Review of the Ervpes E1Power mini PC with Intel Core Ultra 5 115U and 16GB DDR5

Intel's Meteor Lake architecture has arrived in small form factor mini PCs, promising mobility, efficiency, and local AI acceleration. The Ervpes E1 Power is presented as an eye-catching option, equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U chip , a dedicated 11-TOPS NPU, and dual 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports. We put this machine to the test to discover what lies behind its technical promises and where its limitations are.

⚖️ Initial verdict

The Ervpes E1 Power stands out for introducing the Meteor Lake architecture and NPU acceleration in an ultra-compact chassis of just 0.63 liters. It's an agile machine for demanding office tasks, everyday multitasking, and networking thanks to its dual 2.5 GbE LAN ports. However, its soldered and non-expandable LPDDR5 RAM , the limitation of its single M.2 SSD port, and the use of a Wi-Fi 5 chip negatively impact its longevity compared to direct competitors.

• Pros:

  • 🟢 Efficient Intel Core Ultra 5 115U Processor with Intel AI Boost NPU (11 TOPS).

  • 🟢 Dual 2.5 Gbps RJ45 ports, excellent for networking and virtualization tasks.

  • 🟢 Triple 4K video output (HDMI 2.1 + DisplayPort 1.4 + USB-C).

  • 🟢 Extremely compact size (128 × 128 × 47 mm / 515 g).

• Contras:

  • 🔴 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM soldered to the motherboard (no possibility of expansion).

  • 🔴 Only 1 M.2 2280 NVMe slot for storage (requires disk replacement to expand).

  • 🔴 Wireless connectivity reduced to Wi-Fi 5 and iGPU limited to 3 Xe Cores.

👉 🛒 See Prices and Availability of Ervpes E1 Power Mini PCs on AliExpress

📦 Unboxing and Box Contents

The Ervpes E1 Power comes in a simple and functional package with the essential components for its setup:

• 💻 Mini PC Ervpes E1 Power (16 GB RAM LPDDR5 + 512 GB SSD NVMe).

• 🔌 12V DC power adapter with standard socket (5.5 × 2.5 mm).

• 🖥️ VESA mount with screws for mounting behind the screen.

• 🔌 Cable HDMI.

• 📜 User manual.

📊 Technical Specifications

📐 Design and construction quality

Weighing just 515 grams and with a volume of 0.63 liters, the Ervpes E1 Power is a truly miniaturized device. Its matte black ABS plastic chassis offers good resistance to dust and fingerprints.

The top and side ventilation grilles facilitate the flow of fresh air.

The front panel integrates the quick access ports (USB 3.2 and headphone jack), while the rear panel houses the dual 2.5G Ethernet interface, dedicated video outputs (HDMI/DP) and the DC power socket.

📺 Screen and multimedia experience

Thanks to the combination of its HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C port outputs , the system allows you to connect up to 3 4K monitors at 60 Hz simultaneously.

In multimedia playback, the multimedia engine integrated into the Core Ultra chip stands out for its excellent efficiency in decoding modern codecs (including AV1, HEVC, and VP9 at 4K and 8K resolutions). This allows for playback of streaming content or high-bitrate local videos while keeping CPU usage to a minimum.

⚡ Performance and Software

The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U delivers smooth performance for everyday workloads such as multitasking web browsing, complex spreadsheet manipulation, and content consumption. The Intel AI Boost NPU accelerates specific AI-assisted tasks in Windows 11 (such as Windows Studio Effects camera effects or hardware background blur) without overloading the CPU.

The 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 SSD offers sequential read transfer rates of around 2,200 MB/s. It comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro activated.

👉 🛒 See Prices and Availability of Ervpes E1 Power Mini PCs on AliExpress

🔋 Energy consumption, temperature and noise

• Power Consumption: As a U-series chip designed for ultralight laptops with a base TDP of 15W, power consumption is exceptionally low. At idle, it draws only 6-8W, while under maximum sustained load, the total power consumption is around 25-30W.

• Thermals: The active cooling solution keeps the CPU in the 65°C - 70°C range under prolonged synthetic testing.

• Noise: During normal office use, the fan remains virtually inaudible (~30 dB). Under maximum load, it increases slightly to a moderate 38 dB.

🔌 Connectivity and extras

The most outstanding feature in connectivity is its two 2.5 Gbps RJ45 ports, which opens the door to using it as a network server, home firewall, or virtualization node.

⚠️ Inconsistencies in the technical specifications: Many sales websites advertise this device with Wi-Fi 6. Consult the seller at the time of purchase.

🛠️ Expansion and Upgrades

It is important to be very clear about the physical limitations of the equipment before buying:

1. RAM: Not expandable (0 GB extra). The 16 GB LPDDR5 memory is soldered to the motherboard, so you will be limited to that capacity for the entire lifespan of the computer.

2. SSD Storage: The chassis has a single M.2 2280 NVMe slot (check with your vendor). To expand the factory 512GB, you will need to clone or replace the existing drive with a 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB SSD.

