Computers have become essential tools for both life and work, and different usage scenarios come with different needs. For deep gaming enthusiasts, a large desktop PC is definitely worth considering. If you often travel, a laptop is the best option. However, if you love desktop setups and want a machine for light home office tasks along with some gaming, then a mini PC is worth a try.

Choosing a mini PC means opting for its compact and portable design. For most people, it doesn’t take up much space on the desk at home. For those who rent, it’s easy to carry when moving, making it hassle-free. Moreover, the current technology of mini PCs is relatively mature and stable, sufficient to meet our daily needs.

Those who have seen reviews from other users should know that I already have a budget PC at home for use as a soft router. This time, I purchased a higher-spec machine, the newly released Zero刻 SER6 MAX, primarily for daily video editing and photo editing tasks. After all, it is equipped with an AMD Ryzen R9 6900HX processor, scoring 1.12 million points, capable of handling daily use and gaming experiences with a strong overall performance.

——Introducing the Zero刻 SER6 MAX, Compact and Exquisite——

To be honest, the design of Zero刻 really surprised me. The color scheme includes gray, orange, green, and black. This time, I wanted to add some color to my life, so I chose this amber orange mini PC, which surprisingly matches well with my desk setup.

In terms of appearance, for a mini PC priced around 2K, it is made with high-quality materials. The body is fully metal, with a metal mesh cover on top, the left side featuring the Zero刻 logo, and the right side displaying the product code 6MAX. The overall style continues the design of its older brother, the SER7, featuring a seamless CNC metal high-gloss panel on the side, protecting the PC from bumps and falls. Additionally, the use of metal material has many benefits, such as being drop-resistant and having good heat dissipation, which also enhances its aesthetics.

It features a front CLR CMOS hole, a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB3.2 10Gbps Type-C interface, 10Gbps Type-A interface, and a power button.

Of course, the Zero刻 SER6 MAX has also eliminated the traditional DC power supply interface, adopting a new magnetic attachment solution. It features an internal power module of 4+2+1, with a tightly fitting suction design that releases a super high performance of 54W without falling off when lifting the PC. It’s stable! The absence of plugs greatly reduces the space occupied at the back.

The main interfaces are concentrated at the back of the machine, including a LAN port, two USB2.0 ports (480Mbps), a DP interface, an HDMI interface, and two USB4 ports (40Gbps), along with a 3.5mm audio jack. These abundant interfaces can meet various user needs, greatly facilitating usage.

It’s worth mentioning that the last C port not only supports data transmission but also powers the PC, compatible with mainstream 100W gallium nitride chargers that support PD3.0 protocol for powering the PC.

With rich interfaces supporting 2C+DP+HDMI for four-screen multi-display usage, I currently have a dual-screen setup, one portable display and one desktop monitor. This combination with the Zero刻 SER6 MAX for dual-screen multi-display is visually pleasing without the bulk of a large desktop PC. The mini PC is compact and space-efficient, making it easy to plug and unplug devices, all within a small footprint.

——Configuration Parameters, Small Yet Powerful——

Indeed, the Zero刻 SER6 MAX mini PC is small, yet priced at only 2K, it doesn’t skimp on quality.

The core is the AMD Ryzen R9 6900HX processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, reaching a maximum frequency of 4.9GHz, with a default TDP of 54W, ensuring safe and stable operational efficiency. This is also what Zero刻 has been advocating recently, full power operation.

With a score of 112 points on the Lu Master benchmark, it’s difficult for current 3K priced machines to compete, as most PCs still boast of reaching a million points. Zero刻’s tuning is indeed at the forefront.

The standard configuration includes 16GB DDR5-4800MHz memory and a 1TB 2280 PCIe4.0 M2 SSD, with actual read speeds of 5162MB/s and write speeds of 3654MB/s, which is indeed impressive and ensures that we can open various software and use it more stably and smoothly in our daily work.

