This mini PC is a beautiful and surprisingly powerful love letter to retro computing

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Mini PCs have become a huge hit in recent years, with users opting for these smaller, more streamlined PCs as an alternative to desktops or laptops. But few have made the waves that the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM01 has.

I’ve been using one of the higher-end variants of the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM01 for a few months now, and I honestly have to say that it’s one of the best mini PCs money can buy, even if you have to make the leap. a few hoops to get it right now.

Retro indie paradise

Capturing the iconic look of the classic 1984 Mac computer, the Retro Mini PC AM01 is a dream come true for retro lovers and collectors alike. The affordable price (starting at $259) of this Ayaneo Mini PC is packed with a lot of potential, but how well it uses that potential can definitely vary depending on what you’re doing.

If you’ve ever thought about buying a mini PC, you probably already know what kind of drawbacks you’re looking at, namely the lower performance and more limited upgradeability that comes with these smaller packages. Still, they’ve come a long way in recent years, and these PCs can handle a bit now, especially as they incorporate newer hardware like RAM, SSDs, and faster CPUs. The AMD 5700U included in my Retro Mini PC AM01 is more than capable of running some of the newer games (albeit at lower settings), but there’s no dedicated graphics card, so you’ll definitely have to play around with the settings if you try to run the newest titles.

However, when it comes to retro or indie gaming, the Retro Mini PC AM01 is a great replacement for a desktop PC, and it has loads of ports and even support for 4K at 60Hz, which makes be an easy purchase for much more. an expensive desktop computer that you might want to do similar things with. The model I’ve been using for the past few months is equipped with the aforementioned AMD 5700U, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and Windows 11 Home. It’s not the gaming beast that is my main desktop, but it doesn’t need to be.

The Retro Mini PC AM01 is not designed to replace your gaming desktop. Instead, Ayaneo has gone all retro with its design, even going so far as to showcase a slew of retro games in the company’s built-in app. And since it’s equipped with a solid, if aging, processor like the AMD 5700U (you can also go as far as an AMD 5800U), you can do all your daily tasks here, too. I’ve used it to play indie and retro games, as well as for productivity tasks. I’m actually writing this review on PC right now.

As a mini PC geared more toward “light gaming,” the Ayaneo offers everything you’d expect, along with great performance in those low-end games. Titles like Stardew Valley, Dead cells, and a ton of old and emulated titles will work just fine here, and it’ll all cost you less than $500, depending on what model you build. I saw problems with some titles, such as Baldur’s Gate 3 i Cyberpunk 2077but I also didn’t expect any of these titles to do very well in the first place.

However, if you use one of the lower RAM variants here, it will probably cost you more. As such, I would definitely recommend upgrading your RAM or trying to get a higher RAM setting just to keep things as smooth as possible.

Iconic design

The design, of course, is what first drew me to the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM01. As I noted above, it’s designed to look like that iconic first Mac computer, and Ayaneo really nailed the look and design here.

But it doesn’t stop there. The Retro Mini PC combines all this iconic design with modern ports, offering plenty of space to connect different accessories and peripherals. The four included USB-A ports, as well as the USB-C port on the front, allow you to connect various items such as keyboards, mice and wireless headphones. You can also connect directly to Ethernet via an Ethernet port on the back, in case you prefer that over wifi.

There’s also a DisplayPort and HDMI port on the back, allowing you to connect up to two displays. I was able to run the Retro Mini PC AM01 smoothly in my 4K dual monitor setup and it looks pretty good on my desktop.

What makes the Retro Mini PC stand out even more is the customization that Ayaneo has designed around the iconic Mac look. You can use various magnets and stickers to create a certain look, and while you’ll need to place it on the back during use (this is best for heat dissipation), it offers a small way to make the mini PC feel like your own.

Jumping through hoops

Perhaps the most disappointing part of the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC is the many hoops you have to jump through to get your hands on it. Right now, Ayaneo is only selling it as part of an IndieGoGo campaign, which means you’ll essentially have to back the campaign to get your hands on one.

The configurations they offer now are also extremely limited as they only have a certain amount of units distributed for each option. The different options offered on the IndieGoGo page may change, but it’s hard to say what will be available and what won’t. (Ayaneo has yet to share any plans to offer the Retro Mini PC AM01 outside of its IndieGoGo campaign.) Fortunately, even if you end up with a smaller RAM or SSD setup, the Retro Mini PC AM01 is extremely easy to upgrade with new parts, you can take it apart, although this could void any warranty, so be careful if you go that route.

Overall, I’m very happy with what Ayaneo has contributed here. As I pointed out earlier, playing really demanding games won’t be a great option. But if you want a great little mini PC that can handle your daily tasks, run some retro and indie games without much trouble, and look great on your desktop, the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM01 is easily one of the best market options. . Its iconic design and easy upgradeability are also big highlights.

The AMD 5700U configuration sent me listings for $420 on Ayaneo’s IndieGoGo page, and I’d recommend it as a great starting point for anyone planning to pick one up.