ACEPC AK1 Mini PC

I am totally amazed by this mini PC.In our master bedroom, we have an old Windows 7 computer that we must have bought over five years ago. We don’t use it much, maybe just a few hours a week to play music or movies since we also have it hooked up to our bedroom TV. It’s not a large sized tower, but it still does take up some space on our desk. It’s not just that it takes up much needed space, it is also slow as a dog with an older traditional hard drive (that is probably on its last legs) and an older AMD processor. So when we try watching 1080P videos, there is the occasional frame drop and 2K and 4K videos playback at almost like a slideshow.

So we figured that we would get this AK1 mini PC from ACEPC. There are also slots on the back of the AK1 to mount it on the VESA slots on the back of our monitor, which saves even more space. So visible on our desk is just the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers. This model has 32GB of on-board storage but also has a separate attachment at the bottom for an additional 2.5 inch drive. If you aren’t using it, you can detach the bottom piece by sliding two tabs to the unlock position which then frees the expansion slot. It connects to the main unit with a USB type-C connector so I believe that it is mainly used just for additional storage and if you wanted to boot Windows directly from an external SSD, it would take a bit of configuration.

The stock OS on this is Windows 10. The first thing I do with any Windows installation is I go into the Services menu and disable anything that I really don’t need. A quick internet search will tell you which ones to turn off and if you upgrade to latest Windows Creator’s update, be prepared to turn off even more services like Game mode which can really hinder performance. After running through the initial configuration, installing all of the Windows Updates and putting Office on the machine, I was left with just about 10GB of free space. So while it is enough for day to day tasks like web browsing and checking email, you’ll probably either want to add an SSD or micro SD for additional storage space for music, movies, pictures, etc.

Performance wise, the AK1 is probably best suited for light video watching or day to day web browsing and e-mails. Some less graphic intensive browser or emulator games work great but I tried loading a couple of older Steam games on here and I was only able to get 30-40fps with most of the settings turned down. So while it is playable, the main purpose of the AK1 isn’t supposed to be a power house gaming machine but more of an almost portable machine capable of normal web browsing and computer usage. Web browsing is just as quick as using my main Intel i7 desktop, although sites that have a lot of active content like embedded video take slightly longer to fully load.

All in all, this Mini PC is well designed, has low power consumption, and HIGHLY recommend.

Suggestion

No

Sep 22,2017

Cercavo un pc poco ingombrante e con delle ottime prestazioni da multimedialità.
Questo mini pc mi ha sorpreso nella sua velocità di caricamento e nella navigazione sul web, attualmente lo uso come dispositivo principale per quanto riguarda tutta la parte multimediale e la navigazione sul web e invio di e-mail.
Ho scelto questo mini pc perché monta il processore Intel Celeron J3455, più performante rispetto al Celeron N3450 montato sulla maggior parte di altri mini PC di questa fascia di prezzo. ma soprattutto per la possibilità di poter espandere la memoria di archiviazione attraverso un HDD o SSD da 2,5 pollici con montaggio nel BOX compreso nella confezione.
Nel ambito dei videogame fa girare egregiamente tutte le varie app che mette a disposizione lo store di windows (Asphalt 8, Modern Combat 5 ecc...).
Il device si presenta maniacale nel dettaglio dato da ottimi materiali di costruzione e fornito di cavo d'alimentazione europeo, cavo HDMI e staff vesa per monitor/tv.

Suggestion

Mi dispiace per la memoria di archiviazione che e di 32GB che può essere aumentata facilmente con una microsd o un HDD o SSD da 2,5"

May 25,2018

EN:
I bought this MiniPC to use it as a HomeServer, it's much more powerful than I thought, it's processor achieved 25GFlops using QwikMark benchmark.
It's working 24/7 since the day I took it out of the box.
It's very quiet, on idle it stay ~50ºC, on heavy tasks it can reach 85ºC.
It came with Windows 10 x64 1607 and I updated two times without any problem.

