ACEMAGIC AM08 Pro Gaming Mini PC with Radeon 680M and Ryzen 9 6900HX: Thorough Test!

This review article is provided by NOTEBOOK CHEACK .

It has an attractive appearance. I think the AM08 Pro is the ultimate mini PC for gamers and those who want the best performance in a very compact case. Equipped with the latest and powerful AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor and AMD Radeon 680M, it is small enough to fit in any bag yet offers great gaming performance. Let's find out what the ACEMAGIC (ACEMAGICIAN) AM08 Pro can offer in this review that includes multiple benchmarks.

As the successor to the AMR5, ACEMAGIC has launched the AM08 Pro to the starting line of the "Compact Gaming PC" category.

Not only has it got a redesigned look, but the technology has also been upgraded to keep up with technological advancements thanks to the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor.

The latest model does not use a dedicated graphics card and relies on the performance of the iGPU. Based on numerous tests so far, we can say that the performance of the AMD Radeon 680M will be significantly improved compared to the AMD Radeon RX Vega 7. However, we will find out later in this test whether this is enough to play games.

Being able to change the performance of the SOC proved to be a useful feature. A rotary switch can be used to select between "Silent", "Auto" and "Performance" modes. The functionality of each mode is detailed in the corresponding test section.

In this review, other very compact desktop PCs are used as comparison devices, as outlined in the table below.

More about ACEMAGIC AM08 Pro

case

It's a mini version of the tower PC, measuring 19cm in height, reminiscent of the similarly built AMR5. Compared to its predecessor, the AM08 Pro is slightly larger, but that doesn't affect its compactness. The lighting has been moved to the top of the case.

In terms of material choice, it's mostly plastic - an aluminum case would definitely be more tactile, but the finish on our test unit is not bad. As with the previous model, the right side of the case is held in place magnetically, making it easy to remove without tools to access the interior.

Connecting external devices

In testing, we used a mini PC with more external connection ports, but if you are using it as a compact gaming PC, at least four USB Type-A ports will be enough. Two HDMI ports on the front and back allow you to connect two monitors, or three screens if you use the front USB Type-C port for display output. The Type-C port also supports Thunderbolt, greatly expanding the usage options of the device.

communication

The AM08 Pro uses a Wi-Fi 6E module from Realtek. In real tests, the WLAN module shows average performance. When receiving data, it measures much better than when receiving, where the test unit has to settle for the bottom. However, it can't be called bad, as the performance is more than enough for everyday operation. For this test, we used an Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000 test router. If you need a faster data connection, you can also use the LAN port instead. It allows data transfer at up to 2.5 Gbit/s.

maintenance

Opening the AM08 Pro case is very easy, you can do it without tools, and you can install memory and storage. On the other hand, if you want to clean the cooling unit, you will have to disassemble the device. Unfortunately, you can only open it quickly on one side. It would have been better if the manufacturer had magnetically fastened both sides of the case, allowing you to insert a second M.2 SSD. In the current model, the AM08 Pro has one M.2-2280 slot and one SATA SSD slot for 2.5-inch drives.

Performance: 8 cores and 16 threads for superior performance

The AM08 Pro is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, which is a commendable decision considering the target usage scenario. With an AMD Radeon 680M, this SOC also provides a fast iGPU.

Test Conditions

This test used the "Balanced" power configuration. The only deviations were for power consumption and noise measurements. All performance tests were performed in each mode (Silent, Auto, Performance) with the "Balanced" power configuration. Additionally, Game Mode was enabled in the BIOS and 4GB of RAM was provided to the iGPU.

processor

Equipped with the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, the AM08 Pro offers the latest SOC with 8 cores and 16 threads. In this test, we found that the SOC is almost in compliance with the values ​​in the table above. If we compare the performance by focusing on the performance mode, the power consumption reaches as much as 54W in the performance mode, while the other two modes do not exceed the TDP setting. The benefit is an improvement in performance compared to the test unit. Compared to the previous generation AMR5, there is an average advantage of nearly 15% and in individual comparisons it can reach up to 70%. However, the advantage figures in this comparison are not relevant for real-world use.

There was also a noticeable drop in CPU performance between the "Auto" and "Silent" modes, but these modes always provided smooth operation and quick work.

▲Cinebench R15

▲Cinebench R20

▲Cinebench R23

　

Cinebench R15 Loop Test

The Cinebench R15 steady loop already gives us some information about the efficiency of the cooling system, and we didn't notice any noticeable performance degradation from the AM08 Pro, with the results showing that after 50 runs on our test unit, the AM08 Pro was in second place.

System Performance

The combination of high speed SOC and DDR5 memory makes the whole system run very smoothly. You can run your daily tasks in silent mode, which not only saves power but also allows AM08 Pro to run quietly.

