Gaming mini PCs have been taking the tech world by storm lately, and for good reason. These little powerhouses pack a ton of performance into a compact design. But here’s the thing—most high-performance mini PCs come with a price tag that can make your wallet cry. Enter the AceMagic W1, the budget-friendly beast that’s turning heads in the tech community. Priced at just $399 for the barebone version, this mini PC is officially the cheapest device on the market rocking the AMD 780M iGPU, which many users call the best bang-for-buck integrated graphics card out there.
What makes the AceMagic W1 stand out isn’t just its affordability—it’s the whole package. This mini PC is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor, it’s fast, efficient, and ready to handle everything from AAA gaming titles to heavy creative workloads. Plus, it comes equipped with dual-channel DDR5 RAM and let’s not forget about the storage—a pre-installed 1TB SSD.
Design and Build Quality
The AceMagic W1 Mini PC is compact, sleek, and doesn’t scream “I’m a gaming PC,” but don’t let its small size fool you—it’s packed with some serious hardware under the hood, and the build quality is solid. First off, the design sticks to a minimalist aesthetic. It’s a no-frills boxy shape, which isn’t groundbreaking, but it gets the job done. The casing has a matte finish that resists fingerprints and smudges. The unit is slightly larger than some other mini PCs on the market, but that extra space is there for a reason—it houses a more robust cooling system, which we’ll get into later. Compared to its predecessor, the Intel N150 Vista V1, the W1 looks like a step up in terms of refinement and functionality.
Ports are plentiful, and they’re spread out across the front, sides, and back to make cable management easier. On the front, you’ve got two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, which are great for plugging in external drives or peripherals that need high-speed data transfer. There’s also a headphone/mic combo jack and the power button for convenience. Flip it around to the back, and you’ll find four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a DisplayPort 2.0, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a DC barrel jack for power. But the real star here is the USB 4 port, which supports Thunderbolt connections. This opens up a world of possibilities, like connecting an eGPU for boosted gaming performance or hooking up an 8K monitor for jaw-dropping visuals. The inclusion of a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port ensures lightning-fast wired internet speeds, which are three times faster than traditional Gigabit networks.
One thing worth mentioning is how lightweight the W1 feels despite its sturdy construction. It’s easy to move around, whether you’re setting it up on your desk, mounting it behind a monitor, or taking it to a friend’s house for a LAN party. The dual air vents—one on the side and another on the bottom panel—help maintain airflow, ensuring the internals stay cool without requiring bulky external fans.
Opening the case isn’t as straightforward as you’d hope, though. You’ll need to remove four rubber feet to access the screws underneath, and separating the main panel from the body requires some patience. There are Wi-Fi antennas and fan power cables attached to opposite panels, so you have to be careful not to yank them loose. Once you’re inside, though, you can see why this thing runs so smoothly. The internal layout is neat and organized, with everything securely in place. The CPU fan dominates the interior, and while there’s no secondary fan for the NVMe SSD, a thermal pad helps keep things cool.
Specifications & Performance
At the heart of this mini PC is the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor, which is built on the Zen 4 architecture and uses cutting-edge 4nm technology. This chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, making it a multitasking beast. It also comes with 16MB of cache and can boost up to 4.9 GHz when needed. What does that mean for you? It means smoother gameplay, faster rendering times, and the ability to handle heavy workloads like video editing or 3D modeling without a hitch.
Compared to older chips like the Ryzen 5 or even Intel’s Core i5 and i7, this processor is leagues ahead in terms of speed and efficiency. If you’re into gaming, you’ll be able to run popular titles like APEX, CSGO, PUBG, and COD with ease. And if you’re more into creative work, this chip will help you breeze through tasks in software like Photoshop, Blender, or Premiere Pro.
Now let’s talk about graphics. The W1 is powered by AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics, which is considered one of the best iGPUs on the market right now. With 12 cores clocked at 2600MHz, it can handle demanding tasks like gaming, graphic design, and video editing with ease. It supports triple display outputs, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and a full-function USB-C port that can drive an 8K monitor at 60Hz. Even though it’s an integrated GPU, it punches above its weight and can run modern games at decent settings, especially when paired with technologies like FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) to boost performance.
Memory & Storage
Next up is the memory setup. The AceMagic W1 comes pre-installed with 16\32GB of DDR5 RAM running at 5600MHz. That’s dual-channel RAM, which means it’s not only fast but also incredibly efficient at handling data. DDR5 is a big step up from DDR4, offering speeds that are about 50% faster. Plus, there’s room to upgrade—this mini PC has two SO-DIMM slots, and you can expand the RAM all the way up to 96GB if you need even more power.
