Aoostar GEM12+ Pro Mini PC Gaming Review: Benchmarks and Performance Analysis

Aoostar GEM12+ Pro Mini PC Gaming Review: Benchmarks and Performance Analysis

Hello guys, Today, we are testing yet another Mini PC, namely the Aoostar GEM12+ Pro. The device has a sleek and minimalistic design that looks rather nice. But what about gaming. Let's see how it performs.

Aoostar GEM12+ Pro: Specifications

Inside, the Aoostar GEM12+ Pro relies on:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (8 cores, 16 threads) at 54W TDP straight out of the box. (Note: Can be overclocked to 65W, but noise and thermals will increase).
• GPU: AMD Radeon 780M Integrated Graphics
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 5600MHz (Dual Channel)
• Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD (with another slot available)
• Price: Around $499.00 (at review time).

Aoostar GEM12+ Pro

$499 at Amazon

Connectivity Galore

In spite of its compact form factor, the Aoostar GEM12+ Pro isn't skimpy on ports. You get:

• Two speedy USB 3.2 ports
• Two USB 2.0 ports
• Two useful USB4 ports (the good stuff).
• An HDMI 2.1 port for your main display
• A DisplayPort for even more video output versatility

Networking is also addressed, with Wi-Fi 6 for fast wireless connectivity and not one, but two Ethernet ports with up to 2.5 Gbit/s speeds. That's great for a wired connection that's both fast and stable.

Thermals and Noise

The new design on this Mini PC is really good. Under severe testing such as a 10-minute Cinebench R24 test at 100% CPU load and 54W TDP, the temperatures peaked at about 74°C and were stable without thermal throttling. What's even more impressive is how silent it stays even under load. It's probably one of the most silent Mini PCs tested to date, a huge success in cooling performance in this small form factor.

CPU Performance Benchmarks

Outside of gaming, the Ryzen 7 8845HS is a workhorse CPU for day-to-day tasks. It demonstrated respectable multi-core and single-core performance in Cinebench R24. Benchmarks like CPU-Z also highlight its capability:

• Cinebench R24:avg: 871 (Multi), avg: 105 (Single)
• CPU-Z: 6245 (Multi), 651 (Single)

Compared to other various processors, the 8845HS overperforms for a mobile/Mini PC processor:

• Lags the 16-core/24-thread Intel Ultra 7 155H in multi-core by a little, but has the superior integrated graphics.
• Handily beats an outdated desktop Intel Core i7-10700 (8c/16t).
• Blows away the flagship Intel Core i9-11900K (8c/16t) in multi-core, with single-core being closely matched.
• Is roughly on par with the Intel Core i9-10900K (10c/20t) in multi-core, but the Ryzen APU is a single-core winner.
• Naturally falls behind more higher-core count desktop processors like the Ryzen 9 5950X or Intel Core i9-13900K in multi-core, but runs remarkably close on single-core to the 5950X.

This means a very responsive Windows user experience and capability for photo/video editing or running heavy programs.

Gaming Performance: Stress Testing the Radeon 780M

Before diving into games, the BIOS option of assigned vRAM was also changed from 4GB to 8GB. Since the system dynamically borrows system RAM as needed for vRAM, reserving more ahead of time will provide a marginal advantage in some titles.

This is how the Aoostar GEM12+ Pro performed a list of games at the 1080p resolution:

Cyberpunk 2077

Starting from a tough AAA title, at 1080p with the "Low" preset (with some medium settings) and natively, the game added around 40 frames per second. The performance was clean with almost no stuttering. Enabling FSR 2.1 on the "Quality" setting pushed performance by around 10 FPS, providing a smoother experience, though there was some ghosting on rapid movement. A benchmark with experimental Ray Tracing Reflections on (low settings + FSR Quality) yielded a cinematic 20+ FPS, indicating the APU's capability for effects, though not however playable.
At 1080p with Very Low settings, Medium textures, and FSR 2.2 (targeting 30 FPS with dynamic resolution scaling), the game maintained a steady 30 frames per second for the most part. The dynamic resolution scaling was well behaved, keeping performance stable, although fast camera movement may introduce some pixelation. It wasn't as smooth as more capable GPUs, but it could be a perfectly acceptable experience for integrated graphics, managing to keep pace with heavy moments like combat without significant dips.

Counter-Strike 2

At 1080p with Low settings (Dynamic Shadows turned off at All, 4x Anisotropic Filtering, Native Resolution), the game ran smoothly, giving a high refresh rate experience. FPS was usually well in excess of 100, though intense effects like fire and smoke could drop into the 60s or the 50s in the very occasional big fight. For competitive, frame-rate-intensive play, reducing to 720p can be thought about, but 1080p is an excellent compromise.

