MINIX Z97 PC, Intel Alder Lake N97 (tot 3,60 GHz) 12 GB LPDDR5X 512 GB NVMe SSD Dual LAN computer, 4K triple-display/2x HDMI/DP, kleine pc desktop voor gamer, business, thuiskantoor

This PC is much better than I was expecting, and it’s genuinely impressed me with the amount of power and features packed in a tiny box. It is about the size of a drink coaster and easily mountable behind a monitor, as you can see in my attacehd photos, which keeps my workspace clean and clutter-free. Despite its size, this unit is no slouch. The Intel Alder Lake N97 processor delivers solid performance for general productivity, web browsing, and media consumption. It runs Windows 11 smoothly, and thanks to the 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and the fast 512GB NVMe SSD, I’ve experienced zero lag when multitasking with multiple Chrome tabs, streaming services, and Office apps.Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports are a rare and welcome addition for networking flexibility, and the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 ensure fast, stable wireless performance. Triple 4K display output works well, and the visuals were sharp and fluid. It's comparatively quiet, too—even during heavier use, fan noise is barely noticeable.While the processor is a step up from entry-level chips like the N100 or N5095, it's still not built for heavy workloads or gaming beyond casual or cloud-based options.Overall, the MINIX Z97 punches above its weight for those looking for a small, silent, and energy-efficient desktop solution. It's great for home offices, and it handles most everyday tasks with ease. If you’re not trying to push it beyond its design limits, this mini PC is a fantastic value for the performance and features it delivers.

Pros:- Decent build quality- Compact size, less than half the size of similar mini PCs- Solid feel and small footprint- Dual HDMI and DP video outputs- Dual Ethernet ports for direct file transfer between PCs and internet- All USB-A ports are USB 3.0- Quiet cooling fan operation- Responsive boot time of 33 seconds- Better PASSMARK score compared to older N100-based mini PCs- Smooth YouTube playback for FHD and 4K- Stable and comfortable CPU temperature during YouTube playback (around 42-44C)- OBS 4K/60fps recording works smoothly- Performs well for MS Office and multimedia applications- Suitable for light gaming- Surprisingly high benchmark lead in 3D graphics above N100- Very stable even when the case is moved around during operation- Power supply LEDCons:- Cannot be placed on its side due to connector placement- Not a gaming PC despite improvementsThe MINIX Z97 PC with Intel Alder Lake N97 quad-core CPU (up to 3.60GHz), 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, and 512GB NVMe SSD is a tiny yet powerful mini PC. Its build quality is decent despite the plastic case, and its compact size is impressive, with a footprint similar to a square 2.5” drive. This PC cannot be placed on its side as all sides are occupied with connectors and the power switch.The Z97 stands out with dual HDMI and DP video outputs and dual Ethernet ports, making it ideal for direct file transfers between PCs when connecting to internet. Its USB-A ports are all USB 3.0, adding convenience.After completing all Windows 11 updates, the Z97 boots to the login prompt in just 33 seconds. Tests show it feels as responsive as the larger ACEMAGIC AK2 Plus Mini PC with Alder Lake N100, which has 16GB DDR4 RAM and the same SSD capacity. The cooling fan operates quietly.Benchmarking results highlight the Z97’s performance. It achieved a PASSMARK score of 1864, outperforming the N100-based AK2 with a 1318 score. This represents a 41% lead overall, with the most significant improvement in 3D graphics at 61%. CPU clock speeds ranged between 1095 and 3485MHz during tests. The CPU MARK also has a 18.5% lead.Video playback and recording capabilities are smooth. YouTube content plays well at both FHD and 4K resolutions, and OBS recording at 4K/60fps is seamless. The CPU temperature remains stable and comfortable at around 42-44C, during YouTube playback. The Z97 also handles MS Office and multimedia applications efficiently. While not a gaming PC, it performs well for light gaming.On paper, the Z97 appears 20-40% faster than the N100-based AK2. However, in real-life use, the speed difference is not highly noticeable. The most striking distinction is its size, being less than half the size of the AK2. This compact design, coupled with enhanced functionality, makes the Z97 impressive.In conclusion, the MINIX Z97 PC is a remarkable device. Despite its small size, it delivers significant improvements in performance compared to older mini PCs. Its combination of compactness and functionality is truly noteworthy. I am delighted with the order.

