Not What You Think - Beelink EQ14 Review

[@Robtech]

Beelink is also giving away a few of these minis. If you want to enter, details are here: x.com/Beelinkofficial/status/1861732172190863766

[@BoopSnoot]

2:42 "One supports gen3 x4 speed, while the other x1", do you know which is which? I tried to pull up the user manual, but it shows up nowhere on the Beelink website.

[@Beelinkchannel]

@@BoopSnoot Hi, the first slot for the pre-installed SSD is PCIe 3.0 x4, while the second slot is PCIe 3.0 x1.

[@ChrisLund-gq6lj]

Dear Robtech Over the course of a few years I have tuned in to your mini PC reviews yet I have failed to noticed, until the day I bought one, that these mini PCs in general seem to lack a 3.5mm audioport on the back. Instead I have to drag a cable to the front and have it "destroy" the clean appearance of the mini PC. If my monitor had a port for audio then this could have been resolved, but it does not. I find it strange, how do people hook up their audio to these things? Do they allow the cable to go out on the front? Do they all have audio jacks in their monitors? Or bluetooth? Or something else? All I have on the back of my Acer Veriton is a USBC with DP, HDMi and USBA ports. My monitor has USBC, USBA and HDMi. Am I stuck having to connect my audio to the front? (and I can barely find a single USBC hub with audio jacks!)

[@3dhYT]

This is definitely the best channel about mini PC. Thank you papa 🙂

[@donkultgen4643]

I've been happy with my lower cost N97 GMKtek G5. Thanks for the review.

[@-iIIiiiiiIiiiiIIIiiIi-]

Props for telling the truth about this N150 chip.

[@BoopSnoot]

Mine peaks at 2.9Ghz, won't hit 3.6Ghz out of the box, wonder if he had the same BIOS restriction in place limiting performance.

[@DesignPrograming]

Very good review, it seems to be something similar to the case of the i3 n300, which when it was launched did not appear on the Intel website for any of its variants, but it could be that something strange is happening that they do not put the chip information on their website.

[@walkhawaii]

Thanks!

[@Robtech]

Thank you

[@bryans8656]

It's hard to imagine what Intel had in mind with this one. My G3 GMKtec scored almost the same results and it runs Linux Mint flawlessly. I'm okay with the external power supply.

[@bhirawamaylana466]

external power supply is better than internal, as what if the power supply somehow broken how you gonna replace it?

[@sprockkets]

@@bhirawamaylana466 it's basically an external power supply stuffed inside it.

[@marcialabrahantes3369]

In the US Amzn there's a 40$ Coupon for the EQ14, making the total pre tax / shipping is 190

[@MDunaev]

Intel n150 -- Intresting, but not ipressing. Thanks for video!

[@jabonorte]

Wasn't expecting miracles. Wasn't disappointed either. This is exactly why Beelink have come out with a range of Ryzen 5xxx minis with (almost) the same model number. Maybe next year we'll get something worthwhile from Intel? Would love Lunar Lake Lite chip, but not holding my breath!

[@fturla___156]

So many slight improvements by Intel in the last 15 years of less than 5% that you would think they actually don't develop CPU chips at all, but they elect to just get better performing chips by making the chips small, hotter, and use more power. I don't believe they ever knew what the hell they were doing for more than 20 years

[@Power3DDesign]

A surprisingly dissappinting result from the new N150 processor. Thanks for keeping everyone informed of the refreshed N100. Had intel made the N150 closer to a N200, I suspect a lot of people would have been much happier.

[@Robtech]

Indeed.

[@pengjiayou]

I just bought the Beelink EQ14 mini PC, the most important thing to consider buying is the built-in power.

[@suprerxero]

Topton Solid FU03 is first passive (until 45c) mini pc with zen 4 cpu, can you review that one? should be totally silent at idle and low loads.

[@israelramirez1617]

n150 a no sense product? even my generic no brand n100 have better performance numbers and includes DDR4 3200 PCIe 3200mb/sec and USBC display port.... maybe we living final days of Intel?????

[@SchnuffiJames]

Does it come down to DDR4 where some of the other devises have DDR5 I think.

[@Robtech]

Short answer no. Long answer will be gone over in the next N150 review

[@SchnuffiJames]

@@Robtech Thanks

[@ferdinandbardamu3945]

TL,DW these are not the Skymont E-cores you were looking for.

[@PhilMaes]

Oeps, just saw your review to late ... My EQ14 arrived last weekend (present from our kids) Thanks for the additional information, very nice explained with some funny flavor ;-) There are indeed some lags. I shall update the advanced BIOS turbo settings :-) Any other tips to improve speed ? Using a AOC monitor 27G4X at 120 Hz , HDR on ... Best regards, Phil from Belgium

[@Robtech]

Nope, that's it.