Apex Legends

1080p benchmarking on Lowest settings (Very High Textures and 16x Anisotropic Filtering), the Aoostar GEM12+ Pro was incredibly swift. Open areas often saw 100+ FPS. Smoke effects fell to the 90s, but highly intense ultimate abilities or explosions could bring frames down to the 50s. Otherwise, though, it did have a smooth, high refresh rate feel ideal for competitive gaming.

Elden Ring

With setting-specific options tuned for looks and performance balanced at 1080p, the game ran around 40 frames per second. It was noticeably better than locked 30 FPS. The settings employed provided enhanced lighting and enviromental detail beyond low. Performance was fairly solid, dipping slightly under heavy foliage (into high 30s/lower 40s) and when letting loose with heavy combat effects, but generally it was an enjoyable experience.

Fallout 4

Running at 1080p using a High preset settings (Very High textures, no God Rays or Motion Blur, and FPS not locked), the game was an enjoyable experience, consistently running at 60 FPS or more in less taxing environments (potentially capped at 130+ with no locks). When within close city areas, frames would drop (down into the 50s and in some instances, mid-40s), sometimes suffering from CPU bottlenecking with fluctuating GPU consumption. While these were dips, it was certainly playable for a nostalgia playthrough or fresh gameplay after watching the series.

GTA 5

A timeless game, GTA 5 ran flawlessly at 1080p using High settings and Very High textures. Performance was super slick, often hitting 100+ FPS. Even in historically demanding locations with dense foliage, frame rates remained high, typically in the 60s, only sometimes dipping down to 59-60 FPS at the most demanding moments. This Mini PC provides a wonderful experience for GTA 5.

Dota 2

On 1080p at the High settings preset, Dota 2 experienced frame rates generally in the 60s-80s during quieter action. Large group fights did dip noticeably into the 50s and even the 40s. While still playable, the frame times weren't as smooth as the average FPS might indicate, most likely because it was loading new assets or effects. It's a good experience, but not absolutely smooth for competitive demanding play.

Ghost of Tsushima

1080p testing, initial forays with FSR 3 Frame Generation at Quality, yielded seemingly lofty frame rates but were beset with widespread frame skipping and stuttering, particularly when rapidly yawing the camera. Disabling Frame Generation and FSR, running in 1080p native with SMAA T2X anti-aliasing, saw a minimum of around 30 frames per second in the extremely demanding Golden Temple sequence. While this 30 FPS experience was stable and did not exhibit the skipping issues, it's perhaps not as silky smooth as might be anticipated using comparisons to dedicated GPUs like the GTX 1650.

PUBG

Running natively at 1080p resolution and tailored settings (Medium Anti-Aliasing, High Textures), PUBG found a good middle ground between appearance vs. performance. Frame rates were mostly in the 40-60 FPS range. Play was very smooth with minimal stuttering and ended up as an all-around enjoyable, playable experience, even for users familiar with the game.

Fortnite

With DX12 and Low settings (High Textures, 100% resolution scale), Fortnite performed well. Looking around the map, frame rates were higher than 70 FPS. Gameplay, even during combat, was silky smooth without the "Stutter Knight" issues that occur sometimes on lower-end hardware. Vehicle operations while in them and discovering new areas also felt smooth. Temperatures were amazingly low (mid-60s C) while being as quiet as a mouse.

Red Dead Redemption 2

At native 1080p resolution and with the settings set roughly similar to the Xbox One X version, Red Dead Redemption 2 had an excellent balance of performance and visuals. Frame rates were mostly in the 40 frames per second range when out in the open and remained in the high 30s / low 40s when inside more intense towns. The frame time graph was flat, indicating an incredibly smooth experience despite the fact that the frame rate wasn't incredibly high. It's definitely playable and enjoyable, similar to the console experience that most of us played the game with.

Forza Horizon 5

Finally, Forza Horizon 5 on 1080p with High settings and 2x MSAA gave incredible performance for integrated graphics. It was silky smooth, often well above 60 FPS even in the city sections, with only extremely brief, tiny drops just below 60 in the most demanding areas like tunnels. This game is extremely optimized and appears fabulous on the Aoostar GEM12+ Pro.

Overall Rating: Stable Performance for Built-in Graphics

The Aoostar GEM12+ Pro offers a compelling bargain, especially for shoppers seeking a compact system that can handle more than the minimum. Its Ryzen 7 8845HS processor is powerful enough to handle demanding productivity tasks, and the Radeon 780M integrated graphics deliver respectable gaming performance in its category.

It might not be capable of running the newest AAA games at maximum settings, but it runs extremely well in older AAA games, esports titles, and indie games, frequently providing a silky-smooth 1080p experience with significantly less stuttering. The industry-leading thermal and noise performance is certainly one of the highlights.

If you're looking for a quiet, competent Mini PC that'll handle day-to-day tasks with ease and provide enjoyable gaming experiences within a wide range of games (except the most graphics-intensive modern releases), the Aoostar GEM12+ Pro is definitely worth considering at its price.

Hope you enjoyed this review