Nipogi CK10 Mini-PC Review: Budget-Friendly Performance for Office and Casual Gaming
Introduction
The tech community is buzzing with the arrival of the Nipogi CK10 Mini-PC, priced at just 285 euros and featuring an Intel Core i5 processor. Aimed primarily at office users and casual gamers, this compact model offers a blend of affordability and decent performance in various computing tasks.
Design and Build Quality
The Nipogi CK10 features a compact profile with dimensions of 126 × 138 × 52 mm and weighs approximately 480 grams, making it perfect for users with limited space. Its matte gray plastic casing is lightweight, though the overall build quality can feel somewhat flimsy at times. The top and bottom panels contain air vents crucial for cooling but are easy to manipulate, which might degrade their longevity over time.
Specifications
Under the hood, the CK10 houses an Intel Core i5 12450H processor, equipped with four high-performance and four efficiency cores, allowing for operational speeds of up to 4.4 GHz. It comes standard with 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB NVMe SSD, which users can upgrade to a maximum of 64 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD. Interestingly, the mini-PC integrates a VGA port instead of the more modern DisplayPort, alongside dual HDMI ports that support 4K resolutions.
Performance
Primarily designed for office tasks, the CK10 excels in this domain, scoring between 5022 to 5224 points on the PCMark 10 benchmark tests. However, if you’re looking to indulge in gaming, the performance may not meet your expectations. In the 3DMark Time Spy test, it only scored 981 points, showcasing the limitations of its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. Lightweight games like Valorant can run smoothly at lower settings, achieving around 120 FPS, but more visually demanding titles like Anno 1800 struggle, dropping below 30 FPS at certain settings.
Energy Efficiency
One of the standout features of the Nipogi CK10 is its energy efficiency. Under load, the device consumes approximately 42 watts, with the CPU drawing no more than 35 watts. During idle times, power consumption drops to as low as 12 watts, making it an environmentally friendly option for users who keep their systems running for extended periods.
Cooling and Noise
Despite the minor complaints about build quality, the Nipogi CK10 impresses with its quiet operation. Even under full load, the fan operates at a maximum sound level of just 30 dB, making it suitable for office environments. In idle mode, the fan can even stay completely off, which significantly reduces noise levels.
Price and Alternatives
Currently available for around 285 euros, this mini-PC provides an attractive value proposition. For users looking for more graphical power, alternatives like the Nipogi AM16, which features an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and is priced similarly, may offer better performance and additional features like USB-C with DisplayPort support.
Conclusion
In summary, the Nipogi CK10 serves well as an office mini-PC, balancing cost and fundamental performance. However, gamers may want to look for options with dedicated graphics capabilities for a more satisfying experience. While the CK10 is indeed a quality device, particularly at its price point, competing models with AMD processors could provide better value if gaming is a priority.
For a detailed review, check the original article on TechStage.