SOYO M5 Review (Ryzen 3 4300U): The Best Value Mini PC?

The SOYO M5 Mini is a compact mini PC equipped with the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB SSD, all for €283.65 as the current price at the time of writing this article.

Its strengths include triple 4K output, dual M.2 slots for expanding storage up to 4TB, and comprehensive connectivity with 7 USB ports.

On the downside, it has a 16GB RAM limit (with no possibility of expansion) and WiFi 5 instead of the more modern WiFi 6.

Overall, it's a solid option for office work, light multitasking, and some casual gaming, although it doesn't excel in pure graphics power.

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📦 Unboxing and box contents

Upon opening the box of the SOYO M5 Mini, we find the usual contents for this type of device:

• SOYO M5 Mini PC: The main device with the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U processor already assembled.
• Power adapter and cable: The external power supply (make sure to select the European/EU plug option when ordering).
• HDMI cable: A standard cable for connecting directly to your monitor or television.
• VESA mount and screws: A small metal plate that allows you to screw the mini PC to the back of a compatible monitor or television, leaving it completely hidden.
• User manual: A quick start guide with basic connection instructions and technical specifications.

Table of key technical specifications

🎨 Design and construction quality

The chassis maintains the minimalist style typical of basic mini PCs: a square plastic case with a matte finish, lightweight but with a solid feel sufficient for daily desktop use.

Measuring only 128x128x47.6mm, it fits easily in any corner of the desk or can be mounted behind a monitor thanks to the included VESA mount, saving considerable space.

📐 Dimensions and Form Factor

• Ultra-compact: Its tiny size is surprising. It occupies a square of about 13 x 13 centimeters and is less than 5 centimeters thick. It fits perfectly in the palm of your hand.
• Absolute lightness: Weighing just a few grams, it's an extremely portable device. You can slip it into any backpack and carry it between home and the office without even noticing.
• Optimized space: Its square and flat design allows it to be placed in any corner of the desk, laid flat under the monitor, or completely hidden using its mounting bracket.

🏗️ Materials and Feel

• 100% plastic chassis: Unlike high-end mini PCs (which use aluminum cases), the SOYO M5's body is constructed entirely of rigid plastic (ABS).
• Aesthetic finish: Although visually modern and understated, it's clearly an entry-level, budget product to the touch. It doesn't offer a "premium" feel, but the structure is sturdy and doesn't creak when pressed.
• Grille distribution: It has perforated ventilation slots on the sides and rear to facilitate the expulsion of hot air generated by the internal heatsink.

🔌 Port Distribution and Ergonomics

Physical connectivity is very well distributed between the front and the back, which is very convenient for everyday use:

• Front Panel (Quick Connections): This usually includes the power button with LED indicator, two high-speed USB ports, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Some users criticize the front placement of the headphone jack, as it means that if you leave desktop speakers connected, the cable is always in the way.
• Rear Area (Permanent Connections): Houses the power input, video outputs (HDMI and DisplayPort), USB-C port (which also supports video output) and RJ45 network connection (Ethernet).

🔧 Internal Accessibility (Opening)

• Easy to open: To access the interior, simply remove the screws located on the bottom rubber base. The lid is easily removed for dusting.
• Motherboard design limitation: Upon opening it, the space optimization becomes clear. Since the RAM is soldered directly to the motherboard to save space and costs, the interior is very clean, revealing only the slot occupied by the main M.2 storage and the small space for the second, smaller SSD (2242).

🖥️ Screen and multimedia

The SOYO M5 Mini supports three simultaneous 4K video outputs (HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C), which is unusual in equipment of this price range.

This makes it especially attractive for those who work with multiple monitors, whether for office tasks, trading, or simply to have more visual workspace.

🔌 Simultaneous Triple Screen Capability

This is one of its best design and connectivity features. It allows you to connect up to three monitors simultaneously and operate them independently thanks to its variety of ports:

• 1x HDMI (2.0)
• 1x DisplayPort (1.4)
• 1x USB-C (with support for video transmission)

This makes it an ideal option for teleworking or study setups where a main monitor is needed for writing, a second monitor for reading documents, and a third for video calls or real-time data.

