Extremely-compact form-factor (UCFF) machines have been one of many main drivers within the resurgence of the PC market. The development was kickstarted by Intel’s NUCs within the early 2010s. These PCs have normally relied on low-power processors with compelling efficiency per watt metrics. AMD was largely absent on this market until the introduction of the Ryzen processors. Whereas ASRock Industrial was one of many first to launch a UCFF mini-PC primarily based on the first-generation Ryzen embedded processors, a number of OEMs have lined as much as make the most of the second-generation AMD processors in their very own high-performance mini-PC lineups.
The PN sequence represents the vary of UCFF PCs from ASUS. The ASUS PN30 (a fanless PC primarily based on Carrizo-L) was launched in early 2020 as AMD’s sole illustration within the PN sequence. This was adopted up in Q3 2020 by the ASUS PN50, and extra lately, the PN51. Whereas the PN30 was a low-end providing, the ASUS PN50 (which we’re at present) makes a play for the high-end market by utilizing the Renoir APUs within the Ryzen 4000 cell sequence. The main target of the PN sequence normally, and the PN50 particularly, is extra on small and medium-businesses moderately than the house client base.
This isn’t our first take a look at the Renoir APUs within the NUC form-factor. We had reviewed one other Ryzen 7 4800U providing within the ASRock Industrial 4X4 BOX-4800U late final 12 months. Since then, Intel’s Tiger Lake-based UCFF PCs have been launched into the market. The electronics business provide chain is constant to face challenges, requiring enterprise shoppers to line up and qualify a number of choices for deployment. This assessment gives a complete analysis of the efficiency and worth proposition of the ASUS PN50 on this context.
Introduction and Product Impressions
Small type issue PCs have change into one of many prime selections for set up in enterprise environments. Because of continued enhancements in processor computing energy in addition to energy effectivity, eventualities that require conventional tower desktops have shrunk significantly. UCFF methods fulfilling enterprise necessities corresponding to distant administration and ease of deployment have change into extensively deployed in SMBs and SMEs. Intel’s vPro choices have been the mainstay on this market section, with AMD’s adoption of DASH for out-of-band shopper administration having fun with comparatively restricted success.
After the introduction of Zen 2-based APUs, there was renewed curiosity in SMB / SME UCFF PCs primarily based on AMD’s processors. Because of TSMC’s 7nm course of and AMD’s revamped microarchitecture, the Renoir APUs primarily based on Zen 2 have been capable of supply stiff competitors to Intel’s flagship processors. Along with retaining the multi-core management, the enhancements enabled Renoir to to problem Intel’s choices in in each single-threaded efficiency and energy effectivity.
AMD prioritized the supply of Renoir APUs to the pocket book market, with mini-PCs following quickly after. ASRock Industrial and ASUS have been the primary ones to launch UCFF methods primarily based on these elements. Just like the 4X4 BOX-4000 sequence of ASRock Industrial, the ASUS PN50 has 4 SKUs with CPU core counts of 4 (Ryzen 3 4300U), 6 (Ryzen 5 4500U), 8 (Ryzen 7 4700U), and eight (Ryzen 7 4800U). The final one is the flagship within the Ryzen 4000 U-series, with the very best core rely and totally enabled GPU, and the ASUS PN50 with the Ryzen 7 4800U is the one being checked out on this assessment.
The ASUS PN50 employs a well-ventilated plastic chassis measuring 115 mm x 115 mm x 49 mm to deal with the Ryzen 7 4800U SoC. That is an octa-core processor with SMT enabled (8C/16T) able to working with a TDP configurable between 12W and 25W. Whereas the PN50 is on the market as a barebones PC from numerous e-tailers, ASUS has pre-built ready-to-deploy configurations for B2B prospects – evident from the reminiscence and storage choices offered within the product technical specs web page. The corporate sampled us with a mid-tier configuration utilizing the Intel SSD 660p and SK hynix DDR SODIMMs. The complete specs of our ASUS PN50 assessment configuration are summarized within the desk under.
