ASRock Industrial has released the 4×4 BOX-7040U series mini PC, featuring AMD’s Ryzen 7040U “Phoenix” architecture. The Ryzen 7040U chips combine Zen 4 CPU cores with RDNA 3 graphics, making them popular choices for handheld gaming PCs and laptops. These chips have now made their way into mini PCs, with Gigabyte and ASRock Industrial introducing their own models earlier this year. ASRock has also introduced two 4X4 motherboards, the 4×4-7640U and 4×4-7840U, for users who prefer to supply their own chassis.

The versions of the mini PC measure 118 x 110 x 48mm and offer support for up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR5-5600 memory. They also support an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 SSD and/or a 2.5 inch SATA hard drive or SSD. The mini PCs come with WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and support for up to four displays. The ports include 2 x HDMI 1.4b, 2 x USB4 (with DisplayPort 1.4a Alt Mode), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x 2.5 GbE Ethernet (RTL8125BG), 1 x Gigabit Ethernet (RTL8111EPV), and 1 x 3.5mm audio.

The 4×4 BOX-7840U features an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U chip with 8 CPU cores, 16 threads, and 12-core graphics. The 4×4 BOX-7640U has a Ryzen 5 7640U chip with a 6-core, 12-thread CPU and 8-core graphics.

Source: Liliputing.

The Kingnovy FA780 is a small computer that offers powerful performance in a compact design. With an internal volume of just 0.6 liters, the FA780 may be small, but it offers decent performance. It features an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, a variety of ports, and support for up to 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage.

In terms of specifications, the FA780 offers two SODIMM slots for DDR5-5600 memory and a single M.2 2280 slot with support for a PCIe 4.0 x 4 NVMe or SATA SSD. The ports include 1 x USB4 (40 Gbps), 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x 2.5 GbE Ethernet, and 1 x 3.5mm audio. The computer also features a wireless card with support for WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

The standout feature of the Kingnovy FA780 is its Ryzen 7 7840HS processor. This processor is an 8-core, 16-thread chip with Zen 4 CPU cores and Radeon 780M integrated graphics with 12 RDNA 3 compute units. While it is similar to the Ryzen 7 7840U and Ryzen Z1 Extreme chips found in handheld gaming PCs, the 7840HS is specifically designed for gaming laptops and mobile workstation-class PCs, supporting 35 to 54 watt TDP configurations. This allows for a higher base clock speed of 3.8 GHz (compared to 3.3 GHz for the 15 – 30 watt Ryzen 7 7840U) and the potential to run at or near its top speed of 5.1 GHz for longer periods.

Overall, the Kingnovy FA780 offers a powerful mini PC option with the Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, a decent selection of ports, and support for up to 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage. Its compact design and versatile features such as a 2.5 GbE port make it suitable for various home lab applications.

Source: Liliputing.

Chinese electronics company AOC has introduced a new mini PC called the AOC MOSS 7, featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD. Currently, it is available for purchase in China through JD.com for 3799 CNY (approximately $525). The availability of this mini PC outside of China is uncertain, but AOC does sell other mini PCs internationally through AliExpress.

The AOC MOSS 7 has a unique design with rounded edges, resembling a game console or appliance rather than a typical PC. With dimensions of 145 x 115 x 42mm. Although it does not have discrete graphics, it is equipped with Radeon 780M integrated graphics, featuring 12 RDNA 3 compute units, providing graphics capabilities similar to some powerful handheld gaming PCs.

The mini PC offers user-replaceable memory with two SODIMM slots for DDR5 RAM. It also includes a variety of ports, such as 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x RJ45 LAN, 1 x USB Type-C, 3 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x 3.5mm audio, and 1 x DC power input. Active cooling is provided by a fan, and the package includes a 68W power adapter. The MOSS 7 supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

While the USB-C port should support video output and data transfer, there is no information available regarding whether it is a USB4 port with 40 Gbps speeds. Thus, it remains unclear if the port can be used for external graphics docks or other accessories requiring a higher-speed connection.

Source: Liliputing.

MINISFORUM has launched the EliteMini UM780 XTX, a compact featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor pushed to 70 watts, a notable increase from its standard 35-54 watt operation. Priced at a promotional rate of $479 for the base model and $629 for a version with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, the listed prices represent a launch promotion with a standard starting price of $579. The UM780 XTX shares similarities with the UM790 XTX, showcased in China earlier, which is expected to feature a slightly more powerful Ryzen 9 7940HS processor.

