As part of this review, We will test the installed components, evaluate their capabilities and performance, and also look inside the case to consider the design and layout features of the device.
Design and Accessories
The mini PC comes in a strict black packaging, decorated in a restrained style. Inside there is a complete kit for quick and easy starting: the computer itself, a 65W power supply, a VESA mount for installing the device behind the monitor, an HDMI cable, as well as all the necessary accompanying documentation.
The case is made of metal with plastic elements. We think that the gray color was chosen very well, because this color is discreet, does not collect dust and does not leave visible streaks on itself. The box is only 38 mm thick and has dimensions of about 120x120 mm, which is comparable to a regular 120 mm computer cooler. The mini PC can be either simply placed on the table, or thanks to a special plate, fixed directly on the monitor. Of course, this placement is not very good in terms of turning on/off the Mini PC, since the power button is built in and is located on the front panel. In addition to the button, there are two ports for connecting components, but all the main interfaces are displayed on the back wall of the case.
In terms of the interface, everything is standard:
- There are four USB ports in total, where two versions are 3.2, and two versions are 2.0 (rear ports). It is enough to connect a mouse, keyboard, printer and external drive.
- For image output, there are two HDMI and one USB-C, which can also be used to connect various peripherals. In total, connect three monitors.
- There is no line input for sound here, but there is a 3.5 mm jack, which is needed to connect headphones. Sound can also be connected via Bluetooth. The module version 5.2 is installed and works within a radius of 10 meters of line of sight.
- One gigabit LAN connector is responsible for the Internet, which is enough to reveal the speed of the Internet when using modern high-speed tariffs. If it is not possible to provide a connection with a cable, then dual-band Wi-Fi 6 with a connection speed of 1200 Mbps using the 5 GHz frequency is provided.
In general, the body turned out to be nice, very neat, a little laconic, and most importantly - compact, and thanks to the gray color, it will fit into most interiors.
M7 Disassembly and Upgrades
The main feature is its ability to upgrade and further expand. Of course, we are not talking about replacing the processor or the integrated graphics card, although in theory it is possible to connect an external graphics accelerator through an M.2 slot. However, this model provides for the installation of a second stick of DDR4 RAM with a frequency of 3200 MHz, as well as a second NVMe SSD 2242 format, which significantly increases configuration flexibility and extends the relevance of the device.
From the factory, the device has one stick of RAM labeled Faspeed N4-16G-PAD, and the main drive is M.2 SSD Faspeed P8 2280 format with a volume of 512 GB. There are no restrictions on the maximum installed storage capacity, while RAM can be expanded up to 64 GB - this limit is due to the capabilities of the processor. In addition, the system has a detachable Wi-Fi module RTL8852BE, which supports two frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, which provides a stable and fast wireless connection.
It's nice that to access the components, you just need to unscrew four screws for a curly screwdriver and carefully lift the case cover. There are no latches or complex mechanisms here - the disassembly process is as simple and straightforward as possible, which even a beginner can easily handle.
M7 Performance and Test Results
The Ryzen 5 7430U is a modern hexa-core processor that demonstrates confident performance in office applications, the browser, video playback and educational programs. In everyday tasks, the Mini PC runs smoothly, stably, and without any stuttering or lag.
Test results:
- PassMark CPU: 3840
- CPU Mark: 15490
- Cinebench R23: 1300 (single), 5950 (multi)
For clarity, We compared it to the less powerful chip we had on hand, the N150. In comparative tests, it showed results almost three times lower: PassMark - 1468 points, CPU Mark - 3838 points, which clearly emphasizes the superiority of the Ryzen 5 7430U in terms of performance.
The TDP of the processor can be manually changed through the BIOS in the range from 10 to 54 watts. By setting the maximum value, performance does increase, but the temperature rises to a critical 95°C. At the same time, with a typical TDP of 45 watts, temperatures are between 83°C and 87°C, ensuring stable and balanced system operation without the risk of overheating and throttling.
For example, in the CPU-Z test, with a set TDP of 54 watts, the results were 597 / 4251 points, while at a value of 45 watts, the indicators were 539 / 3483. Thus, in the Single Core mode, the performance increase was about 9%, and in the Multi Core mode, it was already an impressive 19%. Of course, such an increase in itself cannot be called cardinal, but when installing a second stick of RAM, which on average adds 10-20% of performance in various tests, you can get a very tangible and decent increase in the overall performance of the system.
One of the key advantages of the Ninkear M7 is its near-silent cooling system. In idle mode, the fans are almost inaudible, and under load, the noise level does not exceed 24 dB - this is comparable to a quiet whisper. At the same time, the case remains moderately warm, warming up to 40-50 °C, and the M.2 SSD reaches a temperature of 60-70 °C, which is completely within safe operating limits. Although for the M.2 drive, it was very good to install a heatsink.
