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Sapphire Edge AI 370: 30-second review
Out of the box, this is one of the smallest mini PCs that I’ve looked at, which is even more impressive considering it’s got one of the most powerful CPU/GPU combos on the market for this style of machine. What’s more, as I put the EDGE AI 370 to test, running through the benchmarks and real-world tests, the processing power didn’t fail to impress.
While the machine is available as a barebones-only option, my review sample arrived with 32GB of RAM, complemented by a 1TB SSD with Windows 11 Pro installed and a copy of Ubuntu that I installed on another SSD to test another operating system and its potential for development.
Before getting into the performance of the machine, the first thing that really stands out is that whilst it is extremely small, it’s also well thought through in terms of connectivity, with two USB Type-A ports on the front alongside a 3.5mm audio jack. For a machine at this level, it’s a bit of a shame there isn’t also a USB-C port of some denomination. Around the back, the level of ports is impressive considering the small size. There are two HDMI ports, more USB Type-A ports, and two USB4 ports alongside the LAN and the DC in, giving you plenty of options for expansion and connecting into larger systems.
Looking at the benchmarking tests, it’s instantly apparent that despite the size, this was one of the most powerful mini PCs that I’ve ever tested, getting some of the highest results I’ve seen, very close to some of the more powerful laptops and mid-range desktops. The CPU performance stood out, and while the GPU does hold it back slightly, with the assistance of the NPU, especially in creative applications from Adobe such as Premiere Pro and Photoshop, the speed at which it was able to process the content was impressive.
As expected, Windows performance alongside Microsoft Office was just about as good as you get, with files opening quickly and the ability to copy, paste and transfer files from external drives at speed. It’s a bit of a shame that the network attachment is only 2.5G; it would’ve been good to see at least 5G, but still, for the size of the machine, that’s not too much of a hindrance.
As I started to push the machine further, it was great to see just how well it handled video content creation and image editing. Editing short movie productions in Premiere Pro, utilising a Lexar ES5 external SSD, proved simply how highly effective this small machine was. However, the extra you push it, the extra the small inside followers kick in to maintain issues cool.
Where you do all of a sudden realise the restrictions of the small type issue is once you begin to play video games. With no discrete graphics and with that small type issue, enjoying video games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and even Hogwarts Legacy rapidly reveals that, while that is a particularly highly effective mini PC, with sustained strain on the GPU, the smoothness of the graphics does falter. However, with that USB4 port it’s doable to hyperlink as much as an eGPU.
If you are searching for one of many best mini PCs for improvement, AI use, a compact workstation or as a content material creation hub, then this machine is a superb possibility. However, if you happen to’re seeking to play a number of the newest video games and need an ultra-portable compact machine, then while this has the facility, it is not the answer.
Sapphire Edge AI 370: Price and availability
- How much does it cost? From £439 – Model Reviewed £649
- When is it out? Now
- Where can you get it? Widely available
The Sapphire Edge AI 9HX arrives as a barebones mini PC, so on top of the initial cost for the machine, you’ll also need to factor in Windows 11 Home/Pro, an M.2 2280 SSD and RAM. In this review, I’ve looked at the EDGE AI 370, which costs £649.
Once you add a 1TB SSD at around £100, 32GB RAM at around £130, and the cost of Windows 11 Home at £120, you could be looking at just under £1000 for this review sample.
The barebones system is available in three options: the entry-level EDGE AI 340 at £439, the mid-range EDGE AI 350 at £539, and the option reviewed here, the EDGE AI 370 at £649.
Sapphire Edge AI 370: Specs
CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12C/24T, up to 5.1GHz)
Graphics: Radeon 890M (Integrated)
RAM: Non (DDR5 SO-DIMM dual-channel)
Storage: None (M.2 2280, 2242)
Left Ports: 2× USB-A 3.2 Gen2, Audio jack
Right Ports: 2× HDMI 2.1, 2× USB-C 4.0 (PD), 1× USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 1× USB 2.0, 1× RJ45 2.5Gbps Ethernet
Connectivity: WiFi + Bluetooth, 2.5G LAN
Audio: 3.5mm jack, HDMI audio
Camera: None
Size: 117 × 111 × 30 mm
OS Installed: None
Accessories: Power adapter (120W), VESA mounting kit
Sapphire Edge AI 370: Design
This is one of the best-looking mini PCs that I’ve reviewed. It’s compact, small, and the aesthetic design just looks great. Not only that, but the build quality is excellent, and there’s no doubt that this is a premium mini PC despite its compact size.
