The Beelink SER4 is a superb example of a brand that has matured over generations to acquire a degree of maturity that is difficult to ignore. This little PC has everything you’d expect from a professional workstation in a small package: Windows 11 Pro, a strong CPU, lots of RAM, and a slew of connections all point in that direction. While it is louder than we would like, it is also quicker than practically everything in this price range, with ample expansion possibilities and Wi-Fi 6e, which is a significant upgrade. The only major drawback is the lack of a reliable after-sales service, but if you’re searching for an AMD option for Intel-based NUCs, this is it. Let us see some more details about Beelink SER4.
What will you see here?
Pricing and availability of Beelink SER4
Surprisingly, there are two editions of the Beelink SER4 on the market right now, with the only variation being the amount of memory. This version has 32GB and costs as little as $626 from AliExpress, it is also available through
Design of Beelink SER4
To aid airflow, the SER4 has a pair of unique red metal grates on each side of the pc. It’s scarcely bigger than a bundle of CD boxes and weighs less than a pound.
Ports:
There are two USB 3.0 ports, one Type-C port, and one audio connection at the front beside the bright red power switch when it relates to connectivity.
A Gigabit Ethernet interface, two HDMI 2.0 connectors, a barrel-type power connection, and two USB 3.0 ports are located on the back panel. The SER4 has a grill on top that gives it the appearance of a shelf Bluetooth speaker.
Four screws hold the bottom panel in place, and removing it gives you quick access to its easily upgradeable guts.
Hardware of Beelink SER4
The Intel NUC pioneered the notion of small computers with big power. The shift to power-efficient computing and mobile-first technologies has expedited this trend. It allows smaller manufacturers like Beelink to make desktop computers that share many components with laptops, such as the SER4 model.
it comes as no surprise that this compact PC is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 4800U processor. The 4800U, which was released in September 2020, created a lot of hype since it was AMD’s first laptop CPU that was obviously ahead of what Intel was delivering at the time, with eight cores, 16 threads, a powerful GPU and low battery consumption.
Along with it are two Crucial 16GB DDR4-3200 memory modules, a 512GB Intel SSD (SSDPEKNW512G8), and a Mediatek RZ608 Wi-Fi 6e card. It should be noted that retail goods may include a Kingston SSD instead of an Intel SSD. While it is speedier, it is also somewhat smaller at 500GB.
Maintenance
The bottom panel, like the SER3, is held in place by four Philips screws. However, even after disassembling all of the screws, the panel on our SER4 device was stuck and impossible to remove. To make it easier to grip and pull out the bottom plate, attach the mounting plate as an anchor.
Surprisingly, the BIOS battery is absent from the SER4, when it was there on our SER3. It’s likely that the battery was moved to the other end of the motherboard for this iteration.
Power Consumption
Despite their performance disparities, the SER4 requires roughly the same amount of power as the Intel NUC11PAQi7. The Beelink system outperforms the Core i7-1165G7 NUC in terms of CPU performance-per-watt. However, falls short in terms of GPU performance-per-watt.
Accessories and Warranty
A detachable wall-mounted VESA bracket, an AC adaptor, two brief HDMI cables, and a manual are included in the retail package. In comparison to most Intel NUC systems, the regular one-year limited manufacturer warranty applies.
Performance
The SER4 is louder than intended, particularly when under stress. It was loud enough to be an irritant during a face-to-face conference, but it also allows the computer to considerably increase the CPU clock speed under stress. When it comes to statistics, it can keep up with practically everything Intel throws at it, particularly creative assignments.
When evaluating Blender’s popular software, it was on average 80% quicker than a PC driven by an Intel Core-i5 1135G7 CPU. The sole stumbling block was the Intel-based SSD, which performed poorly in all storage testing due to slower-than-expected write rates.
Temperature
Surface temperatures are unaffected. For airflow, the device features air grilles on four of its six sides. Because cool air enters from the top, it is not suggested to store any textbooks on top of the unit.
Conclusion
“The Beelink SER4 tiny PC is currently the finest value for money on the market. It achieves the ideal blend of performance, price, size, and features. Its 8-core CPU is quick enough for most work, Windows 11 Pro will help companies, and the quantity of RAM included (32GB). Also, its low price will please creatives and ITDMs“
The SER4’s biggest visible downside is its greater fan noise than the Intel NUC. This has been not so good experience with many prior Beelink tiny PCs, and the SER4 maintains this pattern. Smaller drawbacks include somewhat slower graphics performance than the Iris Xe 96 EUs. A one-year basic warranty rather than three, PCIe3 SSD compatibility rather than PCIe4, no Thunderbolt access. Also, a less polished BIOS UI than an Intel NUC. If these flaws aren’t a deal-breaker, the SER4 is a solid suggestion as an Intel NUC alternative.
