Aoostar GEM12+ Pro: A Feature-Packed Mini-PC with AMD Power
Always wished for a desktop PC that doesn't exactly take up your entire desk. Meet the Aoostar GEM12+ Pro, which is perhaps exactly what you're looking for. This is not your average beige box; it's a mini-PC that's packed with some pretty cool features, including the useful little integrated display and the fast AMD processor within.
What Makes This Mini-PC So Unique.
Let's find out by taking a closer look at the product in this review. To begin with, the "Plus" in the name implies some useful extras. For starters, it includes a small display directly on the device itself. Imagine glancing down to review system statistics or other useful info without needing to utilize your main monitor. And, for added security and convenience, it features a fingerprint reader atop – no more typing passwords every time.
Despite its small stature (we're talking 130 x 130 x 60 mm here, so it's tiny), the GEM12+ Pro doesn't play around. It has an AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 8845HS processor. That'll make it well capable of managing general tasks and be capable of running some more heavy-duty software too. While the Ryzen processor already has its own respectable built-in Radeon 780M integrated graphics, Aoostar has graciously included an OCuLink interface. What's that. It's a way to connect an external graphics card if you need some heavy GPU lifting for gaming or graphics-intensive applications.
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS Processor Benchmarks
APU: w/ Radeon 780M Graphics
- Clockspeed:3.8 GHz
- Turbo Speed:5.1 GHz
- Cores:8 Threads: 16
- Typical TDP:45 W
- TDP Down:35 W
- TDP Up:54 W
Cache per CPU Package:
- L1 Instruction Cache: 8 x 32 KB
- L1 Data Cache: 8 x 32 KB
- L2 Cache: 8 x 1024 KB
- L3 Cache: 16 MB
Average CPU in passmark test
- Multithread Rating: 28579
- Single Thread Rating: 3746
CPU Test Suite Average Results for AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
- Integer Math: 98,154 MOps/Sec
- Floating Point Math: 59,520 MOps/Sec
- Find Prime Numbers: 87 Million Primes/Sec
- Random String Sorting: 41,481 Thousand Strings/Sec
- Data Encryption: 20,490 MBytes/Sec
- Data Compression: 346,277 KBytes/Sec
- Physics: 1,347 Frames/Sec
- Extended Instructions: 25,772 Million Matrices/Sec
- Single Thread: 3,746 MOps/Sec
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.
Getting Your Hands on One
If this little dynamo has caught your eye, you can grab the Aoostar GEM12+ Pro on Amazon. It's available as a barebones kit, meaning you supply your own RAM and storage, with prices starting at about $399.95. If you prefer a turnkey system, you can order it with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for about $499.
Aoostar GEM12+ Pro
$499 at Amazon
So, if you're in the market for a mini-PC that also brings together unique features, solid performance, and great connectivity, the Aoostar GEM12+ Pro certainly appears to be one worth including on your shortlist.