Why This Mini Rocks! ACEMAGIC T8 Plus N100 Mini PC Review

[@Robtech]

The Realtek 8821CE is WiFi 5 not 6. Sorry!

[@TomHofman]

Opening up is fairly easy, just use a small flat head screwdriver in the Kensington slot and lift it up so that it clears the 3.5mm port!

[@Joshua-no1it]

Hey I have this and managed to buy for 100 GBP, I live in Thailand and ordered from Ali. I got the 16gb 512gb version. It was easily my best ever purchase, it can emulate wii U through CEMU. I am blown away that it can emulate Super Mario 3d world at 1080p. It looks better than my Switch!

[@marktwain3083]

I just ordered it from Ali for 96€. Can it really emulate switch games? Have you tried any other games?

[@Joshua-no1it]

@@marktwain3083 hi, I said it emulated Wii u at 1080p which gives better fidelity than games ported from Wii U to Switch. But actually yes it can play some low demand switch games on Ryujinx. I would use Cemu and Wii U where possible, games like Captain Toad Treasure, Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze etc all run flawlessly.

[@whisperviz1346]

how is something so tiny is more powerful than most office desktop lmao what a time to be alive

[@heyheyhophop]

Holding on to mah papers, but yes ;)

[@andrewd4906]

Thanks for the memory tip & explanation. Got a boost from my T8 plus

[@m4heshd]

Just got one of these. Thank you so much for the RAM tip. This thing is freaking amazing. Got it on an offer. Worth every penny. One issue though. Audio is absolutely garbage. Windows installs some generic drivers for the audio and that's it. The hardware PID *(USB\VID_0573 PID_1573)* for the audio device is nowhere to be found on the internet.

[@JamesNade]

You could get a Creative Sound Blaster G3 , these can be found for 30 bucks and deliver a decent experience for the price.

[@qud3913]

@@JamesNade But this whole PC is sold for $100 lol

[@m4heshd]

@@JamesNade Too expensive. A much better option would be a Type-C to 3.5mm adapter with a DAC which most of us already own, but unfortunately, no Type-C input here. Needs another adapter which I cannot find locally.

[@Bocimir]

Thanks for such a good comparison as I too, recently become obsessed with n100 mini pcs :')

[@protocetid]

It uses so little energy it could probably be used to make an Intel smartphone, god I wish a company would make it a reality.

[@dave_r]

Interesting review, and I'm glad you caught the 3200 speed on DDR and after fixing the BIOS setting retested to show the difference. I still wish they could have found a way to put a 2280-sized drive in there as it's getting harder to find replacement drives in that size, but given the price for the lowest end that's probably wanting too much. (As I type this I'm thinking of the new fanless ASUS PN42 which is being sold with 4GB RAM (though it doesn't seem to be in stock yet in most places), and having tried once as an experiment to run Win 10 on a 4GB RAM system, that's just not workable. I know that's not really relevant, but I was looking at prices.)

[@Robtech]

Here in Aus, ASUS PN42 N100 $529AUD ($343USD) for...4GB RAM, 128GB SSD and no OS 🤦

[@r0galik]

I managed to get this (the same thing I hope? Firebat T8 Plus N100 16G) for a bargain price of $122... I was quite lucky!

[@bulldogboy100]

Thanks Rob for another comprehensive review

[@Robtech]

You're very welcome!

[@KevinGuske]

Thank you for a great , detailed review. Just got an AceMagic T8 Plus, which is very similar to this but has an N95 CPU. I came here looking for how to remove the cover (thanks!) and found the T8 Plus has the same issue - and the same solution - with memory (N95 also max = 4800). Thanks again!

[@DIYtechie]

I had to use F7 to get into the bios on the keyboard. Esc and Del dit not work for some reason. But it worked out. Thanks!

[@darknessblades]

Could you check what the power-consumption is when running home-assistant?

[@bakh95]

Nice review! I was wondering if i could run autocad on this pc?

[@underthesamesky_]

Hi, I would like to know, does it have in BIOS possibility to automatic turn on when power is applied (after power failure for example)?

