Beelink EQ14

The Beelink EQ14 positions itself as an ultra-budget mini PC, leveraging Intel's 12th Gen Alder Lake-N architecture with the 6W N150 processor. While its quad E-core design (no Performance-cores) limits it to basic tasks like web browsing and document editing, the 3.6GHz turbo frequency helps avoid lag in light multitasking. The 24EU Xe-LP iGPU struggles beyond 720p video playback (YouTube 1080p hits 90% GPU utilization), but dual HDMI 2.0 ports allow dual 4K display setups for office use. At 0.6L volume, it's among the smallest x86 mini PCs, though the plastic chassis feels cheap compared to aluminum rivals like the GMKtec NucBox K1 .

Storage is the EQ14's standout feature: Dual M.2 slots (PCIe 3.0 x4 + SATA III) support RAID 0/1 configurations, a rarity at $199. However, the single-channel RAM (soldered 16GB) bottlenecks the iGPU—CS:GO averages just 18fps at 720p/Low . Intel Unison enables seamless phone-PC integration, but the AX101 WiFi 6 module (300Mbps max) underperforms versus AX200/AX210 chips. The dual Gigabit Ethernet ports are useful for NAS setups, though Realtek controllers increase CPU overhead versus Intel NICs . For basic HTPC or kiosk duties, the EQ14 delivers adequate performance, but the similarly priced Beelink SER5 (Ryzen 5 5560U) offers twice the CPU power and Vega 6 graphics for ~$20 more.

Power efficiency is a mixed bag. The 6W TDP keeps idle consumption at 8W, but the external 36W PSU lacks USB-C PD compatibility. Cooling is near-silent (<28dB) but lacks headroom for sustained loads—Cinebench R23 scores (1,487 multi-core) trail the N100 by 15% due to throttling . At $199, the EQ14 makes sense only for specific use cases: digital signage, thin clients, or as a fanless-alternative router. Most users should consider AMD-based alternatives or Intel N100/N200 systems for better performance-per-dollar.

- GhostKeyboard Review.