Enjoying my new mini-PC

Hi All...

...just wanted to let everybody know that I'm thoroughly pleased with my new mini-PC, a Beelink Ryzen-5 unit with an AMD 5500U CPU. Search Amazon and you'll find several, in the range of $200 to $300 (USD). I paid $229 for mine.

Mine came with Windows-11 pre-installed on a 500G NVME SSD (PCI mode, not SATA - very fast). I'm retired and not a heavy user, so 500G is more than enough for me... in fact, I immediately 'shrunk' the W-11 partition to about 400G, and used the new unused space (about 100G) for a small Linux partition (I'm successfully dual-booting to either.) For those that need more storage space, there is provision, inside the box, to add a standard 2.5" SATA SSD. (Alternately, you could install a larger NVME drive.)

My unit came with 16G RAM, in the form of 2 ea. 8G 'SODIMM' (standard laptop) modules. Again, 16G RAM is more than adequate for my needs, although the unit will accept up to 64G RAM (2 ea 32G modules - ideally both modules should be the same size, to take advantage of dual-channel operation).

Compared to my ancient desktop PC, the new unit is blazingly fast (but not fast enough for heavy gaming). And, of course, it takes up much less desk real-estate, and uses less power to boot. Personally, I'd gladly give up one of the two HDMI video outputs for more rear-panel USB ports, but that's just me. (Easily solved, anyway, with a cheap external USB hub.)

...so, just a heads-up for anyone who might be interested in these.

-Richard

Glad you are enjoying it.

I've been looking at these - could you please provide the model number (or link or a good ID number). This is exactly the mini that I want. Could you describe the rest of your system (monitor/keyboard, etc)?
Thanks

I also have a beelink mini pc, it's where I actually run windows 11 from. It's been a great device as as I am concerned. I have the SEI8, with the Intel core i5-8279. Mine came with a single 16gb dimm, so I added a second stick for dual channel. I also put in an extra 512gb sata ssd I had lying around.

My only nitpick is that the usb-c interface on the front is really for charging a device. From a performance standpoint, it's actually running on a USB 2 bus, so it's very slow.

I'm also running mine as a dual boot, with 11 and rocky linux 9.

I have two Beelink SEi11 Pros and a U59. The SEi11s have a 11th gen i5 CPU and the U59 has a Celeron CPU. I just had to replace the NVMe drive in the U59. I think a power surge ruined it. I bought the Beelinks through Amazon.

I too have Purchased a Mini-PC, and am very Happy with it... two USB2.0 Ports, two USB3.0 Port, 1 VGA Port, 2 HDMI Ports, Combo Sound Port. Mounted to the back of a small Roku TV...

docfreed said:

I've been looking at these - could you please provide the model number (or link or a good ID number). This is exactly the mini that I want. Could you describe the rest of your system (monitor/keyboard, etc)?
Thanks

Click to expand...

im thinking of buying one of these mini pc and would like to dual boot win10 and win11 using the nvme, do we have step by step instructions for doing so ? i know how to dual boot from a hdd(mbr), but have not tried from nvme(uefi), all help will be appreciated.

From within the Main OS - Apply the second OS image to a new partition -
then then from Command Prompt(Admin)
BCDboot %DriveLetter%:\Windows
May have to adjust Boot-Menu Time Out using MSconfig, to see the New Boot Option

jestrada47 said:

im thinking of buying one of these mini pc and would like to dual boot win10 and win11 using the nvme, do we have step by step instructions for doing so ? i know how to dual boot from a hdd(mbr), but have not tried from nvme(uefi), all help will be appreciated.

Click to expand...

It works the same way. Depending on the pc you buy you may be able to install a second drive. On all of my Beelinks I can install a 2.5 SSD. Unlike a laptop I only have to remove the 4 screws on the bottom.

Miniaturization can and often does reach the point of diminishing returns.

I have two little computers, not called Minis, but SFF (small form factor) and although not quite as small as a Mini, they too have serious upgrade limitations. I like the little guys, and have used them both right here at this workstation, which now sports a full sized Mid Tower Desktop PC.

Even just a simple repair, can get both complicated and expensive. Whereas, with both of my main computers in Mid Tower PacMan cases, any repair/replacement can be done with off the shelf parts easily acquired at any PC shop or Amazon.

Interesting thread! Thanks for a look at the Mini.

TM

TechnoMage2021 said:

Miniaturization can and often does reach the point of diminishing returns.

I have two little computers, not called Minis, but SFF (small form factor) and although not quite as small as a Mini, they too have serious upgrade limitations. I like the little guys, and have used them both right here at this workstation, which now sports a full sized Mid Tower Desktop PC.

Even just a simple repair, can get both complicated and expensive. Whereas, with both of my main computers in Mid Tower PacMan cases, any repair/replacement can be done with off the shelf parts easily acquired at any PC shop or Amazon.

Interesting thread! Thanks for a look at the Mini.

TM

Click to expand...

The Mini PCs are easier than most modern laptops. With the 4 I own I just need to remove 4 screws on the bottom and the covers come right off. The drives, memory and Wi-Fi card are right there. My very first mini was a Kamrui AK1. Nice but it soon became to slow for my needs.

O.P. here...

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post Amazon links here, but I'll give it a try: A Beelink mini-PC similar to mine: https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-SER5...5&sprefix=beelink+mini+pc,aps,141&sr=8-4&th=1 NOTE- I think these are currently shipping with 1 HDMI and 1 Display-Port, rather than the 2 HDMI that mine has. All else is the same as mine.

Also bought this el-cheapo wireless keyboard/mouse combo: https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-MK2...6a3-a30a-c4924d997912&pd_rd_i=B079JLY5M5&th=1 Since my old deskfop still used PS-2 mouse & keyboard.

...and that pretty well sums up the system. Already had a Philips 25" HDMI monitor (with internal speakers). That works fine, as do my old Brother laser (actually LED) printer and my Canon scanner.

As for 'easy to repair' - agreed! But at this price, I wouldn't even try to repair this thing... it's almost a throw-away item - with much less e-waste to boot!

Thanx for all the response to my original post!

-Richard

I received both of my SFF desktop PC's from customers, after they were damaged by lightning.
I had to refurbish both of them, with replacement PSU's and replacement LAN cards, low profile of course. Then later I added more ram and a better HD, and now both sport SSD's with Windows 11 installed.

Both are up for adoption, if I find someone in need of a great little PC.

Yeah, I'm not buying mini pcs to really upgrade them. They are relatively cheap, have OS licenses and it's typically easy to install ram or a new storage drive.

In 3 or 4 years time, I will just relegate the outdated mini pc to another task and buy something new.