Beelink SEI12 PRO: our test and opinion on the mini PC (i7-12650H)

You are tired of your PC cluttering up your desk, and are increasingly considering opting for a mini PC. Did you know that the Chinese brand Beelink, founded in 2014, was one of the specialists in the design of mini PCs, Android TV boxes and other electronic devices? Renowned for meeting the different needs of users and their activities, Beelink mini PCs are intended for office automation, gaming or entertainment. Compact and powerful, Beelink mini PCs are little racehorses in the field. We were able to test the Beelink SEi12 PRO Mini PC, a model equipped with the new processor system offering impressive frequencies. Here is our feedback.

Unpacking and installation

The Beelink SEI12 PRO mini PC is delivered in a small box as compact as it is. Inside the packaging we find the famous computer, an external power supply, two HDMI cords, various instructions as well as a VESA screen support.

Installation is done in just a few minutes. Get a wired mouse and keyboard for the first installation and follow the steps. It’s ultra-simple and within the reach of any beginner.

We choose the language, name the PC and follow the Windows 11 installation steps.

Focus on Beelink processors in general, and on that of the Beelink SEI12 PRO Mini PC

The Beelink SEI12 PRO Mini PC has a powerful i7-12650 H processor, a mobile chip with 10 cores and 12 threads. Recall that processor cores (CPUs) are individual computing units inside a chip. Each core is capable of executing instructions independently. The thread, for its part, is a virtual processing unit that allows a processor to execute several tasks in parallel. 10 cores and 12 threads, and a processor clocked at 4.7 GHz, we can tell you that this is moving!

If you spend time watching or even working on videos, it won’t cause any problems in terms of fluidity. You may be wondering about the heat generated by the power of its processor? Indeed, Beelink innovates with a heat sink and heat pipes which direct the heat towards fins. In addition, a powerful fan comes ensure air circulation, evacuating it towards the rear. Cooling is therefore ensured while guaranteeing very stable performance. In addition, the new Beelink models such as the SEI12 PRO have been improved thanks to a rebalancing of the onboard cores.

Focus on the connectivity of the Beelink SEI12 PRO Mini PC

Here again, you should not be disappointed by the Beelink SEI12 PRO Mini PC’s offerings in terms of interfaces and connectivity. The list is long and you will have the choice to connect your peripherals. Indeed, it has an HDMI socket, a DP, two USB 3.2 Gen2 inputs, two USB 2.0 sockets, a USB type-C input (for data), a 1000M Gigabit Ethernet socket , a 3.5 mm audio jack. Regarding connectivity, it will be possible to connect it via Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 ax) or via a Bluetooth 5.2 connection (perfect for keyboard, mouse, etc. devices).

Let’s take a moment to focus on this almost foolproof connectivity. The Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 module has internal antennas, and comes with a VESA mount for easy mounting behind a display. We have not tested the support, but I put you a video at the end of the article so you can see what it looks like. Both new versions come with a pre-installed Windows 11 license and retain features such as Wake On Lan and Programmable Boot in BIOS. As for powering the Mini PC, it is done via a classic 19 V and 5.26 A jack port.

Dual display output: an interesting feature

The dual display on this compact device is an additional functionality that turns out to be pleasant when you are used to working on two screens, for example. It is also a way for home workers, on screen, to increase their efficiency, as well as their productivity. Whether for browsing the Internet, using Microsoft Office, designing applications, playing UHD videos or playing small games, this mini PC offers exemplary fluidity in all these areas. This is an interesting feature, because often, to obtain this level of fluidity, you have to invest a large sum and equip yourself with high-performance, even professional, equipment.

Focus on the storage capacities of the Beelink SEI12 PRO Mini PC

On the Beelink SEI12 PRO Mini PC, you will be able to store an impressive quantity of documents, files, videos or photos of all kinds. Indeed, in terms of storage, the Beelink SEI12 PRO Mini PC comes with an impressive 32GB (2×16GB) dual-channel DDR4 RAM. And that’s not all ! For even more storage, it has two expandable memory slots of up to 64 GB (2 × 32 GB). Moreover, the 500 GB M.2 PCIE4 NVME SSD which the team can even expand its storage capacity up to 2 TB.

In addition, for those who still do not have enough storage with the original features, it is possible to further expand the capacity via a 2.5-inch hard drive. As for the more technical characteristics, they include two DDR4-3200 RAM slotsproviding a maximum capacity of 64 GB. Storage is entrusted to an M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 4.0 solution, generally equipped with Kingston SSDs, and a 2.5 SATA3 expansion bay to mount two fast storage units internally.

All the technical characteristics of the Beelink SEI12 PRO Mini PC

• Brand: Beelink
• Series: SEI
• Hardware platform: PC
• Operating system: OS
• Screen resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
• Maximum screen resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
• Processor: Apple Core i7 clocked at 2.3 GHz
• RAM: 16 GB DDR4
• Hard drive: 32 GB SSD
• Chipset brand: AMD
• Graphics card description: dedicated
• Wireless connection type: 802.11 ab
• Number of USB 2.0 ports: 2
• Item weight: 1574g
• Package dimensions: 7.36 × 5.39 × 4.61 inches
• Black color
• Processor brand: Intel
• Number of processors: 1
• Computer memory type: DDR4 SDRAM
• Hard disk interface: PCIE x 4
• Hard drive rotation speed: 500 RPM

Conclusion

To conclude, we would say that the Beelink SEI12 PRO Mini PC is an interesting combo offering high performance, versatile interfaces, dual display output which is convenient. In addition, it should be noted its excellent generous storage capacity, which makes it a perfect choice for those looking for maximum performance in a minimal footprint. In addition, its sober and minimalist side means that it will fit perfectly into all offices, even the most modern. Beelink therefore consolidates with the Mini PC SEI12 PRO its reputation as a specialist in high-performance mini devices without seeing your budget soar! A perfect device for office automation, creating a NAS or a multimedia server for the home. For the price, the latter is currently offered at the price of €579 (with an additional €70 coupon to check on Amazon.). A very attractive price. More information on the official website: bee-link.com

Most

• Compact
• Powerful
• Silent

The lessers

• A vertical support would have been welcome