The OS is Windows 11 Pro according to the reviews.
The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H is 6 Core/12 Thread Zen 3+ processor with an AMD Radeon 660M 6 Core RNDA 2 iGPU.
Edit: Price went up, was US$204.32 (A$295.94).
Genuine question - why? Spyware?
Would you let some stranger access your computer after you brought it? No. So why would you let them before you brought it?
Where the hell are we bringing all these PC’s?!
Because in early February, I wrote a forum topic about receiving a generic MiniPC that came with Redline stealer preinstalled on the factory OS image.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/830554
It is assumed that the spyware saga/ fiasco is over and the company that manufactures these PC's fixed the issue (they blamed a third party supply chain partner for inserting these malware), but it's still good OPSEC to reimage your system with a clean Windows image downloaded directly from Microsoft.
Or Linux (if you prefer that).
Didn't they do any QC on the product they were shipping to customers? Thats almost as sht in itself.
Thank you!
Or Linux (if you prefer that).
cool, so I can set things up with curl http://<something/install.sh |sudo bash ;)
@idonotknowwhy: Windows checks the motherboard for associated Win11 keys, so if it is Win11 Pro legit key from the system, your fresh safe install may pickup the Win11 Pro key automatically. However, if it doesn't, I use the above massgrave unlocker via powershell and its extremely easy to validate any Windows 10/11.
Yeah pretry much.
Youd want to run a full rootkit detection across it
Whilst a "more trustworthy OEM" like Apple or Dell is the safer bet, the reality is that computing must move to a zero trust approach unless the hardware can be positively vetted - something a typical user cannot do by themselves.
There's plenty of attack vectors in modern PCs to store malicious payloads incl. bootloader, ACPI table (usually the easiest spot to embed an OEM rootkit for Windows 8 and onwards), UEFI variables/drivers/network stack, and more.
As an example, I purchased the BOSGAME P3 with an i7 12700h listed on OzB a couple of weeks ago. The motherboard was manufactured by IP3 Technology Co Ltd and contained an ARB19D Embedded Controller (EC). I verified the chip in the product I received and you can find drivers for the ARB19D EC on the Bosgame website.
IP3 was sanctioned by the U.S. late last year because they were:
determined by the U.S. Government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/10/11/2023-22…
The sanction is probably more related to IP3 supplying technology to Russia, as their website straight up states they serve "Military and Aerospace". But the reality is these computers, especially Mini PCs with components from sanctioned organisations cannot be trusted.
I'm not saying don't buy one, I think they offer great value and make the market competitive. But I would only operate one of these as an untrusted device in isolation from my other devices and data.
Funny, I said the same thing about flashing firmwares (sourced from a trustworthy source) if you’re buying an Android tablet from AliExpress and got voted down. It’s the same logic.
The only Android tablet from AliExpress I’d even consider trusting is Lenovo because you can download their firmwares directly from them.
But for this PC, just remember that reinstalling Windows won’t remove any vulnerabilities or back doors that may exist in the UEFI. I’m not saying this PC has any but I’m just pointing out the risk so people can make an informed decision.
100%
Supplychain is the flavour of the year.
honestly I wouldn't use banking / crypto apps in any PC like that, you can have bugs at the motherboard bios/uefi
I have one just to watch videos connected to a TV
Just a reminder that even if you’re not doing banking on this particular device, it could still be used as an entry point to your network to target other devices that otherwise wouldn’t be exposed. Unless you’re using VLANs to segregate the device. Just saying.
With newer viruses this is not enough. The UEFI (which people still call the BIOS) can be infected such that reinstalling Windows doesn't remove the virus and the virus is hidden from the OS.
Thanks OP, finally pulled the trigger. Add AUOC30 for bigger saving.
Nah, these codes are US$25 off, AUOC30 is only US$20 off.
You are correct! Cancelled and re-ordered and realised that I forgot to change it to credit card conversion the first time. Moght hand in my badge after almost overpaying on two fronts in one order.
is it powerful enough to play Roblox?
Yeah, you can run roblox on lots of stuff these days but this should be fine.
Is it recommended as a Proxmox host ?
W
Not bad considering this is listed on Amazon for AUD 449.
The Amazon listing suggests it comes with a WiFi 6E card and not a WiFi 6 card like this deal, but I've found Amazon to have incorrect/inconsistent details in the past.
This listing says: Features WiFi 6E(RZ616) ?
AliExpress listing states WiFi 6 in title and WiFi 6E in description.