[@PhilMaes]

Ok, thanks ... It's not a real upgrade for the old bulky desktop pc ... But the silence of the EQ14 makes him/her a good looking handy toy on our bureau at home. There was already a newer bios available at Beelink forum, but I couldn't flash it ... Greetings and thanks, Phil.

[@BoopSnoot]

My EQ14 just arrived, cpu is floored at 100% for a long time as I'm setting up a server, but it won't go above 2.9ghz, does yours have this issue?

[@PhilMaes]

@@BoopSnoot Goodmorning, I'm still in touch with help desk of Beelink / about the speed of the EQ14. This is what they answered, maybe it can help you. (Sorry, still hadn't the time to do it.) 😊 "Hello Phil, Thanks for your letter. Could you please send us a picture of SN code at the bottom of machine？ Have you tried another mouse？Is there the same issue? Please unplug the power supply and HDMI cable. Please press the pinhole of "CLR CMOS" (if no CMOS button, please put the pin in the CMOS pinhole and press it ) with a pin for about 10 seconds.Ten minutes later, plug the power supply and HDMI cable, turn on the PC again. Please wait about one or two minute, if you can go to the system, Please repeatedly press delete key as soon as your restart the PC, go to BIOS. Go to Boot option, enable fast boot, press F4 to save. Here is the tutorial mega.nz/file/2nIRGaYI#M2aIM2bkOJshrhE8sK8MNiKopfyHlqyjnn86TypZp2w Pls try to update the driver: url.bee-link.cn/mGVP Have a nice day! Best regards! Tina Customer Support " I shall have a look asap.

[@RobertGenerous]

Half a litre in volume is a bit hard to imagine. You could do a RetroGamesCorps and compare using a block of butter.

[@google_is_annoying_me_lots3440]

have you never seen a measuring jug?

[@evolopterus]

Thanks for testing DPC latency.

[@mirkorossi2856]

thank's from italy...you are the best...👍

[@francyspi4610]

Will be good if you can make the same comparison for GMKTeck G3 Plus. Thank you very much!!!

[@karlreading3201]

Am I right in thinking where this improves is the x4 and x1 nvme drives vs n100?

[@Robtech]

Same in the EQ13 N100 model.

[@parachutes_party]

Bought it during black friday with $60 off and free shipping. For about $170 including tax, it's fine. I figured it would at least be similar to or slightly better than the N100, bit sad to hear it's not. I was very close to purchasing the S12 pro. Mostly bought it for the extra memory slot and the USB-C, and not red power button haha.

[@Robtech]

Yeah, good price there.

[@GerritTV187]

I saw gmktec has a N150 mini PC as well. Will you be reviewing that as well?

[@gamertechlive1780]

I think the real difference will be with Quicksync since its a recently release CPU so it might do better as dedicated budget streaming PC via quick sync over the n100.

[@Robtech]

Possibly. It hasn't been offered, but I could ask. I'm reviewing a different brand soon.

[@Asdasdas1337]

Can this one do displayport over usbc?

[@Robtech]

Data port only

[@avidwriter2882]

N150 when the N200 exsists... Why Intel? Going to hold out hope it's because it too new and the drivers are not caught up yet? Oh....

[@godnyx117]

What was that "Oh..." in the end? 😅

[@DinoFancellu]

I got the N200 eq13 as an ubuntu/casaos based samba NAS. A great upgrade on my previous router USB solution, much much faster throughput, able to host multiple USB drives, and can run most any software, apps etc. Money well spent. Most any N100 solution should also do just fine. I got the eq13 as a good price and known for being quiet

[@sprockkets]

The n250 will replace the n200 or the n97, yeah, it's a sht show.

[@BoopSnoot]

I wonder why the price went up, I received my EQ14 for $169

[@McRocket]

I really appreciate that you show us how to make modifications.👍 ☮

[@yousaf.saleem]

DDR5 could have helped with performance?

[@Robtech]

Adds a few percent to the integrated graphics.

[@marcialabrahantes3369]

what's the cheapest mini pc with disk channel RAM support?

[@Robtech]

Why do you need dual channel? Faster graphics?

[@aziz555555]

I purchased this mini PC expecting it to outperform my N100 PC, but I'm truly disappointed. In Geekbench tests, the N150 scored lower than both my N100 and N97 Nucbox G5 in single-core and multi-core tests. Also, in the GPU test, it scored significantly lower than the N97 and only comparable to my N100 mini PC. Really disappointing.

[@Robtech]

N97 and N200 have more EUs on the GPU side. It was only likely to beat the N100 with the supposed higher boost speed....which it didn't.

[@portow]

So which would you recommend? S12pro or this one? Thanks!

