Hello Friends
Consider this post as a kind of continuation of
Few days ago I watched this video on YouTube
So for this 2005
It about:
The purpose is to analyze two things:
Thank You
Hi, @Manuel_Jordan
I own a Beelink SER AMD Ryzen 7 5700U. Here are the specs:
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U 1.8-4.3GHz 8C/16T |
|---|---|
| GPU | AMD Radeon Graphics 8-core 1900 MHz |
| Memory | DDR4 16GB, 2 Dual channel（up to 2*32G） (SODIMM Slots×2) |
| Storage | M.2 2280 500GB NVMe SSD, (Supports extended up to 2TB, |
| Wireless LAN | WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Video Output | 4K@60Hz，1*HDMI 2.0 DP1.4 TYPE-C |
This is an 8-core processor with 16 threads, a base frequency of 3.2 GHz, and a max turbo frequency of 4.4 GHz. It’s a mini beast and is capable of most medium to heavy workloads, such as creative work in Photoshop or video editing in Premiere Pro, as long as what you’re working on is primarily taxing on the CPU side of things.
The weakest point of the SER5 Pro is its graphics, which is an integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 GPU and is fine for tasks like Photoshop and 1080p video editing.
I bought it NIB a couple of years ago from someone who received it as a gift and wanted cash. $225 USD vs $369 on Amazon.
I have had no heating issues and anything I have put on it works (well except audio took some tweaking in Solus 
I have the 500GB NVMe for OS & personal file storage, currently running Solus. The 1 TB SSD is my home server NAS storage.
I have installed & tested:
Debian 12
Manjaro
Linux Mint
Endeavour
Feren OS
Fedora Server
Of course it came with an inactivated copy of Windows 11 and I emailed support to get the license key. From there, I proceeded to install Linux and set everything up.
I love the small form factor. I had to move my apartment suite in my home to another, smaller bedroom (while remodeling is taking place) and was able to hook this up along with my DVD player to the external monitor with 2 HDMI inputs (on a small table at the foot of my bed) and use it just like my other desktops/laptops, since I did not have room for them when I moved. I can also just shut it down, take it with me and set up in the same manner when my husband and I RV.
I have played casual games that do not require an iGPU. I have other computers for gaming, so did not care that this did not have it as I bought it primarily to use as network storage device. I even added the OWC Mercury Pro DVD-Writer External and used Brasero & Handbrake for ripping CDs/DVDs without issue.
There is NO “noise” sound from the Beelink. All in all, it is of excellent quality, performance, and without temp issues.
Hope this helps!
Sheila Flanagan
I bought a Qualcomm/HP Small Form Factor 6300 from NewEgg for $84 and used it for several years. My son unearthed a Dell Optiplex Ultra SFF from a storage box and I just replaced the 6300 with it because it’s a little faster and newer. Both machines were stages of the shrinking that have led to your Beelink and the other NUC-type computers. Like you, I love the little guys. I upped the SSD to a 1T device and have a 1T external plugged in to the USB system.
The little boxes do everything except play the games that require outrageously big and expensive GPUs. I also own an HP game machine for that, but all it has on it is Steam and CCleaner–Windows 11 makes a good console, but that’s all.
The compact size of our little boxes is a real treat when I think of the size and weight of systems 20 years ago, especially with CRT monitors. I’m saving up for a Bee or similar so I can get USB 3.0 and USB-C and maybe a couple of M2 drives.
I have a refurbished Dell Optiplex. It has a 4x core i5 processor. It compiles Gentoo in a reasonable time. That is a fairly stressful test for a small machine.
I agree with everything Sheila said earlier.
I have a Beelink SER-8 with a Ryzen processor. It’s my home server. It replaced an 8 year old home-built mid-tower i7. I noticed that my electric bill has gone down since switching to the Beelink. It draws about 5 watts at idle, versus the 55 watts my old machine idled at. I’m not a gamer so the on-board graphics is ample for me. Ubuntu 24.04 installed without problems.
I do read some reports of poor quality control
https://www.reddit.com/r/MiniPCs/comments/16txxzc/whats_up_with_beelink_pcs/
I think the way to avoid that is buy a refurbished one.
