Our only reservation about the flashing lights is that there is appears to be no hardware or software means to control them, unfortunately. With many NUCs, it is possible to get inside and upgrade some features with a screwdriver, but the AMR5 requires no tools. One side of the machine has a cover that is held on with some small plastic lugs and a few magnets. Popping off that panel provides access to both the M.2 slots (x2) and the DDR4 SODIMM modules (x2), things you should only work on with the power off. Are there any Pillow Talkers on your gift list, darlings? This mini makeup gift is perfect for gifting Pillow Talk magic this holiday! As this isn’t a laptop, saving power might seem unnecessary, but using these modes reduces the fan noise it can generate in the performance setting.

Initially, based on the CrystalDiskMark 8.0.4 scores, we wondered if the M.2 slots in the AMR5 were only PCIe 3.0 x2 lanes. We put the latest Samsung 990 Pro in this machine and revealed that the slots are indeed four lanes connected. SFF makers often use cheaper NVMe drives in their systems, and the AMR5 is no exception. At least they didn’t saddle it with an Intel p660, like the Geekom Mini IT11, but the one they used still can’t achieve 2,000MB/s writes or 3,000MB/s reads. Some NUC designs offer a single M.2 slot and a 2.5-inch bay for a SATA device, but Acemagican went with two M.2 and no other options. Both sides of the machine feature RGB LED lights that cycle through a rainbow colour scheme that is visible through small triangular holes in the case. However, unless the task you need a mini PC system for is specifically graphical, the Ryzen 5 5600U processor has plenty of performance to spare for office applications.Where the bigger difference comes is in respect of the compute power since the Radeon Vega integrated GPU can’t beat those Intel-based platforms that use the Iris Xe class GPUs. The design of this Mini PC isn’t like any of the classic NUC designs we’ve seen elsewhere, as the AMR5 was designed to sit exclusively on the desk and not be mounted onto a monitor. Thanks to its size, the compact Ace Magician AMR5 fits on any desk. With its great RGB lighting, the compact computer catches the eye without looking garish.

In our review machine, both SODIMM memory slots were occupied, but these modules can be removed and replaced with larger capacities if required. Magic Mini Man is an independent retailer of products and no brands/companies endorsement is intended, unless otherwise expressly stated. In CineBench23, a score of 7,466 for the multi-core test elevates this machine above every Intel mini PC design we’ve seen in the past year, even those using Intel 11th Gen silicon. As we’ve already mentioned, it is very easy to get inside the AMR5 and boost its potential with some extra RAM or M.2 storage. There are other light sources that come from the power button and the Acemagician logo on the spine of the case. In addition to being pressed conventionally for ‘On/Off’ the power button also features some attractive knurling that enables it to become a rotating three-way switch.Overall, the AMR5 doesn’t fall into the usual tropes of a mini PC, and it has some potential for many different roles. There are 15 movie moments from the first year to collect (toys each sold separately). Each Micro Magical Moments figure has delightful details that bring the popular Harry Potter characters to life in small scale. Place the figurine on the stand or in the box or set them free-standing. The positive aspect of this design is that due to the wedge shape, it is reasonably stable and less likely for the cabling to topple it over. A 3DMark Wild Life score of 6,724 doesn’t beat the 11,630 we’ve seen from an Iris Xe machine, and the GeekBench OpenCL test also reveals a deficit.

Ports aside, the AMR5 has some hard-to-ignore design elements that make it a bit more colourful than the standard Mini PC. Where this design stands out is that it is very easily upgradable, and access to the internals doesn’t even require tools. The right side of the case is only held on with a couple of plastic lugs and magnets, making access a breeze. However, on single-core tests, it lags a little behind those using the Intel Core i7-1195G7 and Core i5-11320H. Minipc Union doesn't offer a conventional ready-made Mini PC with the Ace Magician AMR5, because this model stands out from the crowd due to its slightly different design. The compact PC catches the eye by resembling conventional desktop PCs and providing subtle lighting. All the while, the model is very compact, lightweight, and it offers a modern SoC in the form of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U. The hexa-core processor is frugal, and its solid performance ensures fast working speeds. At the same time, the speed of the built-in RAM is something that can be criticized. Valuable potential is being wasted here; the use of faster RAM could have narrowed the gap to the competition a bit.

System performance

In 2013, a group of tech enthusiasts were inspired by the "Magician Impossible" series. They set out to create a brand that would deliver computing solutions that were not only powerful but also fun and accessible. Today, Acemagician is leading the way in miniaturizing personal electronic devices, making technology more convenient, portable, and accessible. Our brand slogan, "Mini Space, Big World," reflects our mission to bring the magic of technology to the world of personal consumer microelectronics.We are passionate about empowering individuals and businesses with cutting-edge technology that helps them achieve more and reach their full potential with our personal consumer microelectronics. What’s missing is any SD Card slot, and with the exception of the USB-C port, all the USB is only USB 3.2 Gen 1 aka, USB 3.0. The other AMD Ryzen mini PC we’ve seen that uses the same Ryzen 5 5600U processor was the Bosgame U56, a chip that smashes the Intel N5095/5105 and N6211 to bits. For the money, the AMR5 is a very nice system that has more than enough power for general computing tasks (think Microsoft 365, browsing and even Photoshop) and file sharing. Two SODIMM memory slots and two M.2 NVMe storage can be changed or augmented. Increasing the amount of RAM from the standard 16GB to a maximum of 64GB merely requires swapping the SODIMM modules. And conversely, the default 512GB SSD can be increased to 2TB by a direct swap, and an additional drive can be added to double that amount.

Promotional material from Acemagician infers that the AMR5 would be a good gaming platform, and we’d only agree with that if the games you play have very modest requirements and you are willing to use lower resolutions and details settings. That limitation suggests that the system inside is short of PCIe lanes, and we’ll discuss that more later on, and where those lanes might have been used.Compared to the cheaper NUC systems that use Intel N5095 or N5105 processors, the Ryzen 5 5600U is on an entirely different level. All those cores and threads make this a powerful processor that is as capable as many desktop processors. The device has great build quality even though its chassis is completely made of plastic. Despite its compact design, the Ace Magician T8Pro offers an impressive selection of ports. The mini PC can drive up to three external displays at the same time and features three USB-A ports and two LAN ports. All these are not always a given for a product of this size. The inclusion of dual M.2 ports is a fantastic option since it allows the transfer from one M.2 to another without any other hardware or reinstalling the OS. That this chip can achieve what it does with limited power is a testament to AMD’s chip design skills and the TSMC 7nm FinFET process that it is fabricated using. There are a few hardware aspects that a buyer needs to contend with. The first of these is that because of the dual M.2 slots, the number of PCI lanes for USB was limited. There are five USB ports, but only one is USB 3.2 Gen 2, and the rest are Gen 1.