ASUS PN50 Specs | |
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 4800U Zen 2 (Renoir) 8C/16T, 1.8 – 4.2 GHz TSMC 7nm, 8MB L3, 12-25 W (20W) |
Reminiscence | SK hynix HMA81GS6DJR8N-XN DDR4-3200 SODIMM 22-22-22-52 @ 3200 MHz 2×8 GB |
Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics (Renoir) – Built-in GPU with 8 CUs |
Disk Drive(s) | Intel SSDPEKNW512G8 (512 GB; M.2 Sort 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4; Intel 64L 3D QLC) (Silicon Movement SM2263 Controller) |
Networking | Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2×2 802.11ax – 2400 Mbps) 1x Realtek RTL8111G Gigabit Ethernet Controller |
Audio | 3.5mm Headphone Jack Able to 5.1/7.1 digital output with HD audio bitstreaming (HDMI / DisplayPort) |
Miscellaneous I/O Ports | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-C (Entrance) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-A (Entrance) 1x microSDXC UHS-I 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-A (Rear) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-C (Rear) |
Working System | B2B unit comes with Winodws 10 Skilled, however we put in Home windows 10 Enterprise x64 |
Pricing (As configured) | $630 (barebones) $774 (as configured) |
Full Specs | ASUS PN50 Specs |
An outline of the chassis design and association of various ports is proven within the gallery under. It have to be famous that the full-sized DisplayPort output within the rear panel is a configurable port. Fashions bought within the e-tailer channel within the US have this video output, however fashions elsewhere may exchange it with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, or a serial port. Customization is feasible for B2B shoppers with particular necessities for large-scale deployments.
The B2B model of the ASUS PN50 comes with Home windows 10 Skilled x64 pre-installed. Barebones consumers can set up their OS of selection. BIOS updates and Home windows drivers can be found off te product assist web page. One of many key differentiation facets of the ASUS PN50 over different UCFF PCs is the bundling of a wired keyboard and mouse within the package deal. Whereas the construct high quality of the 2 parts are simply satisfactory, they do assist IT personnel in shortly deploying a system from a single package deal. Along with the primary unit, the opposite parts of the package deal embrace a compact 90W energy adapter (19V @ 4.74A), US energy wire, a VESA mount, and related screws.
Organising a barebones system or having access to the construct parts is so simple as popping off 4 screws from the underside of the chassis and sliding off the underside panel. It have to be famous that the two.5″ drive is mounted to this underside, and the act of sliding allows the SATA drive to connect with the pre-installed SATA drive receptacle in the primary chassis. Slots for putting in the SODIMMs and the M.2 SSD are additionally evident after opening up the unit.
As for networking assist, the PN50 is supplied with an Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 adapter, which is widespread in modern high-end UCFF methods. ASUS additionally has sure configurations with 802.11ac Wi-Fi and even no Wi-Fi in any respect, however these are for particular B2B fashions not bought within the US e-tailer channel.
On the wired facet, ASUS provides a single gigabit LAN port with the PN50. For patrons who want quicker wired networking, they do supply a customized choice to put in a 2.5 GigE adapter instead of the DisplayPort output. However once more, that is just for customized configurations.
Within the desk under, we’ve got an summary of the varied methods that we’re evaluating the ASUS PN50 in opposition to. Be aware that they could not belong to the identical market section. The related configuration particulars of the machines are supplied in order that readers have an understanding of why some benchmark numbers are skewed for or in opposition to the ASUS PN50 after we come to these sections.
Comparative PC Configurations | ||
Facet | ASUS PN50 | |
CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 4800U | AMD Ryzen 7 4800U |
GPU | AMD Renoir (Radeon RX Vega 8 / GCN5) | AMD Renoir (Radeon RX Vega 8 / GCN5) |
RAM | SK hynix HMA81GS6DJR8N-XN DDR4-3200 SODIMM 22-22-22-52 @ 3200 MHz 2×8 GB |
SK hynix HMA81GS6DJR8N-XN DDR4-3200 SODIMM 22-22-22-52 @ 3200 MHz 2×8 GB |
Storage | Intel SSDPEKNW512G8 (512 GB; M.2 Sort 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4; Intel 64L 3D QLC) (Silicon Movement SM2263 Controller) |
Intel SSDPEKNW512G8 (512 GB; M.2 Sort 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4; Intel 64L 3D QLC) (Silicon Movement SM2263 Controller) |
Wi-Fi | Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2×2 802.11ax – 2400 Mbps) |
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2×2 802.11ax – 2400 Mbps) |
Value (in USD, when constructed) | $630 (barebones) $774 (as configured) |
$630 (barebones) $774 (as configured) |
The subsequent part gives the platform evaluation – particularly, the variations in comparison with the ASRock Industrial’s 4X4 BOX-4000 sequence merchandise. That is adopted by sections coping with efficiency benchmarks earlier than transferring on to some discussions on energy consumption and thermal efficiency.