Minisforum AI X1 470 Review: Whisper-Quiet Mini-PC with Ryzen AI 9

Minisforum's AI X1 470 is a high-end mini-PC featuring the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor with RDNA 3.5-based Radeon 890M graphics and a 55 TOPS NPU, achieving up to 86 TOPS combined. The test unit came with 32 GB DDR5 RAM, and the system also worked with 96 GB. It offers extensive connectivity including two USB4 ports, Oculink, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4. In benchmarks, the CPU performed well, but the GPU lagged behind expectations, scoring only 2321 points in 3DMark Time Spy, even trailing older Radeon 780M models. Gaming performance was limited, with CS2 averaging 43 FPS in Full HD. The NPU excelled in computer vision tasks, scoring 1517 points in Procyon, five times higher than the GPU. Power consumption was low, with idle at 6 W and full load stabilizing at 80 W, while noise levels stayed under 30 dB(A) even during stress. However, the fan cycled between two speeds under load, which some may find noticeable. The mini-PC also includes a built-in microphone and speaker, though the speaker quality is poor.