Love the Mini PC content. I am looking to upgrade the old optiplex/gpu combo we are currently using as a HTPC. A mini PC that can do ps2/switch emulation well will likely replace it soon enough.
i Bought Minisforum's EM680, it runs just like this but @1080p solely. the 6400Mhz Ram in the EM680 is what makes up for the difference in Performance. quite nice! thanks for this review though, really wanted to see some demonstrations of this mini.
The CPU is bonkers fast. In two years time I'm sure we'd see the GPU catch up. I think we've hit the threshold when desktop PCs are finally being switched for mini pc units. Especially with all the power savings these can have over them.
I wonder what the power consumption is. You could probably run this on a 65W GaN charger, perhaps using a USB-C to 5.5x2.1mm converter (that triggers the 20V Power Delivery). One thing I dislike about these mini PC's is the lack of a standardized fan, it seems like a waste to throw out a computer, simply because the fan became too noisy.
Hey Tim, been looking at the NUC Box M2 and then saw the above M4, all I want is an emulation heavy box, is the M4 worth the $200 difference (I want to include PS3 and Xbox at solid frame rates). Paul..
K2 and K4 are great for emulation. The M2 is good but didn't like PS3 for some reason... Shame but it is what it is. ... I should probably try a PS3 emulator in windows and not only batocera 😂 I reckon some of the cheaper Ryzen units would be fine too tbh. Like the 5600U and 5800U, would like to give them a go, the specs also look rather solid at a cheap price (gmktec have those too)
@@Mclaneinc if you want I can try the most stressful game / emulation that you want to use it for and get back to you on how it performs. I have a feeling that most the shutdown reports are from those that use the 54w setting mentioned.
@@Mclaneinc I reckon the under 300$ ryzen 5600u may kick total butt including PS3. That's on their site too. Also they have a 7940HS giveaway. Wouldn't hurt to give it a shot
Great review as always. Actually I'm not a gamer, I just want a fast PC for WFH and watching TH-cam, Netflix in 4K, which one you'd suggest me? The K1, K2 or K4?
Hi there Team Pandory, so no overheating to use it for music production? (30-50 tracks, VST, plug ins, samples, etc) Studio One my DAW of preference, I hope to have some orientation from you, cheers!
As this needs near no GPU power, I'm pretty certain that this will be fine. Heat usually comes from the combination of 100% CPU AND GPU... Oh man. I hope ght Studio One 4 a few years back. Used it once then went back to Reaper 🙌
@@TeamPandory Excellent 👌, I'll keep in mind, I used to record in Reaper too but Studio One has more midi capabilities that use a lot, glad to know -even if there's some seconds- that you dedicate to music production performance (only gamer or similar TH-camr reviewer so far I know), cheers from México!
@@victormedrano2316 ... Dedicated is maybe taking it a little too far 😀 But as I said in this a few of these reviews, the CPU that's in this minipc can even compete with the 3950X that's in my main right now. I remember the days when the i7-4770k was recommended for music production and I was constantly getting 100% CPU use in FLSTUIO due to the amount of VSTs used. The Ryzen 1700 could handle it FAR better, and this here is a few generations on. Oh btw, thanks for the comment 🙂
I got asked the same thing earlier. This is the Radeon software that's with the graphics driver. Bottom right, Radeon thing. Right click. It's in there.
Those thermals indicate a lack of testing or little to no care. When talking about specs, please always say what specific flavour of USB 3.2 ports a product has. The difference between Gen 1,2 and 3 could make a difference when weighing up purchase options.
I never thought about any driver possible issue. So if this pc maker folds,then support ceases. Is this due to the motherboard being a non certified windows board? “ hence sneaky chinese friends”. Lol
Currently unsure. They state that's the case with all current 7940hs units as they're all different, and we can see similar things with the handhelds with the later 7000 series GPU. Gmktec have been around since 2019, but I'm enquiring on if there's a way to automate the process. If they can compile as soon as a new AMD driver is released, it'd be a huge help to their brand... Heck I hope they all do this. Or if it's on GitHub for us to do... Very yes !
