REVIEW – Nerd alert! Ever because the unique Raspberry Pi got here out, I’ve gotten all for ultra-small type issue PCs. The Raspberry Pi was enjoyable for some time. It was solely $35 and you could possibly do so much with it, but it surely positively had its limitations. Not solely would you need to construct or purchase some kind of enclosure, however you had to purchase an influence provide and any peripherals for it. Once more it was enjoyable for me to tinker with, however I used to be by no means good sufficient to make any kind of the tasks you see on-line that others have. On high of that, it by no means had sufficient gumption for my tastes. So, I checked out completely different small type issue Home windows PCs to play with. They have been all high quality for browsing the online, workplace functions, and the like however nothing actually wowed me. I even not too long ago reviewed a mini PC that had an Intel Alder Lake CPU and located it OK. Then the Xulu XR1 mini PC got here alongside. The specs regarded good in addition to the footprint. Fortunately, I used to be in a position to snag it for evaluate. Might this ultra-tiny PC give me what I used to be on the lookout for? Might it edit images and movies with out bogging down? Might it play some respectable video games at greater than 20 fps? Learn on if you wish to discover out.
What’s it?
The Xulu XR1 mini PC is an AMD Ryzen-based mini desktop PC particularly designed to take heavy load all whereas becoming within the palm of your hand.
What’s within the field?
- Xulu XR1 mini PC
- Storage/carrying case
- Xulu branded HDMI cable
- Energy provide
- Fast begin information
- Pamphlet
- Vent stickers
- Xulu sticker
{Hardware} specs
- AMD Radeon 7 CPU
- Radeon 8 GPU
- As much as 64GB RAM
- As much as 2TB M.2 SSD
- Dimension – 2.5″ x 3.8″ x 3.5″
- USB Ports – 4 – USB 3, 2- USB 2, 1- USB C
- Home windows 11
- 4k assist
- 2 HDMI ports
- Wifi 6E
- Rj45 LAN port
- OLED show
Design and options
The very first thing to strike me concerning the Xulu XR1 mini PC was the dimensions. It’s concerning the measurement of my fist. It’s not the smallest PC I’ve seen. It’s about twice the dimensions of one other one I not too long ago reviewed, but when it’s as highly effective as they declare, then that’ll be simply high quality. I imply have a look at it in comparison with the dimensions of my mouse! It’s excellent for offering me with extra desktop house so I can crowd much more onto it.
Xulu has a number of configurations and colours to select from on their Kickstarter website. I used to be despatched the Xulu XR1 Max with 32 GB of DDR4 RAM and 1TB Samsung PCIE SSD in mandarin orange.
The Xulu XR1 is loaded with ports for a PC of this measurement. On the entrance, you’ve acquired a USB 3, USB 2, a 1/8″ headphone jack, and a USB C/Displayport.
On the rear, you’ve the facility port, an RJ45 LAN port, 2 HDMI, 2 USB 3, and a couple of USB 2 ports.
This implies you possibly can have as much as 3 – 4k displays and nonetheless have loads of ports in your peripherals.
The ability provide can be fairly small for this beast.
I might’ve anticipated it to have used one thing bigger contemplating what the Xulu XR1 mini PC is able to. I don’t significantly look after the shape issue right here. A extra conventional wall-wart energy provide would’ve been preferable, however hey, it really works prefer it’s presupposed to.
Xulu additionally offered a branded HDMI cable with braided sheathing. It’s a pleasant contact contemplating they might’ve simply despatched a non-descript, generic cable.
The Xulu XR1 has glorious energetic cooling with a cooling fan on the high.
The fan directs the air via the copper fins of the warmth sink.
In case you neglect who made this little monster, there’s even a backlit emblem on either side of the field.
Now they are saying, you possibly can improve the Xulu XR1 mini PC must you resolve to in a while, however after eradicating the rear cowl, I attempted to drag the center out and nothing budged. I didn’t attempt that arduous to take away something as a result of I used to be afraid I would injury one thing. There have been no directions included on easy methods to take away the board and all for those who did need to improve one thing so I made a decision to go for now. Possibly sooner or later, Xulu will present some documentation on easy methods to do it.
Setup
To set the Xulu XR1 mini PC up, you’ll want to attach a monitor, mouse, and keyboard and boot the sucker up. It’ll boot as much as Home windows 11 however offer you this window initially.
Simply click on OK and the unit will reboot. As soon as it’s completed, simply comply with the prompts to arrange Home windows 11. In case you’re questioning, it does look like a completely licensed model of Home windows and it activated with no points.
One factor I might recommend to anybody with a Home windows PC is to run Chris Titus’s Ulitmate Home windows Utility. It eliminates a bunch of bloat, turns off a bunch of pointless companies, and reduces the variety of background processes to liberate the CPU and RAM for the stuff you truly need to do. You’ll be able to watch him right here to see the utility in motion.
The Gadgeteer is under no circumstances affiliated with Chris Titus. I simply actually like this device and need to share it with you. After working this, I used to be in a position to set up a number of of the apps I usually would with one click on whereas lowering the variety of background processes from about 165 all the way down to 145. That doesn’t sound like so much, however I achieve these system assets again so something is healthier than nothing.
Efficiency
OK. I hear you. That’s all properly, high quality, and good, however how does it carry out? Nicely, I don’t run a bunch of benchmarks. In actual fact, I normally solely run 1, Userbenchmark. It tells me sufficient of what I need to know.
What I choose to do is do real-world testing. Does it work properly for video enhancing? Sure, it does. Now I’m not making characteristic movies right here. I make some movies for the Gadgeteer and coaching movies for subject technicians, however the Xulu XR1 does high quality with it. I’ve a laptop computer I used to make use of for that goal. I gained’t point out any model names however let’s simply say I wasn’t HaPpy with its efficiency. The Xulu XR1 mini PC carried out higher with out slowing all the way down to crawl to render the movies. Does it work for picture enhancing? Yep, I’ve used it to do primary enhancing with Home windows built-in editor in addition to Photoshop and it really works nice. So after all, it does an ideal job with e mail, browsing the net, watching movies on-line, writing evaluations for the perfect web site ever (wink, wink), and even taking part in some video video games. Sure, video video games. I used to be in a position to play my favourite sport of all time, Borderlands 2, with no points, granted that sport was launched in 2012 but it surely’s nonetheless the perfect looter shooter on the market. I may even play Borderlands 3, Dying Gentle, and Dying Stranding completely high quality. Now, we’re not speaking about working it at Extremely-high graphics and 120fps, but it surely’s as my son mentioned, “utterly playable” whereas nonetheless trying good.
What I like
- Extremely-small type issue
- Plenty of horsepower
- The seems, it’s not a bland, black little field
What I’d change
- Directions on easy methods to safely improve it
Remaining ideas
I actually just like the Xulu XR1 mini PC. I’ve changed a laptop computer that I principally used as a desktop with it and am actually pleased with it. It runs a lot better for me with what I need to do and even permits me to play some video games I’ve been eager to play. I’ve actually been impressed with the Xulu XR1. It performs admirably whereas enhancing movies and images, taking part in video games, and the standard fare of media consumption, and by no means as soon as have I heard the fan. I might’ve thought whereas taking part in one thing like Dying Gentle, I might’ve heard the factor take off like a rocket however I haven’t. It simply takes it and retains going like nothing ever occurred. The Xulu XR1 has earned its place on my desktop and can stay there for fairly a while. And if my youngsters are studying this, NO you possibly can’t have it.
Value: As specced $456
The place to purchase: Indiegogo INDEMAND
Supply: The pattern of this product was offered by Xulu.
