The BOSGAME E5 Plus stands out by offering dual multi-gigabit network cards and eight processing threads at a very low price. Its main limitations are its single-channel memory and lightweight plastic chassis. With a small investment in fast storage, it becomes an ideal machine for microservers and basic everyday use.
-
Pros: Dual 2.5 GbE network connection, support for three simultaneous 4K displays, and excellent thermal control with two fans.
-
Cons: Slow factory SATA SSD, 8GB single-channel RAM, and basic plastic materials.
→ BOSGAME E5 Plus prices on Amazon.
→ Explore alternative mini PC models on AliExpress.
Unboxing and package contents
The packaging opts for a functional presentation aimed at protecting the equipment without unnecessary extra costs:
-
BOSGAME E5 Plus desktop unit.
-
19V DC external power adapter with standard cylindrical plug.
-
Medium length HDMI cable.
-
Metal stand with VESA screws for mounting behind monitors.
-
User manual and manufacturer's technical support card.
Main technical specifications
| Feature | Technical details |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 3 5400U (4 cores / 8 threads, base 2.6 GHz, turbo 4.0 GHz, configurable TDP from 15 to 35 W) |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Vega 6 (clocked at 1600 MHz) |
| Installed memory | 8 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM (expandable up to 64 GB in two slots) |
| Serial storage | 256 GB SSD in M.2 2280 SATA format |
| Expansion slot | 1x M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 free |
| wired network | Doble puerto RJ-45 2.5G Ethernet (Realtek RTL8125) |
| Wireless connectivity | Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Video outputs | 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort y 1x USB-C (todos soportan 4K a 60 Hz) |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Pro pre-installed (supports Linux distributions) |
Design and construction quality
The body combines a sky blue tone on the sides with a micro-perforated black top cover.
Its chassis is made entirely of polycarbonate, giving it a weight of less than 900 grams.
To the touch it conveys the feeling of a purely utilitarian product: it is light and can be moved if the connected cables exert too much tension on the desk.
We highlight mainly the perimeter ventilation grilles and the quick disassembly design from the base, greatly facilitating access to its interior.
Display and multimedia experience
Being a compact desktop computer, it lacks an integrated panel (despite occasional errors on online platforms that list 75-inch panels).
-
Resolution and visual output: Connect up to three independent displays at 3840x2160 resolution at 60 Hz using HDMI, DisplayPort and the front USB-C connector in parallel.
-
Audio: It incorporates a front-facing 3.5mm combined connector for headphones and analog microphone, as well as integrated digital audio output in its three video connections.
-
Decoding: Plays video in native 4K resolution smoothly under VP9 and H.264/H.265 codecs on platforms like YouTube or local Plex servers without overloading the processor.
System and software performance
The AMD Ryzen 3 5400U processor (Zen 3 architecture) responds smoothly to typical multitasking: web browsing with dozens of open tabs, advanced office applications, and continuous audiovisual playback.
The computer comes with Windows 11 Pro clean of promotional applications or unnecessary software ( bloatware ), recognizing all drivers from the first boot.
However, the factory-installed storage unit presents a clear bottleneck: operating under a SATA interface instead of NVMe, heavy file transfers and simultaneous downloads are hampered by the transfer rates of this older technology.
→ BOSGAME E5 Plus prices on Amazon.
→ Explore alternative mini PC models on AliExpress.
Energy consumption and cabling
The processor comes pre-configured with a sustained power limit of 35W to squeeze out maximum frequencies.
-
Standby power consumption: Ranges between 7 and 10 watts on a desktop.
-
Intensive load: Reaches peaks of 38 to 44 watts in multi-core stress tests.
-
Power options: Supports the included conventional barrel transformer or power input via its front USB-C port compatible with Power Delivery up to 100W, allowing it to receive power from compatible monitors.
Thermal behavior and acoustic noise
Unlike many budget models that use passive heatsinks or a single noisy fan, the E5 Plus adopts a thermal architecture divided into two zones:
-
CPU Fan: A top turbine block with dual copper heat pipe and phase-change pad over the processor.
-
System fan: A second extractor at the base that pushes air directly onto the RAM and M.2 storage.
