HP Elite Mini 800 G9 review: Quiet NUC mini-PC with Intel Core i5-14500, DDR5 RAM and modular design

In addition to the many mini-PCs that are flooding the market, well-known manufacturers also offer compact systems for various purposes. The HP Elite Mini 800 G9 is a mini-PC that forms the basis for many different configurations. As a special feature, it is equipped with a conventional desktop processor. Our test device has an Intel Core i5-14500 with 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD on board. If you order the device directly from HP, you will have to put 1,060 euros on the table. In the top configuration, the HP Elite Mini 800 G9 is available with an Intel Core i9-14900T as well as 64 GB DDR5 RAM and a 1 TB SSD including an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 with 4 GB VRAM. The device then costs 2,300 euros.

As a solid mid-range model, the HP Elite Mini 800 G9 has to hold its own against powerful mini-PCs, which we also recently tested. For the direct duel in this review, we added the HP Elite Mini 800 G9 based on an Intel Core i5-13500 to the list. We have summarized the overview of the comparison devices in the following table.

Note: We have updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7 available here.

HP uses a sturdy metal casing as the basis for the hardware, which can be opened without tools. However, the HP model is not one of the smallest devices. Most devices from the Far East have a more compact design and also weigh a little less. Only the Minisforum MS-01 is slightly larger and also slightly heavier than the HP Elite Mini 800 G9. Our test device has an impeccable finish, and there are no visual highlights at all. The HP Elite Mini 800 G9 doesn't need that either. The mini-PC offers a major advantage with its modular design, which makes maintenance work considerably easier.

The HP Elite Mini 800 G9 mini-PCs are always delivered pre-configured, which in turn means that the RAM and SSD are always already installed. Nevertheless, the device can be opened easily and without tools. The housing cover is only fixed at the back with a knurled screw. You then have more or less access to the already installed components under the cover. However, our test device can also be upgraded. A free RAM slot and two additional mass storage devices can still be accommodated.

The modular design is implemented excellently here. This means that entire assemblies can be removed and replaced. This means you can also carry out minor repairs yourself. Even the CPU can be replaced and is not permanently soldered, as is the case with most other mini-PCs.

The device is supplied together with the enclosed accessories in a simple cardboard box. The individual components are also provided with a plastic cover, which can certainly be saved in the course of sustainability. Nevertheless, HP scores points with the Elite Mini 800 G9 thanks to its modular design, which makes minor repairs possible. The manufacturer itself offers some spare parts via the HP spare parts store. When we asked the manufacturer directly, they also confirmed that ocean-bound plastic is used in the production of the devices, which would otherwise have ended up in the oceans. Recycled metals and innovative recycled raw materials such as used cooking oil, fishing nets, and coffee grounds are also used. This is reflected in the certifications from external partners such as "Blue Angel", "EPEAT" or "TCO".

We use the "HP Optimized" energy profile for all performance tests with the HP Elite Mini 800 G9. HP itself does not offer any further options for customizing the system's performance. The processor's power limits can be adjusted via the XTU (Intel Extreme Tuning Utility) tool. However, we advise against increasing the values. This is because the power consumption is too high and the power supply unit is not designed for this.

The Intel Core i5-14500 is an economical yet powerful desktop processor. Basically, it is a slightly improved Intel Core i5-13500, which only provides a small performance advantage due to slightly higher clock rates. As you can see from the results, the Intel Core i5-14500 only has a performance advantage of two percentage points over the Intel Core i5-13500. The other comparison devices with mobile processors are almost as fast, if we only look at the performance rating here. In the individual tests, the various models can then occasionally deliver more performance than the Intel Core i5-14500 in our test device. This becomes very clear in the Cinebench 2024 multi-core test, where the Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti delivers around 30 percent more performance. In the single-core performance, however, the Intel Core i5-14500 can show its strength again and outperform its competitors in places.

It is important to know that the Intel Core i5-14500 only works with a reduced power limit due to the small cooling unit. Just like with the HP Elite Mini 800 G9 based on Intel Core i5-13500, the manufacturer defines 87 watts as the limit. According to the Intel specifications, however, the processor could be operated with up to 154 watts.

For further comparisons and benchmarks, please refer to our CPU comparison table.