Minisforum U850 PC review: Impressive package in such a small form factor
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Cardinal
Minisforum makes plenty of smaller PCs that are prepare to go once delivered. Pre-built PCs like the Minisforum U850, which we're looking at today, are designed for those who require a small, relatively affordable computer that has everything required for video conferences, calorie-free workloads, and general PC utilise.
Powered by an Intel Core i5 mobile CPU and rocking some impressive features like an Thousand.2 bulldoze for the OS and a 2.5Gb LAN port on the rear, I was expecting it to be a mixed purse. I was, however, mightly impressed by the design, how Minisforum allows one to access the internal components, and just how much blindside for the buck is on offer.
Super Compact PC
Minisforum U850
Bottom line: Minisforum U850 is an impressively minor class gene PC that's almost the aforementioned size as a DAC unit. Information technology has plenty going for information technology, including splendid serviceability and easy-to-admission components, but is let down by the sluggish Intel Core i5 processor.
Pros
- Impressive internals
- Amazing upgradability
- Fairly capable laptop-form CPU
- Easy-to-remove lid
- VESA mount back up
- Plenty of connectivity
Cons
- Noisey
- Sluggish desktop performance
- No card reader
Minisforum U850 tech specs
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Cardinal
| Category | Minisforum U850 |
|---|---|
| Type | Modest course factor |
| CPU | Intel i5-10210U |
| OS | Windows 10 Pro |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| GPU | Intel UHD 630 |
| Storage | 250GB NVMe M.ii SSD 2x 2.5 SSD bays |
| LAN | Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 (BlueTooth 5.1) 1x 2.5Gbps port 1x 1Gbps port |
| Ports | 2x SATA ports 1x HDMI 2.0 1x DisplayPort 2x USB-C 3.one (i for ability) 4x USB-A 3.1 3.5mm audio jack |
| Price | $659 at Minisforum |
Minisforum U850: What I like
The Minisforum U850 is a small form factor PC with an bonny aluminum pattern. It's seriously small. This PC is likewise completely toolless, allowing you to only push in the top panel to unclip information technology from the main chassis for removal. Inside, y'all'll find piece of cake admission to an empty 2.5-inch bay that tin hold two (yes, two) SSDs.
The Minisforum U850 is one compact, well-designed miniature PC.
This is on superlative of the M.2 that comes pre-installed, depending on which configuration y'all choose. For review, we received the U850 with an Intel Core i5-10210U CPU (the same chip you'd find inside the Lenovo Yoga C740 14), 250GB 1000.ii SSD from Kingston, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. The M.two and RAM are easily attainable beneath the ii.5-inch muzzle.
Even the wireless card is accessible and tin be removed. In that location's plenty hither that can exist serviced, aside from the CPU and motherboard, of grade. To go on all the insides cooled nether load, Minisforum utilizes a single fan that sucks in air from the sides and blows it out the rear.
Moving onto the rear of the unit and you lot'll discover an array of ports. There are ii USB-A 3.1 ports, a single USB-C 3.1 port (for Ac power), DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0, and ii SATA ports. The front of the U850 houses the remaining two USB-A iii.1 ports, a USB-C iii.one port y'all tin actually utilise, and a headphone jack. In that location are also small ability and reset buttons.
At that place are two LAN ports on the rear of the U850. I chose to omit them from the to a higher place list because they're worth highlighting separately. One is the usual 1Gb port you'll find on many PCs out at that place, only the second LAN port supports speeds of up to 2.5Gb/s. This makes the U850 quite a compelling purchase for network-based activeness.
Interestingly, Windows 10 Pro is installed past default, though Minisforum does land the U850 will happily chug along with Ubuntu Linux installed.
Minisforum U850: What I don't like
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Key
The major downside of the Minisforum U850 is the functioning. The Intel Core i5-10210U isn't the almost capable mobile processor from the company and it'due south not great in this format either. Fifty-fifty using the Minisforum U850 every bit a PC for full general web browsing and light utilize volition come across some sluggish hiccups.
Running a few benchmarks, it's articulate to meet just how far downwardly the charts the 10210U is. Both in PCMark and GeekBench, the Minisforum U850 struggles to go on up with notebooks that rock far more than powerful Intel processors. Where this PC does in fact shine is in the storage department.
A PCMark 10 score of 2,819 is pretty poor, which means you're non going to be doing much heavy lifting on this PC. I attempted to run GIMP and Darktable to import and edit some RAW photos. Information technology was able to practice so without mistake, but the performance just isn't there. The wait to import a RAW photo lone is effectually 20-30 seconds.
Minisforum U850 is let down past the Intel Core i5-10210U processor.
Geekbench 5 saw single and multi-cadre results of 666 and 1,884, respectively. Once more, like the PCMark 10 examination, this isn't great compared to more capable Windows notebooks. Yet, for the price of just $659, one has to consider the value here, especially given y'all can hands upgrade the U850 with more RAM and an additional 2.5-inch SSD.
Speaking of storage, the included Kingston K.2 SSD is where this mini PC shines. CrystalDiskMark results show some pretty good read and write speeds with 2,542MB/s and i,271MB/due south, respectively. These numbers won't blow range-topping M.2 SSDs abroad, just it'southward really better than the storage found inside the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ and a few other portable devices.
On the flip side of the rather underpowered CPU, the Wi-Fi half-dozen wireless carte is a nice affect for 2022, so besides is the support for upwards to 64GB of DDR4 RAM. And that's actually what the performance boils down to. The SSD and RAM from Kingston are both very skilful for general PC use, but the Intel Core i5 mobile processor tin find itself way out of its league.
And when you lot do throw something at the U850, the small fan ramps up loftier. The racket isn't annoying every bit such but is certainly a noticeable smooth airflow sound.
Should you buy the Minisforum U850?
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central
Who information technology's for
- If you're on a tighter budget
- If you want a pocket-sized form factor PC
- If you demand a small-scale PC for general productivity
- If you desire to create your own router
Who information technology isn't for
- If you need to practise intense tasks
- If yous desire a silent PC
- If you lot desire a high-functioning PC
I really like the Minisforum U850 every bit a mini, full general productivity PC. I recall the company did a nifty job cramming everything within that it could. The two.5Gb LAN and Wi-Fi six are both fantabulous additions. The ability to add two 2.5-inch SSDs to the storage pool is bright for anyone wanting to store some files or turn this into a small NAS box.
I also like how yous can hands access basically everything inside the U850 by pressing downwards on the two front corners of the top console. Want to supercede the pre-installed RAM with something else? Get for it, this matter tin hold up to 64GBs of the stuff. Need a slightly faster 1000.2 SSD? It's also easily removable.
It'due south just a shame that Minisforum went with the Intel Core i5-10210U processor. The U820 is really more affordable than the U850 but comes rocking the Intel Core i5-8259U, which may be older than the tenth Gen processor merely is slightly more capable. I would similar to have seen a better processor inside the U850, but it's however i of the all-time mini PCs and NUCs you tin observe.
Astonishing Compact PC
Minisforum U850
A great mini PC for general productivity
The Minisforum U850 has then much going for it. Information technology's small, comes with VESA mounting bracket, has upgradeable RAM, storage, and even rocks a two.5Gb LAN port. It's merely a shame the Intel Core i5 CPU isn't quite every bit practiced.
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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/minisforum-u850-pc-review
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