Under the hood, the UM780 XTX boasts two SODIMM slots supporting up to 96GB of DDR5-5600 memory and two M.2 2280 slots for PCIe 4.0 solid-state drives. It includes an M.2 2230 wireless card supporting WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5. The magnetic top cover, removable for easy access, features an RGB light panel that can be customized or disabled through BIOS settings.

Connectivity options include 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 2 x USB4 (with DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery), 1 x Oculink, 2 x 2.5 GbE Ethernet, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, and 1 x 3.5mm audio. Notably, the two USB4 ports support 40 Gbps data transfer speeds, while the Oculink port can handle speeds up to 63 Gbps.

Additional features comprise an enhanced cooling system with liquid metal applied to the CPU, active cooling via a fan, and a TDP boost for the AMD processor. The UM780 XTX supports two power modes: a Balanced mode with a TDP configured to a maximum of 54 watts and a Performance mode allowing operation at up to 70 watts for improved sustained performance.

Source: Liliputing.

GEEKOM has released the A5, a mini PC powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, with 32GB RAM and a 512GB SSD.

The GEEKOM A5 mini PC boasts impressive features, including support for up to four 4K displays through two HDMI 2.0 outputs and two USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2) ports. It also offers 2.5Gbps Ethernet and WiFi 6 networking capabilities. The mini PC is equipped with three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, one USB 2.0 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Here are the detailed specifications of the GEEKOM A5 mini PC:

• SoC – AMD Ryzen 7 5800H 8-core/16-thread processor up to 3.2 GHz / 4.4 GHz (Turbo) with 16MB cache, AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics; TDP: 35W
• System Memory – 32GB RAM via dual-channel DDR4-3200 SODIMM
• Storage:
  • 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3×4 NVMe SSD, upgradable to 2TB NVMe or SATA SSD
  • 2.5-inch SATA HDD slot (7mm thick max) up to 2TB
  • Full-size SD card slot
• Video Output:
  • 2 x HDMI 2.0 ports up to 4Kp60Hz
  • 2x DisplayPort via USB Type-C ports up to 8Kp30
• Audio – 3.5mm audio jack, digital audio via HDMI and USB-C
• Networking:
  • 2.5GbE RJ45 port
  • WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2
• USB:
  • 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports
  • 1x USB 2.0 Type-A port
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports with DisplayPort alt mode
• Misc – Power button, Kensington Lock slot
• Power Supply – 19V/6.32A (120W Power Adapter) via DC jack
• Dimensions – 117 x 112 x 49.2 mm
• Weight – 652 grams

The GEEKOM A5 mini PC comes with an activated version of Windows 11 Pro and several accessories, including a user guide, a VESA mount, an HDMI cable, and a 120W power adapter. We had the opportunity to review a sample unit of the A5, and we can confirm that it utilizes a 512GB Lexar NVMe (PCIe Gen 3 x4) SSD, as shown in the teardown photos.

Overall, the GEEKOM A5 mini PC offers good specifications and features at an affordable price point. It seems like a good option for those interested in a low power server.

The AOOSTAR R1 is a small and affordable computer with a 6-watt N100 quad-core processor. It stands out from other mini PCs with its support for up to two 3.5 inch hard drives and two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, making it an ideal choice for building a network-attached-storage (NAS) device or media server. The AOOSTAR R1 is available for purchase from the AOOSTAR website for $319, and it will soon be available on Amazon as well.

The base model of the AOOSTAR R1 comes with 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory and a 512GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD. However, users have the option to add their own memory and storage as well. The system has two M.2 2280 slots for solid state storage and two SODIMM slots for memory. The top cover of the computer can be removed to access the two 3.5 inch drive bays, allowing for easy installation of high-capacity hard drives or SSDs.

In terms of other features, the AOOSTAR R1 includes dual fans for cooling, support for up to three 4K displays through HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB Type-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two USB 3.x ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a microSD card reader. The system also features dual 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports with I226-V controllers and supports WiFi 6.

The AOOSTAR R1 is powered by an Alder Lake-N processor, which offers improved performance compared to previous-generation Celeron and Pentium chips based on Atom architecture. However, considering the price difference between the AOOSTAR R1 with an N100 processor and the AOOSTAR R7 with a Ryzen 7 5700U processor, some users may find the AMD Ryzen model to offer better value for their money.

While the design of the AOOSTAR R1 is not entirely new, as similar systems have been released in the past, this model stands out for its use of an Alder Lake-N processor. Overall, the AOOSTAR R1 offers a compact and energy-efficient solution for those looking to build a DIY NAS or media server.

Source: Liliputing.