Yup did not understand most of this. Hard to tell whether it can run my games. Would anyone know if it can run starfield? I can run it at about 30 fps on low with my current laptop. If this can run the game even slightly better that's really all i could think of that would help me understand if it can work well with my other games. Im sure it it'll have no problem with most of my games, i usually run things on low settings anyways. If anything, could be a nice little gift for someone.
What's the current spec of your laptop? We don't have Starfield to test, but the game is bundled with this range of processor, so I'm reckoning this should run starfield pretty well. 😊
@@TeamPandory That's all I needed to hear, now I just gotta see how convincing I can be. As for specs, not sure, It was a basic set for the Alienware m15r3 with 16ram and I think rtx 1060TI? All I can remember sorry.
@@skaterboy1425able now that alienware afaik is an Intel i9 / 8 core 16 thread pc - this Ryzen mini pc may be on a similar level CPU based, but as you mentioned rtx, the ryzen will have a slower GPU. ... Saying that, Starfield is a game that they made with the ryzen in mind - so it might even still play better on this.
Look at this benchmark comparing the AMD 780m against a PC equipped with a GTX 1060 6Gb and a Ryzen 7800X3D and you'll be amazed by the numbers. Not bad for a 54W mini PC with laptop components basically. th-cam.com/video/-8gk27GUDpc/w-d-xo.html (Edit: wattage on the Ryzen 9 7940HS)
Love the Mini PC content. I am looking to upgrade the old optiplex/gpu combo we are currently using as a HTPC. A mini PC that can do ps2/switch emulation well will likely replace it soon enough.
i Bought Minisforum's EM680, it runs just like this but @1080p solely. the 6400Mhz Ram in the EM680 is what makes up for the difference in Performance. quite nice!
thanks for this review though, really wanted to see some demonstrations of this mini.
The CPU is bonkers fast. In two years time I'm sure we'd see the GPU catch up.
I think we've hit the threshold when desktop PCs are finally being switched for mini pc units. Especially with all the power savings these can have over them.
I wonder what the power consumption is. You could probably run this on a 65W GaN charger, perhaps using a USB-C to 5.5x2.1mm converter (that triggers the 20V Power Delivery). One thing I dislike about these mini PC's is the lack of a standardized fan, it seems like a waste to throw out a computer, simply because the fan became too noisy.
Do you have a recommendation for a mini pc that DOES have hdmi 2.1? I think that's the key aspect for me when I eventually get one of these units.
Hey Tim, been looking at the NUC Box M2 and then saw the above M4, all I want is an emulation heavy box, is the M4 worth the $200 difference (I want to include PS3 and Xbox at solid frame rates). Paul..
K2 and K4 are great for emulation. The M2 is good but didn't like PS3 for some reason... Shame but it is what it is. ... I should probably try a PS3 emulator in windows and not only batocera 😂
I reckon some of the cheaper Ryzen units would be fine too tbh. Like the 5600U and 5800U, would like to give them a go, the specs also look rather solid at a cheap price (gmktec have those too)
Also worried re the heat, reports of the K4 shutting down when heavily loaded. (sorry for calling it an M4 and not K4)
I'm leaning back towards the $299 M2, 200 dollars extra is a lot..Still would love to hear your thoughts..
@@Mclaneinc if you want I can try the most stressful game / emulation that you want to use it for and get back to you on how it performs.
I have a feeling that most the shutdown reports are from those that use the 54w setting mentioned.
@@Mclaneinc I reckon the under 300$ ryzen 5600u may kick total butt including PS3. That's on their site too.
Also they have a 7940HS giveaway. Wouldn't hurt to give it a shot
Love Team Pandory 🐔
And we love you 😁. Thanks for the 🐔
@@TeamPandory cluck cluck 🤣
@@MohammadDoesIRL 🍗
Great review as always.
Actually I'm not a gamer, I just want a fast PC for WFH and watching TH-cam, Netflix in 4K, which one you'd suggest me? The K1, K2 or K4?
