Beelink SER9

The Beelink SER9 redefines mini PC performance with AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, pairing 12 Zen 5 cores (4P+8E) and the Radeon 890M iGPU (RDNA 3.5) in a 0.98L chassis. At $999 (32GB LPDDR5X-7500/1TB SSD), it’s a premium choice for creators and gamers, leveraging the 890M’s 16 RDNA 3.5 CUs to deliver 1080p gaming at playable framerates—Cyberpunk 2077 hits 60 fps (Low + FSR), while esports titles like Valorant exceed 144 fps. The 50 TOPS NPU (XDNA 2) enables Windows Copilot+ AI features, though full functionality awaits future updates. Dual USB4 (40Gbps) ports support eGPUs like the Razer Core X, a rare feature in mini PCs, while the vapor chamber cooling maintains a near-silent 32dB profile even at 65W TDP.

Beelink’s design choices are pragmatic but divisive. The soldered LPDDR5X RAM ensures power efficiency but eliminates upgrades, while the dual M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots (RAID 0/1 support) and dustproof mesh filter cater to tinkerers. The 890M’s ~25% gain over the 780M makes it the first iGPU to handle AAA titles at 1080p/30fps+, but the lack of OCuLink limits bandwidth versus desktop GPUs. Ports include HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4, and two USB4 (40Gbps) for triple 4K displays.

At $999, the SER9 faces stiff competition from gaming laptops like the ASUS Zephyrus G14 (same APU + RTX 4060 at $1,299), but its mini PC form factor and dual USB4 ports carve a niche for desktop users. The 50 TOPS NPU future-proofs it for AI workloads, though current software barely utilizes this potential. If you need max compact performance with eGPU flexibility, the SER9 is unmatched—but the Beelink SER8 (Ryzen 7 8845HS, $599) offers better value for non-AI users.

- GhostKeyboard Review.