ACEMAGIC S1 Mini PC Dual Nic with DIY LCD Display - Compact 4K Mini PC

In this review of the ACEMAGIC S1 Mini PC, the bottom line is simple: it is best for users who want a quiet, compact desktop with a customizable front LCD and stronger-than-expected performance for everyday productivity. The S1 ships with an Intel Alder Lake N97 that boosts to 3.6 GHz and a 25W TDP, paired with 16GB DDR4 and a 512GB NVMe SSD, and that combination makes it well suited to office work, 4K media playback and light photo or video editing. The built-in DIY LCD display is the most distinctive feature, showing CPU temperature, fan speed, memory and other system stats without extra software.

Key Features

• Intel Alder Lake N97: Offers up to 3.6 GHz turbo performance and higher graphics frequency than many N-series chips for smoother multitasking and 4K video playback.
• DIY LCD display: Shows temperature, fan speed, memory and power usage on the front and can be customized with user images and layout for personal monitoring.
• Memory and storage: Ships with 16GB DDR4 and 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD with two M.2 slots so storage can be expanded up to dual 2TB drives.
• Dual gigabit LAN and WiFi 6: Two NIC ports plus 802.11ax and Bluetooth 5.2 make this useful for home servers, software routers and low-latency wireless connections.
• Quiet, serviceable case: Magnetic detachable casing allows tool-free access to RAM and SSD for upgrades while keeping noise low during normal use.
• Dual 4K display support: Two HDMI outputs with Intel UHD graphics (up to 1200 MHz) drive 4K@60Hz for dual-monitor setups.

Who It's For

The ACEMAGIC S1 is aimed at users who need a small desktop that can act as a productive home office machine, light creative workstation or a compact home server. Its dual NIC and quiet operation appeal to hobbyists running pfSense/OpenWRT, or anyone who values visible system telemetry with the front LCD.

Those who need high-end gaming, heavy 3D rendering, or workstation-class compute should look elsewhere; the N97 is capable but remains a low-power Alder Lake part optimized for efficiency rather than sustained heavy compute. If you require extensive GPU power or many PCIe lanes, a larger desktop will be a better match.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Strong everyday performance for an N-series chip thanks to the N97's higher turbo and graphics frequencies.
• Customizable DIY LCD display provides immediate system information and personal images without extra apps.
• Tool-free magnetic case and expansion-friendly dual M.2 slots make upgrades straightforward.
• Dual Gigabit LAN plus WiFi 6 and BT 5.2 add networking flexibility for home server and low-latency wireless use.

Cons

• Not designed for demanding GPU-heavy workloads or high-end gaming; integrated graphics are shared and modest compared to discrete GPUs.
• 25W TDP limits sustained peak performance compared with larger desktop CPUs.

Specifications

Our Verdict

The ACEMAGIC S1 is a well-considered mini PC for users who want a compact, upgradeable system with visible system telemetry and solid general performance. It provides good value for home office, media playback and light creative work thanks to the N97 processor, dual NICs and expandability; just do not expect discrete-GPU class performance. For its price and features the S1 is a practical, quiet small desktop for most productivity needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the S1 drive two 4K monitors?
Yes. The S1 supports dual 4K@60Hz output via its two HDMI ports using the Intel UHD graphics.

Is the memory or SSD user-upgradeable?
Yes. The magnetic detachable case gives tool-free access to RAM and dual M.2 slots so you can expand RAM or replace/upgrade the SSDs.

What makes the LCD display special?
The front DIY LCD shows CPU temperature, fan speed, memory and power usage live and can be customized with personal images and layout options for at-a-glance monitoring.