[@joelpotischman248]

Saw this video earlier today (kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJurgoaOfreIn68) which also found very disappointing performance of the N150 when compared to an N100 machine. He realized that the N100 had DDR5 and the N150 only had DDR4. He did not have access to a DDR5 N150 but when he compared results with a DDR4 N100 machine, the N150 did much better. So . . . if you can find an N150 w/ DDR5, it will probably be a lot faster than the one tested here, but I haven't found any and just bought a DDR5 N100 mini PC as a result.

[@superangrybrit]

Not having DDR5 hurts the performance too much. Somewhat good pricing and dual m.2 slots is a nice addition tho. Pass. 😐

[@nickdolin393]

DDR4 is really bottlenecking this. Right before watching this video, suggests DDR5 with the N150 steps up the speed, even when compared to the N100 DDR5

[@LiLBitsDK]

thanks for the review... seems dissapointing... the boost specs kinda say it will be better... but then it ain't which is a bit odd... internal power is a PLUS though

[@joesworld396]

Great review. Personally I'm only interested in running Linux, so if support isn't 100% then this is a pass for me. The N100s are still just fine.

[@honeybadger6127]

it's funny how the Ryzen 5 5500u is stomping the sh!t out of this in all comparisons

[@neilquinn]

5500u is a totally different class of chip for power efficiency

[@DinoFancellu]

Totally different. N100 and similar sip power. Great for server on 24/7. If you wanted performance, especially gaming perf, absolutely go for something AMD

[@BoopSnoot]

AMD is best as a client. Intel is best as a server, super low idle power draw.

[@neilquinn]

@@BoopSnoot I'm not sure that's still true.

[@BoopSnoot]

@@neilquinn I don't think there is anything with Quicksync for example (needed for Plex hardware transcoding) that has a 6 watt TDP. Without Quicksync, it requires considerably more processing power, and likely power draw, to get the same results.

[@dustin146]

Just bought one to be my home server

[@kamolhengkiatisak1527]

It does not make sense for higher clock rate of both CPU/GPU but the real world's performance does not match the higher clock rate.

[@LiLBitsDK]

yeah found that a bit odd

[@cirozorro]

Think this is a result of the thermal limitations I would guess. Still a 6w TDP tuned chip, if we could unlock the thermal level, it would perform much better. I think this is akin to the N97 (12W TDP, slightly higher turbo on iGPU, same turbo as CPU but double the thermal headroom). The N97 will very likely outperform the N150, but may need a bigger heatsink or produce more fan noise to keep it cool.

[@untitled8027]

damn ive been looking forward to the successor to the n100 this is a bit disappointing.

[@Crustenscharbap]

Get a Zen2 oder Zen3 Mini PC. Is also under 200€. But supports dual channel RAM and its faster.

[@ALCLCFVIS]

and consumes a lot more...why would I spend more money on something that i only use as a media player and light stuff?

[@Crustenscharbap]

@ For Media playback the N100/150 are great. Especially they support AV-1. But for office and Web I think the Zens are better because they are mich faster.

[@sihker]

how does the internal PSU heat the insides? If everything gets load, it will get quite toasty inside. And when will the chinese bios leave the year 1994?

[@dgaglioni]

Nice shirt!

[@Robtech]

Thanks. I'll add it as a link in the video description incase anyone wants it.

[@dlewis9760]

There N naming convention makes no sense when being pushed to consumers. As stated, higher number should be better. You don't have to spend money and time delving deeper into that. The best is supposedly the N97.

[@dlewis9760]

Unless Intel forces the chip on small PC makers, the PC makers must have decided there's some kind of market. What's that market? Also, unless there is a clamor to fix Linus so the chip can be used, that doesn't mean "They" have to. "They" might, but if the amount of units in the wild where the user has to have Linux may be too small to bother with. But if you have to have Linux on a small PC, chances are you are smart enough to know Linux has issues running on it. Not too many people are going to wait around for that to be fixed, because the N150 is a ride or die issue for them.

[@matcarfer]

Superb video, went for a LPDDR5 N100 for $130 for Batocera.

[@francyspi4610]

may I ask which brand and model? Thanks

[@ShaunaJagan]

Intel doing useless refreshes? No way 🤯 But seriously, I still hope that Intel can glue itself together and release something better, like a N400 💪

[@Robtech]

Q1 2025 is coming up. Fingers crossed.

[@ShuraCL]

maybe try ubuntu 24.10 🙃

[@stclaws9580]

"even worse than glued on rubber feet' well, debatable. i'll take rubber covers over glued on ones any day

[@Robtech]

These rubber covers are also glued on and even more difficult to pluck out

[@N3tigen]

Where is Intel n50

[@HuntaKiller91]

Intel shud give us better pentium/celeron Anemic igpu

[@Nastja3000]

It is the same CPU with doubled price. Did you really expected something good from Intel after all these years ?

