Recently, I've been enjoying tinkering with some mini PCs.
A while ago, I got a super cheap mini PC with an N100 processor, which has quite mainland-oriented specs, to try out. You can check out the unboxing below.
The conclusion back then was that the N100 is sufficient for general use, but it stutters the moment the usage spikes.
So, we decided to get another mini PC with an i3 processor for further testing.
The chosen model is
MSI Cubi 5 12M-012BTW
This series of PCs, aside from black and white color options, comes with different model suffixes depending on the equipped CPU ~ that is, the string after the - above.
The CPU built into the model I chose is the i3-1215U.
Performance-core X 2
Efficient-core X 4
A total of 8 threads
Compared to the N100, which only has Efficient-core X 4, the performance is naturally much better.
So, for the same Cubi 5 series ~ the version with the N100 is 4000 yuan cheaper, and the N200 is 3000 yuan cheaper.
(I usually take photos while setting up the system, so please ignore the dust and background in the images.)
The motherboard size is approximately 124 x 124 x 53.7 (mm).
If you have no concept of the size, think of stacking two 12CM system fans together, and that’s about it.
There are a total of five USB ports.
The front has two USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2) + one USB-C (this one supports ThunderBolt 4).
The other two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports are at the back.
HDMI and DP are also located here.
We can also see that this PC provides 1Gb and 2.5Gb network interfaces.
Paired with MSI’s exclusive BIOS that locks the hard drive and network ports, it can be used to set up a dual-network zone.
This ensures that confidential data is restricted to a closed local network for data exchange, preventing data transmission over the internet.
It also prevents hackers from infiltrating and stealing sensitive data via the internet.
But I believe most people won’t use it in such a complex way.
Generally, it’s more commonly used as a media or office machine.
So, how much memory and storage it can hold is likely more important to most people.
You can open it from the bottom with four screws.
A special reminder here ~ the vents on this side are the main air intake area for this PC.
When placing it, make sure not to cover this area with non-breathable materials.
Additionally, you can see the mounting interface here, which can be paired with a VESA bracket to hang it behind a monitor or TV.
Opening the bottom cover
I bought the barebones version, so it’s quite empty inside when opened, and you’ll need to install components yourself.
There are two SO-DIMM slots, with each slot supporting up to 32GB of DDR4 (up to 64GB total).
One M.2 2280 slot
If you need to expand with a second SSD, you can only use a 2.5" SATA (this drive must be fixed to the back cover).
The wireless network card is pre-installed ~ the model is Intel AX211.
The heatsink is on the other side of the motherboard.
It’s the typical cooling solution used in laptops (don’t mind ~ the CPU is actually a laptop version too).
I stress-tested it for 24 hours, with an ambient temperature of about 25 degrees.
Usage fluctuated between 50% and 100%.
The CPU clock speed successfully reached the maximum turbo boost of 4.4GHz.
The CPU temperature hovered around 65 degrees.
The system temperature was quite stable at 55 degrees.
Being able to hit the maximum clock speed indicates that the motherboard’s power supply is sufficient ~ very good.
Finally, let’s look at the power supply.
The CPU’s maximum power consumption is 15W, and with other power demands and external devices, around 50W should be sufficient.
The power supply provided by MSI is manufactured by Chicony, with an output of 65W.
That’s it, it’s up and running ~ The PC it replaced was
Highly Flexible Mini Barebones System: ASRock DeskMini 110 Mini PC Unboxing and Assembly
Theoretically, it should be much more power-efficient. I’ll share updates and thoughts on the fan page later.
That’s all for now.
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