Good price for either spec any way.
Edit: When looking at listing in AliExpress app
I keep getting "For security reasons your request can't currently be processed"
when entering PROMO Code
Any tips?
I'm getting the same message…
Perhaps the universe is trying to tell you something?
Why would you buy this over the N100 deal recently for $160 ish (from memory)
Switch emulation? or is it not powerful enough
It's considerably more powerful, it can do Switch emulation.
I've been playing games on my 5600H laptop, absolute unit of an iGPU, Dark Souls with mods at 1080/60.
Can the EU power supply be used with a travel adapter? Would it be better to power via USB PD?
Perhaps replace the EU cable with AU cable? (it looks to be a typical laptop / power brick cable)
Can I Hackintosh this?
Doubtful!
Decent enough machine to use for emulation and light Steam Gaming?
EDIT: looks like a probably not really.
Worthwhile upgrading the RAM straight away?
Many reviews on YouTube.
I'm trying to find the exact term for the AU part of the plug to replace in time for my order to arrive.
I use to call what this looks like kettle cords, the DC adapter is in two parts and the EU cable should be replaceable with an AU plug, I'm just having trouble seeing exactly what type of cable. Some are 2-barrel, this may be a 3-barrel, not sure of the size etc.
That looks the part and is cheap enough to take the chance, I'll look around eBay for a cheaper delivery.
@johnmelb: I found this one for A$7.17 delivered from Catch, looks like free delivery without needing OnePass.
If only this was available barebones or with a 1/2TB nvme and 32/64GB ram option I'd be all over it, would be perfect for homelabbing.
Has anybody had experience with this seller on Ali? I am reluctant to shell out so much through Ali
Coupon IFPJBQW makes this one US$219.65 if anyone still wants it.
Yeah the seller has upped the price a few times, I kept up twice then gave up.
Mine has arrived, I had ordered a replacement AU plug from Australia which looks like it's going to take longer to arrive than this item did from China.
Sometimes you get what you pay for, the fan is extremely loud, a YouTube review demonstrated that it needed a BIOS update to fix, which would also add the wattage profile option. The vendor has apparently removed the firmware update from their website to avoid dealing with complaints from people who bricked their units due to patching the wrong update or something akin. I found the orginal GDrive link via Reddit.
It appears I need to update the firmware via inside Windows, as opposed to a normal USB in UEFI update, but I had already wiped and installed my preferred Linux Distro. Now when I try to install Windows, I am having driver issues that prevent an install, which wasn't an issue when installing Debian. The GMKtec website also has drivers to download, but Windows installer doesn't recognise them. They also have their image that came installed on the unit, but it appears to need to be flashed to the NVMe, not installed traditionally.
All I want to do is update the bios to stop this infuriatingly loud fan, I don't even want to install Windows. I am hoping there is another method that will allow me to install without running an EXE in CMD.
As for the price to performance, this will still be great value, but perhaps not if someone wanted to self-install their own Windows for the sake of security, I know some YouTubers confirmed nothing wrong with this pre-installed image, but checkers are based on already known concerns, not unknown.
I was hoping my Windows install issue would be related to trying to install Windows IoT LTSC and downloaded full Win11 24H2, nope Windows cannot be installed on this machine at all, even with the drivers from the manufacturer's website. Absolutely do not format this if you intend on still using Windows, it can only be flashed with the ISO via the Reddit link, which has also reached some GDrive download limit so I can't even download it again right now.
On another note, twice in the last 30 minutes I have been zapped excruciatingly hard while trying to remove USB dongles, hard enough to still be feeling it, this unit is a travesty of a computer. All this while I blast music in my earbuds to drown out the jet engine fan.
Thanks for the info. Still waiting on mine to be delivered.
Someone on Reddit said the "Default CPU Boost setting is the culprit"
https://www.reddit.com/r/MiniPCs/comments/1et9peo/comment/li…
Hopefully that helps with the fan noise.
I'll still try and reinstall Windows for security reason, I think
Without drivers you can't reinstall Windows, it won't let you, the "drivers" on their website are install scripts for already running Windows and Microsoft won't let you install at all without the regular drivers on a USB.
You may be able to install Windows on a second computer and then install that NVMe, then install the drivers to the ready Win11.
I ended up not being able to get Windows back on at all, as I couldn't get the OS image they provide on the quota limited Google Drive link to work.
No matter what OS is included in these devices, you MUST re-install it from scratch as the very first thing out of the box once powered on.