It’s also available as a barebones-only system, which means that you have to decide on the RAM and SSD you put inside, with the ability to install up to 96GB of DDR5 SO-DIMM in the dual-channel slots. When it comes to SSDs, there are two slot options: an M.2 2280, which will hold up to 4TB, and an M.2 2242 that will take up to 2TB, enabling up to 6TB of internal storage.
What’s surprising here is just how easy it is to upgrade both the RAM and the storage. The top plate of the mini PC is simply held in place by strong magnets, so just by putting your finger underneath, you can quickly pop the top off and gain direct access to the inner workings. If you need to upgrade, it will only take you a couple of minutes.
The actual size and weight measure in at 117 × 111 × 30 mm, so it’s extremely small. If you want to pop it in your bag to take it from one location to another or utilise this as part of a portable workstation, that’s perfectly possible, and while the AC power adapter is in the box, if you want to power it through the USB4 port than that is supported as long as you have a 100W input.
Looking at the front of the machine, there’s a standard 3.5mm audio jack, two USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 2 ports, and the power button. As previously mentioned, it’s a shame there’s no USB-C port on the front.
At the back, there’s the DC jack, two HDMI 2.1, two USB Type-C 4.0 (with PD 3.0), a USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 2, USB 2.0 Type-A, and for networking, an RJ45 (2.5G LAN).
Sapphire Edge AI 370: Features
The main feature of the Sapphire Edge AI highlights the machine’s AI credentials, the 50 TOPS AI performance with the AMD XDNA2 and NPU architecture processors. The AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series CPU, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12 cores, 24 threads, 5.1GHz boost), is combined with the Radeon 800 GPU to provide a powerful processing core for this compact machine.
At present, the machine is only available as a barebones system, but it will support up to 96GB of DDR5 memory in the dual-channel slots.
Despite the size, it also has three M.2 slots: a standard M.2 2280 PCIe for the main drive, a smaller M.2 2242 for a secondary drive, and an M.2 2230, which contains the WiFi/Bluetooth card, so that it can be upgraded as and when needed.
The access to the inner workings has also been well thought through, with a powered magnetic lid being relatively easy to remove to gain access.
Another great feature to see is the dual HDMI 2.1 ports and USB4, enabling you to plug in up to four monitors at 4K resolution.
Finally, when it comes to connectivity, the machine offers WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, and again, as the hardware for these is contained on the M.2 card, it can be upgraded when needed.
A slight disappointment is that the machine only offers a 2.5G LAN connection. With the speed and quality of the machine’s other components, I would have expected at least 5G. However, for connecting to the network in the studio, this does provide a robust connection.
Sapphire Edge AI 370: Performance
Benchmarks
CrystalDiskMark Read: 5185.72 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 4733.12 MB/s
Geekbench CPU Multi: 12,711
Geekbench CPU Single: 2,548
Geekbench GPU: 29,604
PCMark Overall: 6,763
Cinebench CPU Multi: 16,354
Cinebench CPU Single: 1,732
Fire Strike Overall: 8,291
Fire Strike Graphics: 8,894
Fire Strike Physics: 27,633
Fire Strike Combined: 3,242
Time Spy Overall: 3,440
Time Spy Graphics: 3,084
Time Spy CPU: 9,961
Wild Life Overall: 18,454
Steel Nomad Overall: 528
Windows Experience Overall: 8.3
The small size, design, and promise of the power of the internal processor and GPU instantly make this an exciting machine to test. It promises a great deal, and the build quality instantly reinforces its premium positioning in the mini PC market.
My review sample arrived fully kitted out with 1TB of SSD storage and 32GB of RAM, 16GB in each slot. Through the test, I ran both Windows 11 Pro and Ubuntu to see how it would perform under the two operating systems.
Getting started with Windows took a few attempts, with the installation of the new machine requiring several restarts before completing fully. But once finished, and a series of Windows and driver updates completed, the speed of the machine was instantly apparent.
Running Windows 11 Pro, the machine booted quickly and launching Microsoft Office, along with the apps, proved just how fast the machine was. Each app opened quickly, and switching between Word, PowerPoint and Excel was fast with no hesitation.
