two minute review
Beelink's SER4 is a great example of a product that has evolved over generations to reach a level of maturity that is hard to ignore. This mini PC packs everything you'd expect from a small workstation that's ready for some serious work: the presence of Windows 11 Pro, a powerful processor, and plenty of memory and a plethora of ports all point in that direction. While it's louder than we'd like, it's also faster than just about anything in this price range with generous expandability and Wi-Fi 6e definitely a step up. The only real hiccup is the lack of rock-solid after-sales support, but if you're looking for an AMD alternative to the Intel-based NUC, then this is it.
Beelink SER4: Price and availability
Oddly enough, there are currently two versions of the SER4 for sale and the only difference between the two is the amount of memory. The version we reviewed is 32GB and costs as little as €626 (about $480 / $852) on AliExpress (you can also buy it on Amazon for just $679 (about $521 / $924) at the time of writing). this if you prefer a faster and more reliable route). A cheaper version comes with 16 GB of RAM and retails for €580 (about €652 / A$1,156).
Beelink SER4: Design
The SER4 features a pair of distinctive red metal grilles on each side of the computer to aid in airflow. It's tiny, barely bigger than a stack of CD cases, and weighs just under a pound (excluding the power supply).
As for connectivity, there are literally two USB 3.0 ports, a Type-C connector, and an audio jack on the front next to the bright red power button.
On the back, a Gigabit Ethernet port, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a barrel-style power connector, and two USB 3.0 ports. There is a grille at the top that gives the SER4 the appearance of a bookshelf Bluetooth speaker.
Four screws hold its bottom panel firmly in place, and removing it gives you easy access to its easily upgradeable innards.
Beelink SER4: Hardware
Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) pioneered the concept of tiny computers that could pack a punch. The shift to low-power computing and mobile technology has accelerated this trend, so much so that smaller manufacturers like Beelink can produce desktop computers, like the SER4 we're testing today, that share many components with laptops.
Technical sheet
Here are the full specifications of the Beelink SER4 setup submitted to TechRadar Pro for review:
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4800U
Graphics: Radeon Vega 8
RAM: 32 GB DDR4-3200
Storage: 512GB SSD (Intel SSDPEKNW512G8)
Ports: 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB Type-C, 2 x HDMI, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, Audio Jack
Connectivity: Mediatek RZ608, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Weight: 300g
Size: 126 x 113 x 40mm (height x width x depth)
So it's no surprise to see an AMD Ryzen 7 4800U at the heart of this mini PC. Released in September 2020, the 4800U created a lot of buzz as it was AMD's first mobile processor that was clearly ahead of what Intel offered at the time with its eight cores, 16 threads, capable GPU (a Radeon Vega 8 ) and modest energy. consumption.
Alongside it are a pair of 4GB DDR3200-16 memory modules from Crucial, a 512GB Intel SSD (SSDPEKNW512G8), and a Mediatek RZ608 Wi-Fi 6e card. Please note that retail products may come with a Kingston SSD instead of an Intel one. While it may be faster, it's also a bit smaller at 500GB.
As for the packaging, the SER4 is powered by a 57W wall power supply and comes with a wall mount and a pair of HDMI cables.
Beelink SER4: Performance
References
Here's how the Beelink SER4 fared in our benchmark test suite:
Approval mark: 4655
Passmark Processor: 17200
CPU-Z: 502 (single threaded); 3907 (multithreaded)
Geekbench: 1187 (single core); 6398 (multicore); 14274 (calculation)
CrystalDiskMark: 1839 MB/s (read); 960MB/s (write)
Cinebench: 1245 (single processor); 8371 (multiprocessor)
Novabank: 2982
Atto: 1710MB/s (read, 256MB); 922MB/s (write, 256MB)
Windows Experience Index: 8.1
The SER4 is louder than expected, especially under load. It was loud enough to be inconvenient in a face-to-face meeting, but on the other hand, it allows the computer to drastically increase the CPU clock speed under load. When it comes to numbers, you can keep up with just about anything Intel has to offer, especially when it comes to creative tasks.
It averaged 80% faster than an Intel Core-i5 1135G7 PC when comparing popular Blender software (Monster, Junkshop, and Classroom). The only issue was the poor performance of the Intel-based SSD, which suffered from lower-than-expected write speeds on all storage benchmarks.
Windows 11 Pro is the operating system that powers SER4, a clear indication of the target market. There was no bloatware, which is another plus.
Should I buy the Beelink SER4?
Also consider
The Elitemini HM90 from Minisforum. It's more expensive at €759 and has slower WiFi-6 connectivity. However, the Ryzen processor that powers it is faster, can take two additional hard drives, and has an additional 2,5GbE LAN port.
Any AMD Ryzen 7 laptop with eight cores. Take, for example, the new Dell Inspiron 15 3525 with the recently announced Ryzen 7 5825U processor. It costs a bit more at just under $700, doesn't have 32GB of RAM (only 16GB), Windows 11 Pro, or the same level of external connectivity. However, it benefits from Dell's excellent support pedigree and is much more flexible given its laptop form factor.
First review April 2022