I have the 16G RAM 500GB SSD version. Great review. I get well over 800MB/s on sequential files according to Crystal Disk Mark which is almost twice as fast as the SATA III version of the same drive. So the x1 NVME interface while slower than NVME with 4 lanes is still faster than SATA by a noticeable amount. I love mine so much I got one for my wife as well. Getting a computer with these specs for less than $175 brand new is impressive and maybe the best bang for the buck out there.
Thanks for your feedback! It is true, even the X1 PCIe lane with NVMe is still loads faster than most spinning HDDs, especially the size that would be in something like this.
Weird thing that the M.2 NVMe slot only runs on PCIe x1 lanes, since the processor isn't PCIe lanes limited, it's have 9 PCIe lane, and I believe 2 lanes are used (excluding the m.2), one for Gigabit LAN (the SoC PCH doesn't have integrated LAN MAC or RGMII interface) and embedded M.2 1216 WiFi Bluetooth combo which weirdly enough using PCIe variant since those processor supporting CNVi-based Wireless card
Good English, and actually you're right about the lane limitations. It seems a little expensive with all that considered. GoodMonkey should record a comparison = set up this and another mini pc and do some stuff using the PCIe lanes - copying files or something on a timer! See what the impact is, maybe it's not too bad! GoodMonkey you have to stay up all night and make that video lol. Probably take a week that's actually a lot of work... I gave you a wee shout out on my channel just now :)
@@DailyCorvid I'm trully sorry, English is not my native language, and for the PCIe situation, Goodmonkey is nailed on, PCIe x1 gen 3 bus speed is around 950MB/s, now considering how the SSD controller work on each lane it's spits out, It's reasonably fit the criteria of PCIe x1 Gen 3 speed on CrystalDiskMark sequential R/W Speed (around 850MB/s on the video). I think BeeLink know people like me will hack those cheap NUC into something else if they put full fat x4 lanes in there 😂. Im using generic Mini PC one (mfg. by foxconn) who have 1 nvme slot and A+E slot, and boy I'm using the lanes till the last drop for my home server, hooking it up to PCIe switch and split it into x4 M.2 NVMe and using another extension cable put 2.5GBe NIC, HBA, and bunch more shenanigans.
I really am not sure. A lot of items both mini PCs and SSD adapters talk about a 2TB limit. I've not looked deep into it, as I've not had anything larger than 2TB, normally smaller.
Spaghetti! I like this mini pcs, just haven't found the one that has made me take the leap and buy one. I bought an older 800 G3 mini pc last year for my game station project. been loving it
Thanks for the video. Quick question, by the way. I'm aware that the PC comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed. But if I decide to reformat the PC and reinstall the latest version of Windows myself using a USB flash drive, will the license key still work automatically?
@@ntgm20 Thanks for your reply! This is really intriguing. Just yesterday, I reached out to the Beelink support team, and they mentioned that I'd need a new license key after reinstallation. However, I've been considering reformatting it myself because I read some reviews where people successfully reinstalled Windows and their license keys worked just fine. It made me wonder if Beelink's pre-installed Windows might be using OEM license keys, which are automatically identified and applied. Fingers crossed that my experience will be similar to yours. Thanks again for the helpful info!
@@ntgm20 it just overheats and shuts down. I've taken it apart and cleaned the fan. I also looked at the amount of thermal paste was on it. There was none on the chip. I put some one there, but it's too late. The thing is junk.
Spaghetti. Thanks for the careful reviews of those chinese mini computers. It really helps to get serious information about those various products and their performance.
I am using it as a Linux server running mostly Pihole and some other web services. And planning a minecraft server as well. The problem is that it sits at 50 - 58 degrees celcius all the time. I am not sure, but this seems a bit dangerous for server hardware. I have not touched such a small form factor PC yet. So I am not very informed of this type of small device. However, the home server I have worked with was mostly sitting at below 40 degrees celcius. Of course, they were comprised of retired desktop hardwares. So, perhaps this machine can be a great emulation powerhouse. But for a server... I still have some doubts. And I am not even considering the possibly, most likely, horrible TBW of the M.2 main drive. Prolonged high temperature may cause early retirement of VRM parts and spending more power than desktop parts, which can stay at low temperature all the time. It is cheap. But sometimes a few generations old new desktop parts could be better? I dunno.. Maybe an ARM based SBC xould have been better for my purpose..
Great video. Like the format.
I have the 16G RAM 500GB SSD version. Great review. I get well over 800MB/s on sequential files according to Crystal Disk Mark which is almost twice as fast as the SATA III version of the same drive. So the x1 NVME interface while slower than NVME with 4 lanes is still faster than SATA by a noticeable amount. I love mine so much I got one for my wife as well. Getting a computer with these specs for less than $175 brand new is impressive and maybe the best bang for the buck out there.
Thanks for your feedback! It is true, even the X1 PCIe lane with NVMe is still loads faster than most spinning HDDs, especially the size that would be in something like this.
Spaghetti!
There always seems to be so many options in the mini PC space, so it's hard to pick something to replace my main rig as my HTPC.
Good to see you back at it :D
Oh and, Spaghetti!
Weird thing that the M.2 NVMe slot only runs on PCIe x1 lanes, since the processor isn't PCIe lanes limited, it's have 9 PCIe lane, and I believe 2 lanes are used (excluding the m.2), one for Gigabit LAN (the SoC PCH doesn't have integrated LAN MAC or RGMII interface) and embedded M.2 1216 WiFi Bluetooth combo which weirdly enough using PCIe variant since those processor supporting CNVi-based Wireless card
I could have misread the specs on their site, but that was after getting the speed. Looking into it then if it was X1 the speeds make sense.
