Anyone who remembers the Barabone systems, which were relevant at the beginning of the millennium, knows what they lacked. Performance. Mini PCs cost more than regular computers or laptops but could not satisfy users with their efficiency at work. Little memory, weak processor, high price. There were many drawbacks. But now, after 20 years, we see that the market for miniature computers is growing again. This time, everything is a bit different. Take, for example, the mini PC Beelink GTI Core with Intel Core I5-8260U and Windows 10 Pro. For a price of $600-800, you can get a very powerful computer with a large margin of power for the next 5 years.
What is the Mini PC Beelink GTI Core
The Mini PC Beelink GTI Core is a compact workstation that includes all components for a full-fledged system operation. Essentially, it is a system unit. You only need to connect a monitor, mouse, and keyboard. Also, connect the PC to power and the Internet. This is not a laptop, at least because it does not come with a monitor.
What is the purpose of the Mini PC Beelink GTI Core
Seeing the specifications (Intel Core I5-8260U, 16 GB RAM, and 512 SSD), the buyer immediately thinks it’s a gaming device. No. The Mini PC Beelink GTI Core is a sufficiently powerful workstation. It can be used for tasks such as:
- Video streaming.
- Editing audio, video content, photos.
- For office tasks (applications, databases, terminal servers).
- Multimedia (listening to music, watching movies on any signal receivers and from any sources). 4K@60 IPTV, Torrents, YouTube – all work similarly to TV-BOX.
- Surfing the internet.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Mini PC Beelink GTI Core
The first question from the buyer is “Why is it so expensive?”. For this price, you can buy a regular system unit with the possibility of future upgrades. But the Mini PC Beelink GTI Core is a complete system. And one could agree with this opinion. But there is one “but” – compactness. Buy a huge box that takes up space and collects dust. Or place a small box next to the monitor. And if desired, move everything to another room, or to the dacha, or to the office.
Questions will inevitably arise about the outdated hardware. Yes, the Intel Core I5-8260U processor is powerful. But it is 8th generation. It is important to consider the device’s size. Modern chips are very power-hungry and generate a lot of heat. Gaining a 3-5% performance boost by installing a powerful processor is not profitable. It’s better to have a chip that won’t cause system slowdown due to heat during peak loads.
Technical specifications of the mini PC Beelink GTI Core
| Processor | Intel Coffee Lake i5-8260U, 1.6 GHz (6 MB Cache) |
| Graphics core | Intel UHD Graphics 620 (300-1150 MHz) |
| RAM | 8/16 GB SO-DIMM DDR4 2400 MHz (supports expansion up to 64 GB) |
| Storage 1 | M.2 256/512 GB (PCIe 4X) NVMe SSD |
| Storage 2 | M.2 SATA3 HDD 2.5in 1 TB (optional) |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Pro license included |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | Yes, version 5.0 |
| LAN 1 Gbps | Yes |
| Buttons and ports | 1 x Type-C Data/VIDEO EDP
1 x DC 4 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 1 x HDMI 2.0a 1 x DP 2 x RJ-45 1024 Mbits 1 x Fingerprint scanner 1 x Audio jack (HP & MIC) 2 x Microphones 1 x Power button 1 x CLR CMOS button |
| Weight | 712 grams |
| Cooling | Active DUAL system |
| Voice control | Yes |
| Price | $600-800 depending on RAM and storage configuration |
In conclusion about the Mini PC Beelink GTI Core
It would be a sin not to run games on such a wonderful device. It turned out that on medium settings, you can play almost all platformers. And also Tanks and online ships. For Action and RPG, you will need to lower the quality settings, otherwise, there will be friezes. But overall, the mini PC Beelink GTI Core is a quite interesting compact solution with a large reserve of performance for the future.
If the reader wants more, they can watch a review of the mini PC in the video below. It is presented by the excellent channel Technozon, which posts honest gadget reviews online.