PT-BR:
Eu comprei esse MiniPC para usar como Servidor caseiro, é muito mais poderoso que imaginei, o processador atingiu 25GFlops usando QwikMark benchmark.
Ele está funcionando 24/7 desde que eu o tirei da caixa.
Ele é bem silencioso, ocioso mantém ~50ºC, em tarefas intensas ele pode atingir 85ºC.
Ele foi recebido com o Windows 10 x64 1607, já atualizei duas vezes sem nenhum problema.

Suggestion

EN:
There's only one thing that disappointed me, the holes in the back don't allow to install it with the cables facing down using the VESA support that came with it.
The SATA bay could improve the grip mechanism system, after installing I could rise a little bit on of the sides. By the way I had to disassemble the SATA bay to make new holes that allowed me to install it using the VESA support with the cables facing down, so I also could align the clips that hold the SATA bay, at the end I could improve the way it's fixed.

PT-BR:Há apenas uma coisa que me desapontou, os furos traseiros não permitem a instalação com cabos virados para baixo usando o suporte VESA fornecido.
A baia SATA poderia aprimorar o mecanismo de trava, após instalado eu conseguia levantar um dos lados. De qualquer maneira tive que desmontar a baia SATA para fazer novos furos de fixação que me permitiram instalar usando o suporte VESA com os fios voltados para baixo, assim eu também consegui alinhar os clips que seguram a baia SATA, no fim foi possível melhorar a maneira como é fixada.

May 10,2018

Because of the fast and agile Intel Celeron J3455 CPU, the PC works incredibly fast and stable !
4 GB RAM is enough for working with Windows 10.
There are also Win upgrade process that will take around 1 hour for the full Upgrade.
This PC can be easily mounted on the back of your monitor !

TIP:
The easiest way to install and use Linux is to use Windows 10 integrated linux bash.
See detailed instructions here: https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-ubuntu-on-windows#0
This is how now I\'m using Debian Linux under my Windows 10.

And most importantly - you never have to Turn OFF your Mini-PC !

Suggestion

This Mini-PC comes with licensed Windows 10, but I didn't find the Windows OEM license code in the package.
Anyway, the Windows is fresh new, with first installation procedure (choosing the language and settings).

Mar 27,2018

The computer itself is very well put together and has an incredibly well thought-out system for adding or removing the external 2.5 HDD/SSD. It's easy to set up and doesn't lag during fairly significant use. My major concern was overheating but the computer does a marvellous job of keeping itself cool.

Suggestion

It's probably a good idea to uninstall some unnecessary apps, though, as the space in the eMMC becomes filled-up quite quickly.

Oct 14,2017

tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok tutto ok

Suggestion

none

Nov 22,2017

This mini-pc really amaze me!!! Fast boot and very quiet. Comes with an activated Windows 10 Home. Using this mini-pc watching videos in youtube and it's very impressive as it's very smooth-4k videos!!!

Planning to buy another one!!!

Saving more GearBest points for this product!!!

Suggestion

NONE!!!

Mar 01,2018

Very fast.
Processor is very good.
It has to expand the memory, by SD, Internal has a msata.
It has a dock to put a removable hard drive.
Silent, (you seldom hear the fan) it's very quiet.
It has several USB ports and a type C port.

Suggestion

To install Windows 10 home to Spanish battles to recognize the internal units but everything has a few command and already.
The internal memory that is soldered on the motherboard is of little space fortunately you have ways to expand.
You have to lower the drivers of some untrustworthy pages, the brand does not provide the drivers.
The BIOS has few utilities.
You only have 4GB of RAM does not have to expand beyond, but it is enough for basic content (browse, YouTube, Netflix and etc.).
The demanding games are not mended.

Dec 31,2017

Best mini PC on the market today. Has legitimate Win10 OS. Fast and tiny, it has everything you need for a TV box and more. I have been able to run bigger software and it runs ok. The option to add extra HD is the best. Advise to move all your document folders to external storage since limited 32GB space.

Suggestion

32 GB is very limited. Wish it was at least 64 GB.

May 15,2018

- Snappy and fast, its performance is incredible considering its price range
- Comes with original W10
- Small and silent
- Supports VESA mounting
- Has teo Type C USB ports
- Supports 2.5 inch discs and Micro SD cards to expand the storage capacity

Suggestion

- None at all, I'm in love with it

Dec 16,2017