Category Archives: Win7View

Notes on Windows 7, Win7 compatible software and hardware, reviews, tips and more.

Hardware Reviews, Insider stuff, Recent Activity, WED Blog, Windows 11

ASUS Zenbook A14 Intake

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In hopes of bootstrapping one ARM laptop to another, I decided to acquire another Snapdragon-based machine this weekend. Thanks to an early “Black Friday” deal I picked up such a machine for under US$600. Here’s the story of my ASUS Zenbook A14 intake, with extra observations about the OOBE (out of box experience) during initial set-up.

Working Thru ASUS Zenbook A14 Intake

Except for the shrinkwrap around the inner box, the packaging for the A14 was all paper: environmentally friendly, for sure. I got to the OOBE by plugging in the brick, inserting the power lead into one of the USB-C ports, and turning on the power. Interestingly, even though the battery showed fully charged when checked, I had to plug the brick in and power up before the unit would turn on.

This unit is incredibly light: 2.18 lbs (990 grams). It’s also got a ceramal, aka ceraluminum, (ceramic aluminum alloy) skin that is strong and fingerprint indifferent. Mine came in a neutral gray color called “Iceland Gray” (shown on the keyboard deck in the lead-in graphic). It’s a tasty machine, with a nice bright display, a decent keyboard and great battery life (real world analyses claim 15 hours for web browsing, and 23 hours for video playback at 50% brightness). It’s completely on par with the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X I blogged about last July, in fact.

Speeds, Accoutrement & Feeds

Speccy couldn’t tell me much about this PC, so I turned to the ARM version of HWiNFO instead. Here’s what it told me:

  • CPU: SnapdragonX Plus X1P-42-100 (8 cores)
  • RAM: Single module 16GB LPDDR5X 8448 MHz
  • Storage: Crucial MTFDKBA512QGN-1BN1AABGA 512GB
  • Display: Samsung SDC420D (10x30cm, 1920x1200px)
  • Ports: 2xUSB-C 40 Gbps, 1xUSB-A 10 Gbps, HDMI 3.1, 3.5mm audio
  • Wi-Fi; Qualcomm FastConnect Wi-Fi 6E Dual Band
  • OS: Windows 11 Home (I immediately upgraded to Pro so I could use Remote Desktop Connection over the LAN for access)

I wouldn’t call this a truly powerful laptop, but I’m comfortable with its performance and capabilities, especially in view of its extended battery life. If I can switch out the SSD without losing my mind, I may bump it up to 2 or 4 TB instead of its current 0.5 TB level. Everything else seems adequate and usable.

The Real Reason I Bought This…

I’ve been trying to resuscitate my ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 (my “other ARM laptop,” on loan from Lenovo). I hadn’t been able to build recovery media on x64 Intel or AMD PCs to bring the T14s back to life through alternate boot via UFD. By building the Lenovo Recovery Media on that machine for the T14s, I was able to reinstall and recover that machine in working order on my next try. As compared to the day-and-a-half or so I spent trying to use MCT, Ventoy and Rufus to build bootable ARM media, it was a  cakewalk.

Here in Windows-World, incredible contortions may sometimes be needed to bring a dead laptop back to life. So it was with the ARM-based ThinkPad T14s, which roared back into action after I put the A14 to work building recovery media. Go figure!

 

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ThinkPad X13 Gen 6 First Look

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Although it showed up two weeks ago, yesterday was the first day I had open enough to unbox and bring up a brand-new ThinkPad. It’s a svelte (thin-and-light, in fact) 13″ laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255U CPU, 16 GB RAM, Hello-capable IR camera and fingerprint reader, WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS 13″ display, and 512 GB PCIe x4 NVMe SSD. As configured, the Lenovo Store price for this unit is $1,269.33 this morning. As the ThinkPad X13 Gen 6 first look gets underway, I’m looking for answers to these questions:

1. Is this a Copilot+ PC?
2. What kinds of users is the X13 best suited for?
3. How does the unit perform on basic tasks? more demanding ones?

