The producer Minisforum will likely be acquainted to numerous folks for making mini PCs. The Asia language device producer’s present portfolio features a broad palette of various compact PCs. The Venus Sequence UN100L has now introduced itself as an overly inexpensive introductory software. It’s fitted with an Intel N100 and its base configuration options 8 GB DDR5 RAM and a 256-GB SSD. On the time of writing, you’ll to find the PC on-line for just below US$200. Choice configurations also are to be had together with as much as 16 GB RAM and a 512-GB SSD. The easier-configured style is available in at simplest about US$20 extra, which additionally should not cost a fortune. In comparison to the contest, the Minisforum software is not a lot at an advantage. We can now be taking a better have a look at whether or not the Minisforum UN100L’s functionality can set itself excluding the remainder. An inventory of all its competition which will likely be becoming a member of us for this evaluate will also be discovered within the following review.
For essentially the most section, the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L is dependent upon plastic. Colour-wise, the producer has determined on a silver case. The ground, then again, is black. In general, the mini PC seems to be very graceful, which is not an issue. As a result of the mini PC’s compact construct, it’s nonetheless solid in spite of it being made predominantly from plastic. At the within, the software is moreover clad in a steel cage. The Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L has a footprint of 11.5 × 11.0 centimetres, making our check pattern average-sized inside the comparability box. Our check software is not the flattest, with a construct top of 4.6 centimetres. Most effective the NiPoGi GK3Plus is reasonably taller.
The Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L’s connectivity choices are fairly excellent: It options quite a lot of USB ports which can be utilized for exterior units with out straight away having to succeed in for a hub or docking station. Displays will also be hooked up by the use of DisplayPort, HDMI or USB-C. This makes the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L reasonably higher supplied than the opposite mini PCs on this comparability.
The internally put in SD card reader can simplest accommodate microSD playing cards. Despite the fact that, you should not try to switch a big bulk of recordsdata, as our check printed symbol switch speeds of simplest 22 MB/s. We used our AV Professional SD microSD 128 GB V60 check card for this check.
A WLAN module from Intel sits inside the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L which additionally helps Bluetooth 5.1. The soldered-on Intel Wi-fi AC 9560 module works with 5 GHz and a pair of.4 GHz frequencies. In our check, we measured superb charges when sending and receiving knowledge. The competition could not stay up in any respect. For our functionality assessments, we used our Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 as a check router. Because of its RJ45 port, the mini PC masters some other type of community verbal exchange. Right here, you’ll be expecting to switch knowledge at as much as 1 GBit/s, which is reasonably slower than the quick wi-fi connection.
The mini PC’s scope of supply features a 36-watt continual provide, an HDMI cable in addition to two substitute rubber ft. This all will get despatched in an not easily seen field. The relationship cable for an non-compulsory 2.5-inch garage software is already put in into the software.
If you wish to get admission to the interior of the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L, then you’ll have to take away the ground case section. It is attached to the remainder of the case by the use of 4 screws and will also be taken off fairly simply. We recognize that the ft have not been glued on. Sadly, you’ll simplest enlarge the garage software. In our case, it used to be tremendous simple to put in an extra 2.5-inch garage software. The SSD which is already put in will also be swapped out. At the turn aspect, the RAM and wi-fi module are soldered on.
The Intel Pentium N100 has 4 Alder-Lake computing cores, making it splendid for easy administrative center duties. On the other hand, Minisforum has given us the money-saving style with 8 GB RAM. Because the 16-GB style simplest prices round US$20 extra, we’d suggest simply going for that one first of all. It is because it’s not conceivable to improve the RAM after buying.
We ran all functionality assessments the use of the profile highest functionality. Deviating energy-saving modes had been simplest used all through our power-consumption measurements in addition to noise-emission measurements. Additional main points on our check standards will also be discovered right here.