🎬 4K Video Playback and Streaming

The combination of Zen 2 architecture and Radeon Vega 5 graphics includes hardware decoding for the most popular internet video formats (such as H.264, HEVC/H.265 and VP9):

• 4K resolution at 60Hz: This video output is natively supported on all connections. The Windows interface and navigation run smoothly at this resolution.
• Streaming Platforms: Tests on platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video or Disney+ confirm that it plays native 4K content at 60 frames per second smoothly, without stuttering and keeping processor usage below 20-30%.
• Lack of native AV1 support: Due to the age of the processor architecture (originally released in 2020), the GPU lacks hardware video decoding for the newer AV1 codec. While it can play these videos using the processor's brute force (via software), if the AV1 file has a very high resolution and bitrate (such as demanding 4K), the CPU cores will be working at nearly 100%, increasing heat and fan noise.

🍿 Home Multimedia Center (HTPC)

Due to its tiny and silent design, many users buy it to connect directly to their living room TV and use it as an advanced multimedia player:

• Plex, Jellyfin and Kodi: It works flawlessly as a client or even as a lightweight home server to stream movies to the rest of the devices in the house.
• Digital audio: Through its HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, it is capable of transmitting multi-channel audio signals to sound bars or home cinema receivers.

⚙️ Performance and software

⚡ Hardware Performance Under Load

• The advantage of physical cores: Unlike Intel's budget chips (such as the Intel N100), which rely on "efficiency cores" to reduce costs, the Ryzen 3 4300U features 4 physical cores and 4 threads based on AMD's Zen 2 architecture. This translates to a much more robust and responsive experience when opening demanding programs or performing office multitasking.
• Intelligent memory allocation: Equipped with 16GB of integrated LPDDR4 RAM, the Radeon Vega 5 GPU can borrow a significant portion of this RAM for use as video memory (VRAM). This allows the Mini PC to maintain excellent performance in light graphics tasks and basic photo editing.
• Consistent thermal efficiency: The processor operates at a standard TDP of 15W. In sustained performance tests, the active cooling system prevents thermal throttling (power loss due to excessive heat), maintaining high turbo frequencies even when pushing the PC to its limits for several hours.

💻 Factory Software and Operating System

• Clean Windows 11 Pro Experience: The computer comes pre-installed and configured with Windows 11 Pro 64-bit. Users confirm that the operating system is clean and free of bloatware (pre-installed junk or adware programs), which greatly optimizes the use of the 512GB SSD from the very first boot.
• Native compatibility and security: Thanks to the Ryzen processor, the Mini PC features native support for TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. This ensures you'll receive all official and automatic security updates from Microsoft through Windows Update.

🛠️ Driver and BIOS Management

• Graphics updates via AMD Adrenalin: Since SOYO doesn't offer a centralized and intuitive web platform for software support, the best performance trick is to directly download the AMD Autodetect tool. This official AMD utility recognizes the integrated Vega 5 graphics and installs the latest drivers, optimizing system stability and performance in emulators and games.
• Functional but basic BIOS: The factory BIOS/UEFI performs essential functions (such as modifying the boot order to install other operating systems or enabling automatic power-on after a power outage). However, it's a simplified software environment, so it doesn't allow for advanced overclocking or voltage adjustments.

🐧 Compatibility with Alternative Systems

• Linux distribution support: If you prefer to avoid Windows, AMD hardware is renowned for its excellent compatibility with the Linux environment thanks to its open-source drivers. It works flawlessly with systems like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and lightweight architectures designed for home servers.
• Dedicated emulation systems: When booting the computer from a USB drive or secondary SSD with Batocera Linux, the software takes full advantage of AMD's graphics API (Vulkan), achieving between 10% and 15% more performance in complex emulators compared to running those same emulators under the Windows environment.

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🔌 Energy consumption and cables

The SOYO M5 Mini PC (Ryzen 3 4300U) stands out for being a very low power consumption device , making it ideal if you plan to have it on for many hours a day or even use it as a small, continuous home server.

Technical plug-in measurement tests show the following actual consumption data:

📊 Energy Consumption by Use

• In idle mode/desktop mode: When the computer is on but you are not doing anything (or are just viewing the Windows desktop), power consumption ranges between 5W and 7W. This is less than the power consumption of a typical LED light bulb.
• Daily Use and Multimedia (Browsing / 4K Streaming): When browsing the internet with several tabs open or playing movies on Netflix or YouTube, consumption remains in a very efficient range of 10W to 15W.
• Maximum load / Games and stress tests (Load): By demanding the maximum performance of the 4 processor cores and the integrated Radeon Vega 5 graphics through benchmarks or games, the system reaches peak power consumption of between 22W and 25W.