DPC Latency

LatencyMon shows that opening multiple tabs in the Edge browser increases latency slightly. Playing a 4K video did not increase latency further, and Prime95 did not cause high latency either.

▲Maximum latency when playing 4K video with multiple tabs open

▲Prime95 Maximum delay after 10 seconds

▲Drivers sorted by longest execution time

Storage

The AM08 Pro is equipped with a 512GB SSD from BiWin. This SSD supports PCIe 3.0 speeds, which is reflected in the benchmark test. In this comparison, the AM08 Pro struggled and came in last. In particular, the writing of the BiWin SSD is an important point here. The SSD can be used without any problems. However, I think that only 512GB is not enough. If you are considering using it as a gaming PC, you will need at least 1TB of capacity. On the other hand, you can add a 2.5-inch storage drive to the AM08 Pro.

Graphics

AMD's Rembrandt SOC has seen a huge performance boost with its new iGPU, Intel's Iris Xe iGPU can't even come close to AMD's.

For a significant boost in 3D performance, you can connect an external graphics card using the Thunderbolt port. We have assessed the expected performance based on the Razer Core X and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, and put the values ​​achieved using a dedicated graphics card into a comparison table.

Gaming Performance

Although the AMD Radeon 680M is only an iGPU for the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, this model offers a usable performance on the AM08 Pro. Compared to the AMR5, gaming performance may improve significantly. On the other hand, don't expect too much from the AMD Radeon 680M. Even at the lowest detail settings, very demanding games like God of War may not run smoothly at 720p.

As already mentioned above, we also performed additional gaming tests with the AM08 Pro, along with the Razer Core X and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti graphics cards. There is a noticeable increase in 3D performance when using the corresponding attachment via the Thunderbolt port. There is no significant difference in performance between the AMD-based systems.

• AM08 Pro's "Silent", "Auto" and "Performance" modes

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060Ti via Thunderbolt

Discharge

Noise level

Noise measurements showed a slight improvement for this device compared to the AMR5. However, the other comparison devices were noticeably quieter in all test scenarios. The AM08 Pro was fairly quiet at idle with a maximum noise level of 31.4dB(A), but the fan speed increased significantly under load. The maximum noise level measured was 47.8dB(A), and the average noise level was not noticeably lower either. Noise levels in auto or silent mode alone were found to be significantly improved, although in auto mode it was just over 38dB(A), louder than the comparison devices . Only in silent mode is the noise level comparable to the competition.

▲AM08 Pro: Automatic mode

▲AM08 Pro: Silent mode

temperature

Due to the choice of materials, the AM08 Pro case doesn't get very hot. The highest temperatures were found near the fan vents, as expected. The two fans ensure that the SOC always maintains a good performance level in performance mode. In the Prime95 load test, we measured a maximum of 86.7°C. AMD specifies the Tjmax of the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX as 95°C, so the SOC may be able to handle more waste heat. That should allow the device to run quieter in performance mode. We noticed that the temperatures were significantly lower in other modes due to the throttled TDP.

Power Consumption

We were a bit surprised by the AM08 Pro's power consumption. It is more efficient under load when compared to competing products based on the same SOC. At idle, the AM08 Pro is sometimes less efficient than its competitors. What stands out is the higher power consumption in silent and auto modes. We can't conclusively determine why this is the case. To rule out measurement errors, we repeated the measurements, but got the same results.

The included charger is capable of delivering up to 120W which is more than enough. There is some noticeable coil whine, but only when idle.

▲ AM08 Pro: Performance mode

▲AM08 Pro: Automatic mode

▲AM08 Pro: Silent mode

Conclusion: Solid Performance with the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX

The AM08 Pro is a high-end mini PC that offers good performance thanks to the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX. Our test machine was able to perform well in all tests, basically performing similarly to competing products based on the same processor. Compared to its predecessor, the AMR5, both the CPU and the iGPU performance have been noticeably improved. Rembrandt SOC offers a very powerful iGPU with the AMD Radeon 680M, which is unmatched at the moment and can only be surpassed by a dedicated graphics adapter. With that, the AM08 Pro offers good performance as a compact gaming PC. However, it is also important to know that a low-power kit cannot power a "large" gaming PC. Nevertheless, the AM08 Pro convinced us in many ways. We must also mention the excellent connectivity, and thanks to Thunderbolt, it offers many options, and the three different power modes are also excellent, allowing you to complete many tasks even in silent mode, saving power.

The AM08 Pro offers great CPU performance based on the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, and the Rembrandt SOC also features a powerful iGPU, making it suitable for gaming in a limited sense.

The only downside is the cooling unit, which keeps the system cool enough to always perform at its best, but is noisy. Those who don't want to use the efficient silent mode all the time will find the device audible.