Digging in For a ThinkPad X13 Gen 6 First Look

Let’s answer those questions:

Copilot+ PC Status

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255U does have an NPU but it delivers only 12 TOPS. Copilot+ requirements call for 40 TOPS. So no, the X13 Gen 6 is NOT a Copilot+ capable PC. That’s not shocking — right now only about 1 in 50 laptops sold globally is Copilot+ capable (Copilot says it’s 1.9% of global PC sales, and 2.3% of Windows PC sales).

Who’s the Target Audience?

Based on the unit’s size, weight and configuration it’s an entry to mid-level laptop, designed for portability over power and capability. With a smallish 13″ screen, overall dimensions of 29.93 x 20.7 x 0.99-1.78cm / 11.78 x 8.15 x 0.39-0.7″, and a weight of merely 2.03 lbs (0.92 kg) it’s clearly a grab-and-go unit from start to finish. To me, that aims it squarely at an audience that needs computing mostly on the go, but not a whole lot of it.

IMO, that means this laptop aims at students, mobile office workers, and SOHO workers who need to pick up and carry it around rather than sitting always at the same desk. OTOH, this makes it an excellent “road machine” for users who want to carry something light and compact when they travel, but who may not use this laptop as their primary work PC.

Task Performance

Given its relatively modest processing, storage and memory endowments, the X13 Gen 6 configuration I examined — and the whole product line, in fact — aims to support users who want to surf the web, read e-mail, and handle routine productivity, media, and entertainment workloads. I wouldn’t recommend it to those who need to run large or demanding workloads including serious programming, local AI models or other big datasets, or heavy-duty 3-D graphics (which knocks it out of consideration for media, gaming, CAD/CAM, and so forth). If you want more performance nuts-n-bolts see this July 2025 review at Gigazine.

The built-in NVMe is a Lenovo model RPETJ512MMW1MDQ (M.2 22380 with Gen3/Gen4 level performance. It’s reasonably quick, but nowhere near state of the art. The unit relies on a built-in Intel graphic processor in the Xe-LPG family. It’s designed to run on par with entry-level discrete GPUs, and thus, to handle light gaming, media editing and AI workloads. Squares entirely with my subjective impression in watching YouTube, installing and using apps, and bringing the PC current with WU.

Initial Impressions: Nifty, Not Gnarly

The unit itself is incredibly light, but feels sturdy and looks good. I didn’t feel much flex in the keyboard or monitor decks as I picked it up and moved it around. The Windows Hello capable IR camera and fingerprint reader are both fast and easy to set up. Amusingly, I found it difficult to switch from my primary MSA to other accounts at login after I’d set the camera up, because it would log me in faster than I could click the lower-left icon for an alternate account at startup.

I couldn’t log into my ASUS AX-6000 802.11ax router on the 5GHz channel for some reason or another. The unit’s Wi-Fi6E Intel worked just fine with the 2.4 GHz channel, and performed well as I downloaded and installed a raft of updates and software apps.

The X13 has 2 USB-C ports, one of which goes to power unless you dock it up and get power that way. Both are USB4/Thunderbolt 4 capable. It also has 2 USB A 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) ports as well, along with HDMI 2.1 and 3.5mm audio (mini-RCA jack). It’s not overly endowed with ports, but they are sufficient for ordinary users’ needs.

First Look Takeaways…

Overall, this is an eminently portable and usable light-duty laptop. I’d buy one for my about-to-graduate college offspring, except I opted to spend $450 less to buy him the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X Copilot+ laptop in May. It lacks USB-A and headphone jack, but offers longer battery life and better AI capabilities.

 

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ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF G2 Intake

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A couple of weeks ago, the nice folks at Lenovo Reviews contacted me by email. “How would you like to try out the newest ThinkStation P3?” they asked. I already had the first generation model in house, so I boxed it up and sent it back. A few days later the new model arrived, and I got going on ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF G2 intake. Here’s what I’ve learned so far…

Working Thru ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF G2 Intake

At first glance, there’s no obvious difference between the Gen1 and Gen 2 models in this series. But I show the back of the unit because it’s immediately obvious that Lenovo made some substantial changes there. Let me list them out:

  • Went from side-by-side 2.5 GbE & 1 GbE RJ-45 ports to a single 1 GbE port
  • Switched from 8 mini-DP ports for video to 3 full-size + 4 mini DP ports
  • Changed the interior layout so it’s even simpler to switch out SSDs and RAM modules without using (too many, or any) tools