Information obtained using the CPU-Z program.
M7 Memory and Storage Capacity
Factory RAM operates in single-channel mode, which somewhat limits the performance potential of the system. When a second RAM module is installed, the read and write speed increases from about 24 GB/s to 40 GB/s, which significantly speeds up applications and improves the overall responsiveness of the system. The memory timings at the factory settings are 22-22-22-52, and the operating frequency is 3200 MHz.
The NVMe SSD shows a speed of about 3600/3100 MB/s, which is the maximum for the PCIe 3.0 interface. Using faster drives than the factory one will not give a noticeable increase due to the limitations of the bus bandwidth. Although the factory SSD has slightly higher speeds, when installed in a system with a PCIe 4.0 bus, the speed reaches 4.8/4 GB/s. When a second drive is connected, the speed decreases slightly, but remains high: the drop is about 400 MB/s, while both M.2 slots provide about 3GB/s. For comparison, manufacturers sometimes deliberately limit the bandwidth of the second M.2 slot to 1GB/s in order to save on production.
Wireless Interfaces
The wireless capabilities of the device include support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Within the same room, Wi-Fi speeds reach:
- 2.4 GHz: 115 Mbps
- 5 GHz: 275 Mbps
- LAN: 960 Mbps
These speeds will allow you to watch videos in 4K, download content to devices and to the cloud. If this is not enough for you and you work with servers or NAS, and the LAN speed of 1 Gbps is not enough, you can always connect an external network adapter with 2.5 Gbps ports via USB-C. Accordingly, do the same with Wi-Fi.
Gaming Features
The built-in graphics of Radeon Vega 7 are not designed for today's demanding AAA games, but it allows you to comfortably run older and less resource-intensive projects. So, in games like GTA 5, CS2, and World of Tanks, you can achieve about 30 FPS, providing a playable experience. In classic games such as GTA San Andreas, Warcraft 3, Heroes of Might and Magic 3, or older parts of the NFS series, the rates reach 60-100 FPS. In addition, all pixel and casual games, such as the new Terminator 2D: NO FATE, work without any problems. Simply put, you can enjoy your favorite old projects and pass the time on them without any problems.
BIOS and Advanced Settings
The mini PC's BIOS offers a wide range of settings, including adjusting RAM frequencies and timings, changing CPU TDP, and allocating memory for integrated graphics. All options are available when you press the DEL key while the device is turned on. For a visual introduction to the interface and BIOS capabilities, you can watch the corresponding video. One thing to keep in mind is that if some settings are not configured correctly, the mini PC may not turn on. There is no special toggle switch for resetting the settings, but the battery that saves the CMOS memory data is connected via a connector, which allows you to restore the default settings if necessary.
Conclusion
The Ninkear M7 is a compact, powerful, and flexible mini PC with some upgradability. The metal housing looks stylish and blends seamlessly into any workspace, while the quiet cooling system ensures quiet and comfortable operation.
The factory operating system is Windows 11 Pro, completely ready to use right out of the box. The only nuance: the first launch with the installation of updates takes about 30 minutes, after which the device is ready for full operation. It is worth taking into account that the version of Windows is one of the latest and does not imply configuration without an Internet connection. Therefore, the manufacturer foresaw this fact, and the drivers on LAN and Wi-Fi are already installed, in general, as well as on all other components. Unpacked, connected and used.
Benefits
- Support for up to 64GB of RAM;
- Two M.2 SSD slots;
- Quiet and efficient cooling system;
- Ability to work with three monitors simultaneously (2× HDMI - 4K / 60 FPS, USB-C - 4K / 30 FPS);
- Factory Windows 11 Pro is already activated;
- Flexible BIOS settings;
- Audio output to speakers via Bluetooth or through the line output;
Disadvantages
- There is an outdated USB port on the back. On the other hand, to connect a mouse, keyboard, or printer, it doesn't matter which version of the port is being used;
- One USB-C port. Probably the most important drawback for me, especially if you connect the monitor through this port, then you will lose the ability to connect peripherals. For example, my external drive is equipped only with a built-in USB-C connector, as well as a card reader. But in general, this is not a serious problem, since you can use a USB hub.
- A sharp increase in temperature at a TDP above 45 W;
- Limited frame rate via USB-C;
- No audio line input. For example, we will no longer be able to connect my old Sony mixing console or a radio channel microphone system. You will have to use an external USB sound card.
Overall, the Ninkear M7 is great for office work, studying, surfing the internet, and even undemanding gaming. Of course, this machine is not enough for complex editing of video files or working with multi-poly objects in 3D programs, but it is quite enough for small works of this kind. we checked it in Adobe Premiere and Compass-3D.