My issue with many of these mini PCs (I have 2 HP Prodesk ones btw) is that they come with Windoze pre-installed.
I often wonder that, if I were to remove Windoze and replace entirely with a Linux distro (of my choice), would that possibly cause an issue with the supplier’s guarantee (eg Amazon) if the unit had to be returned. I note that in general, Amazon indicate that the system is compatible with Windoze but with no mention of Linux compatibility which suggests to my cautious mind, that they could well respond with a refusal to take the item back as installing another OS breaches their ToC.
The two I do have are pre-used and purchased from a local PC emporium where I specifically asked for the Windoze OS to be removed with a clear understanding that I would be installing Linux. He was quite comfortable with that and indeed, no issues were encountered.
It seems quite difficult to source a mini-PC which is no Windoze specific these days from the usual on-line sources.
There are a couple of specialist Linux refurbishers in Australia.
They tend to be expensive.
I agree. I would prefer to purchase hardware that has never had Win installed. The only way is a custom build.
@nevj
Perhaps that’s why RISCV (and similar devices) are becoming so popular. IIRC Debian 13 (due for Stable release in August) embraces that platform and the cases (one of which recently reviewed by Abhishek recently) which are even smaller than the small form factor PCs are becoming more popular (if a tad expensive just now).
I’d really like to give one a try but my failing eyesight and less nimble fingers will be a barrier unfortunately.
Excellent advice - and - we save on the scourge of e-waste filling up landfill sites…
I have a decent specc’d Gigabyte BRIX… dual Celeron and can take up to 32 GB of DDR3 (if you can find LPDDR3 anywhere)…
I was running RHEL 8 on it - 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD…
It did all I asked of it… Still better than having to break out a VM in VBox or whatever virtualization platform floats your boat…
I’d love a “farm” of mini PCs / NUCs (preferably with AMD CPU) I could experiment with ProxMox on… but nearing retirement (missus is retired) I really can’t justify the expenditure…
I must look into that.
I gather that Windows does not support RiskV at the moment.
Would RiskV make a usable desktop? Apparently some are available, but it is mostly for smaller devices.
Yes, I would like to try that. Not much chance.
If you watch Abhishek’s recent offering I think that is what he implies.
[quote=“GrahamLees, post:7, topic:14162”]
would that possibly cause an issue with the supplier’s guarantee
[/quote]
That’s why I dont offer the option to clients to do under 2 year old computers in case they have to go back.
But happy to do my own.
You can always create a usb and do a live test, if everything works from the usb it’s going to work on your system when installed. Most new machines from good makes a almost bomb proof (I hope)
Also if you have to send them back they can dissappear for weeks on end.
Hi Neville, 
There are mini PC available that come without a preinstalled OS.
I admit one has to look closely to find any.
Cheers from Rosika 
If I send them back, its usually for a refund
Not convinced they check returns or just sell them on in bulk…
OK, and both Linux and BSD support riscv.
Some Rpi are riskv, but not all.
It used to be called the “Naked Mini“…. in the days of minicomputers.
https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/minicomputers/11/359
Its not the same mini but similar size and spec
None of them are RISC V… completely different architecture… All RPi computers are arm, arm7l, armhf and arm64/aarch64 (and “Apple Silicon” is also ARM - most single board computers are also ARM based - not all - but most - there are specific SBCs with “RISC V” - but not from the Pi Foundation - note also: by and large most tablets and iPads and smartphones also use ARM).
ALL RPi are RISC CPU - but - not “RISC V” which is different… just as the Sparc, MIPS, PowerPC and DEC Alpha are “RISC” but not “RISC V”…
The ONLY RPi board I’d consider for a desktop experience would be the RPi5 with 16 GB RAM… I have a Pi5 with 8 GB and it’s adequate/acceptable… I’m talking about a full Ubuntu Gnome desktop - I’d never run that abomination of LXDE that the Pi Foundation call “Pixel”… I’ve previously run XFCE on Pi4 - it was okay… But nothing on it integrated properly - e.g. controlling WiFi from the GUI was nearly useless (unlike on the default Pixel desktop).
If you get a Pi5 - be sure to get a proper heatsink / fan combo for it - ‘cause these things run pretty hot…
Thanks. I get it now. I misread that.