Please note that ExpertCenter D9 Mini Tower includes two up to 2 TB M.2 SSD drives and one up to 2 TB 3.5” HDD. A second 2.5” HDD of up to 2 TB can be optionally fitted by the user, for total HDD capacity of up to 4 TB. We subjected the ExpertCenter PN52 to our standard desktop benchmark suite. In our tests, we compared the ExpertCenter PN52 to several other recommended mini PCs: the Apple Mac mini (2020), the Asus ExpertCenter D500, the Geekom IT8 Mini PC, and the Intel NUC 11 Pro Kit. Please note that ExpertCenter D7 Mini Tower includes two up to 2 TB M.2 SSD drives and one up to 2 TB 3.5” HDD. A second 2.5” HDD of up to 1 TB can be optionally fitted by the user, for total HDD capacity of up to 3 TB.

Please note that ExpertCenter D8 SFF includes two up to 4 TB M.2 SSD drives and one up to 2 TB 3.5” HDD. A second 2.5” HDD of up to 2 TB can be optionally fitted by the user, for total HDD capacity of up to 4 TB. With this benchmark, we run both the main test and PCMark 10’s Full System Storage subtest, which measures the program load time and throughput of the boot drive (these days, almost always a solid-state drive). The Ryzen 7 5800H inside the Asus PN52 is a decent processor most often used in mid-to-higher-level laptops. Given these results and the fact that these type of applications would likely be the most popular use of the PN52, most users would be pleased with the performance of the system. However, the Mac mini simply seems more powerful for close to the same price, a trend we'll see continue to play out in the visual rendering arena. Graphics Tests With the configuration we received, it’s possible to drive four 4K monitors, or one 8K-resolution display, though we performed our benchmarks with a single standard 4K-resolution display. Also included are Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 hardware support. Asus utilities included with the PN52 include MyAsus, which makes it easy to connect the PC and a mobile device; switch between performance and quiet fan modes; activate two-way AI noise cancellation when used with a microphone-equipped headset; and view onboard hardware diagnostics. ASUS ExpertCenter PN52 can support up to four 4K displays via two HDMI ® ports, DisplayPort™ over USB-C ® or other user-configurable ports, without any limitation on the combination used.On PCMark 10, the PN52’s 6,000 score on the main benchmark and 1,535 on the storage benchmark ace out the comparison PCs, even with one (the D500) boasting a desktop CPU. This is impressive, but things look less rosy once the Mac mini is allowed to play, and when multicore processing comes to the fore (in Handbrake and Cinebench). The PN52 landed second to last in the Handbrake test at 14:27, whereas the Mac mini shoots straight to the front of the race with a time of 8:00. On Cinebench, the PN52’s score of 2,961 was last of the bunch. The Mac mini scored highly on this test once again, but is bested ultimately by the desktop CPU in the other Asus ExpertCenter. Again, rendering is generally a CPU- and core-intensive process, and the desktop chip has an intrinsic strength here. M.2 slot on the bottom cover side only supports PCIe Gen3 x2 If the SATA is connected to HDD or SSD

Note that the H-series chip in the PN52 is the kind of CPU intended for gaming and other power-user notebooks. Only the ExpertCenter D500 uses a "true" desktop CPU; the Geekom and NUC CPUs employ lighter-weight mobile chips. Let's see how that plays out. Productivity and Content Creation TestsASUS ExpertCenter PN52 can draw power from any USB Power Delivery-enabled display or device, eliminating the need for a separate power adapter to create a neater, uncluttered workspace. However, when it comes to GFXBench, that is Apple's game. The Mac mini beats all of its competitors by a country mile in both of the benchmark's subtests. Even as a pre-built machine, the Asus PN52 is a competitive-enough mini PC. However, the Mac mini's graphics processing appears to be more powerful, regardless. In our other CPU-intensive benchmark, Geekbench, the PN52 performs well enough in the multi-core tests, but again the Mac mini cuts to the front of the line with a lead of more than 3,000 points. As for the Photoshop test, the PN52 does take the lead, but several systems either couldn't be tested for compatibility reasons, or wouldn't run it. Unless otherwise stated, all performance claims are based on theoretical performance. Actual figures may vary in real-world situations.

While this roll-your-own approach appeals to some people, others will appreciate the ExpertCenter PN52’s "take-it-out-of-the-box, plug it in, and go" appeal. The PN52 we tested is just a touch larger than a typical NUC, measuring 2.3 by 4.7 by 5.1 inches (HWD) and weighing in at a feathery 2.4 pounds. Please note that ExpertCenter D5 Mini Tower includes two up to 1 TB M.2 SSD drives and one up to 2 TB 3.5” HDD. A second 2.5” HDD of up to 2 TB can be optionally fitted by the user, for a total HDD capacity of up to 4 TB. ASUS ExpertCenter PN52 delivers breathtaking 8K visuals at 30 frames per second via the configurable standard DisplayPort or DisplayPort over USB-C. Experience a level of detail that’s 4X greater than 4K, or 16X that of traditional FHD output. UL’s 3DMark is a graphics test suite for Windows that contains a number of benchmarks for different GPU functions and software APIs. We run two DirectX 12 tests on all PCs: Night Raid, which is appropriate for PCs with integrated graphics (such as the ones benchmarked), and Time Spy, which is more demanding and more suitable for higher-end PCs with souped-up graphics cards and GPUs. Our only other criticism is that, for the same price or less, Apple's 2020 Mac mini consistently outperforms the ExpertCenter PN52 on productivity and graphics tasks. However, if macOS simply isn't an option for the apps you use, or you're Windows-loyal, that's a red line; we probably can't convince you otherwise.The testing data includes the requirements of both military-grade standards and ASUS quality tests. Based on ASUS internal testings. Unless otherwise stated, all performance claims are based on theoretical performance. Actual figures may vary in real-world situations. On these two benchmarks, the PN52 actually breezes through Time Spy, with the highest score by a few hundred points. Two of the other systems were either incompatible with this test (Mac mini) or would not run it (the NUC). The exact reverse is true of the Night Raid test, with the PN52’s score the lowest of the bunch, and Intel's NUC 11 Pro Kit on top.