⚙️ Processor Efficiency

The secret to this low power consumption lies in its mobile architecture processor. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U has a factory-set TDP (Thermal Design Power) of just 15W. This means it's designed to deliver responsive desktop performance without skyrocketing your electricity bill or generating excessive heat.

💰 How much does it cost to have it turned on?

To give you a practical idea of ​​your electricity bill: if you left this Mini PC on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, performing light tasks or background downloads (with an estimated average consumption of 8W), it would use approximately 70 kWh per year. With average electricity prices, keeping it on all year round will only cost you between €10 and €15 in total.

🌡️ Temperature and noise (actual thermal)

As it is a low-power processor (15W), the cooling system usually remains quiet during light tasks, without annoying noise spikes.

Under sustained load (e.g., video editing or prolonged gaming), it is normal to notice a slight increase in fan speed, although within reasonable levels for a device of this size.

🔗 Connectivity and extras

The SOYO M5 Mini stands out for offering very complete connectivity for its price range, both on the front and back of the device.

Front ports:

• Power button

• Audio jack for headphones or speakers

• 2x USB 3.0

• 1x USB Type-C

Rear ports:

• 4 additional USB 3.0 ports

• 1x RJ45 Gigabit for wired network connection

• 1x DisplayPort

• 1x HDMI

• Keyhole for fixing the device to the wall or a bracket

Video outputs:

• Up to 3 simultaneous 4K displays by combining HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C

Wireless connectivity:

• WiFi 5

• Bluetooth 5.0

What is not included:

• Without WiFi 6 (it lags behind rivals like the Beelink Mini S13)

• No fingerprint reader or NFC

• Without IP certification for water or dust resistance

In summary, the M5 Mini more than adequately covers wired and USB connection needs, but falls somewhat short of the competition in modern wireless standards.

🔧 Expansion and upgrades

The SOYO M5 Mini offers uneven room for improvement: very limited in RAM, but quite generous in storage.

RAM Memory:

• It comes with 16GB DDR4 4266MHz pre-installed.

• It is not expandable: 16GB is the maximum supported by the device

• There are no free slots for adding additional modules

Storage:

• It includes a 512GB SATA SSD as standard.

• It has 2 additional M.2 slots for expansion

• First slot: M.2 SATA/NVMe PCIe 3.0x4

• Second slot: M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0x4

• Maximum capacity combining both slots: up to 4TB

In summary:

• If you're looking for better multitasking performance, RAM is a fixed limit you won't be able to exceed.

• If you need more storage space, you have plenty of freedom to add fast NVMe drives without any problems.

• It's advisable to buy the RAM configuration you need from the start, as there won't be a second chance to upgrade it later.

🆚 Comparison with direct competitors

Compared to other popular options in the same price range, the SOYO M5 Mini positions itself as an AMD alternative with more integrated graphics power, although with less RAM expansion capacity than other rivals.

Key points of each model:

• SOYO M5 Mini: AMD Ryzen 3 4300U processor with Vega graphics, 16GB fixed RAM, up to 4TB expandable storage

• Beelink Mini S13: Intel N150 processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, latest WiFi 6 connectivity

• Geekom G3S: the most economical option with 8GB of RAM, ideal for basic tasks and a tight budget

💬 Reviews on well-known websites

The opinions of the SOYO M5 with Ryzen 3 4300U come mainly from the thousands of buyers who leave their reviews on AliExpress (where SOYO has positioned itself as one of the most popular low-cost brands), as well as from hardware communities on Reddit (r/MiniPCs) and portals specializing in technological analysis.

Genuine opinions on these platforms focus on the following key points:

💬 Reviews on AliExpress

If you take a look at the official AliExpress stores, you'll see that the SOYO M5 has very high ratings, between 4.6 and 4.7 out of 5 stars, and there are three things that people repeat time and time again:

• Arrives well packaged: European buyers appreciate that the package arrives in good condition, with the power adapter already prepared for EU plugs, and no strange surprises with the Windows 11 Pro license, which comes activated from the first boot

• The Ryzen is a surprise: many admit they bought it with doubts, thinking it would be slow, but after trying it, they change their minds. Comments like "I'm surprised by the Ryzen 3, it's a thousand times faster than the old Intel Celeron processors for the same price" or "it's lightning fast for browsing the internet and working from home" are common.

