$100 Cheap Mini PC Review: BMax Mini PC V1 Plus

Introduction

Many people are on the lookout for an affordable mini PC but worry that "cheap" might mean "poor quality," especially when it comes to a device like a computer that we rely on for years, possibly even decades. After reviewing numerous budget mini PCs, we ultimately decided on the BMax Mini PC V1 Plus. This compact device offers impressive value for money while delivering a solid balance of performance and functionality. Powered by the Intel Gemini Lake N4000 processor, coupled with 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage, it’s capable of handling everyday tasks, home entertainment, and even light industrial applications with ease. Additionally, it supports a variety of connectivity options, including USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, and Gigabit Ethernet, making it highly versatile for different use cases. After considering its price, performance, and long-term usability, the BMax Mini PC V1 Plus emerged as our ideal choice. In this review, we’ll dive deeper into its performance and see if it truly meets all our needs.

Product Parameters

Included accessories:

1. 12V 2W PSU socket

2. Hdmi*1

3. Bracket on the back of the display

4. Computer itself

Parameter table

Review section:

As a boot Drive in this mini pc there's also 64 gigabytes of on-board emmc flash storage which comes with Windows 11

This mini pc having Windows 11 rather than Windows 10 on this box may be part of the reason for the price of this and similar Hardware

We find a 3.5 millimeter audio jack as well as a gigabit Ethernet port although this fanless micro pc, also has onboard Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth 4.2 with range 10 meters.

Next we get a full size HDMI port that supports up to a 4K display as well as two USB 2 ports a 12 volt Barrel Jack for power and a power button in this fanless mini pc.

rotating to the left Edge we find two type-A-USB 3.0 ports as well as a MicroSD card slot 

And then turning 180 to the right Edge，we discover a VGA socket.

If you're wondering this little fanless mini pc is capable of driving two displays, we turn the B Max over underneath we find this slot secured with a screw let's take a look inside

In here we can fit an m.2 SATA SSD for extra storage behind mini fanless computer.

If you want to take the cover off and take a closer look at the internals, we've got you covered:

The structure inside is quite complicated, the metal sheet in the middle is obviously a heat sink, and the surrounding electronic components are not exciting. But its structure does maximize the use of space and is neat.

BMax Mini PC V1 Plus Evaluation Summary

Performance:

Video playback：this works pretty well, there are some drop frames. It's not absolutely perfect but it's a perfectly acceptable level of playback in 1080P here on the bmax mini PC.
certainly better play that than we've seen on many ARM-based spcs that often cost more than the B-Max does.

Daily office applications: The system responded quickly when running common office software such as LibreOffice Writer, and was able to perform text editing smoothly. The image editing software GIMP also performed well and was suitable for basic image processing tasks.

Storage performance:

The eMMC flash memory equipped with the device has a low read and write speed (about 300MB/s), but by connecting an external SSD or USB 3.0 device, the storage performance can be significantly improved, and the performance is better than most ARM single-board mini pc.

The Micro SD card interface is slow, which may be the bottleneck of the hardware interface.

Video editing and rendering:

In the Caden Live video editing software, the BMax Mini PC can play and render 1080p videos. Although the rendering speed is not fast, its performance is still good compared to other low-power devices (such as Raspberry Pi 4).

Linux compatibility:

On the Linux Mint operating system, the BMax Mini PC runs smoothly and has good hardware compatibility, including Wi-Fi, GPU acceleration, etc., which all work normally, and the performance is similar to that under Windows.

Overall evaluation:

For a price of about $100, the BMax Mini PC V1 Plus provides enough computing power for daily office work, streaming media, light image and video editing, etc. Compared with some ARM single-board mini pc, it is more cost-effective. Although it lacks GPIO ports, this function can be supplemented by external hardware, which is suitable for small DIY projects and basic computing needs.

Another Smart Choice: Star Products of the Similar Price

For those seeking an alternative or complementary solution for compact, cost-effective computing, the BVS-3V mini fanless PC offers similar benefits at an affordable price. The BVS-3V stands out for its compact design, measuring just 130mm x 130mm x 45.5mm and weighing only 367g, making it perfect for environments where space is at a premium. Powered by Gemini Lake processors, the BVS-3V offers a choice of J4125, J4105, and N4020 processors, ensuring smooth performance for a range of tasks, from office applications to media streaming and IoT operations.

In addition to its versatile processor options, the BVS-3V supports expandable RAM (up to 16GB) and features flexible storage options with M.2 NVME SSD and SATA SSD support, providing fast and reliable data access. Dual HDMI outputs allow for multi-monitor setups, while the inclusion of TPM 2.0 and two LAN ports enhances the system's security and networking capabilities. With a range of connectivity options, including USB ports and DC power input, the BVS-3V offers excellent integration into industrial and commercial systems.

For those in need of a compact, reliable, and secure computing solution, the BVS-3V is an excellent option, providing impressive performance without the high cost typically associated with mini PCs.

If you want to know more about mini pc, please click the follows:

① The 5 best value mini PCs for 2024: Your Best Mini Fanless Computer Options

② What's Inside a Mini PC? Unveiling the Secrets of Powerful Micro Computers!

③ Understanding the Key Differences Between Industrial PCs and Gaming PCs