   • 👉 🛒 See M.2 NVMe 2280 SSD Prices on AliExpress

⚔️ Comparison with Direct Competitors

• 👉 🛒 See GMKtec Nucbox G11 prices on Amazon 

• 👉 🛒 See Beelink EQ12 prices on Amazon

• 👉 🛒 See Beelink EQ12 prices on Amazon UK

🧪 Technical Tests and Benchmarks

To understand the real performance of the Ervpes E1 Power with the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U processor , it is necessary to separate the theoretical peaks advertised by vendors in their infographics from the metrics obtained under sustained workloads.

1. Processor Performance (Cinebench R23 and Geekbench 6)

• Cinebench R23 Multicore (Promoted Peak vs. Actual):

  • Spec sheet score: 8,820 points. This figure was obtained in laboratories under open circuit boards, allowing the processor to consume up to 57W (PL2 Turbo) temporarily.

  • Sustained real-world performance: ~5,800 - 6,500 points. In such a small chassis (0.63 liters), the BIOS quickly adjusts power consumption to the continuous 15W - 22W TDP to prevent overheating. This translates into very responsive performance for multitasking and heavy office applications, although it doesn't maintain the peak performance advertised in the promotions.

• Cinebench R23 Single-Core: ~1,420 points. This evaluates responsiveness when opening applications, loading complex web pages, or executing single-threaded tasks. Here, Intel's P-Core architecture shines with its high responsiveness.

• Geekbench 6: ~1,850 (Single-Core) / ~5,900 (Multi-Core). This confirms solid performance that clearly surpasses previous generation processors such as the Core i5-1135G7 or the Intel N100 series.

2. Performance of the Artificial Intelligence Unit (Intel AI Boost NPU)

• Dedicated NPU acceleration: 11 TOPS (Int8).

• Total combined performance (CPU + iGPU + NPU): Up to 21 TOPS.

• Practical explanation: The NPU ( Neural Processing Unit ) is designed to perform AI mathematical tasks with minimal power consumption (only 1-2 W). In everyday use, this allows you to apply camera effects in video calls (Windows Studio Effects, background blur, auto-framing, or AI noise cancellation) completely offloading work from the CPU and graphics card.

3. Storage Performance (CrystalDiskMark)

• Maximum theoretical port speed: ~3,500 MB/s (PCIe 3.0 x4 bus limit).

• Actual performance of the included 512GB SSD:

  • Sequential read: ~2,200 MB/s

  • Sequential write speed: ~1,300 MB/s

• Practical explanation: The manufacturer includes an entry-level SSD to keep the cost down. While it's more than adequate for Windows 11 to boot in seconds, if you want to take full advantage of the advertised 3,500 MB/s speed, you'll need to replace the drive with a higher-end NVMe SSD (always check the seller and user reviews).

4. Network and Bandwidth Test (iPerf3)

• Performance on 2.5 GbE LAN ports: ~2.37 Gbps stable in simultaneous full-duplex transfers.

• Practical explanation: The two 2.5 Gbps Realtek controllers show no packet loss or throttling under prolonged network stress tests, ensuring ideal performance for using the Mini PC as an advanced router, firewall, or media server.

5. Synthetic Graphics Performance (3DMark Night Raid)

• Overall score: ~11,200 points.

• Practical explanation: The integrated iGPU only has 3 Xe Cores (compared to the 7 or 8 Xe Cores of the higher-end Intel Arc series). It offers more than enough power to drive up to 3 4K monitors and decode modern codecs like AV1, but it makes it clear that this isn't a machine designed for heavy 3D rendering.

🎮 Gaming and Emulation

The iGPU in this chip only has 3 Xe Cores, so its focus is not on demanding gaming:

• Native PC Games: Titles like League of Legends or Valorant can be played at over 80-100 FPS at 1080p on medium/low settings. More demanding titles like GTA V require lowering the resolution to 720p to achieve around 40-45 FPS.

• Emulation: Capable of smoothly emulating classic platforms such as PS1, PSP, GameCube and the vast majority of PS2 titles at native resolution.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can the RAM be upgraded from 16 GB to 32 GB?

No. The LPDDR5 memory is soldered to the motherboard and does not have SO-DIMM expansion slots.

2. Is it possible to add a second 2.5-inch or M.2 SATA hard drive?

Not in the standard version. The motherboard only has one M.2 2280 slot, which is occupied by the primary 512GB SSD.

3. Does it have VESA mounting support?

Yes, it includes the metal plate and screws in the factory package.

🎯 Final conclusion

The Ervpes E1 Power is an interesting Mini PC if you're looking to try out the Intel Core Ultra architecture in a minimal form factor with dual 2.5 GbE networking and low power consumption.

It's ideal for office workstations, 4K multimedia terminals, or compact network servers. However, the inability to expand the RAM and its Wi-Fi 5 connectivity mean you should consider whether the 16GB of RAM will meet your long-term needs before making a purchase.

🛒 Where to buy at the best price?

👉 🛒 See Prices and Availability of Ervpes E1 Power Mini PCs on AliExpress