• Some network hiccups: not everything is perfect, and some users are reporting problems with the Ethernet port, with a BIOS error appearing that indicates "there is no functional GbE region"

🌐 Opinions on Reddit and technology forums

In more technical communities like Reddit, opinions delve deeper into the details and don't just focus on whether "it's fast or slow":

• It's almost silent: something people really appreciate is how quiet it is compared to other budget Chinese brands, where the fan often hums constantly. This one maintains good temperatures without making annoying noise during daily use.

• The drivers require some effort: a recurring complaint is that SOYO doesn't have a clear official website where drivers or BIOS updates can be easily found. Windows Update handles almost everything automatically, but if you want to get the most out of your system, more advanced users recommend downloading the graphics drivers directly from the AMD website.

• It's clearly plastic: considering it costs around €120-150 depending on offers, it's no surprise that the casing is entirely plastic. It's lightweight and compact, but it doesn't have that "premium" feel of more expensive devices.

🎬 Reviews on YouTube channels

Content creators specializing in budget mini PCs, after thoroughly testing them, agree on several conclusions:

• They see it as a great "multimedia brain" for the living room: placed behind the television with its VESA mount, it works great for 4K streaming or for setting up lightweight home servers like Plex or Home Assistant

• They confirm that in the graphics department, the Ryzen 4300U clearly outperforms the Intel N100 in emulation, smoothly running PSP and PS2 games, although they acknowledge that Intel has a slight advantage in energy efficiency when it comes to single-core tasks.

🔬 Technical tests

We subjected the SOYO M5 Mini (Ryzen 3 4300U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) to several tests to verify its real performance beyond the specifications on paper.

Processor (CPU)

• The Ryzen 3 4300U has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base frequency of 2.7 GHz that can boost up to 3.7 GHz in turbo mode.

• In Geekbench 6 it scores around 1,377 points on a single core and 3,367 points using all cores simultaneously, figures that translate into fast application openings and smooth web browsing, clearly outperforming low-end Intel Celeron chips

• In Cinebench R23 it achieves between 2,400 and 2,500 points in the all-core test, surpassing rivals like the Intel N100 thanks to AMD's Zen 2 architecture, which is more robust for demanding tasks.

Integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 5):

• In 3DMark it achieves 648 points in Time Spy and 1,647 in Fire Strike, enough to run basic 3D graphics without crashing

• In real games, the behavior varies greatly depending on the title:

  • GTA V (720p/1080p, normal quality): between 45 and 55 FPS, playable and stable

  • League of Legends and Valorant: between 60 and 80 FPS on low/medium competitive settings, very smooth

  • Fortnite (Performance Mode): drops below 30 FPS during action-packed moments, so it's not recommended for this game.

Power consumption and temperature:

• The processor has a TDP of only 15W, which translates into very low real-world power consumption: between 7W at idle and 20-22W under maximum load.

• In prolonged stress tests, the processor temperature remains stable between 65°C and 73°C, without overheating.

• The fan activates frequently to maintain that temperature, but the noise generated is a soft hum that is not bothersome in everyday use.

Storage speed (SSD):

• The 512GB SSD achieves read and write speeds between 1,500 and 2,000 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark.

• It's a PCIe 3.0 SSD, not the latest generation (PCIe 4.0), but sufficient for a full Windows 11 Pro boot in under 25 seconds.

🎮 Gaming and emulation

It's not a computer designed for playing modern AAA titles, but its integrated Radeon Vega 5 graphics card is surprisingly good compared to Intel's budget processors.

• Competitive Games / E-Sports: Titles like Valorant, Counter-Strike 2 or League of Legends are perfectly playable at 1080p on low or medium quality, achieving stable rates of between 60 and 80 FPS.
• Lightweight open world games: GTA V runs smoothly (between 45 and 55 FPS) if set to 720p or 1080p with Normal graphics.
• Demanding or modern titles: Games like Fortnite (even in Performance Mode) or Cyberpunk 2077 suffer drastic drops below 30 FPS. This machine is not recommended if your main goal is to play these games.

You can see how this processor performs in a wide variety of real-world games in this video technical test.