Ce mini PC est vraiment petit comparé à d'autres mini PC que j'ai pu avoir entre les mains. On a la possibilité de le fixer directement derrière un écran grâce à l'adaptateur VESA fourni, c'est très pratique.Avec sa petite taille on pourrait craindre une chauffe excessive mais il n'en est rien et la chauffe est très bien contenue, grâce au système de refroidissement qui paraît parfaitement adapté aux caractéristiques de la machine.Concernant la partie technique, c'est très complet pour ce prix là, on est sur un Intel Alder Lake N97, 12Gb de RAM et 512 Gb de stockage SSD.J'ai installé Proxmox dessus pour faire tourner mon Home Assistant et faire du Frigate, ça tourne nickel, et j'ai encore de quoi installer d'autres éléments.Le seul point négatif concerne la RAM qui est soudée donc pas upgradable mais avec 12Gb, on a de quoi voir venir

Mit großer Spannung nahm ich den Mini-Pc in Betrieb. Ein Windows-Lizenz ist installiert und man kann sofort loslegen.Er eignet sich super als Office-Rechner, d.h. um Schreiben aufzusetzen, einige Tabellen erstellen und im Internet zu browsern. Aber auch multimedial kann der Rechner überzeugen. Die Wiedergabe einer MKV mit UHD-Material hat der Rechner mit Bravour geschafft, HQ Musik-Streaming der üblichen Dienste kann er erst recht.Die Stromaufnahme liegt im idle bei unter 10 Watt, somit eignet sich der Rechner auch für einen permanenten Einsatz als NAS oder Server für Homeautomation.Auch als Emulator für Retrogaming bringt der Rechner genügend Leistung daher. Spiele wie Helldivers 2 schafft der Intel Alder Lake N97 hingegen leider bei weitem nicht.

I am really beginning to like the Intel N97 Mini-PC's. Although not speed demon by modern/gaming standards, they are no slouches either. For any day to day office usage or general web browsing or streaming use, this little box performs quite well and is VERY responsive feeling. The fact that it comes with a 512Gb NVME SSD (unbranded) and 12Gb worth of LPDDR5 (Samsung) operating in dual channel mode definitely doesn't hurt either. Hardware wise it is quite small, quite light, and includes a VESA mount adapter. A quick inspection also reveals that the two network ports are powered by RealTek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit NIC's, which are perfectly acceptable (though I wouldn't have complained if they had included 2.5GbE support). The WiFi is provided by an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX101, which I was very pleased to see, as most of the competing boxes I have played with have still been coming with 802.11ac controllers.Upon firing it up, it had a very standard and clean Windows 11 Pro install with absolutely nothing I saw out of the ordinary and no extra files loaded. During a few quick burn-in tests the fans never got louder than a low hum and the temps never rose above 76C before throttling kicked in and lowered it a constant 70C. Power usage peaked at around 18.7W but stabilized at 15W, which is about what I would expect. I also did a quick run of Furmark to see how the graphics performed, and while definitely not suited for gaming, it at least managed around 17FPS at 1280x720, which is better than I was expecting, likely helped by the dual channel DDR5. About the only thing I noticed a bit odd was that they have the SSD partitioned into an OS (C) drive with 128Gb and a Data(D) drive with the remained. In this day and age of SSDs, there is really no advantage to doing this, so I'd probably combine them back into a single partition. My only real complaint would be that I wish it included at least one USB-C port on it (preferably in addition to the 3 USB3 ports, not instead of one of them).Just as a bit of a side note, on the chance you decide to install a clean copy of Windows 11 Pro (which I ALWAYS do), be sure to back up the system32, driverstore, filerepository folder to a flash driver or elsewhere before doing so, as a lot of the drivers for the N97 chip and chipset are not available for download on Intel's site, and can be quite difficult to locate otherwise. Additionally, this model Mini PC doesn't appear on Minix's website and has no drivers there either, so just consider yourself well advised to make a back up of the drivers that come on the unit.All things considered, this is a very nice little computer and will probably work great as a basic office PC and the price is quite reasonable.