BMAX B8 Pro the definitive mini PC? I really think so!
A few years ago, mini PCs were products so distant from classic desktop PCs that a comparison was unthinkable, as was the idea of buying one to replace your desktop PC. But over time this GAP has become increasingly narrow and today we can find devices that at a hardware level have nothing to envy of their "big brothers". One of these is the case of BMAX B8 pro, a truly very powerful mini PC with a truly interesting quality-price ratio. For those who don't know it, I remind you that BMAX is a Chinese brand that for some years has achieved excellent quality levels in the production of consumer electronics (mini PCs, notebooks and tablets)
Topics of this article:
CONFEZIONE
In the packaging, which is aesthetically very nice, we find:
- BMAX B8 Pro Mini PC
- 47Wh power supply with Italian adapter
- Instruction booklet (in Italian)
- Support + screws to connect it to the designated monitors
AESTHETICS and I/O
Aesthetically absolutely promoted! The translucent effect on the upper part is beautiful and creates beautiful effects based on how the light hits it. The body materials appear to be aluminum alloy, the color black. Once the I/O compartment is complete, we find:
- 2 2.0 USB ports
- 2 3.0 USB ports
- 2 2.1 HDMI ports
- 1 RJ45 input (1Gbs)
- 3.5mm audio input
- 1 Type C port
- Power input (DC19V/2.5A)
- Hole for CMOS reset
The dimensions are really small, 12cm (length) x 11cm (width) x 4.5cm (height) for only 350g of weight.
HARDWARE BMAX B8 pro
Let's start from the most important thing, the hardware that we find on board this mini PC, and get ready because you will be pleasantly surprised. Let's start with the processor, a CPU Intel 12th Gen Core i7-1255U, Turbo Frequency 4.7GHz aided by a graphics card Intel® 12th Gen Iris Xe 1.25GHz Graphics. It doesn't take a genius to understand that we are faced with an excellent sector that will allow us to run and manage even complex graphics and audio programs, where computing power is fundamental. The memory RAM it is even 24Gb of type L a 5200MHz while the HD is a 1Tb NVMe SSD for truly top performances (expandable with HD M.2 2280 SSD).
Below are some explanatory images of the potential of this sector.
The Intel Core CPU i7-1255U it has a 10 core configuration, 12 Threads, a maximum consumption of 55W, 12Mb smart cache, 10nm process and a maximum clock of 4.7GHz. The Iris For gamers here are some examples of frame rates on games of a certain level:
BMAX B8 pro CONNECTIVITY
As for wireless we find a BlueTooth 5.2 e Wi-Fi 6 (obviously 2.4/5Ghz) which will allow us to obtain great results both in terms of connection quality and transfer speed. We will therefore be able to listen to very high definition music via BT and transfer files at astronomical speeds via Wi-Fi, up to 9Gbps. The entrances HDMI 2.1 they will then allow us to connect TVs, monitors, projectors and transmit video up to the definition 4K is 120fps e 8K up to 60fps, therefore perfect for all those who love cinema and TV series. The exit Type C is full features, therefore it allows you to transfer files but also audio and video. Although now disused, there is a door RJ45 which will allow us the wired connection up to 1Gpbs and my advice is to use it, obviously if you have the router close to the PC. I remain old school and tend to prefer everything that is wired.
BMAX B8 pro OPERATING SYSTEM
The pre-installed operating system is Windows 11 Pro and the setup is very simple and quick. Here is the detail of the steps necessary for configuration
As you can see, this is a really quick procedure, which won't take you more than 5 minutes! And this too should not be overlooked, especially for those less knowledgeable on the subject! The reset to factory settings accessible when you start the PC is also really convenient: just press F9 immediately after pressing the power button to enter the "smart recovery" menu which will allow you to perform a deep reset very easily. I remind you that in this case all data will be deleted, so it is essential to first make a back up of everything you need
PERFORMANCES
Therefore the performance chapter regarding a PC, as for a telephone, leaves room for a thousand thousand considerations. There is the "cold" and numerical data that comes to us from the benchmarks and then the real everyday use experience. Let's start from an always interesting element, the boot of the operating system: with our BMAX B8 Pro Windows 11 pro starts in 7 seconds!
As regards standard work use, therefore office+web+social package, I can guarantee you that the fluidity will be maximum. Every operation is performed without lag and without wasting your time. Not being a gamer I cannot give you significant opinions in the gaming sector so I stick to the brand's reports which tell us it is a good PC also for gaming. It seems obvious to me that you will never be able to compare it to laptops that cost €2000 or desktops whose single video card costs as much as the entire mini PC... so if your focus is this, go for something else, with the logical fivefold economic outlay. What I can tell you is that when using Vegas Pro, the software I use for video editing, I noticed an improvement in the order of 30% in the rendering phase compared to my Xiaomi Laptop Pro (Intel(R) Core (TM) i7-8550U CPU @ 1.80GHz 2.00 GHz with 16Gb of RAM), which is now a few years old but is a product whose price list was around €1800. So I feel absolutely satisfied. For numbers lovers I also ran some benchmarks, including GEEKBECH6 which is among the best known by lovers of the sector. In addition I tested MotionMark 1.2 and I leave you the results below. Consider whether it is right for you.
Another thing that pleasantly surprised me is the truly optimal CPU temperature control! Unlike other mini PCs I've tested, with this one BMAX B8 Pro it is impossible to start the cooling fan! Great for your ears! This is a detail that in my opinion you should always keep in mind when purchasing a similar product, but I recommend... evaluate it before purchasing it!
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
Having seen all the characteristics of this product, we come to the final considerations. First I would ask this question: "why buy a mini PC?". Well, the answer is very simple... a mini PC occupies 1/10 of the space of a classic desktop PC and above all consumes 1/10 compared to a desktop PC (on average 30W compared to 300W of a desktop)! Nowadays, with the exorbitant costs of electricity, I would say that it is a calculation to absolutely take into consideration. The second question is: "How do I use the PC?". Well, if the answer is: "work, office package, entertainment, web, non-pro audio-video, social media and some games" then a mini PC is definitely your solution. If, however, you are a gamer or have to work with video and audio editing at a professional level then it is perhaps better to go for something more powerful (naturally at radically different costs).
Il BMAX B8 Pro it really excited me, so much so that I retired my beloved laptop Xiaomi and I'm sure I won't regret the change. Fast, small, powerful, aesthetically very beautiful... I found only positive sides to this product! But now we come to another, which as always is fundamental for any purchase decision, namely the price. The list price is around €500 and for what it offers I must say that the price is more than honest. But now comes the best part... thanks to GEEKBUYING (thank you for sending the sample) and with our discount code you can take it home with a good 30% discount and at this price it would be really crazy not to take advantage of it! So, if you are considering purchasing a PC you have come to the right place, buy it without worries. I remind you about that Geekbuying, to protect your purchases, you can pay with PayPal and the shipment will take place from warehouses located in Europe and delivered in 3-5 working days without annoying customs duties. At this point all I can do is wish you Happy Shopping!
Today also on offer with shipping from China warehouse with further discount. Delivery times are longer, but always without additional customs costs and free shipping.
