1 - Introduction and technical data 2 - Optics and haptics 3 - Teardown 4 - Benchmarks: CPU, SSD and cache 5 - Benchmarks: GPU and gaming 6 - Torture, power consumption and temperatures 7 - Summary and conclusion

Summary and conclusion

I have tested processors from this performance class several times by now, so the results from the benchmarks are no longer a real surprise. What was nevertheless interesting is the minimal but measurable lead over the other N95 CPU in practically all tests. Click here for the big overview:

Battle of the dwarfs: Mini-PC benchmark comparison and overview of all models tested so far

When the malware problem with this manufacturer became known, it was precisely this system that was supposed to be affected. Fortunately, I had not yet started my tests at that time. At least that’s what I thought, but after a thorough search I couldn’t find any evidence of problematic software. Neither the initial offline scan with Windows Defender nor a second scan after updating all virus definitions yielded a hit. I also uploaded the allegedly explicitly affected folders to Virustotal, where the majority of scanners also found nothing to complain about. As already mentioned, there is more on this topic in the article linked at the beginning.

So back to the hardware. In my opinion, the mini-PCs with an N95, N97 or N100 CPU that are currently appearing everywhere are much better suited for energy-saving use in the home lab than as a desktop replacement. And so the Acemagic S1 has been running for a few weeks now as my home assistant control center and a few additional services in container mode. Unfortunately, there is no option in the BIOS to deactivate the small screen completely without Windows software. However, I have found a very clumsy solution by unplugging the connection cable on the mainboard.

• Amazon (Germany)
• Manufacturer store (Germany)
• Manufacturer store (International)

With the code “QJFMKKY5” you can get a 10% discount at Amazon. This is a referral link, but I do not accept any commissions offered by the manufacturer. Neither I nor IgorsLab earn money by using the voucher code provided.

And so at the time of publication, in combination with the 60 euro coupon at Amazon, the final price is 218.10 euros for the version with 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. The version with 512GB SSD would therefore be slightly more expensive, as the code cannot be used there. Even if a price just under the 200 euro limit would be more suitable in my opinion, the S1 remains interesting as an economical home server. I didn’t realize it until later, but if you set the system upright, the USB ports on the top are extremely practical. For example, the ZigBee dongle can transmit in all directions without interference, and the signal quality has improved noticeably since I switched from a Raspberry Pi.

The test sample was provided free of charge by Acemagic. There was and is no influence on the tests and results. There was also no compensation for expenses and no obligation to publish.