[@wyim]

@Robtech I was thinking of purchasing T8 Pro. However the T9 plus has the NVME SSD instead of SATA. The reading/writing speed is even faster than the SSD in EQ12!

[@Robtech]

This one also supports PCIe Gen 3 according to the image spec. But I didn't have a 2240 NVME drive to test, so I don't know if it's Gen3 x1 or x4. Most likely x1

[@fabricionaweb]

@@Robtech Oh, so It came with SATA but its full compatible with NVMe?

[@Robtech]

Yes

[@gtskywoker6054]

​​@@RobtechPCIe Gen 3 x2

[@BITCOIlN]

From reviews I also notice there's generic Windows audio drivers so that's a con as well but overall the price seems pretty good for such powerful chip, hoperfully the longevity of this device is also good.

[@bsd7342]

I bought a similar pc from AceMagic and give it a 4/5. But I can think of more negatives than you brought up. The plastic case is so square and light that stiff cabling will lift it up off the ground. A flatter heavier metal case would've been a lot better. Also, I'd rather have antenna ports to boost the wifi signal than have 3 hdmi ports.

[@fabricionaweb]

Is the AceMagic is nvme? Because Rob said this one, T8, is sata

[@tudormarcu2006]

You can make it as heavy as you like by mounting it to a metal plate... Personally I own one and I appreciate its light and small form factor, using it on the field it has to be light in the backpack.

[@bsd7342]

@angleisthebestAntenna type and length has a lot more to do with signal strength than realtek vs intel chip. I had to buy a usb wifi adapter with real antennas to get a signal in my bedroom with this unit. That means I'm literally circumventing the internal wifi card that it comes with just to get a signal because the stock "antenna" is two tiny wires taped to the inside of the case. That cheapo wire stuff only works if you are very close to the router.

[@jamesgrant5945]

Hi Rob, Superb video. Currently running big DELL desktop but looking for small pc. I like to use Audacity and capture audio streaming. Can't do it with DELL, says recording device not present. Do you think I could do it on theis computer please ?

[@Robtech]

It won't be the hardware, it'll be settings in Audacity. It's been a while since I used it, but the correct input source needs to be selected to capture the audio stream.

[@Abraham0031]

Hola Robtech, is this a good minipc for streaming , kodi , etc ? Or do you have some suggestions?

[@Robtech]

Yeah plenty for that

[@Abraham0031]

Thanks for your fast reply, just read in the comments that it doesn't support hd with netflix etc etc?

[@Robtech]

I don't have Netflix so I don't know the requirements.

[@Abraham0031]

Good morning, and thnx

[@Abraham0031]

Have tried to connect to my lg 43uk6200pla and it doesnt connect , dont know if more people have this problem

[@eedoamitay3341]

Mine came new with a rattling noise inside, im very concerned. Do you have any guess what it may be? Its not a big rattling noise, it might be the battery but im not sure if you have any relevant info for this issue. Thanks. Edit: I was able to open it up thanks to your video, thank you. I found the battery had indeed come loose from the adhesive. I stuck it back on as it was still very sticky and also added a small strip of electrical tape over top of it. I have no idea if that is ok to do, but it's good for now.

[@Robtech]

Yeah, that'll work. Good job.

[@cochon-yt]

Great review, just one comment on the SATA SSD temperature which at 40ºC is cited as a positive over hotter NVMe drives. The drive supplied in my unit, an N900-512, doesn't seem to have a real sensor, it reports a fake 40ºC at all times, boot, idle & load, so could be any temperature in reality. Though the comment that slower SATA drives will likely run cooler than NVMe still holds for this type of form factor.

[@Robtech]

Yep, I no longer record the temp if there's no change in SSD temp during the benchmarking.

