Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i review: A modern look makes this tiny PC perfect for the living room or den

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Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i review: A modern wait makes this tiny PC perfect for the living room or den

The IdeaCentre Mini 5i is a tiny, affordable PC focused on coincidental or abode part use.

Lenovo Ideacentre Mini 5i Review Source: Windows Central

Lenovo'southward IdeaCentre Mini 5i is sort of a mix of the best mini PCs and NUCs and a small piece of piece of furniture that will fit well into a living room or abode role. It'due south quite compact, information technology has a textile tiptop panel, and information technology has the performance needed to handle a off-white amount of productivity work. The price is also quite reasonable, with models starting at nearly $500. I've been using this tiny PC for a couple of weeks to meet what it's all about and whether or non information technology'south worth your money.

Lenovo Ideacenter Mini 5i

Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i

Bottom line: Lenovo'south IdeaCentre Mini 5i is an affordable, compact PC that will delight anyone who needs an average performer for homework, streaming, and general productivity. The fabric meridian helps information technology fit into a living room, and its upgradeable internal hardware and generous port selection are user friendly.

Pros

Desktop-form CPU with six cores
Compact blueprint and premium quality
Upgradeable SSD and RAM
Reasonable toll
Lots of ports

Cons

No SD carte reader
Limited CPU choices

Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i: Price, availability, and specs

Lenovo Ideacentre Mini 5i Review Source: Windows Central

Lenovo supplied Windows Central with an IdeaCentre Mini 5i desktop PC. Inside the 1-liter chassis is a tenth Gen Intel Cadre i5-10400T desktop processor (CPU) with six cores, 12GB of DDR4-2666MHz dual-aqueduct RAM, and a 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe solid-state bulldoze (SSD) coupled with a 1TB 2.v-inch SATA hard-disk drive (HDD).

This exact model is available at Lenovo for nearly $630 after some instant savings, or you tin can observe information technology at Newegg for almost $800. There is also a model with a Core i3-10100 CPU, 8GB of RAM, 1TB SATA HDD, and 256GB G.2 SSD for well-nigh $510 after instant savings. This model can be plant at Amazon as well for almost $649.

Note that the Cadre i3-10100 bit is really quite comparable to the Core i5-10400T despite fewer cores, with the former having a college 65W TDP, college iv.3GHz Turbo frequency, and higher iii.6GHz base clock speed. The Core i5 is going to handle multitasking improve thanks to the actress cores, merely otherwise you lot might find performance from the Core i3 to exist suitable for web browsing, word processing, and video streaming. Information technology also costs less.

Following are the verbal specs that make up my review unit of the IdeaCentre Mini 5i.

Category	Spec
Bone	Windows 10 Pro
Processor	10th Gen Intel Cadre i5-10400T half dozen cores, 12 threads Up to iii.6GHz Socketed
Chipset	Intel H470
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 630 Integrated
Retentivity	12GB DDR4-2666MHz Dual-aqueduct Upgradeable
Storage	256GB M.2 PCIe 3 NVMe SSD 1TB 2.5-inch SATA HDD Upgradeable
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.1
Ports (rear)	Four USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1) HDMI 1.4 RJ45 Ethernet DisplayPort 1.two
Ports (forepart)	USB-C iii.2 (Gen 1) USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1) three.5mm audio
Security	Kensington lock slot
PSU	90W Air conditioning adapter
Case size	1L
Color	Terrazzo Grey (case) Mineral Greyness (material cover)
Accessories	None
Dimensions	vii.64 (Due west) x vii.eighteen (D) 10 1.57 (H) inches (194mm ten 182.4mm x 40mm)
Weight	From 3.26 pounds (i.48kg)

Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i: What I like

Lenovo Ideacentre Mini 5i Review Source: Windows Central

The IdeaCentre Mini 5i has a fairly plain magnesium-blend pattern salve for the meridian panel that's covered in a Mineral Gray fabric. It adds a contemporary accent to the look, making it a better fit in a living room than something from our best budget PCs less than $500 roundup. I've had the Mini 5i sitting below my TV for a couple of weeks, in utilize as an amusement center for streaming and media sharing.

The IdeaCentre Mini 5i's handsome fabric top helps it blend into a home setting. It besides pulls abroad easily for access to internal hardware.

I've gone mostly with wireless accessories due to my setup — Bluetooth five.ane is perfect for this — merely there are many ports available. On the front are USB-A, USB-C, and three.5mm sound, as well every bit an LED-lit power button. The back of the PC holds the majority of ports, with four USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, and a Kensington lock slot if y'all need a scrap more security. Wi-Fi 6 is also bachelor for fast and reliable wireless internet.

The tiptop fabric console pulls abroad entirely to reveal a metallic panel, which when removed provides quick access to dual SODIMM RAM slots and a unmarried Grand.2 SSD slot. These can be upgraded subsequently buy to keep the PC relevant longer into the time to come. It also means you don't have to worry equally much nigh getting the exact configuration yous demand from the mill. Subsequently removing a few more screws, you lot tin can get access to the underside of the PC with 2.five-inch SATA HDD (upgradeable), Wi-Fi card (upgradeable), and CPU heatsink and unmarried fan.

