Beelink SER9

The Beelink SER9 is a compact mini-PC powered by AMD's latest Ryzen AI 9 HX365 processor, offering a balance of performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities at a competitive price of $929 — $70 cheaper than the HX370 variant. Here's an unbiased assessment of its strengths and weaknesses.

The Ryzen AI 9 HX365 features a 10-core (4x Zen 5 + 6x Zen 5c), 20-thread CPU with a 5.0 GHz boost clock, paired with an AMD Radeon 880M GPU (12 cores, 2.9 GHz). This combination delivers strong multi-threaded performance for productivity, content creation, and even light gaming. The LPDDR5X-8000MHz RAM (32GB) ensures smooth multitasking, while dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots (one pre-installed with a 1TB Crucial SSD) allow for fast storage expansion.

Compared to the HX370, the HX365 has slightly lower clock speeds and fewer Zen 5 cores (4 vs. 6), but the difference in real-world performance may not justify the $70 premium for most users.

The Radeon 880M is a capable iGPU, supporting 4K 240Hz output via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB4 (40Gbps). It handles esports titles (1080p medium-high settings) well but struggles with AAA games at higher resolutions. The AI-enhanced NPU improves tasks like voice recognition and background noise filtering, making it useful for AI-driven applications.

The Beelink SER9 (HX365) is a cost-effective alternative to the HX370 model, offering 90% of the performance at a lower price. It excels in productivity, AI tasks, and light gaming, though hardcore gamers or workstation users may want a dedicated GPU. If you prioritize value and efficiency, the SER9 HX365 is a compelling choice. However, if you need maximum CPU performance, the HX370 might be worth the extra $70.