Of course, if you find the memory insufficient, the Zero刻 SER6 MAX has all dual-channel designs for the interfaces and reserves an M2 interface for external expansion of a 1T or 2T SSD, with a maximum storage capacity of 4T.

In preparation for long-term use, a friend purchased this Jinbaida KP260 1T memory, which can be used for multiple partitions, making document management easier. This hard drive is made with domestic chips from Lianyun and Changjiang Flash, using NVMe protocol and PCIe 4.0 interface. The official read and write speeds are advertised at 4500-5000MB/s, and the price for 1T is currently just over 300, proving that storage is indeed cheap nowadays.

Using CrystalDiskMark, the read and write speeds were tested at 5002MB/s and 4397MB/s, respectively, which is basically in line with the official specifications. The speed is indeed fast enough, surpassing the read and write speeds of typical 5K laptops, making the Jinbaida KP260 an excellent expansion drive that performs almost identically to the main hard drive in terms of software installation and usage efficiency.

Having acquired a mini PC, if you find the memory insufficient, spending a little over 300 on this Jinbaida KP260 is definitely worth it, especially since a PC is expected to last at least three years.

Similarly, using CINBENCH R23 for testing, the multi-core score was 13751, and the single-core score was 1588. The CPU-Z multi-thread score was 6206, and the single-thread score was 659. The comprehensive performance of the processor showed significant improvement compared to my previous 6800H.

——With performance, how’s the experience?——

The Zero刻 SER6 MAX integrates the Radeon 680M graphics, based on RDNA2 architecture, which boasts graphics capabilities comparable to the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti dedicated graphics card, making it one of the strongest integrated graphics available today.

In practical tests, it handled 1080P mid-to-low resolution AAA games without any issues. I played two matches of League of Legends, each lasting over 20 minutes, and overall, I felt no lag or delay, with the machine’s cooling being quite stable.

Higher-demand games can also be played, but after adjusting the graphics settings, I wouldn’t recommend prolonged gaming sessions, as I believe mini PCs may not be the best choice for gaming due to their limited capacity for extended high loads.

I also conducted a simple temperature test, where after running continuously for over an hour and gaming for half an hour, the measured external panel temperature was 40° (the temperature varies based on usage and environment). The indoor temperature was 26°, which is not too high. This is thanks to the high-speed silent fan system used in the Zero刻 SER6 MAX, along with a VC heat spreader that evenly distributes CPU heat, allowing for quick internal temperature dissipation, enhancing the efficiency of internal components.

Based on the scores from the various tests mentioned above, the Zero刻 SER6 MAX can adequately meet daily office needs. Even under high-load tasks such as video editing and Photoshop, it can handle them with ease.

Personally, I prefer using domestic software, which is simple and practical. Therefore, I often use dual screens at night for video editing and photo editing while watching dramas. The DP1.4 + HDMI2.1 dual 4K output is certainly supported, as well as dual USB4 interface output, delivering clear and high-definition visuals with no lag, making it very suitable for users like me.

In terms of home use, whether you’re binge-watching shows or browsing the web, it handles it all with ease. In terms of performance, it stands shoulder to shoulder with laptops and desktop PCs priced in the thousands. The image quality is clear and natural, with high color fidelity, running smoothly without any ghosting or delay. I am very satisfied with its performance in these aspects.

——Final Review——

Choosing a small PC has indeed become mainstream, offering performance comparable to desktop PCs and the portability of laptops, effectively resolving our dilemma of choice. The Zero刻 SER6 MAX, priced between 2K and 3K, is equipped with a high-performance Ryzen R9 6900HX processor, 16GB + 1TB storage specifications, and a score of 112 points, making it truly hard to find a competitor at this price point.

Additionally, with its rich interface design, high-performance magnetic power supply solution, and enhancements in both aesthetics and performance, it is indeed an excellent choice for users who value office performance, casual gaming, and a minimalist desk setup.