The new Mini-PC from Ninkear is interesting because they managed to catch a balance between price and performance thanks to the AMD Ryzen 5 7430U processor. Well, the design, as always, is strict and stylish. In general, the device turn out to be interesting, but of course not without compromises. Therefore, we will look and feel. And also race in all tests and draw conclusions.
Ninkear M7 (Ryzen 5 7430U / 16GB / 512GB) Specifications
· Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7430U – 6 cores, 12 threads, base frequency 2.3 GHz, turbo up to 4.3 GHz
· Graphics: Integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics
· RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200, installed in dual-channel mode (2x SO-DIMMs), supports up to 64GB
· Storage: 512GB NVMe M.2 2280 SSD, replaceable and upgradable
· Video Outputs: 2x HDMI
· Ports:
· - 1x USB-C (with video and data support)
· - 2x USB-A 3.0
· - 2x USB-A 3.0 (rear)
· - 1x Ethernet RJ-45 (Gigabit)
· - 1x 3.5mm audio combo jack
· Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2
· Operating system: Windows 11 Pro (pre-installed)
· Housing: compact metal, dimensions approx. 116x107x36 mm
· Cooling system: active cooling with low noise level (up to 38 dB)
· What's in the box: mini PC, power supply, HDMI cable, VESA mount, manual
Packaging & Picking
Ninkear is experimenting with packaging again, now it is a black box made of thick cardboard. On one of the sides there is an information sticker, and here at least there is all the necessary information about what is inside. It's just good, but I've seen some packages that are like a black box. Until you open it, you won't know what's inside.
With the configuration, as always, they did not disappoint. In addition to the Mini-PC itself, the kit includes the user’s manual, an HDMI cord, a power supply, and a VES mount.
As usual, all you have to do is connect it with a monitor, pluging the keyboard and mouse devices, and now the workplace is ready for use, very compact and low-noise.
Let's take a closer look at the components.
The HDMI cord is 1 meter long. It will help out if you don't have your own, but you need to connect to a monitor or TV. VESA mount, implemented in the form of a bar for the underside of the mini-PC. Complete screws for fasteners are present.
Power supply unit
A solid GAN charger of a very compact size, producing 19V 3.4A. The model KWY65A-1903420EU manufactured by Shenzhen Keweiye Electronics CO., LTD.
Immediately from the factory, a European-type look, the cord is non-removable. The plug is standard 5.5mm, so if something happens, there will be no problems with replacement. By the way, I always write that if something happens, there are no problems with replacement, and now I think, how often do you lose or break power supplies? I don't remember a single case in my practice. But the power supply can be interesting, but the computer itself is more interesting. Now we can consider it.
Design of Ninkear M7 mini PC
A special feature of the M7 is that it has an all-metal body. It is very good for cooling and for appearance.
On the front of the nettop, we can see a power button and two full USB A 3.2 ports for connecting storage devices with other devices.
On the side ends there are some cutouts through which air is taken into the cooling system of the device.
At the top we can see the manufacturer's logo, and design elements in the form of the letter N. It is logical to assume that this is a kind of game designs expressing the brand name.
Sometimes we read in other people's reviews that this is the letter Z. I just want to say: Guys! Well, turn to the side already!
There are four small legs we can observe from the back side of device, with some service information and booms for installing the bar for the Vesa mount.
From each leg in inner/central position there we can see the presence of screw plugged inside.
And from one back, we have the main interfaces. These are two HDMI ports, a 3.5mm AUX jack, two USB A 3.0 and another USB Type-C. There is also a DC connector for power. And just above is a grate for blowing hot air from the cooling system.
If we talk about the assembly as a whole, then it is at a very high level here. It can be seen that with each new model, the manufacturer's production quality increases significantly. And in addition to the design, I am still amazed by the size of today's computers. The Ninkear case is even smaller than a regular smartphone, but at the same time much more powerful and productive.
Tests and benchmarks
Now that we had looked at the computer's component from inside, we are now ready to test it:
Inside, from the factory, we have a full-fledged licensed Windows 11 Pro.
As usual, we look at the readings about the iron in CPU-Z. This is a system built around the AMD Ryzen 5 7430U processor, which is a mobile processor based on the Barcelo-U (Zen 3) architecture and it is primarily designed for office-level laptops. It consists of 6 computing cores and 12 threads, production is carried out according to the norms of the 7nm process. The maximum clock speed reaches 4.3 GHz, and the multiplier is locked.
