ASUS Japan, Ltd. will release the ASUS MiniPC PN60 (barebone) series "PN60-BB5087MH" and "PN60-BB7088MH" on June 5, 2020.
The "PN60-BB5087MH" and "PN60-BB7088MH" boast a compact and space-saving design with plenty of I/O ports and easy expansion.
ASUS kindly gave us the opportunity to try out their new barebone, the Intel Core i7-8550U-based "PN60-BB7088MH" and we at Saiga NAK had a chance to review it for you!
Sharp outer box and various contents
Let's start with the outer box. The contrast between the black and white outer box gives a sharp impression.
In addition to the main unit, the contents include basic cords, instruction manuals, and other paper media, a DVD for installing the included applications, and a VESA mount. The paper-based media is particularly well-stocked, so those who are new to barebone will be able to assemble it with ease.
The main unit, "PN60-BB7088MH", has a stylish appearance that makes you want to pick it up. It weighs only about 0.7 kg, making it suitable for carrying around as long as it is in the right environment.
Remarkably compact size
The most striking feature of the PN60-BB7088MH is its compact size. There are many barebones on the market, but we have never seen one as compact as this.
The dimensions are 115 mm (W) x 115 mm (D) x 49 mm (H).
For those who can't tell, we also compared it with the face of Nash Tajima, an active infrastructure engineer. Note that you can grab it with one hand.
You can see that it is very compact. So what about expandability, access to the inside, and specifications?
Plenty of I/O ports galore
The chassis is equipped with a large number of I/O ports, supporting a wide variety of connection methods. In particular, there are only a few barebones that are equipped with USB Type-C, and the USB Type-C ports on the back and front are the future transition points.
The front port supports high-speed charging, while the rear port is shared with DisplayPort 1.2a. The shared USB Type-C port on the back supports "alternate mode" and is compatible with the DisplayPort 1.2a standard.
In addition to USB Type-C, the device is also compatible with HDMI 1.4, USB 3.1, and other current mainstream standards. The wide variety of ports allows for use in a wide range of environments.
Easy access to the inside and excellent expandability
Let's open the lid to see how to access the inside. First, remove the four screws at the four corners of the foot.
The screws have been safely removed. Despite the size of the screw threads, a long vertical screw slips out. If it is this large, there is little risk of losing it, which is a relief.
Slide the outer cover in the direction marked with "Push" to access the inside.
Lift the outer lid upward to remove the lid from the main body.
Now you can remove the lid from the main body. This is a very simple procedure.
From this state, any parts can be inserted. It is easy to find the part to insert the parts, so the work of expansion seems to be easy.
One standard size 2.5" HDD/SSD can be set in the open lid. It is fixed in place through the screw holes that are open beside the claw-like mounts.
SATA cables can be easily plugged in.
Next is the memory. PN60-BB5087MH and PN60-BB7088MH have a maximum capacity of 32GB, so it is ideal to install two 16GB cards. The location is on the opposite side of the SATA cable slot.
There is also a slot for M.2 (M.D.2), which is very popular these days. It may be a little hard to see in the picture, but it is located on the left side of the SATA cable slot.
The M.2 plug is a good fit for those who are concerned about the capacity of a single HDD/SSD, or for those who are looking for high transfer speeds.
As a VESA mount or stationary
PN60-BB5087MH and PN60-BB7088MH are also VESA mount compatible. If your monitor is equipped with a VESA mount interface, you can mount it on the back of the monitor by attaching the VESA standard mount that comes with the product.
The monitor can also be used as a stand-alone monitor without VESA mounting. The four non-slip points at the foot of the main unit enhance stability as a stand-alone unit.
The monitor does not move even when pushed from the side, so it can be used safely as a stationary monitor even if it is not equipped with a VESA mount interface.
Compact but with excellent specifications
The only major difference between the PN60-BB5087MH and the PN60-BB7088MH is the CPU, but most of the specifications are the same.
Choose the model that best suits your needs and objectives.
| ASUS MiniPC PN60 (barebone model) | ||
| Model number (body color) | PN60-BB5087MH (black) | PN60-BB7088MH (Black) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU name | Intel Core i5-8250U processor | Intel Core i7-8550U processor |
| Operating Frequency | 1.6GH (up to 3.4GHz when using Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0) |
1.8GH (up to 4.0GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0) |
| Cache memory | Intel Smart Cache 6MB | Intel Smart Cache 8MB |
| OS *1 | -Chipset | |
| Chipset | -Chipset | |
| Maximum loaded memory capacity | 32GB (16GB x 2) | |
| Specifications | DDR4-2400 (PC4-19200) | |
| Memory Slots | SO-DIMM slots x 2 (2 free slots) | |
| Graphics Function | Intel HD Graphics 620 (built-in CPU) | |
| Video memory | Shared with main memory *2 | |
| M.2 SSD SATA HDD/SSD |
1 x M.2 slot (Type M 2242/2280) SATA and PCIe & NVME compatible, Intel Optane memory supported 1 x SATA 6Gb/s port (2.5" 7.5/9mm compatible) |
|
| Optical drive *1 | -1 | |
| LAN | 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T | |
| Wireless LAN | Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 2 x 2 Wi-Fi, IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
|
| Bluetooth function | Bluetooth 4.2 | |
| External display output terminal | HDMI 1.4 X 2 DisplayPort 1.2a X 1 (Rear: USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C)*3 |
|
| USB port | USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C x 2 (1 front *4, 1 rear *3) USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A x 3 (1 front, 2 rear), USB 2.0 x 1 (1 front) |
|
| Card reader | -Card reader | |
| Audio | Audio jack x 1 (combo microphone-headphone jack) | |
| Power consumption | Approx. 65W max. | |
| Size | 115 mm (width) x 115 mm (depth) x 49 mm (height) | |
| Weight | Approx. 0.7kg | |
| Warranty Period | 12-month warranty in Japan from the date of purchase | |
| Main Included Apps | ASUS Manager (PC management application)*5 | |
| Main accessories | AC adapter, product warranty card, quick start guide, VESA standard-compliant mount, support DVD | |
| Remarks | 1. This is a barebone model without HDD, SSD, or memory. Please refer to the product support page on our official website for compatible mounting devices. When requesting repairs, etc., it is necessary to return the device to the factory defaults. Please prepare the OS separately. A USB-type optical drive is required to use the included support DVD. 2. Video memory size depends on the main memory capacity. The size will be allocated according to the operating conditions of the PC. USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C is shared with DisplayPort 1.2a. Supports high-speed charging. 5. Please install from the included support DVD before use. |
|
How about assembling your ideal PC?
At only 12 cm wide, 12 cm deep, and 5 cm tall, it is surprisingly compact and yet capable of assembling such a powerful PC.
It is also equipped with recently popular interface standards such as M.2, and has a full range of functions.
Unfortunately, the graphics performance is not suitable for the latest games, but the space saving and expandability make it suitable for a wide range of applications.
The ASUS MiniPC PN60 (barebone) series boasts compact yet powerful specifications.
If you are looking to save space while not compromising on performance, why not build your ideal PC with the PN60-BB5087MH and PN60-BB7088MH?
For more information, please visit the ASUS "Mini PC PN60" series product page!
(Apology: At the time of publishing this article, it was possible to use the PN60 as a gaming PC with an external GPU box or other components. (Apology: At the time of publication of this article, it was stated that "If you have an external GPU box, you can use it as a gaming PC! (Apology: When the article was published, it was stated that "If you prepare an external GPU box, etc., you may be able to use it as a gaming PC!)