AMD launched its Ryzen Mobile 4000 ‘Renoir’ processors in January, and one of our questions was around the appetite for AMD to push mini-PC designs. Processors that have both high performance and low power are ideal for small form factors, and there has always been a dedicated community to this hardware segment. As we’ve seen in previous launches, sometimes these sorts of machines come before laptops, or very quickly after. At the time, AMD said that the focus was on the laptops, however there would be nothing to stop one of its partners going ahead with a mini-PC design. So we waited, and waited…

The ASUS PN50 is going to be one of the first mini-PCs on the market with the new Renoir hardware in a mini-PC design. Much like the PN60 chassis the company has used with Intel 15 W processors, the unassuming polished grey size and small footprint will ensure that an AMD powered version will fit seamlessly into that vision – with four times the cores and beefier graphics as well.

ASUS will offer the PN50 with four different APUs: the Ryzen 3 4300 and the Ryzen 5 4500U are coming to the UK market on September 7th, while the Ryzen 7 4700U and Ryzen 7 4800U will be available on September 21st.  The kit will be a barebones system, requiring the user to add in memory and a storage drive. The PN50 supports dual DDR4-3200 SO-DIMMs, up to 64 GB, along with an M.2 2280 SATA/PCIe drive and a single 2.5-inch SATA drive.

The Vega graphics on the mobile APU means the PN50 will support a single 8K display at 60 Hz or up to four 4K60 displays through HDMI, DisplayPort, and dual USB-C ports. On the front there is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with battery charging support, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, a 3-in-1 card reader, and an audio jack. On the rear is a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port, two USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, the HDMI 2.0 port, a ‘configurable’ port (DP1.4/COM/VGA/LAN depending on region), gigabit Ethernet, and the DC-in connector. Inside the system is an Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 module for wireless connectivity. The system includes a VESA mount kit in the bundle.

The four variants are as follows:

ASUS PN50 Ryzen Mobile 4000 Mini-PC
AnandTech Ryzen 7
4800U
Ryzen 7
4700U
Ryzen 5
4500U
Ryzen 5
4300U
Price (inc VAT) £500 £370 £320 £275
Cores 8 Cores
16 Threads
8 Cores
8 Threads
6 Cores
6 Threads
4 Cores
4 Threads
Frequency 1.8G-4.2G 2.0G-4.1G 2.3G-4.0G 2.7G-4.0G
Graphics Vega 8 Vega 7 Vega 6 Vega 5
Memory 2 x SO-DIMM, up to 64 GB DDR4-3200
Storage 1 x SATA/PCIe M.2 2280
1 x SATA 6 Gbps
Wi-Fi Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6
VESA Mounting Kit Included
Front IO 1 x USB 3.2 G2 Type-C (DP1.4, BC1.2)
1 x USB 3.2 G1 Type-A
1 x Audio Jack
2 x Microphone Array
1 x IR Receiver
1 x 3-in-1 Card Reader
Rear IO 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (DP1.4)
2 x USB 3.2 G1 Type-A
1 x HDMI 2.0
1 x Configurable (DP1.4/COM/VGA/LAN)
1 x Gigabit Ethernet
1 x DC-In
Optional TPM / fTPM 2.0
Dimensions 115 x 115 x 49 mm (0.62L), 0.7 kg
PSU 90 W 65 W
Available September 21st September 7th

Availability will vary depending on region. The UK has pre-order listings at several retailers, including Amazon.

Source: ASUS

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  • azfacea - Monday, August 3, 2020 - link

    external psu. bummmmmmmmmmmmmmmer
  • frbeckenbauer - Monday, August 3, 2020 - link

    Show me a PC in this form factor that doesn't have an external CPU
  • yannigr2 - Monday, August 3, 2020 - link

    Hmmmmmmm.......all of them? :p
  • frbeckenbauer - Monday, August 3, 2020 - link

    derp, PSU not CPU
  • close - Tuesday, August 4, 2020 - link

    This is not because the PSU didn't fit inside, they just didn't want the additional heat inside that enclosure. It's likely that most people care a lot more about such a system being small and quiet than getting rid of that small 3-4cm wide power brick.
  • rahvin - Tuesday, August 4, 2020 - link

    As frbeckenbauer noted, all the NUC cases use external power bricks. You just can't accommodate the power conversion in that space or heat profile. This is just an AMD NUC.

    I'm curious how popular the NUC's are, it would seem outside HTPC (I own two in this signment) or digital signage, industrial or other niche's there aren't a lot of demands of NUC size computers.
  • damianrobertjones - Friday, August 7, 2020 - link

    We use them for desktops where I work. Low power consumption with up to 6 cores. Can't complain.
  • AdrianBc - Monday, August 3, 2020 - link

    You did not look at the size of the computer. Nobody has ever made a computer of this size with an internal PSU. You must increase the volume of the case at least 3 times to find the smallest computers with internal PSUs. This has about the same size as an Intel NUC or a Gigabyte BRIX, and it has an external PSU, exactly like those. Otherwise it has more features than those (except Thunderbolt), e.g. up to 4 monitors.
  • close - Monday, August 3, 2020 - link

    It's azfacea you're replying to, someone with the same understanding of these topics as a goldfish...
  • Alistair - Monday, August 3, 2020 - link

    and the mac mini, sure the mac mini is 1.4L, but come on that is VERY tiny also. Volume tends to increase dramatically with very little difference in appearance when at low volume. For example a 10L case would be smaller than any ITX case in the store, so 1.4L Mac Mini with an integrated PSU is ideal.

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