Of course, as you’d expect the innards got a bit of a facelift in climbing the generational ladder. That said, this compact workstation, while powerful, is NOT a Copilot+ PC. Here’s a list of key components:

  • Intel Core Ultra 9 285 (Arrow Lake, 8 P & 16 E cores: 24 total)
  • 64 GB (2×32) DDR5-5600 RAM
  • Graphics: Intel Arc Xe-LPG & RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation NVIDIA GPU (20 GB RAM)
  • Single 1 TB Samsung OEM SSD, to which I added a Samsung 950 EVO 4TB SSD (Higher speed options, including 10 GbE, available)
  • Wi-Fi: Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 2×2 BE vPro & Bluetooth 5.4
  • Ports: 2x USB-C/USB4/TB4 (front), 1x rear (top left, next to Wi-Fi antenna port), 2x USB 2 Type-A (mouse & keyboard), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type-A
  • Power goes to a 300W external brick (far right, top row)

As configured, the unit comes with an MSRP of $3,915. As per typical ongoing Lenovo discounts, it will cost you $3,054 at the Lenovo store. The unit is new enough that third-party resellers — and different prices — are not yet widely available.

Doing the Intake Thing

It was absurdly easy to remove the 2nd SSD from the old Gen 1 instance and install it into the Gen2. Took less than 2 minutes all told. I’ve not yet tried my 96 GB memory kit on the machine, though (Gen 2, like Gen 1, maxes out at 128 GB RAM). Getting the machine up to snuff has been a pleasure: it’s every bit as fast and powerful as its predecessor. So far, I’m loving working this beast, just as I enjoyed the older model.

Make no mistake: even though this PC is not Copilot+ capable, it’s still a powerful albeit compact (SFF means “small form factor” after all) PC. It can drive lots of monitors, handle lots of intense demanding work, and do those jobs with ease and panache. A worthy successor to the Gen 1, the Gen 2 is a kick-butt little workstation.

 

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DIMM and Dimmer: My Memory Misorder

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It’s been bothering me for the past couple of weeks. I ordered a pair of memory modules to bump up RAM in the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra. I used the same part number for what’s installed, thinking that it would guarantee a perfect replacement/addition. So wrong! I just happened to glance at the package the modules arrived in and saw something serious. Doh! It’s a case of DIMM and Dimmer — my memory misorder completely explains everything. Take a look…

Why I’m DIMM and Dimmer: My Memory Misorder

The upper left corner of the package says it all: 96GB kit. I thought I was ordering a 64GB kit and got a 96 instead. No wonder the P3 Ultra wouldn’t POST with those modules in place! Its max RAM capacity is 128GB. With 64 GB already installed, adding 96 takes the total to 160GB, or 32 GB over the top.

I have to laugh. If I take both existing modules out, I can get a 32 GB bump anyway. Or if I replace the too-big modules with what I should’ve gotten in the first place, I can get up to 128 GB, just like I’ve got on my Flo6 desktop.

I’ll have to think about this for a while. In the meantime, I’m laughing at my own idiotic failure to doublecheck what I wanted against what I got delivered to me. Just because I used the same part numbers to place my order doesn’t mean that’s what I got back. Go figure!

Here in Windows-World, things aren’t always as they seem. And sometimes that’s because yours truly isn’t paying enough attention to what’s right there in front of him. Sigh. But at least I now know why the PC wouldn’t POST with all four modules in place. That had been driving me ever so slightly bonkers…

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P3 Ultra Shows Amazing Interior Design

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Yesterday, I upgraded the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra with mixed success. I was able to install and use a Samsung 990 EVO Plus NVMe SSD 4TB. I tried to boot after installing a pair of G.SKILL Ripjaws DDR5 32GB SO-DIMMs. Alas, the PC wouldn’t POST, so I had to send them back. I’ve ordered a pair of matching SK Hynix HMCG88AGBSA095N modules instead, and hopefully they’ll work when I stick them in next week. Throughout this in-and-out process, however the P3 Ultra shows amazing interior design. Let me explain…

How P3 Ultra Shows Amazing Interior Design

I was able to take this SFF PC apart and access the ports for M.2 SSDs and for the lower 2 memory slots without using a single hand tool. All the areas I needed to access, while covered with other components — fan housings, in fact — were easily accessed by releasing latches and swinging items out of the way. You can see this in the lead-in graphic for the NVMe fan housing.

