 yuan. Together, they cost 127 yuan more than the official package.

That concludes this review. Thank you for your patience in watching. I am Geek Researcher, and see you next time!