Beelink SER8 Review – Is It Worth It?

Nauman Siddique

At Tech4Gamers, I take on the role of Hardware Reviewer with pride. My responsibilities involve a thorough examination of essential hardware components like motherboards, graphics cards, processors, PC cases, and CPU coolers, among others, focusing on their complexities and functionalities.

 

 

 

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Usman Saleem

At Tech4Gamers, I’m the PC Hardware Specialist, primarily contributing to the “Best-Ofs” section. I provide thoughtful buying advice based on thorough testing and personal expertise. I also review hardware products and games to keep things fresh.

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One of the most recent offerings from Beelink, the SER8 AMD Ryzen 7 Mini PC, promises to provide outstanding performance in a small package, and I’m excited to share my review of it with you. The SER8’s 8 cores and 16 threads AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU can achieve excellent clock speeds of up to 5.1GHz, demonstrating its efficiency and power-conscious architecture. It features an AI-optimized CPU, an efficient cooling system, and an RDNA3-enabled Radeon 780M iGPU.

In addition, it has Crucial components, such as a 1 TB M.2 NVMe 2280 drive with an additional free slot and 32 GB of extendable DDR5 5600 Mhz RAM. Furthermore, WiFi 6 and Ethernet 2.5G connectivity. Last but not least, it gives us the ability to connect to three displays up to 8k. Now, let’s see how it performs in actual usage.

Key Takeaways

• The Beelink SER8 AMD Ryzen 7 Mini PC is a compact powerhouse. With powerful specifications, efficient cooling, versatile connectivity, and a durable, dustproof design, it delivers high performance in a small, quiet package perfect for both home and office use.
• You should buy the Beelink SER8 AMD Ryzen 7 Mini PC if you are looking for high performance in a compact size, efficient cooling, quiet operation, dustproof, durable design, and versatile connectivity.
• You should not buy the Beelink SER8 AMD Ryzen 7 Mini PC if you are looking for maximum eGPU performance, quietness under heavy load is crucial, preference for extensive USB 3.0 ports, and high-end gaming requirements. 

Here are the specs:

As soon as we press the front power button to turn on the Beelink SER8, the tiny inside LED starts to light up. Here, it is using the activated Windows 11 Pro OS, which is lightning-fast. Thanks to its extremely quick NVMe SSD, this mini PC starts up in a flash. The SER8 performance revolves around the remarkable AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU. It is an APU that includes an AI core with 38 TOPS, eight Zen 4 cores, sixteen threads, and a clock speed ranging from 3.8 to 5.1 GHz. It uses 4nm technology.

This powerful CPU integrates the processing power of a CPU, GPU, and NPU onto a single integrated circuit, enhancing the computing experience with features like hardware ray-tracing and AI acceleration.  Concerning the graphics, we have a Radeon 780M GPU that has 12 cores and a staggering consumption of 15/54 W TDP, with a maximum clock speed of 2700 MHz. 

Furthermore, this mini PC has a built-in Intel AX200 WiFi 6 + Bluetooth 5.2 networking adapter that includes two antennas. In addition, there is an available slot along with a 1 TB Crucial M.2 2280 NVMe SSD that it has installed. Moreover, with the ability to accommodate up to 64 GB, it comes with 32 GB of Crucial RAM with 2x SODIMM of DDR5 5600 MHz.

Packaging & Box Contents

A plain but sturdy cardboard box contains the Beelink SER8. Packed inside is the mini PC with its accessories, a user handbook, and a 120W power supply.

Design

The elegant Beelink SER8 is distinguished by a sleek aluminum unibody chassis with bottom air inlets and rear outlets. The chassis is small and extremely quiet, and it contains everything. It stands out due to its almost dustproof build. The combination of its small size and solid construction makes it an ideal choice for any office or home setup. In addition to contributing to its contemporary style, the integrated aluminum casing gives it great structural stability.

Whether you’re at home or on the move, this device can withstand the wear and tear of regular use without taking up too much room on your desk. The bottom of the device has a high-density porous metal filter that keeps dust out and promotes ideal airflow, all in an effort to keep the device dust-free. This prevents dust from collecting within the mini PC, which means it won’t accumulate dust that easily, and its components will stay operational much longer.

If we’re talking about ventilation, the SER8’s top and sides are non-porous. A refined air duct design integrates alongside the MSC2.0-VC vapor chamber, and an adjustable dust filter is also a part of the cooling configuration of the Beelink SER8. Another feature of the Beelink SER8 Cold Wave System is that it controls the device’s temperature with cutting-edge phase-change cooling technology. Even under intense loads, the SER8 will stay cool and efficient thanks to this system’s 65W TDP.

Similar to other cooling solutions, this one attempts to maintain a CPU temperature under 80 degrees Celsius. Beelink claims that it can maintain a consistent 65 watts of power even while under heavy load. Despite the somewhat closed metal casing, the performance is rather decent, as you will see in my testing down below. By keeping the hardware from overheating, this innovative cooling technology not only keeps it running at peak performance but also makes it more reliable.

Connectivity

In addition, this mini PC has plenty of connections to other devices. The front has a power button, an audio jack (in/out), and two USB ports (A 3.2 and USB-C 3.2) with a maximum speed of 10 Gbps. Furthermore, the SER8’s 40 Gbps USB4 connector on the rear makes it compatible with eGPUs.

However, an OCuLink connector would have been preferable since it reduces the performance reduction encountered by external GPUs to a more manageable level. In addition to the power connector and 3.5mm audio jack on the rear, there are two USB-A 2.0 ports, one USB-A 3.2 port, one DP 1.4 port that supports 4K 144 Hz display output, one 2.5G Ethernet port, and one HDMI 2.1 port.