Storage is another area where the W1 shines. It ships with a 512 GB or 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, which is ridiculously fast. Booting up your system, launching games, and transferring files happens almost instantly. For comparison, PCIe 4.0 is significantly quicker than the older PCIe 3.0 standard, so you’re getting some of the best storage tech available today. And if 1TB isn’t enough for your growing library of games, movies, or projects, you can add another NVMe SSD using the second M.2 slot. In total, the W1 supports up to 4TB of storage, giving you plenty of space to store everything you need.
To test the storage, I ran CrystalMark benchmarks on the included 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. The results were blazing fast, as expected from this type of drive. Read and write speeds were lightning-quick, making everything from booting up the system to loading games feel almost instantaneous.
And wireless connectivity is covered too, thanks to Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2. These features provide lower latency, higher stability, and faster transmission speeds for both internet and peripheral devices.
CPU and GPU Benchmarks
Starting with Cinebench R23, the Warlord W1 puts up some solid scores. In single-core tests, it hit 1,739 points, which is pretty impressive for an integrated GPU setup. When pushed to its limits in multi-core tests, it scored 16,168 points. These results show that the CPU can handle both everyday tasks and heavier workloads like video editing or 3D rendering without breaking a sweat.
Moving on to Cinebench R24, the results stayed consistent. Single-core performance came in at 104 points, while multi-core testing delivered 939 points. Comparing these numbers to the more expensive AMD 8845 HS, the differences weren’t huge. Sure, the 8845 HS edged ahead slightly in multi-core tests, but the W1 stayed cooler under load, which is a big deal if you’re running intensive tasks for long periods. Cooler temps mean better sustained performance, and that’s something you’ll appreciate during marathon gaming sessions or back-to-back rendering jobs.
Next up was Geekbench 6, another popular benchmark tool. Here, the Warlord W1 really shone. In single-core tests, it scored 2,589 points, and in multi-core tests, it hit 12,880 points. Again, the CPU temperatures stayed low, maxing out at 68°C during these demanding tests. These scores place the W1 firmly in the upper tier of mini PCs, proving that it can go toe-to-toe with devices costing significantly more.
CPU-Z benchmarks told a similar story. Single-core performance clocked in at 677 points, and multi-core results hit 6,915 points. These numbers put the W1 near the top of the rankings for its class, showing that it’s not just about raw power—it’s about efficiency too.
Things got even more interesting when I connected an external GPU (eGPU) via the USB 4 Thunderbolt port. The performance boost was massive. Running 3DMark Time Spy, the W1 scored legendary results for a Thunderbolt eGPU setup. The overall score was close to 20,000, with graphics scores hitting nearly 24,000. That’s roughly 20% less than what you’d get with the same GPU in a desktop setup, but for a portable mini PC, it’s absolutely phenomenal. The CPU temps did rise slightly under this heavier load, but they remained well within safe limits, hovering around the mid-70s.
Gaming Performance
On the PC gaming side, the W1 performed admirably across a range of titles. In Stalker 2, setting the graphics to low with FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) enabled resulted in an average of 43 FPS. Not bad for integrated graphics, and cranking up the settings with the eGPU pushed the frame rate well over 100 FPS.
Testing modern AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 showed the limits of the integrated GPU but also highlighted its strengths. At low settings with FSR enabled, the W1 managed to stay above 60 FPS in Spider-Man 2. With the eGPU attached, pushing the settings to high or ultra brought visuals closer to what you’d expect from a full gaming rig. Frame rates stayed smooth, and the gameplay felt responsive, even in graphically intense scenes.
Even in older but still challenging titles like Witcher, the W1 held its own. Using FSR to balance performance and visual quality, it consistently delivered frame rates that made the games enjoyable. And again, attaching the eGPU elevated the experience, allowing for higher settings and smoother gameplay.
Games like Super Mario Odyssey and Dark Souls ran smoothly at 60 FPS, with no noticeable frame drops or lag. Even PS3 emulation, which is notoriously demanding, worked well, delivering playable frame rates and stable performance. For retro gaming enthusiasts, this mini PC is a dream come true.
Thermal Management and Noise Levels
One of the standout features of AceMagic W1 is its thermal management system, which is a big deal for a compact machine packing so much power. Heat can be the enemy of any high-performance PC, especially when you’re pushing it hard with gaming, emulation, or multitasking.
