AMD’s Strix Point has journeyed from powering laptops to boosting the performance of compact mini PCs, and the Beelink SER9 is leading this charge. Recently unveiled globally, this mini PC impresses with its AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, the top-tier chip in the Zen 5 series. At its core, this APU houses the Radeon 890M, an integrated graphics unit that’s about 18% faster than its predecessor, the Radeon 780M. This jump in performance has piqued interest, prompting ETA Prime to put the Beelink SER9 through its paces and see how the new RDNA 3.5 iGPU fares.
In their tests, ETA Prime started with the graphically demanding game, Horizon Forbidden West. Running this AAA title at 1080p with low settings and frame generation enabled, the Radeon 890M managed an average of 70 frames per second (FPS). Turning off frame generation saw the performance dip to an average of 47 FPS.
Next on the list was Forza Horizon 5. At 1080p with medium settings and without frame generation, the Radeon 890M delivered an impressive average of 109 FPS. This outperforms the older Radeon 780M, which would have averaged around 89 FPS under the same conditions.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider was another title in the testing suite. Running the game at 1080p on medium settings without scaling, the RDNA 3.5 iGPU recorded an average of 56 FPS. Call of Duty MW3 also showed solid performance, averaging 141 FPS on a balanced preset with frame generation set to balanced mode.
ETA Prime continued with Starfield, setting the game to 1080p with low settings and enabling FSR and frame generation. Here, the Radeon 890M averaged 87 FPS. Lastly, Cyberpunk 2077 was put to the test. At 1080p with low settings and FSR set to auto, the mini PC managed an average of 90 FPS.
These results indicate that Strix Point mini PCs equipped with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 are more than capable of handling gaming tasks efficiently. Notably, during testing, the Beelink SER9 hit a maximum TDP of 54W. However, this mini PC can operate up to a 65W limit, potentially offering even better performance if pushed to its full potential.
In conclusion, the integration of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 in mini PCs like the Beelink SER9 heralds a new era for compact yet powerful gaming systems. The advancements in the Radeon 890M iGPU ensure a smoother gaming experience, enhancing the appeal of these mini PCs to gamers looking for a compact yet potent setup.