I’ve worked on hundreds of PCs and laptops, including a dozen-plus SFF PCs. This particular model is nearly unique in making itself easy to work on and understand. Indeed, Lenovo has posted short videos that show how to access the chassis, M.2 drives,CPU fan, lower memory modules, and a whole bunch more. Combined, they made it dead easy for me to get things out of the way, and install/remove the components I was after.

The whole process took less than 2 minutes for each action (install NVMe, install 2 SO-DIMMs, remove 2 SO-DIMMs). It’s been an amazing trip so far.

Half-Way Benefits, with More to Come?

I’ve got the new NVMe drive working. I was able to create a full C: drive image backup — using Macrium Reflect X — on that new D: drive. Total time required: 00:37 (yes, that’s thirty-seven seconds, total, disk size of image: 45.57GB). SSD-to-SSD backup is definitely the way to go, and even better if — as is the case here — it’s from the primary (boot/system) internal SSD to a secondary internal SSD. Again: 37 seconds! Wow!!!

When the matching memory modules show up next week (I couldn’t get the PC to post using the G.SKILL Ripjaws DDR5 SO-DIMMs I ordered) I’ll try again. By ordering the same part number as what’s installed, I hope that the next try will succeed. Stay tuned: I’ll let you know.

Here in Windows-World, it’s always nice to find a great design that makes it easy to get in, add or remove components, then get out and back to work. Kudos to Lenovo for a truly magnificent design. I love it!!

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Closing Thoughts ON Tecra A60-M2

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Well, it’s been an interesting and pleasantly surprising ride. On August 18 — just about a month ago — Dynabook sent me a snazzy new Tecra A60M2, one of its Intel-based Copilot+ PCs. Initially, I was a bit put off by the unit’s mid-range CPU (Core Ultra 5 225U) and its modest RAM endowment (16 GB). If buying for myself, I usually go for i7 or i9 class CPUs, and 32 or 64 GB of RAM. But as my 30-dal eval period is ending, I find myself unexpectedly and favoraby impressed with this PC. Thus, here are my closing thoughs on Tecra A60-M2, as I get ready to box it up and ship it back.

Weighing Closing Thoughts on Tecra A60M2: Pros & Cons

All in all, the A60-M2 handled everything I threw at it, and was more than able to cope with my daily regimen of email, web surf and search, heavy Copilot use, and intense workouts for Word, PowerPoint and Excel. I was expecting some occasional fits and delays, but encountered nothing but smooth, reliable performance. This is an excellent business machine for productivity/office workers, if under-powered for developers, data scientists or AI model makers or testers.

PROs

The display is clear and legible, if a bit washed out in direct sun. The IR camera and fingerprint scanner are the best I’ve ever used: incredibly fast, and only occasionally required repositioning of face or finger. Aside from a handful of Dynabook utilities, mostly useful not nugatory, there’s zero bloatware on this laptop.

Despite its modest RAM config (a single 16GB DDR5-5600 SODIMM, in fact, with room for one more) it is user-ugradeable to 64 GB. That’s a big plus against many other Copilot+ PCs I’ve seen lately, all with soldered RAM. It’s Wi-Fi 7 wireless and TB4 USB-C ports (x2) do their jobs nicely. That said, USB-C attached NVMe is middle-of-the-road, too (somewhat above UASP, but not 2x or better).

CONs

Three of the four case surfaces excluding the top deck (made of magesium alloy) are plastic composites. The unit is strong and relatively rigid — it meets MIL-STD-810H durability requirements– but the top deck flexes quite a bit, and the upper surface is a fingerprint magnet. The 4-cell Li-ion polymer battery is rated at 60W, but the unit is power-hungry enough to give it a typical 6-8 hour life for normal workday tasks. I’m spoiled by double-digit SnapDragon X values of 11 or more hours, I admit. It also charges back up to 40-50% in 30-40 minutes using the co-supplied 65W USB-C charger. That goes a bit faster from a TB4/TB5 dock.

