The Ultimate Mini PC: A Compact i7 Powerhouse That Surprises!

1. Appearance: Aesthetic Appeal for the Modern Man!

Let me ask all the straight men a question: If a computer looks like the love child of a PS5 but has great performance and full connectivity, would you be tempted? That’s right, I’m talking about the ASUS Meet series i7-8550U mini PC! This device measures only 190x120x30mm (smaller than a copy of the Xinhua Dictionary), with a pure black matte shell and rounded edges, it resembles a black pebble on your desk, exuding a low-key luxury vibe.

Did you think it was just a black box? No! Detail enthusiasts rejoice—

Material: Matte metal shell, feels cool to the touch, even in summer it’s not too much as a hand warmer;
Design: Screwless snap-fit assembly, satisfying for those with OCD;
Size: Can be held in one hand, fits easily into a backpack, making it a portable workstation for the office worker.

Netizen’s Hot Take: With this aesthetic, you could say it’s an air purifier and people would believe it! ASUS designers have finally had a breakthrough; I would call this a renaissance for the modern man!

2. Connectivity: Full Specifications! Enough Ports to Open an Internet Cafe?

If the appearance is love at first sight, then the connectivity is the key to unwavering loyalty! The back panel left me speechless—

Power Button: One-click power on, full of ceremony;
Headphone Jack: Listen to ASMR while working late without disturbing others;
Type-C (USB 3.2 Gen1): Supports video output, connect to a 4K screen with one cable, multitasking made easy;
HDMI: Perfect for dual-screen users, stock trading, coding, and binge-watching without lag;
5 USB 3.2 Gen1 Ports: Connect external hard drives, keyboards, mice, game controllers, printers… so many ports it could host a device expo;
Gigabit Ethernet Port: Stable internet speed, 50% higher chance of snagging that rare item;
Reset Button: Crashed? Not a chance! Physical reboot to fix all issues;
Security Lock Slot: Protects against colleagues, bosses, and nosy neighbors!

Netizen’s Hot Take: With this number of ports, even the neighboring Mac mini would be jealous! I suggest renaming it to Port Monster, with enough USB ports to fill my entire first half of life!

3. Disassembly: All Internals Exposed! A Paradise for Tech Enthusiasts?

Open its top cover (actually a tool-free removable bottom cover), and the internal structure will excite any tech enthusiast—

CPU: Onboard i7-8550U, quad-core with eight threads, max turbo frequency of 4.0GHz! Don’t underestimate it being an 8th gen, in tests it outperforms the i5-8250U, handling office tasks, Photoshop, and light video editing with ease;
Integrated Graphics: Intel UHD 620, handles 4K video decoding effortlessly, stable 60 frames on low settings in League of Legends (caution: gaming alert ⚠️);
Memory: Dual DDR4 slots, supports up to 32GB! Fully loaded with 16GB×2, even with 100 Chrome tabs open in the background, no worries;
Storage: 2280 M.2 slot, supports NVMe and SATA protocols! Install a 1TB SSD, and you’re set for a luxurious experience;
Wireless Card: 2230 slot, DIY enthusiasts can upgrade to Wi-Fi 6, making high-speed internet a reality.

Netizen’s Hot Take: With this expandability, tech enthusiasts are ordering it overnight, their screwdrivers smoking! ASUS: I’m not targeting anyone, I’m just saying all the mini PCs here are little brothers!

4. Features: Three Major Selling Points! A Triad of Aesthetics, Silence, and Connectivity

Selling Point One: Aesthetics are Justice The design language of this device can be summed up in two words—Restraint. No RGB light pollution, no gaudy lines, just a pure black matte shell with a subtly visible ASUS logo, perfectly embodying low-key arrogance. On your office desk, your boss might think you’re working hard, your colleagues might think you bought a new speaker, but only you know—it’s quietly rendering your PPT!

Selling Point Two: Zen-like Silence Enterprise-grade cooling design, noise levels under 30 decibels at full load (equivalent to the sound of turning pages in a library). During late-night work, even the fan noise carries a sense of the worker’s solemnity, making it a silent companion for the office worker.

Selling Point Three: Connectivity Dignity USB 3.2 Gen1 is standard across the board, Type-C supports video output, gigabit Ethernet is rock solid… this configuration might not be top-tier in 2025, but at this price point, it’s definitely a cost-performance killer!

Netizen’s Hot Take: This machine is like a hexagonal warrior in the office worker realm—good looks, plenty of ports, and silent operation! ASUS: I’m not targeting anyone, I’m just saying all the mini PCs here are ____.

5. Ultimate Play: Win11 + Hackintosh! Dual System Operations

Did you think it could only run Win11? Think again! i7-8550U + UHD 620 integrated graphics, the golden combination for Hackintosh! Buy a tutorial for 50 bucks online, and you can turn it into a Mac mini alternative, handling light video editing with Final Cut Pro and coding with Xcode effortlessly. One machine, two experiences, rounding up to free access to the Apple ecosystem!

Netizen’s Test: Dual system with Hackintosh + Win11, use Windows for work and macOS for video editing after hours, this is a huge win! The ultimate dream for tech enthusiasts—spend little to get a lot, ASUS is on another level!

6. In Conclusion: The King of Cost-Performance in the Thousand Yuan Range!

Price: Keep an eye on the second-hand market, you can grab it for around 750;Target Audience:

Minimalists who value aesthetics;
Office workers or stock traders needing multiple ports;
Tech enthusiasts or Hackintosh players who love tinkering.

Final Soul-Searching Question: For the price of an iPhone SE, would you buy a mini PC that can game, work, and impress? Isn’t it appealing? ASUS: With this, I’ve won big.

(This article is purely a recommendation, not an advertisement; if it flops, don’t blame me!)

Discussion Topic: Would you give up a more powerful desktop for aesthetics and connectivity? Let’s battle in the comments!

Follow 【Diligent Kelsen】 for more great finds!