Beelink SEi8 Mini-PC Review – Intel also even exists

1 - Einführung und technische Daten 2 - Optik und Haptik 3 - Innenaufbau 4 - BIOS 5 - Benchmarks: CPU, SSD, Cache 6 - Benchmarks: GPU, Spiele 7 - Stresstests und Lautstärke 8 - Zusammenfassung und Fazit

Summary and conclusion

So there we have it, a suitable mini-PC can also be implemented with an Intel SoC. You should only not achieve a lot of performance in graphics-intensive applications or games, as the small Iris Plus Graphics 655 quickly runs out of breath. The fact that it only has a single 16GB RAM bar instead of 2x 8GB doesn’t make the situation any better compared to the modern AMD APUs. In some cases, Rainbow Six Siege was particularly noticeable, an initial shader optimization has to be performed for several minutes before the game starts.  

I saw the highest consumption in CSGO, where the maximum consumption was 42.6 watts and the average was just under 40 watts. Despite the restrictive casing, however, the SEi8 remains relatively quiet, so the small cooler does a good job. The question still remains why a system with an 8th axis is still needed. This is the second generation CPU on the market, which came out in 2018 after all. This phenomenon can be observed every now and then! Judging by the review requests from other manufacturers with almost identical systems, Intel must have sold off a stock.  

Recommended retail prices in the manufacturer’s own store are 299€ for the variant with 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD and 349€ for 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD. If you buy directly there, however, high customs duties may still be due. Therefore, Beelink now also offers some systems directly on Amazon, where you currently have to pay 464€ for the model with 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD. And I personally find that simply too much for the performance that the SEi8 with the old i3 showed here. Especially since the surcharge for much stronger mini-PCs, like the Beelink SER3 also tested here, is not high. Or even worse, the competition with the Minisforum UM340 (review)is even cheaper. 

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The test sample was provided by Beelink without obligation. There was and is no influence on the tests and results. There was also no compensation for expenses and no obligation to publish.