As a seasoned professional who spends countless hours hunched over my computer, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of a quiet yet powerful machine that doesn’t take up precious desk space. Enter the Beelink EQR6 – this mini PC is a game-changer for those seeking office-centric performance without sacrificing silence or space.
Over the past few years, I’ve developed a strong affinity for mini PCs, largely due to advancements in CPU technology that allow for robust performance within compact desktop enclosures, without sacrificing much in terms of functionality. Beelink is one of the leading brands in this niche market, providing an extensive selection of mini PCs catering to various performance levels and budgets.
Today, I’m examining the Beelink EQR6, the latest mini PC from their lineup tailored towards productivity-oriented individuals. This compact desktop is an ideal choice for those engaged in office tasks such as web browsing, email management, Microsoft Office suite, and video conferencing. However, it also packs a punch when it comes to more demanding tasks like video and photo editing should the need arise.
I’ve been using the Beelink EQR6 for the last three weeks, and this is my review.
Beelink EQR6: Pricing and availability
The Beelink EQR6 can be purchased either from Beelink’s official site or through online marketplaces like Amazon, starting at a price of $389 for the basic model. The EQR6 comes in seven distinct configurations, each offering variations in CPU, RAM, and storage specifications. This review concentrates on the premium configuration, which boasts an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor, 24GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, priced approximately at $459.
For a starting price of approximately $329, the entry-level setup includes a Ryzen 5 6600H processor, 16GB RAM, and 500GB SSD storage. However, you might be able to find it as low as $290 on Amazon. You can explore the full range of configuration options for the Beelink EQR6, along with their respective retail prices, below.
- Beelink EQR6 (Ryzen 5 6600H / 16GB RAM / 500GB SSD) $329
- Beelink EQR6 (Ryzen 5 6600H / 24GB RAM / 500GB SSD) $369
- Beelink EQR6 (Ryzen 5 6600H / 24GB RAM / 1TB SSD) $399
- Beelink EQR6 (Ryzen 7 7735HS / 24GB RAM / 500GB SSD) $399
- Beelink EQR6 (Ryzen 7 7735HS / 24GB RAM / 1TB SSD) $429
- Beelink EQR6 (Ryzen 9 6900HX / 24GB RAM / 500GB SSD) $429
- Beelink EQR6 (Ryzen 9 6900HX / 24GB RAM / 1TB SSD) $459
Beelink EQR6: Design
The Beelink EQR6 boasts a sleek modern design with a grey, all-plastic exterior that exudes contemporary minimalism. Unlike most mini PCs, the cooling vents for heat dissipation are cleverly concealed. There are no vents on the top or sides of the device, resulting in an immaculate and uncluttered appearance from the front.
On the underside and back of this compact computer, you’ll find most of the ports, along with several vents. The front part of the device only has three ports: one USB-A, one USB-C, and an audio jack for 3.5mm headphones. These ports are accompanied by a power button and an LED light that turns on when the device is active. The power button, though small, offers a tactile response with a satisfying click sensation upon press.
At the peak, the Beelink EQR6 sports a discreet, embossed pattern that sets it apart from others with a subtle touch. Beneath this, you’ll find two rubber feet strategically placed at both the front and back. These feet slightly elevate the PC above your desk, creating space for air to circulate through the vents located underneath.
You can take off the lower part of this panel for reaching upgradable parts within. It’s secured by four screws concealed behind rubber seals which can be effortlessly detached. Additionally, one of EQR6’s advantages is that it features an integrated power supply, so there’s no need for a cumbersome power brick connected to the power cord.
Beelink EQR6: Features
Beyond its front I/O that includes a USB-A, USB-C, and 3.5mm audio jack, the Beelink EQR6 also offers additional ports at the back. At the rear, you’ll find an extra three USB-A ports, two HDMI 2.0 ports, two LAN ports, and a power connector. The presence of two LAN ports on this compact computer is intriguing and brings its own set of benefits.
Having two LAN ports gives me the flexibility to explore various workflow options. For instance, it enables simultaneous access to both internet and intranet networks. It also allows for network segmentation into distinct subnets, distributes bandwidth load across the two ports, and offers a backup solution in case one LAN port ever fails – a handy feature for ensuring continuity. If you’re familiar with dual LAN ports, you probably already have an idea of how to utilize them. For those who aren’t, it’s important to note that using both isn’t mandatory; I’ve been perfectly fine using just one for internet access in my testing.