Good English, and actually you're right about the lane limitations. It seems a little expensive with all that considered. GoodMonkey should record a comparison = set up this and another mini pc and do some stuff using the PCIe lanes - copying files or something on a timer!
See what the impact is, maybe it's not too bad! GoodMonkey you have to stay up all night and make that video lol. Probably take a week that's actually a lot of work... I gave you a wee shout out on my channel just now :)
@@DailyCorvid I'm trully sorry, English is not my native language, and for the PCIe situation, Goodmonkey is nailed on, PCIe x1 gen 3 bus speed is around 950MB/s, now considering how the SSD controller work on each lane it's spits out, It's reasonably fit the criteria of PCIe x1 Gen 3 speed on CrystalDiskMark sequential R/W Speed (around 850MB/s on the video). I think BeeLink know people like me will hack those cheap NUC into something else if they put full fat x4 lanes in there 😂. Im using generic Mini PC one (mfg. by foxconn) who have 1 nvme slot and A+E slot, and boy I'm using the lanes till the last drop for my home server, hooking it up to PCIe switch and split it into x4 M.2 NVMe and using another extension cable put 2.5GBe NIC, HBA, and bunch more shenanigans.
Have you thought about the pro? so far it's impressive..as a media/ websurfing pc it's really great.
Thanks for sharing. I saw the S12 Pro at the same time as the S12, went that way due to price and the face the S12 can also be updated for 16GB RAM.
at 1:13 - is it 4.3Ghz like you said it or 3.4Ghz like it's written on the right side ?
Good catch! I've not even closed out the files making this, just went back and had it wrong in my script. The boost is up to 3.4 GHz.
@@ntgm20 The specs are all crappy on the box it seems 🤣
Great video as always, spaghetti!
Very good and straightforward review.
Any reason why a 4TB 2.5 SSD couldn't be used in this Mini S12?
I really am not sure. A lot of items both mini PCs and SSD adapters talk about a 2TB limit. I've not looked deep into it, as I've not had anything larger than 2TB, normally smaller.
I got the Mini-S-12-Pro with the N100. love it
Thanks for your feedback!
Spaghetti! I like this mini pcs, just haven't found the one that has made me take the leap and buy one. I bought an older 800 G3 mini pc last year for my game station project. been loving it
Cool beans. I have a 800 G3 mini as well. It isn't do much at the moment, but I may use it in a future video. Never know!
@@ntgm20 cool. still thinking about adding some more uses with mine. LOL we'll see. keep up the great work
Thanks for the video.
Quick question, by the way.
I'm aware that the PC comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed.
But if I decide to reformat the PC and reinstall the latest version of Windows myself using a USB flash drive, will the license key still work automatically?
Thanks. So far I've had no issues with activation of Windows reinstalling them on Beelink machines.
@@ntgm20
Thanks for your reply! This is really intriguing. Just yesterday, I reached out to the Beelink support team, and they mentioned that I'd need a new license key after reinstallation. However, I've been considering reformatting it myself because I read some reviews where people successfully reinstalled Windows and their license keys worked just fine. It made me wonder if Beelink's pre-installed Windows might be using OEM license keys, which are automatically identified and applied. Fingers crossed that my experience will be similar to yours. Thanks again for the helpful info!
Where's the bees though? That packaging is seriously misleading. Oh well, awesome video, as always!
Mine broke in about five months.
Thanks for your feedback. I've not had mine in use much at all. Anything particular you can share about which part died?
@@ntgm20 it just overheats and shuts down. I've taken it apart and cleaned the fan. I also looked at the amount of thermal paste was on it. There was none on the chip. I put some one there, but it's too late. The thing is junk.
Good old Al. You know the guy? Al Dente. Good fellow.
What a dad joke. I'm talking about Artificial Intelligence. Though I do see AI and Al both look the same in this font.
@@ntgm20 I'm certainly old enough to be a grandad. Yes, I knew where you were going and decided to have a bit of fun.
If I was buying a Beelink Mini PC, I'd buy the Mini S12 Pro with the Intel N100.
It doesn't look like a bad deal either.
Spaghetti. Thanks for the careful reviews of those chinese mini computers. It really helps to get serious information about those various products and their performance.
Thanks!
thanks for these great reviews. Spaghetti
Great video. Spaghetti.
Thank you 😋
I am using it as a Linux server running mostly Pihole and some other web services. And planning a minecraft server as well.
The problem is that it sits at 50 - 58 degrees celcius all the time. I am not sure, but this seems a bit dangerous for server hardware. I have not touched such a small form factor PC yet. So I am not very informed of this type of small device. However, the home server I have worked with was mostly sitting at below 40 degrees celcius. Of course, they were comprised of retired desktop hardwares.
So, perhaps this machine can be a great emulation powerhouse. But for a server... I still have some doubts. And I am not even considering the possibly, most likely, horrible TBW of the M.2 main drive. Prolonged high temperature may cause early retirement of VRM parts and spending more power than desktop parts, which can stay at low temperature all the time.
It is cheap. But sometimes a few generations old new desktop parts could be better? I dunno.. Maybe an ARM based SBC xould have been better for my purpose..
Spughta!
Spaghetti!
disposable it is
It is once it dies. Until then though...well, I've not determined what I'm going to use it for.
Spaghetti😜
Spaghetti.
Spaghetti
Spaghetti
Spaghetti
Spaghetti