Under normal office use or multimedia playback, the noise is virtually inaudible from a standard working distance. When the CPU is under heavy load during extended sessions, the main fan gradually accelerates, keeping temperatures below 76 degrees Celsius without generating any annoying high-pitched whine.
Ports and connectivity options
The connection layout utilizes both the front and rear to accommodate peripherals:
-
Front panel: Two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports at 10 Gbps, 3.5 mm headphone jack connector and multifunction USB-C port (4K video, 10 Gbps data and power input/output).
-
Rear panel: Two 2.5 GbE RJ-45 network sockets, HDMI 2.0 output, DisplayPort port, two USB 2.0 connections for mouse or keyboard and physical security slot.
-
Wireless networks: Implements Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 cards; although it offers stable coverage, the jump to the Wi-Fi 6 standard is missing.
Expansion and upgrade options
The interior of the BOSGAME E5 Plus is accessible by removing the bottom cover, which extends its useful life cycle through cost improvements:
-
RAM: Supports replacing the base 8GB module in a single slot or filling the second available SO-DIMM slot to reach up to 64GB in dual-channel configuration. You can find compatible modules to upgrade your memory at a good price via this link for DDR4 SO-DIMM RAM on AliExpress.
-
Secondary storage: It has an unoccupied M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 slot. Installing a second, fast drive to house the operating system completely transforms the device's performance, with options like this M.2 NVMe SSD link on AliExpress.
-
The maximum storage capacity approved by the manufacturer for the BOSGAME E5 Plus is 4 TB in total, combining its two internal M.2 slots.
-
-
2.5-inch SATA bay: It does not include space or connector for traditional 2.5-inch drives, limiting expansion exclusively to its two M.2 sockets.
Comparison of direct alternatives
| Model | Processor and architecture | RAM / Storage | Network and connections | Approx. price | Purchase option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOSGAME E5 Plus | AMD Ryzen 3 5400U (4C/8T, Zen 3 a 7nm) | 8 GB DDR4 / 256 GB SATA (Ampliables: 2x SODIMM + 2x M.2) | 2x 2.5 GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.0, USB-C (video + PD) | ~180 € - 200 € | View price for BOSGAME E5 Plus |
| MLLSE M3 Pro | Intel Core i5-4310U (2C/4T, Haswell a 22nm) | 8GB DDR3 / 128GB SSD | 1x Voice LAN, Wi-Fi 5, BT 4.2, HDMI + VGA | ~128,64 € | Buy MLLSE M3 Pro |
| Ninkear M5 Neo | Intel Pentium Gold 5405U (2C/4T, Whiskey Lake a 14nm) | 8 GB DDR4 / 256 GB SSD | 1x GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.0, 2x HDMI | ~198,41 € | Buy Ninkear M5 Neo |
| SOYO Y5 | Intel Core i3 4ª Gen (2C/4T, Haswell a 22nm) | 8GB DDR3 / 128GB SSD | 1x Voice LAN, Wi-Fi, BT 4.2, USB-C, HDMI | ~84,59 € | Buy SOYO Y5 |
| SOYO Y5 AIR | Intel Core i5 4ª Gen (2C/4T, Haswell a 22nm) | 8GB DDR3 / 128GB SSD | 1x Voice LAN, Wi-Fi 5, BT, HDMI | ~113,48 € | Buy SOYO Y5 AIR |
Analysis of real opinions and community
Analysis of buyers on portals like Amazon, and verified ratings specifically for this chassis and technical configuration, confirm two clear patterns:
-
General performance: Its low noise level, low power consumption, and the usefulness of its two 2.5 Gbps network adapters for home environments are unanimously praised.
-
Factory bottleneck: Advanced users point out that the 8 GB in single channel reduces the capabilities of the integrated Radeon graphics, advising to immediately install a second module and move the system to an NVMe PCIe drive in the secondary slot.