The EQR6 comes equipped with two HDMI 2.0 ports that support 4K resolution at 60Hz for external screens, but unfortunately, the front USB-C connection is only meant for data transfer and not display. I believe an additional USB-C port on the device’s back would have been more convenient.
Almost all of the USB-A ports (except for one) are USB 3.2 Gen 2, delivering up to 10Gbps data transfer rates. However, there’s a single USB-A port located at the back that operates at USB 2.0 speeds, making it significantly slower and mainly suitable for moving small files or connecting basic peripherals like a keyboard or mouse.
Among the standout aspects of the Beelink EQR6 is its modular design, inviting users to enhance it further. With a simple process of unscrewing four screws and rubber pads hidden under the bottom cover, you can gain access to the system. Once inside, you have the flexibility to boost either the RAM or storage, with two available DDR5 RAM slots and two M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots at your disposal. The Beelink EQR6 can handle up to 64GB of RAM and as much storage expansion as desired through its dual M.2 ports.
Regarding software, it’s impressive how Beelink consistently delivers a pristine Windows setup on their devices. What caught my attention was discovering that the Windows 11 version 24H2 comes pre-installed and is ready to use right out of the box. This specific version of Windows has been exclusive to Copilot+ PCs so far, but the Beelink EQR6 might be among the first devices outside the Copilink+ range to feature this latest update.
This device comes virtually free of unnecessary software, carrying only one additional app not from Microsoft – specifically, AMD’s application for managing the AMD Ryzen processor. The EQR6 arrives with Windows 11 Professional pre-installed, which becomes active once you connect to the internet. No product key is provided in the packaging.
Even with the image being clean and safe, I always recommend clean-installing Windows on mini PCs anyway, but be careful with clean installs on this PC. Beelink’s website for grabbing drivers appears to be broken, and I wasn’t able to find any of the EQR6’s drivers online. While Windows is able to grab some drivers from Windows Update, it wasn’t able to grab all of them. Luckily, I did a driver backup before clean installing, so I still had all the drivers I needed. Make sure you do a backup first if you’re attempting to clean-install Windows.
Beelink EQR6: Performance
From my personal experience, the Beelink EQR6 truly delivers when it comes to raw performance. The Ryzen 9 6900HX under its hood is a beast, handling productivity tasks with ease. I’ve yet to encounter any sluggishness while opening apps, multitasking, rendering videos, editing photos, or browsing the web. It stands toe-to-toe with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, a chip frequently found in high-end Ultrabooks, showcasing its prowess.
In our performance tests, the EQR6 narrowly surpassed the Geekom AS 6 in the CrossMark benchmark, trailing slightly behind the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini. It’s noteworthy that it’s quicker than the HP Envy Move and Lenovo IdeaCenter AIO 5i, two standard-sized all-in-one desktop computers, as well as the Beelink SER5 Pro.
Regarding the graphics processing unit (GPU), the Radeon 680M stands out impressively. It outperforms both the Intel Iris Xe in the IdeaCenter Mini and the RX Vega 8 from the Beelink SER5 Pro by a considerable gap. The GPU is competent enough for light gaming at 1080p with lower to medium graphics settings, and it’s more than adequate for editing photos or videos in 4K resolution.
The standout feature of the Beelink EQR6, making it ideal for office settings, is its virtually silent operation. I seldom noticed the fans running during normal usage, and even during benchmark tests and gaming/video rendering, the noise level remained minimal, almost like a whisper. Additionally, it doesn’t overheat excessively, contributing to its quiet performance.
All things considered, the value for money offered by the Beelink EQR6 is outstanding, especially considering it’s their high-end model equipped with a Ryzen 9 6900HX. However, keep in mind that performance might differ on other configurations they offer.
Beelink EQR6: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if …
✅ You need a mini PC that’s powerful yet quiet.
✅ You integrated graphics capable of video editing and some gaming.
✅ You need dual LAN ports.
✅ You want a productivity machine that doesn’t take up much space.
You should not buy this if …
❌ You need multiple USB-C ports.
❌ You want to do high-end gaming.
In essence, the Beelink EQR6 is a versatile mini PC that excels in various tasks, including productivity and light media editing. Its design is sleek, making it compact and quiet, which allows it to blend seamlessly into any workspace without causing disturbances to hearing or vision.
It would be nice if it had a couple more USB-C ports, but the variety of ports overall is quite good. I’m also pleased with the diverse CPU and RAM options, which allows you to find an EQR6 model that suits your budget. If all you need is 16GB of RAM and 500GB of storage, you can choose that option and save money on the purchase.
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2024-09-23 19:09