Beelink GTi14 Mini PC is Available at Minixpc
The Beelink GTi14 Ultra stands out in the crowded mini PC market with its innovative design, featuring an integrated 145W power supply and a distinctive PCIe x8 interface. This unique configuration allows users to connect external graphics cards, offering the potential for enhanced graphical performance in a compact form factor. This review delves into the GTi14 Ultra's capabilities, evaluating whether it can deliver high performance while maintaining its small and versatile design.
Currently available on sale at MiniXPC, the Beelink GTi14 Ultra presents an intriguing option for those seeking a blend of power and portability. This review will assess its suitability for various computing needs, including gaming, content creation, and everyday tasks, to determine if it truly lives up to its promise of versatility and performance.
Design
The Beelink GTi14 Ultra stands out with its compact yet slightly larger design compared to typical mini PCs featuring Intel processors. Measuring 158 x 158 x 56mm (6.2″ x 6.2″ x 2.2″), it boasts an aluminum housing that not only provides a premium feel but also ensures durability. The design is reminiscent of the Mac Mini, offering a sleek and minimalist aesthetic. Despite its compact size, the GTi14 Ultra is heavier than standard mini PCs, primarily due to its integrated 145W power supply, which eliminates the need for an external adapter, adding to its convenience and neatness. The front panel is well-equipped with a power button integrated with a fingerprint sensor, a status LED light, and an SD card reader, enhancing its functionality and ease of use.
In terms of connectivity, the GTi14 Ultra impresses with its comprehensive array of ports. It includes a Thunderbolt 4 port (40 Gbps), a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port (10 Gbps), and five USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (10 Gbps), offering ample options for peripheral connectivity. The device also features HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a for high-definition video output, two 3.5mm audio jacks for audio connectivity, and two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports for high-speed network connections. These ports make the GTi14 Ultra versatile and well-suited for various tasks, from media playback to gaming and professional work.
The GTi14 Ultra includes a PCIe x8 interface, located at the bottom of the device and concealed behind a small door. This interface allows users to connect an external graphics card dock directly, significantly enhancing the device's graphics capabilities. This feature is particularly notable because it provides a level of expandability and performance enhancement that is uncommon in mini PCs, making the GTi14 Ultra a standout option for users looking for a compact yet powerful computing solution.
Hardware
The Beelink GTi14 Ultra is a compact powerhouse, designed to deliver high performance with impressive hardware specifications. At its core, it features Intel's latest Meteor Lake processors, with configurations available up to the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, providing a substantial boost in processing capabilities. The integrated Intel Arc Graphics enhances the device's graphical performance, making it suitable for tasks that require a bit more graphical muscle. Supporting up to 96GB of dual-channel DDR5 5600MHz RAM, the GTi14 Ultra is built to handle demanding applications and multitasking with ease. Additionally, it offers dual M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots, allowing for up to 8TB of internal storage, ensuring ample space and fast data access.
Beyond its processing and graphical prowess, the GTi14 Ultra also excels in connectivity. It comes equipped with an Intel BE200 wireless card, supporting the latest WiFi 7 standard and Bluetooth 5.4, ensuring fast and reliable wireless communication. For those who prefer wired connections, the device includes two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, providing high-speed network options ideal for both professional and personal use. These features make the GTi14 Ultra a versatile choice for users who need robust networking capabilities in a compact form factor.
Power efficiency and thermal management are also standout features of the GTi14 Ultra. It operates at around 30W when idle and can peak slightly above 80W during intense CPU and GPU usage, such as gaming. The integrated 145W power supply unit supports stable operation, even under a 65W thermal design power (TDP) load. Notably, the device maintains a quiet operation, with noise levels around 32dB, thanks to its efficient bottom air intake cooling system. This makes the GTi14 Ultra not only a powerful but also a discreet and efficient addition to any home office or entertainment setup.
Performance and Benchmarks
The Beelink GTi14 Ultra's benchmark performance is a testament to its robust capabilities. In Geekbench, it scored an impressive 2,270 in single-core performance and 11,834 in multi-core performance, underscoring its strong CPU prowess. Additionally, the integrated Intel Arc GPU achieved a noteworthy score of 37,460 in Geekbench’s GPU benchmark, which is quite remarkable for an integrated solution, highlighting its potential for graphics-intensive tasks.
Further testing with Furmark, a GPU stress tool, revealed a score of 1,920, though specific GPU temperature data was not available. This was complemented by the system's performance in 3DMark benchmarks, where it scored 12,862 in Sky Diver, 3,283 in Fire Strike, and 1,437 in Time Spy. These scores indicate that the GTi14 Ultra is capable of handling a variety of demanding applications and can even support gaming to a certain extent, particularly when enhanced with an external GPU through its PCIe x8 interface.