[@Robtech]

Double the price of what? The EQ14 N150 is $10 more than the EQ13 with the N100 on Amazon.com. Yes, I expected a slightly faster CPU in all metrics for the refresh.

[@TeamPandory]

"Boy was I wrong" "awww" "... awww" Great review - You totally nailed it 😄👍

[@neilquinn]

Def a boring cpu. One reason it also is slower than some of the older N100 machines like the EQ12 is because it only has DDR4 not DDR5. The tiny cpu bump didn't really cover that gap.

[@AlexandreAlonso]

So sad don’t support 32gb /48gb

[@Robtech]

Should support 32GB. The N150, mini I'm testing at the moment came with 32GB.

[@AlexandreAlonso]

Do you have the pc that run Intel n150 with ddr5 ram?

[@Robtech]

Not yet. Not sure why everyone wants DDR5. It gives a few percent better iGPU performance at best.

[@srvuk]

An embarrassment of a machine and the fact that Beelink knew that it wasn't better without DDR5 RAM shows that it's essentially a quick cash grab, at least until people see the actual performance comparisons.

[@AWEG-qu8bz]

Wie nennt man diese Typen denn nun? RoboNerd oder NerdRob? Da habt ihr doch bestimmt Ideen.

[@KanielD]

Could have at least thrown in WIFI 7 to justify a new model 😂

[@moenibus]

not what i think... and what am i thinking, exactly? 🤔 according to your wisdom?

[@Robtech]

Nothing intelligent, that's for sure.

[@heyguyslolGAMING]

Intel really needs to get their sh!t together. I can't do AMD so I'm stuck.

[@godnyx117]

As long as people buying their shit, they won't improve anything. #BoycottThePCMarket

[@LiLBitsDK]

can't? why?

[@simon057]

Please turn off this stupid auto translation function by KZbin, its HORRIBLE.

[@ziggy8757]

when a upgrade really means its a downgrade....nice intel...next time we need downgrades then....

[@MarquillaDyland]

Unabhängiger Oculink belegt keinen NVMe-Steckplatz, Ultraleiser AMD Ryzen 7 5825U (8C/16T, bis zu 4,5 GHz), 16 GB DDR4 512 G SSD, Minicomputer, NVME*3 1. Ryzen 7 5825U/16 G RAM DDR5+512 G SSD M.2 2280 PEIC4.0 2.Unabhängige Oculink/HDMI2.1-Schnittstelle, unterstützt Dreifach-Bildschirmanzeige 3.Nur 0,6 l Volumen, platzsparend/„Forest 2.0“-Geräuschloses Kühlsystem 4.Lokale Servicecenter in Deutschland und Amazon FBA-Lager, WiFi 6 2,5 G LAN 8K Dreifach-Bildschirm.

[@TrusteftTech]

N150...*sigh* Thank you papa.

[@Robtech]

Yeaaaahh......

[@enihi]

How can it be this bad?

[@isbestlizard]

Yuk.. single channel of ddr4... in 2024...

[@MarquillaDyland]

Unabhängiger Oculink belegt keinen NVMe-Steckplatz, Ultra leiser AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX (8C/16T, bis zu 4,9 GHz), 32 GB LPDDR5 (4800 MHz) 1T SSD, Mini-Computer, NVME*3 1. Ryzen 9 6900HX / 32G RAM DDR5 + 1T SSD M.2 2280 PEIC4.0 2. Unabhängige Oculink/HDMI2.1-Schnittstelle, unterstützt Dreifach-Bildschirmanzeige 3. Nur 0,6 l Volumen, platzsparend/„Forest 2.0“-Geräuschloses Kühlsystem 4. Lokale Servicezentren in Deutschland und Amazon FBA-Lager, WiFi 6 2,5G LAN 8K Dreifach-Display

[@shadowbanned4606]

2:57 Spyware 11 with approved keylogging included.

[@shadowbanned4606]

2:45 NVME empty slots scam in plain sight. Can't change CPU, GPU? Planned obsolescence scam in plain sight.

[@stclaws9580]

can't change cpu and gpu in a smartphone, tablet, laptop, gaming console - "sCaM aNd PlAnNeD oBsOleScENcE" 🤡 - right?

[@mcash2189]

let's CPU is a joke and I will never understand the appeal of these mini PCS I mean we're talking about a laptop with no keyboard or display

[@djashjones]

Home server's or homelabs. I have a N100 mini running home assistant.

[@isbestlizard]

So intel literally just slapped a new name on their N100? s/n100/n150/g and jobs done?