The Intel N100 options 4 computing cores the use of Regulate-Lake structure and will also be present in fairly a couple of compact PCs in this day and age. Minisforum has given the Intel N100 inside of its Venus Sequence UN100L a most continual intake of 18 watts. On the other hand, this worth simplest pertains to temporary load, restricted by way of the PL2 worth. Its PL1 worth is simplest 7 watts which, in the case of Intel’s specifications, is ever so reasonably above the TDP specification of 6 watts. This makes it more straightforward to categorise the next effects, because the comparability units’ processors are virtually at all times given extra continual. This implies the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L is preventing a dropping fight, coming in ultimate position. It is a disgrace, as on the whole, its cooling device has a bit of bit extra capability to coax reasonably extra functionality out of the SoC.
Additional processor benchmarks will also be discovered right here.
Throughout the device’s UEFI, the Intel N100′ continual intake limits (PL1 and PL2) will also be adjusted manually. As a way to illustrate what functionality ranges will also be anticipated, we made 25 watts completely to be had to the Intel N100. All the way through the following check, we simplest famous simply above 15 watts with our device below sustained load. As well as, we ran Cinebench R15, Cinebench R20 and Cinebench R23. Right here, we famous a substantial upward push in functionality. If you’re having a look to buy the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L, then it is possible for you to to get much more out of the device. With a PL1 worth of 15 watts, you will not be taking any large dangers. We by no means had any temperature problems the use of the upper continual goal below load.
The Cinebench R15 steady loop acts as our first tension check, and it confirmed that the device simplest had get admission to to significantly extra functionality initially. Because of the set TDP restrict, the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L could not ship to any extent further functionality. Because of the Intel N100’s upper continual restrict inside the Trigkey G4, it accomplished virtually two times as excellent functionality ranges.
The PC’s CPU benchmark functionality is once more mirrored in its device functionality effects. Even in PCMark 10, the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L got here ultimate. Our check pattern did a bit of higher all through Crossmark, and the Venus Sequence UN100L’s DDR-5 RAM made itself recognized within the RAM assessments. In comparison to the Trigkey G4, the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L could not boast clean functionality. Right here, the processor’s functionality limits turned into noticeable, from time to time main to a couple slight latencies which may well be felt.
The Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L sadly can not rely low latencies as one in all its strengths. On the other hand, when opening a couple of tabs in Edge browse, our check pattern did not display any indicators of suffering but. Most effective when beginning to play our 4K check video did its latencies begin to upward push. If you’re having a look to make use of the mini PC as a streaming shopper for your front room, then you will have to make do with enjoying movies at 1,080p.
The Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L properties a 256-GB NVMe SSD. This might not be so much however for administrative center use, it will have to be enough. Nonetheless, you will need to word that the put in style is simplest hooked up by the use of PCIe 3.0 x1, even though it helps PCIe 3.0 x4. This ends up in not-quite-perfect switch charges in comparison to what you can be expecting from an NVM with PCIe-3.0 speeds. On the other hand, this should not be a noticeable factor in on a regular basis use. The values we measured had been, in any case, nonetheless reasonably higher than what a SATA SSD would ship. Our check software did not go the staying power check with flying colours. We famous a slight fluctuation in its learn and write charges. On the other hand, a critical functionality drop used to be fortunately have shyed away from. The Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L will also be fitted with a 2d garage software. The specified cable is already put in into the PC’s case, so that you simply have to glue it to a pressure.
For additional comparisons and benchmarks, check out our comparability desk.
The Intel UHD Graphics inside the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L is only a easy iGPU with 24 EUs. In direct comparability, our check pattern in fact did fairly neatly. The truth that it uses DDR5 RAM is indisputably why it accomplished higher effects than we had been anticipating. The iGPU is given 512 MB of the put in RAM to make use of for graphics calculations. This reduces its usable RAM to 7.5 GB. Moreover, it will have to be famous that the Intel N100’s iGPU can simplest take care of single-channel RAM.
Additional benchmarks surrounding the Intel UHD Graphics will also be discovered right here.
Because of its low three-D functionality, the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L is not suited to complicated video games. The Intel N100’s iGPU is simplest sufficient for easy informal or browser video games. Gadgets which can be fitted with AMD’s Ryzen-9 processors, as an example, ship noticeably higher functionality. We might suggest looking on the Minisforum EliteMini UM780 XTX.