With support for three separate displays using HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and a fully functional USB4 connector, the SER8 is a visual powerhouse as well. The high-resolution 4K 144Hz output is ideal for gaming, while other display ports are suitable for professional applications and multitasking. Users can easily connect up to three screens at once.

Performance

I have tested Valorant on medium settings with 1080p resolution and was able to easily get 160 to 180 FPS.

The SER8 offers fast and fluid performance whether you’re enjoying graphics-intensive gaming or multitasking in the workplace. It looks like the system is making excellent use of the processing capacity that the CPU provides. It offers two different modes of operation for users to choose from. To begin with, there’s a balanced mode, which idles the Ryzen 7 at 54 watts, allowing for efficient and silent processing. Second, there’s performance mode, which, when used, sets the CPU to 65 watts for peak performance.

Disk

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My testing findings indicate that the Beelink SER8 powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS ranks well among mini PCs. Moreover, I can see that the installed iGPU, a Radeon 780M that has 12 cores that can reach 2.7 GHz, offers outstanding performance. I ran many performance tests on this GPU while testing its capabilities with various games. It clearly meets the requirements for playing games in 1080p resolution. With a size of only 4 nanometers, this APU is very power-efficient and works well in any demanding circumstance.

Geekbench 5

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Furthermore, it supports the latest AV1 video codec and includes a VPU for smooth video playing. As a multimedia system, this CPU is fully functional and supports native HDR. In order to evaluate this aspect, I used a variety of major streaming services and their native applications or compatible browsers to watch content in 4K/8K resolution.

Additionally, the Beelink SER8’s outstanding, distinctive characteristic is how quietly it operates. The device stays stable and cools down at modest fan speeds because of its well-designed cooling mechanism and effective bottom-mounted air intake system. The integrated metal casing not only protects the components within but also reduces noise, so it can perform quietly.

I must admit that this mini PC has excellent thermal performance. The fan maintains temperatures under control at varying RPM, and although it’s silent while idle, it makes a noticeable noise when cranked up during gaming. Overall, this mini PC is suitable for typical office tasks, such as playing intensive games at 1080p, editing video or using Photoshop, and streaming multimedia up to 8K.

Should You Buy it?

Buy it if

✅ High Performance in a Compact Size: The Beelink SER8 Mini PC offers excellent performance with its AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU, Radeon 780M GPU, and 32GB DDR5 RAM. It’s perfect for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and multitasking in a small form factor.

✅ Efficient Cooling and Quiet Operation: The advanced cooling system, including the MSC2.0-VC vapor chamber and phase-change cooling technology, ensures the device stays cool under load. Its design keeps it quiet, making it ideal for a noise-sensitive environment.

✅ Versatile Connectivity: With a range of modern ports, including USB4, HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4, and WiFi 6, the SER8 can connect to multiple devices and displays, supporting up to three screens simultaneously with even 8k resolution.

✅ Dustproof and Durable Design: The sturdy aluminum unibody chassis and high-density porous metal filter keep the mini PC dust-free and enhance its durability, making it a long-lasting investment.

Don’t Buy it if

❌ Need for Maximum eGPU Performance: While it supports eGPUs via a 40 Gbps USB4 connector, it lacks an OCuLink connector, which would offer better performance. If top-tier eGPU performance is critical, this might be a limitation.

❌ Quietness Under Heavy Load is Crucial: The cooling system is generally quiet, but the fan noise becomes noticeable during heavy gaming or intensive tasks. If absolute silence is essential under all conditions, this could be a concern.

❌ Preference for Extensive USB 3.0 Ports: The presence of older USB-A 2.0 ports might be a drawback if you rely heavily on fast data transfer speeds across all USB connections.

❌ High-End Gaming Requirements: While the Radeon 780M GPU is powerful, it may not meet the needs of serious gamers who require dedicated high-end graphics cards for playing the latest AAA games at maximum settings.

Final Verdict

In the end, if you are looking for a versatile and performing beast mini PC, you do not need to look further than the Beelink SER8 AMD Ryzen 7 Mini PC. So, your search for a powerful but compact mini PC ends here. When it comes to processing, the Beelink SER8 is a small yet powerful option. Perfectly sized for my office desk, this mini PC is undoubtedly capable of handling demanding responsibilities.

It strikes a remarkable combination of portability and power thanks to its dustproof construction, triple-display compatibility, extendable RAM, and storage. You can easily install two M.2 2280 NVMe SSDs, two DDR5 5600 MHz SODIMM modules, and an eGPU through its 40 Gbps USB4 connector, so it’s easy to add more capacity.  Surprisingly, it operates almost silently under mild load. Notably, it is specifically tailored to fulfill the demands of every user, whether they are professionals, gamers, or multitaskers.

The Beelink SER8 is an impressively stylish and powerful device that has left a positive impression on me. You can use it for demanding applications and gaming thanks to its powerful AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU and Radeon 780M GPU. Additionally noteworthy is the cooling system’s use of a vapor chamber and dust filter. Overall, the Beelink SER8 is an elegant and powerful mini PC. It is more than enough for most demanding tasks, as well as moderate gaming.

Redefines performance in a small form factor!

Coming Next: Blackview MP80 Mini PC Review

Usman Saleem

[Reviews Specialist]

Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.

• 8+ years of specialized PC hardware coverage
• 6+ years of in-depth PC hardware analysis and reviews
• Lead PC hardware expert across multiple tech journalism platforms
• Certified in Google IT Support Specialization

Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com