Mini PC manufacturers are increasingly pushing the boundaries of compact computing. We are seeing powerful devices, with efficient use of space, along with advances in thermal management. Some of these little powerhouses support 12th to 14th generation Intel Core CPUs and external GPUs.
ASRock has introduced the DeskMate X600, a compact desktop PC that also relocates the GPU outside of the main unit. Currently only available in China, the base model starts at $190 and features a motherboard based on the AMD AM5 chipset, supporting AMD Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series processors.
Measuring 215 x 195 x 85 mm and with a volume of 3.5 liters, it supports up to 192 GB of DDR5-7200 RAM and provides two M.2 2280 slots for SSDs. It also supports a 2.5-inch SATA drive, but offers better thermal performance when a hard drive is not installed. There's a PCIe x16 slot for an optional discrete graphics card, although there's also a cutout at the top that allows you to run a PCIe extension cable to an external GPU.
Proprietary graphics system
Instead of using standard Thunderbolt 4 or OCuLink, ASRock opts for a proprietary system that supports 16 PCIe lanes, theoretically offering almost the same 256Gbps data throughput as an internally mounted GPU.
The device includes a Realtek 2.5G Ethernet controller, with the option to add a MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E wireless card.
Ports on the DeskMate Four audio ports: one on the front and three on the back.
DeskMate X600 is available to purchase in Obsidian Black, Moonlight Silver, and Starry Grey. As Lilliputing As you note, it's unclear if it comes with the external graphics dock and/or PCIe extension cables shown in the promotional photos, or if you need to purchase them separately.