[@srvuk]

It didn't really do it for me. I personally think that the little extra to be had from DDR is still worth the extra pennies. M.2 SATA, although fine, is still outshined by NVME. The NVME temps shown in the charts for other boxes, were, for he main rivals, fine and nothing to be concerned about. General temps I liked very much. But if this is aimed at the general consumer then it falls down because when you consider it's size, 3 HDMI ports is overkill and it could even be said that 3 Ethernet ports is unnecessary for many. Then only having USB 3.2 Gen1 ports is a misstep. So many new boxes are showing more GEN2 ports and also more USB ports in general. The lack of just one additional storage slot, whether it be M.2/NVME or SATA is a shame. I would advise that they go back to the basic elements and rethink I/O. There is no reason for them not to have different models based upon the N100 but with differing ports for different needs. With the N100 being more desirable at it's price to performance ratio, the market is getting filled, so vendors need to think carefully before submitting their offerings. Right now, all things considered, if you can catch the right deal on the right day, the Beelink EQ12 wins. They have come a way since the terrible days when they shafted customers and affiliates and put out very poor products. If only Intel would relent on the single channel RAM aspect then the N100 would be even more desirable.

[@JB_inks]

outshone

[@ibanfernandez4705]

Thanks for the review, I have a question, I would like to know if the fan is always running or it stops when the load is low

[@Robtech]

Always running.

[@ibanfernandez4705]

@@Robtech oh, thats a pity. I wanted to replace a fujitsu q920 with a i5 (4590T tdp35w) that on low load stops the fan and its 100% quiet ...

[@digitalzombee8783]

Did you have trouble installing windows on this? Whenever it starts setup and needs to do the first reboot it just goes into a sort of standby mode. Will boot up normal if i dont try and reinstall windows.

[@CarlosTorresCali]

Thanks for watching .. Muchas gracias! .🧡🧡

[@hice7549]

Just ordered this for only 4,200 Philippines Peso or 75 USD (N100 8gb/256gb) variant. Waiting for its safe arrival. This will serve as a Media Box and PCX2 Emulator. Will do a clean install of Windows for Safety.

[@GinoObiso]

hi, on which platform did you order yours?

[@hice7549]

@@GinoObiso It's on sale before at Lazada Philippines.

[@GinoObiso]

@hice7549 P4200 is a steal. I bet it was on sale during 9.9, maybe I could wait for the 10.10 sale to see if the price drops further

[@johnvijver3815]

This is the same as the Firebat version, i installed the intel driver update tool and it installed the Intel Arc Control and updated the video drivers.

[@djallaltouati5589]

Do you think it is recomanded to re-install windows 11 ? if yes, how we i update the Drivers ?

[@YannMetalhead]

Great review, thank you!

[@blaineparnell4174]

would you recommend this computer for emulation? like PCSX2 and/or Sega Naomi for example. thank you.

[@Robtech]

Most PS2 games run full speed at 720P

[@blaineparnell4174]

@@Robtech I will keep it in mind. I'm planning to keep everything in its native resolution just in case.

[@niktspecjalny4547]

What you think about this PC for playing league of legends on lowest settings?

[@bru_haha]

I don’t think there’s a functional temperature sensor on the cheap mini PC SSDs. They report a constant 40C no matter the load.

[@Robtech]

Usually if there's no sensor HWinfo doesn't show a temperature gauge, but could be a fake one I guess

[@bru_haha]

@@Robtech I have 2 similar mini PCs. HWinfo sensors panel running for several hours including during some SSD write benchmarks shows max and min drive temp at 40C. I don’t expect much from these cheap models but just a heads up to not give a false sense that these drives run cooler than drives with actual functioning sensors.

[@Robtech]

In any case no M.2 SATA I've tested has thermal throttled yet, no matter how many times I thrashed it

[@xtsplaash]

what do you mean by there is no storage option, if i connect my hdd will it works?

[@VideohGuy]

Do you know if this uses Intel or mediatek Ethernet ports? Saw a review for the T8 Pro that said it used mediatek

[@Robtech]

Realtek

[@Kbecao86]

Hello! Greetings from Brazil. The manufacturer says it has this option, but I didn't find it: turn on with power outage. Only wake-on-lan available.

[@Robtech]

Hi, which option?

[@Kbecao86]

@@Robtech return after a power outage.

[@vitorfaustino18]

Daniel! Conseguiu descobrir se tem o recurso de "POWER ON" após queda de energia, queria saber também. Grande abraço.

[@Robtech]

Didn't get a reply notification, sorry. It has State After G3 (S5 Default).