I have some others cons to report, but they’re more nitpicky than serious:

  • Touchpad is positioned left-of-center on the lower deck, and takes some getting used to. Works fine (and accurately), tho…
  • The display is Full HD (1920×1080 only) with no 2K or 4K upgrade options available.
  • Keyboard layout is idiosyncratic enough that a long-time Lenovo ThinkPad user like myself had to adjust touch typing techniques to get fully up to speed.
  • Device weighs in at 4.1 lbs (1.86kg) which makes it noticeably bigger and heavier than other Copilot+ models I’ve used, especially those of the SnapDragon X persuasion.

One more thing, this Dynabook model’s MSRP is $1,249 as configured (the 512GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe is the only major item I didn’t mention earlier). This runs from $250-639 more expensive than Lenovo’s ThinkBook and IdeaPad Snapdragon X models. Buyers must want the bigger screen and higher durability to make that extra cost worthwhile. But it’s a durable, hard-working, surprisingly capable beast, and sure to provide its users with years of computing satisfaction.

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Dynabook Tecra A60-M2 Intake

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I guess Sharp/Dynabook must’ve liked my coverage of their Portege X40-M2 unit. Why say so? Because about 2 days after I sent that unit back, they sent me another more powerful laptop to look at. Today’s blog post describes my Dynabook Tecra A60-M intake experience (Model PNL21U-017004). It’s a bigger beast, but a little less sturdy (it’s got what feels like an all-plastic lower/keyboard deck) albeit with minimal flex. For the first time, ever, it comes with Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise loaded as well.

Describing Dynabook Tecra A60-M2 Intake Process

Again and suprisingly, Dynabook uses closed-cell plastic foam inserts to enshroud the unit in an otherwise all-cardboard set of nested shipping boxes. It comes with exactly two parts: the laptop itself and the power brick/power cord. Initial setup was absurdly easy. But, for some odd reason, Intel BE201 802.11 Wi-Fi 7 adapters won’t let me log into the 5GHz band on my Asus router. I have to use the 2.4 GHz band instead. If I need to go faster than that, I can plug my trusty StarTech GbE USB 3 adapter into one of its two 5 Gbps USB 3.2 version 1 ports.

It took me some time to get all the bits and pieces in place for my usual setup. I used Patch My PC Home Updater to bring in 7Zip, GadgetPack, CystalDisk mark & info, CPUID, Everything, Chrome, and more. Because this is an Intel-flavored Copilot+ PC, I also installed Intel Driver and Support Assistant as well, along with the Dynabook Support Utility to check for vendor UEFI, firmware, and driver updates.

A Clean, Clean, Clean Machine

I’ve got to say this is one of the cleanest review units I’ve ever gotten. It required very little by way of update or clean-up to bring entirely up to snuff. It’s also got the fastest and most accurate fingerprint scanner I’ve ever used (Device Manager identifies it as a FocalTech Electronics device). So far, it’s fast, has a nice 16″ display, and does everything I’ve asked it to in short order.

The Tecra A60-M2 Components, Listed

According to the vendor web page, this unit goes for US$1249 (MSRP). I don’t see any major discounts available online but it’s pretty new still, so they may be coming. Here’s what’s inside:

  • CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
  • OS: Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise (26100.4946)
  • 16.0″ WUXGA display (1920×1200)
  • 16 GB DDR5-5600 (Samsung)
  • 0.5TiB Samsung OEM PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
  • Ports: 2xUSB4/TB4 USB-C ports, 2xUSB3.2 Gen 1 ports, HDMI, RJ-45 GbE, microSD, mini-RCA (headset) jack
  • 60 Wh Lithium polymer battery; 65W USB-C power brick

What it doesn’t have that I might want? Offhand, I’d say a Hello-capable IR camera, and a touch display. Other than those things, and a bigger SSD, it’s pretty well-equipped. What one gets for US1,250 for this unit isn’t at all bad.

All in all, I like it pretty well so far. I’ll report further as I spend a bit more time with it, and learn more about what it can and can’t do. I’m curious about its SSD speed, USB-C performance, and general processing oomph. Expect to hear more from me on all of those topics, soon. In the meantime, I’m having fun playing with this new toy.