Throughout these benchmarks, the GTi14 Ultra maintained surprisingly quiet fan operation, suggesting that its thermal management system is both effective and efficient. This balance of performance and noise control makes the Beelink GTi14 Ultra a versatile choice for users seeking a compact yet powerful system for both everyday computing and more demanding applications.
Gaming Performance
In this review, we delve into the gaming performance of the Beelink GTi14 Ultra, highlighting its capabilities and potential when paired with an external GPU. The GTi14 Ultra, with its integrated Intel Arc Graphics, showcases commendable gaming abilities, particularly for less demanding titles. However, the true power of this mini PC is unlocked when using the PCIe x8 interface to connect an external graphics card, significantly enhancing performance.
For instance, in the popular game Counterstrike, the GTi14 Ultra achieves over 60 fps at Very High settings using only the integrated GPU. This is a solid performance for a mini PC, but the system's gaming prowess truly shines when an external GPU is connected. When paired with a XFX Radeon RX 6600 GPU, the frame rates in Counterstrike soar to over 200 fps at the same settings, demonstrating more than a threefold increase in performance compared to the integrated graphics.
Similarly, in Doom Eternal, the system shows substantial improvements with an external GPU. With Ultra Nightmare settings and Ray Tracing disabled, the GTi14 Ultra reaches over 150 fps, which is approximately 2.5 times the performance of the integrated GPU. This significant boost highlights the GTi14 Ultra’s potential as a versatile gaming platform, offering a seamless transition from power-efficient integrated graphics for everyday use to high-performance external GPUs for demanding gaming sessions.
These benchmarks underline the appeal of the GTi14 Ultra for gamers seeking a compact yet powerful setup. The external GPU not only enhances frame rates but also contributes to overall system performance improvements, including faster load times and a quieter cooling system during gameplay. However, it is crucial to note that gaming experiences may vary based on the specific external GPU and games used. Additionally, the availability and pricing of Beelink’s official external GPU dock solution could influence the value proposition for gaming enthusiasts considering this mini PC.
Application Performance
The Beelink GTi14 Ultra review delves into the mini PC's advanced AI capabilities, highlighting its use of Intel’s latest Meteor Lake processors. These processors come equipped with a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in addition to the CPU and GPU, which collectively enable efficient handling of AI-powered tasks. This integration allows the GTi14 Ultra to perform a range of AI functions, making it a notable option for business environments where such capabilities are increasingly in demand.
The Beelink GTi14 Ultra excels in voice interaction capabilities with its built-in microphone, powered by an AI chip that ensures smart audio pickup. This technology effectively distinguishes voice commands from background noise, allowing for 360° barrier-free voice recognition within a 5-meter range. Such advanced features significantly enhance video conferencing experiences by enabling clear communication without requiring a quiet or controlled environment. The AI-powered audio processing guarantees that voices are captured with clarity, even amidst ambient noise.
Moreover, the NPU accelerates local AI computing tasks, offering potential improvements in areas such as image and video processing, natural language processing, and machine learning model inference. This capability makes the GTi14 Ultra an attractive choice for professionals using AI-enhanced productivity tools, content creators employing AI-powered editing software, and users exploring AI applications without depending entirely on cloud-based solutions. Overall, the GTi14 Ultra’s AI features underscore its suitability for a wide range of users seeking advanced computing capabilities in a compact form factor.
User Experience
The Beelink GTi14 Ultra has been widely praised for its user-friendly design and versatility. One of its standout features is its near-silent operation, achieved through an efficient cooling system that keeps noise levels at a mere 32dB, even under load. Users have also appreciated the added security provided by the integrated fingerprint sensor and the immersive audio experience delivered by the built-in dual speakers.
The compact and ultra-portable design of this Intel small form factor PC adds to its appeal, making it a flexible choice for various scenarios, from office work to gaming. The option to connect an external GPU further enhances its adaptability, allowing users to tailor the system to their specific needs, whether for everyday tasks or more demanding applications.
Although comprehensive user feedback is still emerging due to the product's recent release, initial impressions suggest that the GTi14 Ultra has the potential to meet a diverse range of computing needs. Its combination of quiet performance, security features, and expandability positions it as a versatile choice for both casual and intensive use.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Beelink GTi14 Ultra stands out with its superior voice interaction capabilities, thanks to its integrated microphone and advanced AI chip. This technology ensures exceptional audio pickup by effectively isolating voice commands from surrounding background noise, enabling seamless 360° voice recognition within a 5-meter range.
Such sophisticated features significantly elevate video conferencing experiences by delivering clear and precise communication without necessitating a quiet or controlled environment. The AI-powered audio processing further ensures that voices are captured with remarkable clarity, even in the presence of ambient noise, making the Beelink GTi14 Ultra a valuable asset for any setting where effective voice interaction is crucial.