Technical Performance Tests
Processor performance tests
| Test / Parameter | Score obtained | Translation to real-world experience |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core) | ~4,840 points | The processor has enough power to handle heavy multitasking without freezing. It allows you to export a 1080p home video, compress large files in the background, or simultaneously run a virtualized firewall (like pfSense or OPNsense) alongside several Docker containers without any loss of performance. |
| Cinebench R23 (Single-Core) | ~1,220 points | It measures the operating system's immediate responsiveness. This translates to near-instant browser opening, smooth navigation through heavy web pages loaded with JavaScript, and zero delays when running office programs like Word or Excel. |
| Sustained Consumption and TDP | 35 W max. / 7-10 W standby | The system takes full advantage of the thermal headroom of its dual heatsink to keep the clock speed close to 4.0 GHz without prematurely lowering frequencies ( thermal throttling ) during prolonged work. |
Storage subsystem performance
| Tested component | Sequential speed | Translation to real-world experience |
|---|---|---|
| Factory-installed SATA SSD (256 GB) | ~500 MB/s read / ~450 MB/s write | Although Windows 11 takes between 18 and 22 seconds to boot, the hard drive can easily become saturated. When downloading large files via fiber optic cable while the system installs updates, the disk reaches 100% usage and causes slight lag in File Explorer. |
| Secondary NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 x4) | ~2,400 MB/s read / ~1,900 MB/s write | Installing a fast drive in the free slot reduces boot time to about 9 seconds and completely eliminates bottlenecks when transferring local backups, duplicating folders, or moving game libraries. |
Integrated memory and graphics performance
| Memory configuration | Bandwidth and 3DMark Fire Strike | Translation to real-world experience |
|---|---|---|
| 8 GB Single-Channel (standard) | ~1,700 graphic points | With a single module installed from the factory, the integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics card operates at half the available bandwidth. Light games suffer from noticeable frame rate drops ( micro-stuttering ), and browsing with more than 20 tabs open quickly exhausts system memory. |
| 16 GB Dual-Channel (adding 2nd module) | ~2,650 graphic points (+55%) | Enabling dual-channel doubles the data flow to the integrated GPU. This allows for stable 60 FPS gameplay at 1080p resolution in titles like League of Legends or Valorant, and noticeably speeds up video playback and the interface of emulators like PCSX2 or Dolphin. |
Wired network performance tests
| Network interface | Sustained transfer rate | Translation to real-world experience |
|---|---|---|
| Dual 2.5 GbE (Realtek RTL8125) | ~280 - 295 MB/s (compared to 115 MB/s of 1 GbE) | Moving a 20GB file between this mini PC and a network-attached storage (NAS) server takes just over a minute, instead of the nearly four minutes required by a conventional gigabit network card. Furthermore, with two independent physical ports, it allows you to segment a local area network (LAN) from the internet connection (WAN) to act as a high-speed router without overloading the processor. |
Gaming and emulation performance
This mini PC is not designed for next-generation titles with demanding three-dimensional graphics.
-
Light PC games: Popular titles like League of Legends, CS:GO, or Valorant run smoothly at 1080p resolution on medium or low graphics settings, provided you have dual-channel memory configured to power the GPU.
-
Console emulation: It handles classic platforms with complete ease up to the 32 and 64 bit era (PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PSP), supporting resolution upscaling in a wide selection of the PlayStation 2 and GameCube catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it come with the operating system activated?
Yes, it includes a factory-installed Windows 11 Pro license, ready to be set up on the first boot.
Can it be powered without its original charger?
It supports power via its front USB-C port using chargers or monitors compatible with the USB Power Delivery protocol of at least 65W to 100W.
Is it suitable for installing pfSense, OPNsense, or Proxmox?
It's an excellent platform for firewalls and lightweight virtualization thanks to its two 2.5 GbE Realtek interfaces and its 8-thread architecture.
Conclusion and alternatives
The BOSGAME E5 Plus is an attractive purchase if you're looking for a compact machine to use as a software firewall, low-power media server, or budget office computer. While its factory memory and hard drive configuration is modest, its internal upgradeability overcomes these limitations at a low cost.
For those who require more raw graphics power out of the box for heavy editing or modern gaming without needing to manually upgrade components, it's worth exploring the range of Ryzen compact computers on Amazon.
