In a market flooded with nondescript black boxes, the ACEMAGIC S1 stands out immediately. It isn’t just another N95-based mini PC; it’s a conversation starter featuring a built-in LCD status screen and a unique magnetic chassis. But beyond the flashy aesthetics, is it actually a viable daily driver or a reliable node for your home lab?
We put the S1 through its paces—from teardowns to thermal stress tests—to see if this budget-friendly machine delivers on its "feature-packed" promises.
Design and Build: Tool-Free and Desk-Friendly
The first thing you’ll notice is the versatility in placement. While many mini PCs are designed to sit flat, the S1 includes a magnetic base that allows for a vertical orientation. This saves valuable desk real estate and gives it a distinct "mini tower" vibe.
Build quality is surprisingly decent for the price point, featuring a mix of plastic with a sleek finish. The standout design element, however, is the magnetic detachable side cover. There are no screws to lose here; you just pull the panel off to access the internals. This makes upgrading the RAM or swapping out the M.2 SSD incredibly satisfying and frustration-free.
The LCD Screen: Gimmick or Game Changer?
The headline feature of the S1 is undoubtedly the 1.9-inch TFT LCD screen embedded in the front panel. It distinguishes this unit from the sea of generic competitors.
• What it does: Out of the box, it acts as a hardware monitor, displaying real-time stats like CPU temperature, power consumption (wattage), memory usage, and fan speed.
• Customization: via the proprietary software, you can switch between themes or upload your own custom images.
• The Reality: While it looks futuristic, it does require a background app to function. It’s perfect for those who want to check their system health at a glance without running overlay software on their main display.
Paired with the screen is a customizable RGB light strip. You can toggle between modes like "Rainbow," "Breathing," or "Color Cycle." It’s a nice touch for a gaming setup, though hardcore enthusiasts might find the lack of granular color control a bit limiting.
Performance: Managing Expectations
Under the hood, the S1 is powered by the Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake N95 processor (with N97 variants available). This is an entry-level chip, and it’s important to keep your expectations in check.
Productivity and Media
For a "daily driver" scenario—web browsing with a dozen tabs open, editing Word documents, or streaming 4K video—the S1 is more than capable. We found that 4K playback at 60Hz is smooth, and standard photo editing (cropping, simple filters) in Photoshop works without a hitch. However, heavy rendering or complex video exports will test your patience.
Gaming
Let’s be clear: this is not a AAA gaming rig. Don't expect to run Cyberpunk 2077. However, for 2D indie titles, it’s a surprisingly competent machine. We tested Hollow Knight and found the experience to be smooth and enjoyable. If you’re into retro emulation or lighter titles, the integrated Intel UHD graphics can hold their own.
Thermal Performance
One of the S1’s strong suits is its efficiency. In our stress tests using AIDA64, the CPU power draw peaked at around 21W, settling into a highly efficient 10W during lighter loads. Even under full load, the core temperature maxed out at 77°C, and the noise levels remained impressive—virtually silent in a typical office environment.
The "Home Lab" Potential
This is where the ACEMAGIC S1 finds its true niche in the US market. It is equipped with Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, a feature that immediately flags it as a prime candidate for a "Home Lab" setup.
• Soft Router / Firewall: With two LAN ports, this device is perfect for running pfSense or OPNsense.
• NAS Capabilities: The unit supports a secondary M.2 SSD (SATA protocol only), allowing you to expand storage significantly for a lightweight file server.
• Always-On Server: Given the low power consumption (idling around 10W), it’s an economical choice for running 24/7 services like Home Assistant or a Plex server for direct-play media.
Technical Deep Dive: The Compromises
To hit this price point, some corners were cut. It’s important to be aware of these technical limitations before you buy:
1. Single-Channel RAM: The motherboard only features one RAM slot. Our unit came with 16GB of DDR4 (using Nanya chips), which is plenty for most tasks, but the single-channel configuration does bottleneck the iGPU performance slightly compared to dual-channel setups.
2. PCIe Limitations: While the primary NVMe drive is fast enough for boot times and app loading (approx. 1700MB/s read/write in our tests), the interface runs at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds, meaning you won't get the full blazing speeds of top-tier Gen3 or Gen4 drives.
Critical Setup Advice: The "Clean Install"
Given the nature of budget mini PCs and the proprietary software required for the LCD screen, we strongly recommend a "clean install" approach for peace of mind.
For the best experience, wipe the drive and install a fresh copy of Windows 11 (or your Linux distro of choice). You can grab the necessary drivers and the specific control software for the LCD screen directly from the manufacturer afterwards. This ensures you aren't running any unnecessary bloatware and gives you a secure, fresh start.
Verdict
The ACEMAGIC S1 is a refreshing entry in the budget mini PC space. It combines a capable N95 processor with a chassis that is actually fun to look at and easy to work on.
Who is this for?
• Home Office Users: If you need a silent, space-saving PC for Office apps and web browsing.
• Home Lab Enthusiasts: The dual LAN and low power draw make it an excellent entry-level router or server.
• Aesthetics Lovers: If you want a cool little gadget on your desk that displays real-time stats.
Who should skip it?
• Hardcore Gamers: The N95 chip isn't built for modern 3D gaming.
• Power Users: The single-channel RAM and limited PCIe lanes will bottle-neck heavy workflows.
If you can live with the entry-level specs, the S1 offers incredible value and a feature set that punches well above its weight class.