In recent years, the mini-PC market has been growing thanks to more energy-efficient processor architectures. Now it is easy to find an 8-core chip with powerful integrated graphics, primarily manufactured by AMD. The company has recently introduced the Hawk Point processors based on Zen4 and RDNA3 architectures for desktop platforms. The Ryzen 8000G series works with any AM5 motherboard with the corresponding BIOS version.
Using the new processors, Gigabyte has created the Metal Gear Plus ITX mini-PC in an aluminum chassis for a Mini-ITX motherboard. The computer uses the AORUS B650I ITX board, which supports full-size DDR5 memory, with a low-profile CPU cooler. The case measures 200×210×58 mm and has a volume of 3 liters.
All the components of the Metal Gear Plus ITX are interchangeable, like in a standard self-assembly PC. It is possible to replace the processor, memory, cooler, and even the motherboard itself.
An interesting feature of Gigabyte ITX systems is that they come with AC to DC power converters, meaning the power source is external, and the chassis does not contain an internal power supply unit. This may be a disadvantage compared to some mini-PCs that can be powered through USB Type-C ports, as the computer will not work with standard power sources. However, the existing mini-PCs on the market do not support 65W TDP processors, so the Gigabyte PC requires a more powerful solution than regular external GaN power supplies.
There are three main configurations available for the Gigabyte Metal Gear Plus ITX. All systems feature the same AORUS B650I ITX board with Wi-Fi 6 support. They come with 16GB of XPG D300 memory, 512GB or 1TB NVMe M.2 storage, and use a 180W DC-ATX power supply.
- AMD Ryzen 5 8500G: 6C/12T up to 5.0GHz (Zen4 and Zen4c), Radeon 740M ($620 - $690)
- AMD Ryzen 5 8600G: 6C/12T up to 5.0GHz (Zen4), Radeon 760M ($660 - $740)
- AMD Ryzen 7 8700G: 8C/12T up to 5.1GHz (Zen4), Radeon 780M ($810 - $910)
Unlike some compact computers, the Metal Gear Plus will have no issues updating the BIOS to support new hardware. The standard Mini-ITX board will receive the same updates as any other AMD 600 board. Therefore, when the corresponding BIOS becomes available, the PC will easily support AMD Ryzen 9000 processors.
The system should also be compatible with standard Raphael processors, which have integrated RDNA2 graphics, although the GPU performance will be lower. The only issue here will be the cooling system's power - it will need to adhere to the 65W TDP.
Source: VideoCardz
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