Review: A Compact Desktop That Gets The Basics Right
It is quiet, serviceable and fast enough for real work. The trade-offs are honest, which is rarer than it should be.
Small desktops usually ask you to accept loud fans or throttled performance. This one asks for neither, and the compromises it does make are stated plainly.
Build and serviceability
Two captive screws get you to the storage and memory. That alone puts it ahead of most of the category.
Performance
| Workload | Result |
|---|---|
| Sustained multi-core | Holds 92% of peak after 30 minutes |
| Idle noise | Effectively inaudible |
What is missing
- Only one internal drive bay.
- Front port selection is thin.
Verdict
A good default recommendation for a desk machine that needs to be quiet and last five years.
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