Right now the K1 is an ABSOLUTE STEAL! We're making a review on that right now. Won't be out for a few days though.
Hi there Team Pandory, so no overheating to use it for music production? (30-50 tracks, VST, plug ins, samples, etc) Studio One my DAW of preference, I hope to have some orientation from you, cheers!
As this needs near no GPU power, I'm pretty certain that this will be fine. Heat usually comes from the combination of 100% CPU AND GPU... Oh man. I hope ght Studio One 4 a few years back. Used it once then went back to Reaper 🙌
@@TeamPandory Excellent 👌, I'll keep in mind, I used to record in Reaper too but Studio One has more midi capabilities that use a lot, glad to know -even if there's some seconds- that you dedicate to music production performance (only gamer or similar TH-camr reviewer so far I know), cheers from México!
@@victormedrano2316 ... Dedicated is maybe taking it a little too far 😀 But as I said in this a few of these reviews, the CPU that's in this minipc can even compete with the 3950X that's in my main right now. I remember the days when the i7-4770k was recommended for music production and I was constantly getting 100% CPU use in FLSTUIO due to the amount of VSTs used. The Ryzen 1700 could handle it FAR better, and this here is a few generations on.
Oh btw, thanks for the comment 🙂
what program do you use to see the FPS?
I got asked the same thing earlier. This is the Radeon software that's with the graphics driver.
Bottom right, Radeon thing. Right click. It's in there.
@@TeamPandory Thanks
Those thermals indicate a lack of testing or little to no care. When talking about specs, please always say what specific flavour of USB 3.2 ports a product has. The difference between Gen 1,2 and 3 could make a difference when weighing up purchase options.
is this better,faster,reliable and durable than minisforum UM790?
As we don't have a UM790, we couldn't say ... This IS cheaper though 😂
I never thought about any driver possible issue. So if this pc maker folds,then support ceases. Is this due to the motherboard being a non certified windows board? “ hence sneaky chinese friends”. Lol
Currently unsure. They state that's the case with all current 7940hs units as they're all different, and we can see similar things with the handhelds with the later 7000 series GPU.
Gmktec have been around since 2019, but I'm enquiring on if there's a way to automate the process. If they can compile as soon as a new AMD driver is released, it'd be a huge help to their brand... Heck I hope they all do this.
Or if it's on GitHub for us to do... Very yes !
How to enter on bios key gmk tec k4, thanks
hit esc repeatably at startup
Yup did not understand most of this. Hard to tell whether it can run my games. Would anyone know if it can run starfield? I can run it at about 30 fps on low with my current laptop. If this can run the game even slightly better that's really all i could think of that would help me understand if it can work well with my other games. Im sure it it'll have no problem with most of my games, i usually run things on low settings anyways. If anything, could be a nice little gift for someone.
What's the current spec of your laptop? We don't have Starfield to test, but the game is bundled with this range of processor, so I'm reckoning this should run starfield pretty well. 😊
@@TeamPandory That's all I needed to hear, now I just gotta see how convincing I can be. As for specs, not sure, It was a basic set for the Alienware m15r3 with 16ram and I think rtx 1060TI? All I can remember sorry.
@@skaterboy1425able now that alienware afaik is an Intel i9 / 8 core 16 thread pc - this Ryzen mini pc may be on a similar level CPU based, but as you mentioned rtx, the ryzen will have a slower GPU.
... Saying that, Starfield is a game that they made with the ryzen in mind - so it might even still play better on this.
@@TeamPandory Duly noted! Thank you!
Look at this benchmark comparing the AMD 780m against a PC equipped with a GTX 1060 6Gb and a Ryzen 7800X3D and you'll be amazed by the numbers. Not bad for a 54W mini PC with laptop components basically.
th-cam.com/video/-8gk27GUDpc/w-d-xo.html
(Edit: wattage on the Ryzen 9 7940HS)
The price is the problem.
from bilibili🎉
Im problematic right now because of this pc