AceMagic F2A Mini PC Gets a Massive Upgrade with Intel's New Panther Lake CPU

 

The Core Ultra X7 powered AceMagic F2A Mini PC will be available with 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM.

AceMagic has been making waves in the mini PC space for a while now, and honestly, we've been pretty impressed with what they've been putting out. We've tested several of their machines over the years, and they've consistently delivered solid performance in impressively small packages. Their latest offering, the updated F2A mini PC, takes things to a whole new level with Intel's brand-new Panther Lake processor.

So, what exactly are we looking at here? The new AceMagic F2A comes packed with the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H Panther Lake CPU, which features a 16-core, 16-thread configuration and can hit peak clock speeds of 4.8 GHz. That's some serious processing power for a machine that can practically fit in the palm of your hand. The system ships with 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM (though it's worth noting this is soldered and non-upgradable) and a full terabyte of NVMe solid-state storage.

The Core Ultra X7 is undeniably a powerhouse, going toe-to-toe with AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 388 Strix Halo APU in multi-core synthetic benchmarks. That said, if you're someone who obsesses over every last bit of performance, you might feel a bit underwhelmed by the fact that this new chip only delivers about 4-5% improvement over its predecessor, the Core Ultra 7 255H. It's an upgrade, sure, but not exactly a revolutionary leap forward.

The roughly 0.6 L AceMagic F2A mini PC packs a lot of performance in a compact footprint.

Where these Panther Lake chips truly earn their keep is in the graphics department. The Core Ultra X7 features the full-fat Arc B390 iGPU with 12 Xe3 cores, which is genuinely impressive. In synthetic benchmarks, this integrated graphics solution can actually keep pace with an RTX 2070 Max-Q laptop dGPU. That's pretty wild for integrated graphics, if we're being honest.

Of course, let's keep things in perspective – the Arc B390 isn't going to challenge high-end dedicated graphics cards like the Apple M5 Pro or even the Radeon 8050S found in more premium Strix Halo systems (like the Asus ROG Flow Z13, which you can snag for around $1,700 on Amazon). But for most moderately intensive workloads, casual gaming sessions, and lightweight video editing tasks, the Arc B390 should be more than enough for the average user.

Connectivity-wise, the F2A Mini PC doesn't disappoint. Here's what you're getting:

  • HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1

  • USB4 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (with DisplayPort 1.4 and 100-watt power delivery support)

  • Four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports

  • Dual 2.5 GB LAN ports

  • 3.5 mm audio jack

As we mentioned earlier, the RAM is soldered and can't be upgraded later, which might be a dealbreaker for some. But the storage situation is much more flexible – you get dual M.2 2280 NVMe slots (one PCIe 4.0 and one PCIe 5.0), so upgrading your storage down the line shouldn't be an issue.

The F2A's dimensions are remarkably compact at just 128 by 128 by 37 mm (roughly 5 by 5 by 1.4 inches), making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to save desk space without sacrificing performance.


If you're interested in learning more or grabbing one for yourself, you can check out the official product page right here for all the details.


The AceMagic F2A mini PC with the new Intel Core Ultra X7 358H is already available for pre-order on AceMagic's official online store. The base configuration (with the Core Ultra X7 358H CPU, 32 GB RAM, and 1 TB SSD) is priced at just under $1,100. Shipping is expected to start on August 31st, so if you're in the market for a compact but capable mini PC, this might be one to keep an eye on.


For more technical details and benchmarks, you can check out the full announcement at TechPowerUp.


The mini PC space has been getting increasingly competitive, and AceMagic seems determined to stay in the conversation. While the modest performance bump over the previous generation might give some enthusiasts pause, the significantly improved integrated graphics and overall well-rounded package make the F2A a compelling option for anyone who needs serious power in a tiny footprint.


Looking for a high-end alternative? You can also check out the Asus ROG Flow Z13 on Amazon here if you want to see what's available at a higher price point.


The AceMagic F2A mini PC boasts a plethora of I/O options, including USB 4 and 2.5 G Ethernet.


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