The centerpiece is a silent high-speed centrifugal fan. This fan isn’t your typical noisy little blower—it’s designed to move air efficiently while keeping noise levels down. Then there are two heat dissipation copper tubes running from the CPU to dual heat dissipation fins. These fins help spread out the heat across a larger surface area, making it easier for the fan to push that heat out of the case. On top of that, the entire setup is supported by an optimized dual air duct design. This means air flows in and out of the system more effectively, preventing hot spots from forming inside the case.
During benchmarks and real-world tests, the temperatures stayed impressively low. For example, during single-core tests like those in Cinebench R23, the CPU temperature maxed out at 61°C. That’s pretty remarkable for such a small device under load. Even during intense multi-core stress tests, the CPU only hit 78°C. To put that into perspective, many mini PCs struggle to stay below 85°C during similar tests, so the W1 is doing something right here. And it’s not just the CPU—the SSD temperature hovered around 35°C, thanks to a large aluminum sheet underneath it that helps dissipate heat. Stable SSD temps mean faster read and write speeds over time, which is crucial if you’re constantly loading games, transferring files, or working on projects.
Another thing worth mentioning is how the motherboard itself contributes to cooling. There’s a copper sheet connected to the power supply device through a high thermal conductivity silicone sheet. This setup helps pull heat away from critical components like the VRMs (voltage regulator modules), ensuring they don’t overheat. Combine that with the full copper structure of the heat sink—copper sheets, plates, and fins—and you’ve got a thermal solution that’s both effective and efficient. Copper is known for its excellent thermal conductivity, so using it extensively in the cooling system makes a noticeable difference in keeping everything chill.
Now let’s talk about noise levels because nobody wants their PC sounding like a jet engine, especially in a compact form factor where sound can feel amplified. During regular use, the fan noise is barely noticeable. Even under heavier loads, like during multi-core benchmarks or gaming sessions, the fan ramps up but stays within reasonable limits. In one test, I recorded the noise level at around 30 decibels (dB) during intense tasks. For comparison, that’s quieter than most conversations or the hum of a refrigerator.
Software
The AceMagic W1 ships with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, which is a big plus for most people. Windows 11 is smooth, modern, and packed with features that make multitasking and productivity a breeze. The interface is clean, and everything from setting up the system to installing apps feels intuitive. For gamers, Windows 11 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which means better graphics performance and access to cutting-edge gaming tech like ray tracing and variable refresh rates. If you’re into creative work, the operating system integrates seamlessly with tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Blender, and other professional-grade software.
But here’s the cool part—Windows isn’t your only option. The W1 also supports Linux and Ubuntu, which is fantastic news for developers, programmers, and tech enthusiasts who prefer open-source environments. Setting up Linux alongside Windows is straightforward, and the hardware inside ensures that both operating systems run smoothly without hiccups. Dual-booting might sound intimidating if you’ve never done it before, but there are plenty of guides online, and the W1 handles it like a champ.
One thing worth mentioning is how well the BIOS settings are configured by default. AceMagic didn’t leave users hanging with a barebones setup—they’ve optimized the BIOS for performance while keeping it simple enough for beginners to navigate. You won’t find yourself digging through endless menus trying to tweak obscure settings unless you want to. That said, advanced users can still dive in and adjust things like power modes, fan curves, and memory timings if they want to fine-tune the system. The inclusion of a CMOS battery is a nice touch too. If you ever mess something up in the BIOS or need to reset it for any reason, you can just unplug the battery instead of performing a manual reset.
Final Thoughts
The AceMagic W1 is the kind of device that makes you rethink what a compact computer can do. It’s a mini PC packed into a tiny frame, offering performance that rivals much larger and more expensive setups. From its robust hardware to its thoughtful design and versatile software options, this little machine proves that size doesn’t have to come at the expense of power or usability. After spending time with it, running benchmarks, gaming tests, and exploring its features, it’s clear that AceMagic has created something special here.
Of course, no product is perfect. While the W1 performs admirably for its price, the barebone version requires you to install your own RAM and storage if you opt for that configuration. Opening the case isn’t the easiest task either, as the Wi-Fi antennas and fan cables are delicate and require careful handling. Additionally, while the integrated GPU is excellent for its class, it still can’t compete with dedicated GPUs in terms of raw graphical power. However, attaching an eGPU via the Thunderbolt port largely mitigates this limitation, turning the W1 into a true gaming beast.
Where to buy the AceMagic Warlord W1 is another win. You can grab it directly from AceMagic’s official Amazon store for just $399—a steal considering the specs and features you’re getting. This version is available with 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD—right now, there’s a 10% off coupon (code: ACEDPE5Z) that works until April 30, 2025. That’s a great deal for anyone looking to save a bit more on an already affordable mini PC.
