Beelink EQ14 mini PC review: Ready-to-go HTPC for under $200

[Redaktion]

One of the least expensive mini PCs comes with the newest Intel Twin Lake processor. HTPC users on tight budgets will appreciate the quietness and low price, but multitaskers may be disappointed by the slow performance.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Beelink-EQ14-mini-PC-review-Ready-to-go-HTPC-for-under-200.939127.0.html

[Jonas Bee]

Not dissing the review, as we see this sort of misplaced critism of everything nowadays, but the expectations feel very off given what these things are: dirt cheap, low-power commodities that cannot handle heavy workloads.

You want processing power, customization, jack of all trades mini PCs? They exist, but they don't cost $200.

Same for those complaining about the abysmal customer support mini PCs from Beelink and the like typically get; it's a $200 computer, it's amazing you even get an email form to enquire about a refund. Know what you're buying, it's what's in the box and not much else.

[GeorgeS]

Ok so what we have here is (both!) a cheap and inexpensive PC. <$200USD

It is rather AMAZING that it is outfitted with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (and that it can fit 2x m.2 cards!!).

Systems in this price/performance range are PERFECT for thin CLIENTS or just about ANYTHING "light duty" (IE: surfing, streaming, lightweight/low impact productivity tasks).

Likely %95 of the general public and home users would LOVE this device if retailers and the media were not poo-pooing about it 'not being enough'.

(Typed on a 2C4T i5 with 8GB of RAM & 128GB of storage)

YMMV.

[SJB]

The fact that the N150 with DDR4 RAM (the photo clearly says DDR4 on the RAM chip) is only slightly slower than an N100 with DDR5 RAM is a marginal gain given DDR4 will be about 7% slower than a unit with the same processor but with DDR in a single RAM chip configuration.

Not sure what INTEL are playing with as they have produced a refresh where they have marginally increased the clock speed so if the chip gets more wattage it can give a marginal increase in performance at the expense of being less energy efficient per watt of power.

Might have been better to have released an 6 or 8 core unit but with ability to use dual RAM slots with a faster DDR5 memory speed say 5600 MHz combined you'd get an uplift worth having. And provide those who need a bit more power while not consuming a high wattage in the process.

One can but hope that Intel pump's development into the N range where you can have a small, light, inexpensive computing unit for general web browsing, video playback and office like duties that's also energy efficient. Looks like you have to get the 11 gen Intel U NUC series and lower the P1 to 25 and P2 to 15 watts at 2-3 times the price to get double the performance of the N100 chips. Shame as the N100 have a really low idle power draw of 6 watts.

[Jonas Bee]

The fact that the N150 with DDR4 RAM (the photo clearly says DDR4 on the RAM chip) is only slightly slower than an N100 with DDR5 RAM is a marginal gain given DDR4 will be about 7% slower than a unit with the same processor but with DDR in a single RAM chip configuration.

Not sure what INTEL are playing with as they have produced a refresh where they have marginally increased the clock speed so if the chip gets more wattage it can give a marginal increase in performance at the expense of being less energy efficient per watt of power.

Might have been better to have released an 6 or 8 core unit but with ability to use dual RAM slots with a faster DDR5 memory speed say 5600 MHz combined you'd get an uplift worth having. And provide those who need a bit more power while not consuming a high wattage in the process.

One can but hope that Intel pump's development into the N range where you can have a small, light, inexpensive computing unit for general web browsing, video playback and office like duties that's also energy efficient. Looks like you have to get the 11 gen Intel U NUC series and lower the P1 to 25 and P2 to 15 watts at 2-3 times the price to get double the performance of the N100 chips. Shame as the N100 have a really low idle power draw of 6 watts.

You're missing the point, the N range isn't meant nor will it ever be a top performer, there's a whole range of more expensive chips Intel offers for that - I don't understand all this complaining, it's a 6W chip for basic use, it's never going to replace a mainstream PC for anything.

Intel could add more cores (in fact there is the N305/N355 with 8 E cores available), next thing you know you'll be complaining about the cost increase.

[MKayy]

I bought a Beelink computer 6 months ago. Piece of crap. Crashed once a week initially, then once a day. Support was useless. Now won't start up at all. "Warranty" is useless.

Fool me once, shame on Beelink. Fool me twice, shame on me. My next computer WONT be a Beelink.