It was obvious from the outset that standard apps wouldn’t pose a challenge to the machine’s processing power. Launching into Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom again proved that the machine had some serious clout when it came to thatprocessing power. Building up layers from images shot on the Sony A7 IV showed just how easily it was able to handlethe data, and connected to a 4K monitor, the quality of the display was excellent through either the HDMI or USB4 port.
In Photoshop and later in Premiere Pro, I tested the AI features with Generative Expand and Extend Video. While the speed of the processing was slower than my desktop machine, compared to a standard CPU-equipped mini PC there was a notable uplift in the application.
Again, piling on the pressure, I started to look at video editing, with the machine more than capable of handling complex HD editing. As I stepped up to a 15-minute 4K edit, the speed of the machine did start to falter, with a slowdown on the timeline as the complexity of the edit increased.
The Canon EOS R5 C footage was shot in C-Log 3, so the fact that it was able to handle it at all was impressive. As I reached the end of the edit, I was impressed by just how much you could do with the machine. It was definitely a step up from other compact mini PCs and, with the close match in specification to more premium models, put in decent all-round performance that was close to, if not slightly outperforming, the competition.
While the machine was able to handle the editing, it is worth noting that you would need to adapt the SSD capacity for video editing and production, as 1TB is just too small. You can connect an external SSD such as the Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD to give storage a boost, but in reality, a decent capacity M.2 SSD could be the very best strategy.
The different notice I made when enhancing was that because the processors begin to heat, the followers kick in. While these are effectively managed and never overly loud, they’re noticeable, so once more, if you happen to wish to have a quiet enhancing atmosphere, a full-sized desktop is the higher strategy.
Of course, I could not end a take a look at with out making an attempt out just a few video games on the system, particularly when the velocity and energy of the machine had been distinctive by way of all different checks. Here I used to be a bit of stunned. While the video games Dirt Rally, Hogwarts Legacy, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle all regarded nice and have been playable, there was a slight stutter within the motion. This stutter would occur constantly, and delving into the settings and lowering the standard made an prompt enchancment.
So, whereas this machine has big potential for builders, content material creators and high-demand workplace work, the constraints of the dimensions and type issue are highlighted by the fixed processor calls for of video games.
Sapphire Edge AI 370: Final verdict
By the top of the take a look at there was quite a bit that impressed me concerning the Sapphire Edge AI 370, with the dimensions, energy and elegance actually standing out. The proven fact that machine is so small makes it extremely transportable and in work state of affairs the place small and light-weight are important this Mini PC completely stands out.
However, whereas the machine is small it is also extraordinarily highly effective and at current is considered one of only some Mini PC’s that’s obtainable as a barebone system solely. This signifies that you basically decide your alternative of processor after which set up the RAM and SSD that you simply need to praise.
In the overview pattern the 32GB or RAM and 1TB SSD felt like a superb begin level, and an ideal resolution for any workplace the place the machines are going to want a bit of extra energy than that wanted for easy processing. Then with loads of choices to broaden the interior storage to 6TB and with the USB4 port on the again you may additional enhance the potential, not solely with storage but in addition by connecting as much as a extra highly effective eGPU.
This is the place this Mini PC will get actually fascinating, you may basically adapt it to your wants, in case your an workplace employee then it is a small compact field that you may neatly tuck away out of website. If nonetheless you need to use it for content material creation then including bigger SSDs and RAM will allow you loads of manufacturing scope, and if you wish to play excessive finish video games, then, when you can with the built-in GPU and settings on low, connect an eGPU for a turbo cost.
Of course which means that the Sapphire Edge AI 370 has loads of potential, however that does come at a value and as you begin to pile on the extra storage, RAM and eGPU then that may clearly enhance the value, near that of a really respectable desktop.
Still, by the top of the take a look at I used to be impressed and this is without doubt one of the finest Mini PC options for anybody searching for a strong machine with loads of flexibility for every little thing from day-to-day workplace work, by way of to content material creation and gaming.
Should I purchase a Sapphire Edge AI 370?
|
Value |
Highly specced machine that is obtainable in three choices, however decidedly premium in worth |
4 |
|
Design |
Extremely compact and straightforward to improve with your individual gear |
4.5 |
|
Features |
Huge AI potential, however at current barely forward of the sport |
4 |
|
Performance |
Incredibly quick for all duties aside from gaming |
4.5 |
|
Overalls |
Superb AI efficiency in artistic purposes. Small dimension makes it a great transportable alternative |
4.5/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t purchase it if…