Tips from China: Powerful small computers for work and gaming at a reasonable price

Last time in Tips from China, we showed the cheapest mini PCs for a few thousand. Today, we’re raising the bar – if you want to edit videos, play newer titles, or simply have a performance reserve, prepare 6 to 12 thousand CZK. For that money, you’ll get machines with processors that powered premium laptops just a few years ago.

Who benefits from a more powerful mini PC?

While cheap models with Intel N4000 were sufficient for YouTube and Word, here we’re talking about a different league. AMD Ryzen 5/7 or Intel Core i9 can handle Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, light 3D modeling, or even gaming at 1080p. It’s still not a gaming beast, but GTA V, Counter-Strike 2, or Fortnite at medium settings? No problem.

The main advantage remains – consumption of 30-60 watts compared to 200+ watts of a classic desktop with a dedicated graphics card. And space on the desk? They fit under a monitor or behind a TV. Some models even have USB4 or OCuLink for connecting an external graphics card.

ACEMAGIC AM06Pro – Ryzen 7 at a reasonable price (6,482 CZK)

The ACEMAGIC AM06Pro with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor isn’t entirely new – it’s a chip from 2021, but it still has eight cores and a boost up to 4.4 GHz. Combined with 16 GB DDR4 RAM and a 512GB SSD, it’s a solid foundation for productivity.

The integrated Vega 8 graphics aren’t a miracle, but they’ll run older or less demanding games. Reviews particularly praise its quiet operation and low power consumption of around 25W during normal work.

For just under 6.5 thousand, you get dual ethernet, WiFi 6, and a trio of video outputs for a multi-monitor setup. The only complaint? DDR4 RAM is slower than newer DDR5, which will be noticeable during more demanding multitasking.

Verdict: Best price/performance ratio for regular office work with occasional gaming.

Price: 6,482 CZK

PELADN WO7 – newer Ryzen with DDR5 (8,592 CZK)

For an extra two thousand, you get the PELADN WO7 with an AMD Ryzen 7 7735U – a generation newer processor manufactured with a 6nm process. The main leap is in memory – 16 GB DDR5 offers up to 50% higher throughput than DDR4.

User reviews are enthusiastic. One owner writes: “I’m testing my games and it works quite well. On a 4K TV, I reduce to 1440p, but otherwise, it meets expectations.” Another praises fast delivery and a pre-installed system – just plug and play.

An interesting feature is the support for four displays simultaneously – ideal for trading or working with multiple applications. The Radeon 680M graphics are a class above Vega 8, so you can run even newer games at low details.

Verdict: The golden mean with modern architecture and fast memory.

Price: 8,592 CZK

CHUWI AuBox – Intel Core i9 beast (10,960 CZK)

If you prefer Intel, the CHUWI AuBox with Core i9-13900HK is the best you can get for 11 thousand. It’s a 14-core processor (6 performance + 8 efficiency) with a boost up to 5.4 GHz.

The design is premium – the box, resembling a Mac Mini in design with dimensions of 154×152×45 mm, looks luxurious next to plastic competitors. While the Intel Iris Xe graphics are not on par with AMD Radeon 680M, they are sufficient for graphics work or lighter 3D rendering.

The manufacturer boasts support for 8K video playback, which owners of high-end TVs will appreciate. WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and the option to expand to 2×2TB M.2 SSDs make the AuBox a versatile workstation.

Verdict: The best choice for Intel fans, excellent single-thread performance for Adobe applications.

Price: 10,960 CZK

AOOSTAR GEM12+ – the peak with Ryzen 7 PRO (12,429 CZK)

At the top of our selection is the AOOSTAR GEM12+ with AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS. This features the latest Zen 4 architecture with a boost up to 5.1 GHz.

A review from NotebookCheck highlights excellent cooling and stable performance – during the Cinebench test, performance did not drop even after an hour of load. The Radeon 780M is currently AMD’s best integrated graphics, comparable to the GeForce GTX 1650.

Connectivity is key – USB4 with 40 Gbps allows connecting an external GPU for real gaming. DDR5-5600 RAM is the fastest in our selection, and HDMI 2.1 handles 4K@120Hz for smooth video.

Verdict: For demanding users who want maximum performance in a mini format.

Price: 12,429 CZK

Conclusion: Which one to choose?

More powerful mini PCs from China are surprising – for the price of a basic laptop, you get mid to high-end performance in a book-sized box. For regular work with occasional gaming, choose the PELADN WO7; for more demanding tasks, the AOOSTAR GEM12+.

My choice? The PELADN WO7 for 8,592 CZK offers the best mix of modern technologies and a reasonable price. The Ryzen 7 7735U with DDR5 will remain relevant for several years, and the Radeon 680M can run even League of Legends or Valorant at high details.

Do you have experience with more powerful mini PCs? How have they worked out for you?