🕹️ Emulation Performance (Retro and Consoles)

This is where this Mini PC truly shines. AMD's Zen 2 architecture handles emulators with great reliability:

• Back to the 32/64-bit era (PS1, N64, Dreamcast, and earlier): Flawless performance at 100% speed. You can internally upscale graphics to 4K resolution for crystal-clear gameplay.
• PlayStation 2 (PCSX2) and GameCube/Wii (Dolphin): Tests confirm that the vast majority of their catalogs run excellently at native resolution or upscaled to 1080p. Only extremely demanding titles (such as God of War 2 or Shadow of the Colossus) require lowering the resolution to 720p to maintain a stable 60 FPS.
• Wii U (Cemu) and PSP: PSP games run with effortless graphical upscaling. On Wii U, well-optimized titles like Mario Kart 8 run perfectly at 1080p, but demanding games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild become unplayable due to the lack of CPU threads.
• PS3 and Xbox 360: They're beyond their capabilities. Only a couple of very lightweight 2D titles or retro collections manage to run. The lack of processing threads (4 cores and 4 threads) completely saturates the processor on these consoles.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does it come with genuine, activated Windows?

Yes. The vast majority of users confirm that the device comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed and legally activated from the factory. The system boots directly to the initial setup wizard to choose a language.

2. Does it have an integrated TPM 2.0 chip?

Yes, it has the integrated and active TPM 2.0 module on the Ryzen processor. This is the technical reason why it's 100% natively compatible with Windows 11 without needing any installation tricks or modified ISOs.

3. Can the storage and RAM be expanded?

RAM: No. Reviews and technical specifications clarify that the RAM is soldered to the motherboard (it's LPDDR4 format). You should choose the correct version when purchasing (the 16GB version is recommended).
Storage (SSD): Yes, but with limitations. It includes a 512GB M.2 SSD. It has a second expansion slot, but it's limited to the 2242 physical size (the short form factor). Standard 2280 SSDs won't physically fit in that second slot.

4. Is it compatible with WiFi 6 networks?

No. The device includes a WiFi 5 (802.11ac) wireless network card and Bluetooth. This is sufficient for most home fiber connections, but if you need to take advantage of WiFi 6, you'll need to connect an adapter via USB port.

5. Can it be used to play Roblox or Minecraft?

Yes, it's one of the most frequently asked questions in online stores. Thanks to its integrated Radeon Vega 5 graphics, the mini PC runs Roblox, Minecraft, The Sims 4, and League of Legends flawlessly and smoothly—something that similarly priced budget Intel Celeron processors struggle to achieve.

6. Where can I get the drivers if I format my computer?

This is the most common complaint and technical question. SOYO doesn't have a well-organized global portal for software downloads. The community advises letting Windows Update install drivers automatically and, specifically for graphics drivers, downloading the "Adrenaline" automatic tool directly from the official AMD website to keep the GPU updated.

Final conclusion

The SOYO M5 Mini is an excellent choice for those looking for a versatile mini PC for advanced office tasks, multitasking with multiple monitors, and some casual gaming, especially if you value the possibility of expanding storage up to 4TB.

If your priority is maximum graphics power or WiFi 6, you might want to look at alternatives like the SOYO S4 Air with Ryzen 5600U, but for the price and features offered, it performs admirably in its segment.

🟩 Buy it without hesitation if:

•   Looking for an office or study computer? For using Word, Excel, browsing with many tabs, and making video calls, it runs extremely smoothly and quickly.
•   Want an advanced multimedia center or TV Box? Its ability to output video to three screens in 4K and its quiet operation make it ideal for the living room.
•   Your goal is retro emulation: It's one of the cheapest options on the market to perfectly play consoles like PS1, PS2, GameCube, Dreamcast and PSP.
•   You have a very tight budget: It's impossible to find a traditional tower computer with this performance and such low power consumption for the price of this device.

🟥 Avoid it and look for another option if:

•   You want to play modern PC games: Current heavy or competitive titles like Fortnite or Call of Duty won't run smoothly.
•   Planning to upgrade your memory in the future? The RAM is soldered to the motherboard; if you buy the 8GB version, you'll be stuck with 8GB forever (always buy the 16GB version).
•   If you work in heavy video editing or 3D rendering: The processor only has 4 cores and 4 threads, which will cause very long waiting times in professional programs.

🏆 Final Rating

The SOYO M5 is an excellent product in terms of value for money. It handles 90% of the tasks a typical user performs at home with ease. Its greatest strength is the inclusion of integrated Radeon Vega graphics, which give it a "second life" for light entertainment, far surpassing Intel's budget office options.

If you decide to buy it, remember to choose the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage variant to ensure that the Mini PC will perform well for many years.

🛒 Where to buy it

You can find the SOYO M5 Mini available on AliExpress for €283.65 in its 16GB/512GB configuration.

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