[@mavaee]

@@Robtech This indeed works if you put this setting to S0

[@ellensybranddeboer9107]

@Robtech what is your pick this or the chuwi?

[@Robtech]

If the price is close, the Chuwi. Usually this one's a lot cheaper though.

[@budgetking2591]

its not hard to take apart if you have some nails on ur thumps. The inner screws are eassy to screw up, i advice to use a flathead screwdriver instead of a phillipshead.

[@daniels7220]

Please, what would you choose? This T8 pro plus, or Chuwi Larkbox X? (both 16gb 512 version)

[@Robtech]

Same price? I'd go with Chuwi

[@idan678]

what is the ram manufactur of this one? and also i found this pc by firebat it appears to be the same mini PC but different company is that ok to purchase? thank youi

[@Robtech]

Not sure, didn't check the chips. Yes, Firebat is the same, just a different brand.

[@idan678]

@@Robtech thank you

[@ersonjn]

Is it WiFi 6 or WiFi 5? It's mentioned in the geekbuy page its WiFi 5.

[@Robtech]

5. Another mistake. I'll live with it 😅

[@GeoGeorgee]

Would this be good for a Plex media server plugged into to an external hdd?

[@Robtech]

Yes, I've heard people use the previous generation Intel CPU and be happy with it.

[@sonthanhvn]

Should i get this for Pihole ?

[@dudusdudus2871]

Why is there two RJ45s? Can I install Win 11 without losing the drivers? Where to get them?

[@Robtech]

Not really useful for most users. More for home servers and other networking projects. If you install Windows 11 from scratch, you'll need to either find any missing drivers yourself, or use something like the AVG driver updater app to find them for you.

[@PauloRobertoFh]

Got mine 10 months ago and it’s unbelievable good, but mine just started making a noise (fan, I guess) and I don’t know what to do. I opened up I cleaned the fan that was very dirty, but it didn’t fix. What else could I do?

[@DerRusher]

Probably the fan's bearing is not doing so well anymore. Unless you can replace the whole fan, there is nothing you can do to fix the noise

[@chidorirasenganz]

Will you try installing FydeOS on these miniPCs? I would be curious to see how many are compatible

[@Robtech]

Don't have time to do more testing unfortunately.

[@komruz]

Hi, can this device overclock on the RAM given that it is unlocked? have you tried going beyond 4800mhz?

[@Robtech]

N100 CPU doesn't support memory speeds higher than 4800.

[@komruz]

@@Robtech Thanks

[@uriba107]

If i don't really need wifi on it. Would it be possible to put a second ssd in the wifi m.2 slot?

[@Robtech]

Don't think so, might need and adapter which wouldn't make it practical. www.overclock.net/threads/how-to-replace-a-wifi-adapter-with-an-ssd.1792899/

[@Shonkuk1]

Yes you can fit a 2230 Nvme drive in it but it will only operate at with 1 lane of pcie

[@technicallyoverwhelmed2948]

Can the n100 handle 4K Movie Streaming? I Would Like to use it with my 4K Monitor

[@Robtech]

KZbin yes,. Whether it meets the requirements for something like Netflix (HDCP 2.2?), don't know.

[@VF0rV3ndetta]

Is there anyone knows why the restarting and the shutdown doesn't work? It only works when I press the actual button

[@zoomaccount3382]

Sir ! Is it RAM upgradable ? like, shall I upgrade 8 GB ram to 16 GB ram !

[@Robtech]

No, it's soldered on and not upgradeable.

[@bploan8464]

Hey Rob 2 questions, would the 16ram version make much difference in emulation up to ps2 or would the 8gb version work just fine? And second would this make good use for a plex server that runs daily? Thanks man

[@Robtech]

It won't make it faster, no. I don't use Plex, so check out this thread on the N100 www.reddit.com/r/PleX/comments/11vf91z/alder_lake_n100_hw_transcoding/

[@bploan8464]

@Robtech wow amazing recommendation and thanks for answering the first question too... Great to know

[@bploan8464]

​@Robtech and yes I'm trying to build an arcade machine build on all wrestling games up to ps2, you think this Acemagician t8 Pro 8gb ram would be able to handle these games OK?