 

 

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So Long Dynabook X40M2

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It was nice while it lasted, but my time slot has expired. I’m shipping the Dynabook X40 M2 PC back to the maker’s PR group this afternoon. It’s been an enjoyable month working and playing with this handsome, sturdy, compact laptop. Though it’s no longer a Toshiba, it’s still called a Portege (a well-known and long-lasting laptop moniker). When I reviewed PCs for Tom’s back in the 2000s, I had a quite a few Toshibas pass through my hands. This new model is very much in the same vein. But now, alas, I must say “So long, Dynabook X40M2.” Let me conclude my adventures with some closing thoughts and observations…

Not Copilot+, But That May Not Matter Much

I was initially disappointed when I got this PC, to understand that it didn’t meet Copilot+ requirements.  Indeed, its Core Ultra 5 225U doesn’t hit the minimum TOPS number (40). That said, this unit has done everything I’ve asked it to with reasonable performance and battery life.  I chose to model typical productivity work involving Office, Adobe Acrobat, email, and so forth (no gaming or heavy creative workloads here) to reflect what students or office workers might demand of such a machine in the classroom, on the job, or on the go.

Small digression: I wondered how many PCs being sold these days are Copilot+ capable. Interestingly, Copilot tells me that 1.9% of global PC shipments in 2025 (in round numbers 1 in 50) fits that bill. So it seems that most buyers aren’t looking for such capabilities anyway. Outside that realm (which is most of the landscape) the X40-M2 plays very, very well.

Dynabook rates the unit’s battery life at 12-14 hours. I was able to break the 10-hour barrier on this machine twice, but mostly it came in between 9 and 10 hours when running email, web browsing, Office apps, Acrobat and Zoom or Teams video meetings. As is so often the case, the maker’s estimates are optiimistic, but the unit brings enough oomph to last a bit longer than a typical workday anyway. That’s all to the good, as far as I’m concerned.

Pros and Cons for the Portege X40 M2

On the plus side, the unit is sturdy, good-looking, compact, and lightweight enough for easy backpack or briefcase transport. It’s also got decent battery life, a good-looking display, 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and full-size HDMI and RJ-45 GbE ports. On the minus side, mine came equipped with a modest 0.5TB Samsung OEM NVMe drive that failed to impress with its performance (on par with faster Gen3 or slower Gen4 circuitry), and its pair of 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) USB-A ports.  For office or home work, seems like a good Thunderbolt 4 dock would be a useful add-on, given that one USB-C port otherwise goes for charging at least some of the time.

If I were to buy one of these units, I’d probably go for the Ultra 7 model instead of the 5. Interestingly, I don’t see a 32GB option on this line’s product pages. Here’s my final net-net on this beast: a good choice for college students or office workers. Not enough oomph for developers or knowledge workers, though (the lack of Copilot+ support may not yet be telling for such folks, but will weigh more heavily in 2026 and 2027 as AI comes more into its own at the OS level). Check it out at the Dynabook Portege X40-M Series home.

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Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini X SFF PC

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OK, then. Color me surprised. I’ve been keeping an eye on this stuff, and this one got past me. Looks like Lenovo has been selling a small form-factor (SFF) PC with a Snapdragon X processor since April. It’s the Lenovo IdeaCentre MiniX SFF PC, as depicted in the lead-in graphic (front and rear views at top and bottom). I’d tried signing up for the Qualcom devkit early this year, but it never came through. This looks like a worthy successor, and is available at the Lenovo Store for US$750 or thereabouts.

I like the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini X SFF PC, But…

The unit is small and reasonably well-endowed: X1P-64-100 ARM Snapdragon X, 32 GB RAM, 512 GB Gen4 NVMe SSD, Intel Wi-Fi7, and more. It’s got 2 10Gbps USB-A and 1 10Gbps USB-C ports on the front (plus an audio minijack). There’s more on the back, including GbE RJ-45, 2x10Gbps USB-A, USB-C 40Gbps (USB4), HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a. In fact, it’s got many more ports than the Qualcom devkit ever offered, and that never materialized.