In terms of compatibility, the model is focused on an FP6 connector, has a TDP of 15 watts and works with DDR4 RAM. But of course, if desired, the TDP can be increased. This will affect both heat generation and consumption. Although, in general, even the existing 15W is quite enough for everyday tasks.
Next, we just run a few benchmarks to see what this mini PC is capable of. Let's start with OCCT as one of the most illustrative options and with the benchmarks built into this software.
And while OCCT is running, let's run a stress test to see how the computer behaves under load. I loaded it in the stress test and in Power mode.
It can be seen that there are short-term temperature spikes up to 95 degrees, this is normal, since the system does not have time to react instantly and turn on cooling. The average temperature on the CPU is about 68 degrees, and holds up confidently, with a TDP even slightly higher than it should be. That is, there is a slight acceleration here, and this is good. The computer works at 15-17W. And also due to the metal case, here the general cooling works more efficiently and stably. Which is also good. While some may think a hot case, that's a bad thing. In fact, this is a better distribution of heat, and this is a plus.
The next test is naturally AIDA64, in which I also ran a stress test.
Here we can already see that the stress test does not fully load the computer. There is a small margin of performance and all this is kept within 15 watts. At the same time, temperatures are kept in the range of 67-68 degrees, with a small short-term rise to 89 at a peak at the very beginning of the load. Task Manager shows that the CPU is 90% utilized and there are some resources left for other tasks. This is a demonstration of how energy-efficient the processor works and how it distributes tasks despite not the highest performance. In this regard, of course, you understand that AMD is a very interesting choice for systems where TDP balance is important.
Well, since we have Aida already launched, let's launch a few benchmarks next. The results are below:
At the same time, you can also see the filling displayed in the system properties. For example, the type of USB and the network card are clearly indicated here.
Now let's run the 3DMark benchmark.
Quite adequate indicators in 3D graphics tests (not a gaming device) and normal indicators in overall speed. This is a device for everyday tasks. And tests confirm this. If you need gaming computers, then this is not about the M7, although you can play some games here too. True, everything rests on the Radeon Vega 7 video accelerator, which, for example, is clearly more powerful than the built-in video in the popular Intel N100, but still does not reach the M780, for example. That is, in fact, we have just an intermediate solution, on which you can already perform everyday tasks without brakes and pain. At the same time, for an adequate budget.
Below are the built-in SSD read/write tests:
Cinebench R23:
Results
When I first took the Ninkear M7 out of the box, the first thing I paid attention to was not the specs, but the case itself. Metal. Cold, dense, without backlashes and creaks, perfectly assembled. It feels like a serious device. In this, you can already feel the progress of the brand: it is clear that the company is maturing and starting to make not just "compact boxes", but mature products with attention to detail. Although this is the second year that they have such a trend and can only be praised for it.
In terms of hardware, the Ryzen 5 7430U has long established itself as a reliable and balanced option for everyday tasks. This is not a gaming machine, and you should not expect miracles from the built-in Vega graphics, but the system feels great in office and home work. Browser, Documents, Video, Lightroom, Media. All this works without freezes, and the fan is audible only if you listen carefully. And yes, cooling deserves special mention. Due to the metal body and well-thought-out ventilation, the minik keeps stable temperatures even under prolonged load. Yes, the body is slightly warm, but this is a normal price to pay for compactness and silence. It is better to let the case heat up than to overheat the processor.
Power consumption is minimal: in idleness, it pulls literally a few watts. You can safely use it as a home server, media player or a permanent work computer that is just turned on and running.
And this is where the main point of the M7 comes in: it doesn't try to be "the best in everything", but does its job quietly, reliably and without surprises. This is an honest mini PC that you won't mess with, you won't "finish filing with a file", but just use it. This is the choice of many people, those who do not want to buy barebons and assemble optimal devices on their basis and try to save every ruble.
Pros
· an all-metal body that really participates in cooling;
· high-quality assembly without backlashes and gaps;
· low noise level, even under load;
· Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 — a modern set of interfaces;
· upgradability (RAM and SSD);
· two video outputs - you can assemble a full-fledged multi-monitor workplace;
· energy-efficient Ryzen 5 7430U with a good balance of performance and heat.
Cons
· the body heats up under load, which can be confusing for those who like absolute coolness;
· built-in graphics are not suitable for heavy games and 3D tasks;
· only one slot for storage - I would like a second M.2 for flexibility.
Verdict
The Ninkear M7 is the case when compactness does not interfere with seriousness. It does not make loud statements, does not "play the flagship", but quietly does everything that is required of it. An excellent choice for those who value stability, neat design and the absence of unnecessary noise - both literally and figuratively...