AceMagic S1 Mini PC N97 Review (2024)

Compared with N100 and N5105, the overall performance of mini pc gaming N97 is higher up to 48%. With excellent performance and fast operation, the small pc S1 is a perfect companion for light gaming, home theater, office tasks etc.

A ” mini PC ” is a type of compact computer with extremely small dimensions compared to a classic Desktop PC, designed to offer good performance in carrying out various activities, despite taking up very limited physical space.

This particular category of computers has been on the market for several years, but their popularity has grown in recent times thanks to the ever-increasing demand for smaller and more versatile solutions. In this article we will analyze in detail the new AceMagic S1 Mini PC N97 , a super compact computer.

Specifications

• Price : €205.10 ( Amazon ) – Discount code: J5D4LV55 – 150 prime codes + 40 coupons + 10% discount
• CPU : Intel N97
• RAM : 16GB Lexar S0-DIMM DDR4 2666
• SSD : 512GB MasonSemi NVMe M.2 2280
• Graphics Card: Intel UHD Graphics 1.20 GHz
• Internet:
• Dual Gigabit Lan
• Wi-Fi 802.11ac 2.4G + 5G Dual band
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2
• Black colour
• Dimensions: 12.4 x 12.8 x 4 centimeters
• Weight: 380 grams
• Doors:
• 2x USB 2.0
• 2x USB 3.
• 2x HDMI
• 1x Aux
• 2x Network Ports
• 1x Kensington
• 1x DC-IN
• Display: LCD

What’s inside?

The AceMagic S1 Mini-PC is protected by an elegant black box with orange piping showing the manufacturer’s logo and some technical data. Inside the box we find, in addition to the computer, the power supply , an HDMI cable , a base to hold the PC vertically and the paper user manual. The quality of the packaging is really excellent and offers excellent protection of the elements inside thanks to the velvety foam of which the internal support is made.

Design

AceMagic S1 Mini PC N97 measures just 12.4 x 12.8 x 4 centimeters and weighs 380 grams, therefore presenting a compact and contained design for any environment. Despite its small size, it is possible to use it not only horizontally, but also vertically should there be a need to gain additional space on the worktop.

To use it vertically you can use the support included in the package, fixing it to the PC in a very simple and practical way thanks to a magnetic connector that supports it stably. The plastic case is black and anthracite grey, feels comfortable to the touch and has no sharp edges or cracks.

LCD screen

On the side of the Mini-PC there is an interesting almost 2-inch display which has the task of showing some data in real time during its operation: the consumption in Watts of the CPU, its temperature and the load used, the load of the memory, fan speed, time and date. The display is bright and can be customized via pre-installed software.

Below the display we also find a particular thin RGB light strip which occupies the remaining space and gives impetus to the case of this Mini-PC. The light beam can also be configured via another pre-installed software: it is possible to change the combination of colors, their frequency, but it is also possible to completely deactivate its switching and further lower energy consumption.

Connections

The Mini-PC has a good variety of connections: on the back there are the power supply, 2 HDMI outputs , 2 Ethernet ports, a 3.5 mm audio socket and the Kensington port, while on the other side they are well placed 4 USB ports , two of which are 2.0 and the other two 3.0, and the power button.

Furthermore, on the left side of the device we have the possibility of using a practical magnetic opening to very easily remove the protection and access the RAM and the SSD disk. Unfortunately, USB-C is missing, which currently represents an interesting solution for various connectivity needs.

Processor, RAM and SSD

The beating heart of the AceMagic S1 Mini-PC is the Intel Alder Lake N97 processor , which contains an advanced architecture, embracing the power of 4 cores and reaching a maximum frequency of 3.60 GHz. Accompanied by a 6 MB Intel intelligent cache, this processor promises interesting performance, confidently coping with the most demanding applications.

The Intel Alder Lake N97 is one of Intel’s new processors released in early 2023 and offers improved energy efficiency and performance compared to its predecessors. During use you can appreciate the fact that the fan is surprisingly silent and almost imperceptible under normal conditions of use, at first startup you won’t even notice that you have turned on the computer.

The Alder-Lake N97 has an integrated Intel UHD graphics card that can reach a maximum dynamic frequency of 1.20 GHz and a maximum resolution of 3840×2160 at 60 Hz via HDMI output.

The graphics card responds optimally in daily operations such as browsing the Internet or watching streaming videos, but is not recommended for more demanding applications such as high-resolution games or video editing.

The Mini-PC has 16 GB of DDR4 RAM , non-expandable, with a speed of 3200 MHz. The storage space is managed by a 512 GB NVMe SSD which guarantees fast read and write speeds, also offering fast booting of the system.

It’s large enough for most applications and offers a good compromise between storage and performance. The product also offers a second SSD slot (M.2 SATA). To connect to the Internet you can use the integrated Wi-Fi or the Ethernet port.

Software and first startup

When the Mini PC is turned on for the first time, the Windows 11 Pro operating system is pre-installed , easy to activate with just a few clicks. At the first start we will also find on the desktop the two links to the software for managing the 1.9 inch screen and the RGB light beam. Nothing else beyond this, so we can say that we will have a clean configuration ready to use right away.

Wrapping Up

The AceMagic S1 Mini-PC features Intel’s new Alder Lake N97 processor , 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB NVMe SSD with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed. It stands out as a remarkable solution in the world of computing, easy and intuitive to use, offering a combination of compactness and cutting-edge performance.

Its design is small in size but hides a decent amount of power capable of handling various tasks, suitable for smart working, web browsing, streaming, but not enough for high-resolution video games or demanding applications.

During use it is very silent and has low energy consumption, which can also be monitored from the customizable LCD display integrated into the PC case. The Mini PC S1 not only meets expectations, but exceeds them with its adaptability and impressive value for money.

It lacks a USB-C socket, but for those who have space problems on the desk, they can position it vertically thanks to the magnetic physical support included inside the package and gain other useful centimeters. Compact for everyday use at a great price.