Why, then, is there a “But…” at the end of the preceding heading? Because of late, low-end Snapdragon X laptops cost less than this SFF. That is, they include a screen and a keyboard,  but cost less. Admittedly, such laptops usually lack RJ-45, HDMI or DP port, and also feature fewer USB ports than you’ll find in this SFF PC. Indeed, even Lenovo offers a lower-priced Snapdragon X unit (the IdeaPad Slim 3X, available at Best Buy for US$550, was discounted another US$100 recently during Prime Days).

All this said, I’ve had good luck with Lenovo SFF PCs, and have asked them to send me one of these for review if they can. But if you’re looking to “go low” on price and are OK with reduced RAM, CPU and storage, you can spend less and get a laptop instead. Hey, it’s your PC, so it’s your call, too. I’m interested, but for many a laptop will be a better choice. Copilot says that Lenovo, Acer and Asus have models under US$600 right now, with more such expected from Dell and HP later this year.

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NZXT H6 Flow Build Comes Together

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Allrighty, then. My “new” primary desktop build is almost completely done. I still have some software to install, and some file transfers from old to new to complete. But the hardware configuration is finished. As this NZXT H6 Flow build comes together, I’ve overcome some interesting hurdles and learned something I probably should have already known. Let me fill you in…

Deets: NZXT H6 Flow Build Comes Together

The case itself is perhaps the roomiest I’ve ever worked with. The split-level design  features the motherboard and plug-in elements above, with PSU, drive cage and cabling below. Very easy to work on, and far fewer cable routing shenanigans than I’ve ever run into before. Over the years — including a lengthy stint of motherboard, RAM and storage reviews for Tom’s Hardware in the early 2000s — I’ve probably built 100+ desktop and SFF PCs. From the perspective of ease and comfort, this one rules. First ever build, in fact, without cutting my fingers on the air cooler’s fins. Good-oh.

Here’s a BOM for the build, excluding the already-mentioned case [for which I paid US$110; other current prices in square brackets]:

  • Motherboard: Asrock B550 Extreme 4 (AM4) [US$185]
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X (8 cores/16 threads, 3.8 to 4.7 GHz, AM4, TDP 105W) [US$170]
  • GPU: NVIDIA 3070 Ti [US$600]
  • RAM: 128GB (4×32) DDR4-2666 [US$146]
  • NVMe: Sabrent Rocket Q 2TB[US$80], Samsung 990 EVO 4TB (2ndary)[US$200]
  • Hard disk: Toshiba DT01AC300 3GiB (2.72 TB in Explorer)[US$77]
  • Total system cost, not including monitors:  US$1,568

My ASUS Thunderbolt5 EX didn’t make the cut, because the B550 lacks a USB4/5 header for the device to plug into. Alas it won’t work without motherboard support. Sigh. I should have known, but there it is.

Issues Encountered and Overcome

The only build issues I ran into were:

  • Remembering how to re-insert the below-deck HDD cage. (A quick trip to YouTube took care of that in a hurry. Turns out to be a drop in, then slide up to lock into position kind of maneuver. Dead easy, once you see somebody else do it. Go YouTube!)
  • Getting the hard disk recognized in Device Manager. (None of my SATA devices showed up in Windows Device Manager or Disk Management. I used a temporary SSD-to-SATA device to ensure it was getting power (it got warm). So I knew it was a software issue. Thus, I was inspired to reload the “Standard SATA AHCI Controller:” right-click  the entry, Update driver, Browse my computer for drivers, Let me pick from a list…, reload the only entry showing. The plugged in SATA drive appeared immediately thereafter. Yay!

No drives appeared until I reloaded the standard SATA AHCI controller driver. Then, they popped right up.

Otherwise, this was a terrific, if time-consuming, experience. Because I must wear reading glasses now for close-in work (cataract surgery last fall), I had to give myself extra light and room for the build. I ended up taking over the island in our kitchen (covered with old towels) for the initial assembly, and then for final cable arrangement and clean-up. Except for the SATA HDD and the lack of USB4 support that knocked out the Thunderbolt5 EX, everything worked on the first try. Amazing!

IMO, things turned out extremely well. I’ll be switching over to this build sometime this week. Stay tuned: I’ll tell you more soon.

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