Because of the producer’s wary TDP unlock, the cooling device inside the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L does not must paintings very exhausting. This may well be noticed in its low emission values all through our noise emission measurements. As will also be noticed within the graphic, it’s not fairly conceivable to run the PC silently. The fanatics at all times spin—although they accomplish that very quietly. At just below 27 dB(A), the software can infrequently be heard to your desktop. Even below load, the PC’s noise emissions simplest upward push by way of a small quantity and it stays very easily quiet. On this side, our check pattern controlled to come back some distance forward of its competition. Underneath load, all the comparability units run a lot louder.
The Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L’s case does not get very hot. Additionally, we did not file any important temperature variations in idle mode and below load. All the way through the tension check, the Intel N100 simplest reached temperatures of as much as 76 °C which additionally presentations that some leeway used to be wasted on the subject of the PC’s functionality. As prior to now discussed, the SoC’s PL1 and PL2 restrict values will also be adjusted manually by the use of the UEFI. In our check, the software’s put in cooling unit used to be additionally ready to deal with an larger continual restrict. For this check, we granted the Intel N100 a restrict of 25 watts. When repeating the tension check, we famous reasonably upper temperatures, even though 91 °C will have to nonetheless be no reason for worry. Relating to continual intake, on the other hand, we simplest measured 16 watts, which signifies that the SoC continues to be restricted by way of different parameters. To in the long run coax a bit of extra functionality out of the Intel N100, its PL1 worth can simply be set to fifteen watts.
The Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L is no doubt one of the vital extra frugal mini PCs. At 3.8 to 9.8 watts, we measured low values in idle mode, even though one of the vital competition are much more frugal on this recognize. Underneath common load, our check pattern were given by way of with just below 13 watts, even though it reached round 29 watts for a brief time period. Because of its low continual intake, we additionally see no problems with retrospectively adapting the PL1 so as to succeed in higher functionality.
The equipped continual provide unit (12 V; 3.0 A) supplies as much as 36 watts and due to this fact nonetheless has enough space to respire. It additionally has the capability to continual an extra garage software.
Reasonably priced mini PCs are steadily highest suited for easy administrative center duties. Even so, you should not simply blindly depend on their technical knowledge. The Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L makes use of the Intel N100 which is most often a excellent SoC for on a regular basis use. Because of its 4 cores, on the other hand, you should not be expecting it to do an excessive amount of without delay. Even so, the processor did not fairly ship the functionality we anticipated all through our check. In keeping with Intel’s specs, on the other hand, Minisforum can’t be blamed, as that is just a processor with a TDP of 6 watts. Nonetheless, in explicit eventualities, the processor is in a position to handing over extra functionality. The necessities for this are excellent cooling and an influence restrict that permits for this. The latter has been seriously restricted by way of Minisforum within the PC’s delivered state. Because of this, our check pattern steadily did worse than its competition. Its speedy DDR5 RAM can not catch up on this. Most effective while you manually modify the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L’s continual limits does it begin to get aggressive.
The Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L has the prospective to be a excellent administrative center PC, however Minisforum has shot itself within the foot with the pc’s low PL1 worth in its delivered state.
The PC’s garage software additionally is not optimally hooked up. Its M.2 interface technically simplest delivers PCIe-3.0-x1 speeds, which you will have to take note of prematurely. If you’re having a look to change the prevailing garage software for one thing quicker, then this would possibly not mechanically lead to much more functionality.
The software’s WLAN module functionality and its connectivity choices are flawless, then again. Moreover, the device runs very quietly and does not want numerous continual. The PC will also be had for just below US$200. In direct comparability, this can be a little higher worth for cash than the competition indexed on this evaluate. On the other hand, you should not fail to remember its low RAM, as 8 GB is the naked minimal at the moment. Because the RAM can’t be expanded, it will make a bit of extra sense to only opt for the 16-GB style of the Venus Sequence UN100L. The use of the prior to now discussed CPU-performance changes and with extra RAM, this can be a excellent mini PC this is by no means not so good as its competition.
The model of the Minisforum Venus Sequence UN100L with 16 GB RAM and a 512-GB SSD can lately be discovered on Amazon for US$199.99.
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