Beelink SER8

The Beelink SER8 is a premium mini PC powered by AMD's Ryzen 7 8845HS "Hawk Point" (8 cores/16 threads, up to 5.1GHz) and Radeon 780M iGPU (RDNA 3 architecture), priced at $609 for the 32GB DDR5-5600 + 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD configuration. Its Zen 4 CPU excels in multi-threaded workloads like video editing and AI tasks, leveraging a 16 TOPS NPU for accelerated machine learning, while the 780M iGPU handles light gaming (e.g., Genshin Impact at 1080p/medium settings) and triple 4K display output via HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4, and USB4. The all-metal chassis (135 x 135 x 50mm, 1.0L volume) boasts Mac Mini-inspired aesthetics and near-silent operation (32dB under load), though its lack of VESA mounting limits placement options.

At $609, the SER8 competes with GMKtec's K8 PLUS ($549) and Geekom's A8, offering superior cooling and build quality but lagging in connectivity with only one USB4 port (rear-mounted) and two USB 2.0 ports mixed among its six USB-A/C options—a baffling oversight given its premium positioning. The dual M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots (supporting up to 8TB storage) and expandable RAM (up to 256GB DDR5) provide future-proofing, though accessing them requires removing six screws and a dust filter—a tedious process compared to tool-less designs. Performance-wise, the 8845HS is only marginally faster than its 7840HS predecessor, making the SER8 more appealing for AI workloads than raw CPU gains, especially with Zen 5-based Ryzen 9000 series looming.

The SER8's standout feature is its cooling system, which maintains sub-70°C temps under sustained 65W TDP loads without audible fan noise—a rarity in mini PCs. However, its Intel AX200 WiFi 6 (non-6E) and single 2.5GbE LAN port underwhelm next to rivals like the Geekom GT13 Pro's Wi-Fi 6E, and the dual 3.5mm audio jacks (one front, one rear) feel redundant. Discounts occasionally drop the price to $499 for the Ryzen 7 8745HS variant (lacking the NPU), but the 8845HS model remains the better investment for AI applications. For pure productivity, the SER8 is a polished but pricey option; gamers and tinkerers might prefer alternatives with OCuLink or better GPU support.

- GhostKeyboard Review.