Mini PC enthusiasts rejoice, as the market is seeing an exciting addition to compact computing solutions with the emergence of devices featuring Zen 4 AMD APUs. A standout example is the ultra-compact Minisforum EM780, which houses the Ryzen 7 7840U within a sleek 1/4-liter casing. Although technically not a mini PC, the soon-to-be-released Next SBC is vying for attention with its impressive capabilities.
Renowned tech reviewer ETA Prime got his hands on an early model of this single-board computer (SBC), which is powered by the high-performance Ryzen 7 7840HS. Originally expected to feature the 8840U, the switch to the slightly older 7840HS might have been a strategic move to make the product more affordable. Despite this, the Ryzen 7 7840HS, with its configurable higher TDP, provides remarkable performance, coupled with the top-tier Radeon 780M graphics from the Hawk Point lineup. This combination means the Next SBC is well-equipped for gaming performance.
ETA Prime put the Next SBC through its paces, testing it in high-performance mode at 54W TDP. At 1080p resolution, the board handled Red Dead Redemption on Medium settings, achieving impressive frame rates between 80 and 100 FPS. Doom Eternal also delivered smoothly, maintaining an average of 79 FPS under the same conditions.
That said, when it came to testing Starfield, the AMD SBC faced some challenges. Known to be demanding on integrated GPUs, the game ran at 900p on Low settings using AMD FSR and frame generation, yielding around 70 FPS.
Other games such as Overwatch 2, Fallout 4, and Spider-Man Remastered were also tested and demonstrated that the AMD Zen 4 SBC can run them with satisfactory frame rates, providing a solid gaming experience.
ETA Prime’s evaluations provide valuable insights into the capabilities of the Next SBC, offering gamers and tech aficionados a glimpse into its promising performance in various gaming scenarios. As the market for compact and powerful computing solutions continues to grow, devices like the Next SBC are paving the way for innovative advancements in this space.