Lenovo Ideacentre Mini 5i Review Source: Windows Fundamental

With a standard desktop socket employed here, you lot tin technically upgrade the CPU with something compatible with the Intel H470 chipset. Just be aware of the power ceiling, which is capped at a 130W AC adapter with proprietary Lenovo charging port. My model came with the 90W adapter to go with the 35W T-series CPU; if you get a standard scrap (non-T) with 65W TDP, you lot should get the larger adapter.

Operation from the Core i5-10400T is most every bit skillful as I expected, putting up respectable numbers that will accommodate anyone looking to tackle productivity work or streaming. Integrated Intel UHD 630 graphics will even handle light editing work or light gaming. Use it for word processing, spreadsheets, 4K streaming, email, and web browsing, and y'all won't be disappointed. I ran a bunch of benchmarks to see how the IdeaCentre Mini 5i compares to other PCs we've recently reviewed.

The Thousand.2 SSD here is fast enough for quick transfers, but don't await the same result from the 2.5-inch HDD. I measured 135MB/southward read and 133MB/s write speeds, making it best reserved for bulk storage.

On the bottom of the PC is a sizable air intake for the single fan. An frazzle is located on the back of the PC, just below the assortment of ports. Fan noise is noticeable if you lot're in a quiet room, but otherwise yous shouldn't hear it, even nether load.

Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i: What I don't similar

Lenovo Ideacentre Mini 5i Review Source: Windows Central

The IdeaCentre Mini 5i sets out to be a meaty PC for abode and small role utilize, and in that regard it succeeds. But at that place are some things I noticed that must be covered. First and foremost is the pick of Cadre i5-10400T CPU. Lenovo has the standard Core i5-10400 (non-T version) listed in some reference documents, only it doesn't seem to be an option for the consumer. Instead, we get the comparatively underpowered 10400T with lower frequencies and TDP. A movement to the standard i5-10400 would undoubtedly move the IdeaCentre Mini 5i up on the listing of benchmarked PCs, making it better suited for intensive productivity work.

I other small detail is a lack of SD or microSD card reader. Yous can, of class, connect one of the best USB-C hubs for added connectivity, merely a native card reader would be much appreciated. This is particularly true if you're using the PC for some photograph editing or media sharing.

Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i: Competition

Lenovo Thinkcentre m720q Tiny Source: Windows Primal

Thank you to the textile top panel and small pattern, the IdeaCentre Mini 5i sort of stands lone in the upkeep PC sector as a pinnacle pick for your living room or den. It'due south certainly non the but small PC out there, and you'll find many more in our roundup of the best mini PCs and NUCs.

If you're searching for a tiny PC with SD menu reader, 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10710U CPU, Iris Plus integrated graphics, and enough of ports, the Intel NUC 10 Functioning is a solid option in the same price range.

For a true business PC, bank check out Lenovo's ThinkCentre M720q Tiny. It's built strong in truthful ThinkCentre fashion, information technology has added security measures to protect sensitive data, and it's packed with ports. Expect to pay a bit more for the extra features, but information technology's still within the same price range.

And if you're just looking for a standard desktop PC in the same toll range, the Acer Aspire TC-895 is a peak option. It'south extremely affordable, it comes with a mouse and keyboard, there are lots of ports, and it can be had with up to a Cadre i7-10700 CPU for snappy performance.

Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i: Should you buy it?

Lenovo Ideacentre Mini 5i Review Source: Windows Central

You should buy this if ...

You want a meaty PC for coincidental use around the house
You want to spend around $600 on a PC
You want a PC that can be upgraded in the future

Y'all shouldn't purchase this if...

You want a gaming PC with dedicated GPU
Yous want in a higher place-boilerplate performance
You don't similar your PC to have any fabric on it

Lenovo'due south IdeaCentre Mini 5i is a neat lilliputian PC for use in your home. The modernistic chassis with textile top and speckled greyness stop is simply as easy to upgrade as it is highly-seasoned, and it's small enough to fit nigh anywhere. Information technology'due south covered in ports for like shooting fish in a barrel connectivity, and it has decent airflow cheers to generous intake and exhaust venting.

Performance would be better from a Core i5-10400 CPU, but even with the T-serial version you're getting enough ability to handle productivity work, streaming, and light gaming. As long every bit you don't need something with a dedicated GPU or as much performance equally possible, yous should find this to be an ideal PC for casual or light function work. If it'due south not quite what y'all're looking for, check out our roundup of the best desktop computers for more options.

Lenovo Ideacenter Mini 5i

Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini 5i

This compact PC has upgradeable RAM, SSD, and HDD, as well as a socketed CPU. The material top panel gives it a modernistic look, and it has the ability to handle the family's productivity or streaming needs.

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