[@Robtech]

Not sure what OS you'll be using, but in Windows PS2 games nearly all run full speed at 720P. A bunch should run at 1080P. If you want more power, you'll need the Intel N305 or Ryzen 5500U

[@BurnLikeAFlame]

Was the installed Windows tested for viruses? Some of these cheap boxes, like those with the name "Ace Magic", are coming with some pre-installed issues. Google Chrome browser being preinstalled may be (though is not necessarily) a warning sign of this.

[@Robtech]

Yes

[@KRODKROD7]

So N100 does not support HDCP 2.2?

[@eduardoferreira9882]

it can run nvme on m2? pci gen 3x4? gen 4?

[@_thevaporz]

Is it single channel ram or dual?

[@Robtech]

All Alder Lake-N chips only support single channel memory

[@Chris.Brisson]

Tech media accuracy is continuously improving these last few days.

[@Robtech]

I've done it before. I don't hide my mistakes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sF7On4GrZr50arM

[@AnthonyWarren1]

Is it possible to remove the Wifi/BT card and put a 2nd M2 (2230) NVMe drive in instead?

[@Robtech]

No, it's soldered on. Only option for dual storage is a larger mini than this one

[@mathieulh5386]

I bought this computer, but, it is near my TV, and I have a lot of inteference on the screen when the PC is turned on. Am I the only one with this issue ?

[@Robtech]

Sounds like a problem with the HDMI cable or port. Try the other one or a different cable.

[@nassim99345]

There's a soyo m2plus mini which is similar, you don't have a review of it?

[@XxPhantomxX7456]

Hey, i have the same machine, i dont know if i didn't understand or what but ¿How do i access the bios?

[@Robtech]

Try mashing the delete key when turning it on.

[@XxPhantomxX7456]

@@Robtech I knew you said that, i tried that and it didn't work, but i found another way, windows 11 advaced restart

[@XxPhantomxX7456]

​@@RobtechBtw what should i select if i have 16gb of ram

[@Robtech]

DDR5 runs at 4800 natively. It's been underclocked for whatever reason.

[@XxPhantomxX7456]

@@Robtech Ok Thanks, and sorry to, i have this machine since January and its my first pc so i dont know to much about the pc world

[@alphawarriorthegrandmaster]

Does anybody know if these support coral tpu b+m key version?

[@Azerty_samuel_01]

I got an issue with the bios : if I unplug the power supply, the bios reset memory setting to 3200Mhe unfortunatly :(

[@Robtech]

Hmm, it sounds like the internal battery might need replacement.

[@Azerty_samuel_01]

@@RobtechI did not see any battery inside like other motherboard. Have you seen one inside ? On which side ?

[@Robtech]

It would be on the opposite side unfortunately

[@niculae0]

I opened this minipc and it has a 6 pin unused port. Does anyone know what is this 6-pin port used for?

[@boudewijn2648]

Small chance, but has anyone already tried to swap out the wifi card with a second sata ssd?

[@JoaoCarlos-rt7cy]

Comprei um pelo aliexpress, ele é bom pra usar apenas redes sociais e ver videos nl yoiribe sem engasgar?

[@Robtech]

Yes

[@JoaoCarlos-rt7cy]

​@@Robtechthanks

[@Mehdital89]

Isnt that a mini pci e wifi card?

[@meccu19]

How to get more juice from CPU?

[@stalker-svk]

RAM is quad channel?

[@Robtech]

Single. That's all N100 supports

[@ZTechYouTube]

I have a problem I bought it when I use Windows the processor is used at 100%

[@Robtech]

Should settle down once Windows updates are completed

[@impuls60]

On the vid it looks like ram speed goes further.. anyone tried 5000Mhz speeds? I'm a fan of overclocking^^.

[@Robtech]

Alder Lake N doesn't support higher than 4800. Setting it higher just defaults back to the maximum

[@kavindradasanayaka7495]

We can upgrade storage?

[@Robtech]

You can switch the drive it comes with a bigger one.

[@touhami_dz6458]

can i run 4k 30 fps on youtube ? what about 4k60 ? thank u

[@Robtech]

Yes

[@touhami_dz6458]

@@Robtech thank u im checking if this thing run netflix 4k i will go buy it

[@Robtech]

KZbin yes. Netflix depends. I don't use it, but apparently requires HDCP 2.2 forum.bee-link.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=87623&extra=page%3D1. Not sure which mini PC supports it.

[@ebgb1777]

Mine doesn't recognize my 2 4 terabyte external hard drives

[@Robtech]

Sounds like the USB ports don't provide enough power. You might need to get a USB cable with dual USB type A on one side. The second one will provide additional power. Though its problematic here with only three ports when you still need a keyboard and mouse...

[@survivingnetworkingandit2084]

FYI, your discord link is broken.

[@Robtech]

Thanks for letting me know. Now fixed.

[@e.paz396]

does support sata 3 2.5 ssd?

[@Robtech]

No space for it.

[@Trusteft]

Deja Vu.

[@Robtech]

And a few hours of fixing for me 😂

[@kmieciu4ever]

@@Robtech At least you're more accurate than Linus Tech Tips :-)

[@Trusteft]

@@kmieciu4ever That doesn't say much. It's like saying to Muammar Gaddafi "at least you are not Hitler". But seriously, no comparison between the two. One is an honest, accurate, fun, nice guy, making good videos. The other is Linus.

[@screenplayhouse4932]

@@kmieciu4ever I had to abandon that guy. I was always like, "What the fuck are you on?"

[@JošJedan-j2y]

Can someone confirm is it possible with chrome browser watch Netflix in full HD?

[@sassan428]

It works fine. I tried it with a bunch of 4k media, and it runs smoothly.

[@hggyuu]

​@@sassan428 I want to buy it, please tell me, is it good working to play 4k video in browser and youtube 60hz?

[@HandelBarf]

Can I upgrade the WiFi to WiFi 6?

[@Shonkuk1]

@@Robtech pipe down Rob you dumbo you can upgrade it to wifi7 if you want intel BE200 works just fine in it AX200 also works fine for wifi 6 AX210 also works fine for Wifi 6E

[@Robtech]

Yes, you can. I mistook this for another mini which had soldered WiFi. I checked the video again and the WiFi is an M.2 card, so yes you can upgrade it.

[@elamriti]

how do i get in the bios ?

[@Robtech]

Mash delete key when powering on.

[@milandakic2627]

RAM memory is on board?

[@Robtech]

Yes soldered LPDDR5 memory.

[@PbPomper]

Why the hell do you need to have 3HDMI ports?

[@Robtech]

Triple displays

[@franzgucktyoutube]

be careful, N100 does not support HDCP 2.2, so no Prime, Netflix etc. in HD, only SD quality. Pathetic for a 2023 processor.

[@ppn7]

Shame... We will need to download movie so ...

[@Peechaable]

Not entirely true. Albeit the hdcp 2.2 support not being there, this unit plays Netflix in Full HD, both in browser and in native app. Thats way above SD quality.

[@franzgucktyoutube]

@@Peechaable in Browser? Please tell me how. I tested both chrome and Firefox a dozen of times without success. Netflix maybe but no prime video.

[@Peechaable]

@@franzgucktyoutube I don’t have Prime to test. As for the netflix, 1080p only works in Edge. Tried chrome/firefox and there it’s only 720p. Maybe some user-agent changing plugins to act as Edge could work? My setup is just the extensions from ms store: MPEG-2, VP9, AV1 and HEVC. HBO Max looks like it’s also 1080p in Edge/Firefox/Chrome

[@qud3913]

@@Peechaable Your second reply was auto hidden by google

[@Dobrufusnoretro]

shots fired cat hahahah

[@fielditech]

Top ce mini pc j'ai fait tourné proxmox pour la virtualisation et installer home assistant pour ma domotique j'ai fait plusieurs vidéo à retrouver sur kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5nQfGWfbZd5n7s au cas où ça intéresse certains j'expliquerai pas à pas ce que je fait avec ;)

[@expatinthailand9824]

This video is using video clips ripoffed from this review of yours. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4G1dGN3fb9qY5I

[@Whoshotmyrifle]

will this be good for cloud gaming using Geforce Now?

[@r0galik]

Yes