Maxtang MTN-ALN50 mini PC review: Very economical office PC with good performance thanks to Intel Core i3-N305 and 8 cores
As a Chinese system manufacturer, Maxtang concentrates primarily on special industrial solutions, although some mini PCs in the current portfolio also have the potential to serve as an everyday office companion. With the recently tested Maxtang MTN-FP750, the manufacturer was not quite able to fulfill the expectations that one had after looking at the technical data. With the Maxtang MTN-ALN50, expectations are somewhat lower anyway due to the built-in hardware. Nevertheless, the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 has an Intel Core i3-N305 with 8 physical cores, which should actually promise excellent performance. The Intel Core i3-N305 should easily outperform Intel N95 and Intel N100 SoCs, which are frequently used in such devices. Incidentally, Maxtang also offers the MTN-ALN50 with the Intel N100. As a barebone system, prices start at 115 US dollars, while the Core i3 model would cost at least 276 US dollars. Our test sample with 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD costs 348 US dollars. That may sound a bit much, but compared to the Zotac Zbox Pico PI430AJ this is a bargain. We can also overlook the fact that no operating system is included in the scope of delivery.
You can find the Maxtang MTN-ALN50's rivals in the following table.
Possible competitors in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | price |
---|---|---|---|---|
73 % | 02/2024 | Maxtang MTN-ALN50 i3-N305, UHD Graphics 32EUs | 685 g | 348 USD |
74.1 % | 11/2023 | Acemagic S1 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 440 g | 239 EUR |
73.5 % | 09/2023 | Blackview MP80 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 214 g | 250 EUR |
73.2 % | 01/2024 | Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV N200, UHD Graphics Xe 750 32EUs | 828 g | 299 EUR |
71.1 % | 07/2023 | BOSGAME N95 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 392 g | 179 EUR |
70.1 % | 11/2023 | Trigkey G4 N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 272 g | 189 EUR |
69.9 % | 01/2024 | Zotac ZBOX PI430AJ i3-N300, UHD Graphics 32EUs | 318 g | 560 EUR |
68.2 % | 03/2023 | Minipc Union NiPoGi GK3PLUS - N95 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 381 g | 399 EUR |
Maxtang MTN-ALN50 in detail
Case - Lots of metal and plastic with a high-gloss finish
Many parts of the Maxtang MTN-ALN50, including the base plate, are made of metal, which gives the device very good stability. Only the top of the housing is covered with a black plastic cover with a high-gloss finish. This literally attracts fingerprints, and micro-scratches are inevitable. Due to its solid construction, the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 weighs 685 grams, which makes it the second heaviest device in comparison. Only the Asus ExpertCenter PN42 is slightly heavier at 828 grams. Our test sample does not stand out negatively in terms of space requirements on the desk at around 13 x 13 centimeters. However, the competitors are somewhat more economical. Despite its weight, the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 can be attached to a monitor using a VESA mount.
In terms of build quality, we would have liked to see a little more attention to detail. The edges are somewhat sharp-edged. Beveled or chamfered edges should be the standard here and would improve this somewhat. Furthermore, our test sample was delivered without feet. This is not a technical disadvantage, as there are no ventilation slots on the underside to draw in fresh air. After consultation with the manufacturer, we were assured that this circumstance is not the rule. In principle, all Maxtang MTN-ALN50s should be supplied with feet.
Equipment - Simple standard without WLAN
In terms of connectivity, the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 offers everything you need at first glance. Five USB ports are more than sufficient in this class. In addition, the USB Type-C port on the front can also be used for image output, which, together with the two HDMI outputs on the rear, means that three screens can be used simultaneously. There are also two LAN sockets at the rear, each offering network speeds of up to 2.5 GBit/s. That's all we have to say about networking and the Maxtang MTN-ALN50: yes, a WLAN module is not installed in our test sample. Even a quick upgrade is not possible without the prior installation of WLAN antennas. However, there is a free slot for a WLAN module. Anyone buying the mini PC should be aware of this. The simplest and quickest solution is certainly to use a USB WLAN stick if a wireless connection is absolutely necessary. To make things a little more user-friendly, however, we would have liked to see pre-installed WLAN antennas.
Accessories
The scope of delivery of the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 includes everything necessary for operation. In addition to the device itself, the box also contains the 60-watt power supply unit (12 V; 5 A) and a mounting plate for VESA mounting. An HDMI cable and a quick start guide are also included with the device.
Maintenance
Opening the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 is very unspectacular. There are four screws on the underside that secure the base plate to the chassis. The base plate also serves as a mounting tray for an additional 2.5-inch data carrier. The pre-installed RAM and the M.2 SSD can also be accessed without difficulty. Overall, the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 has a very simple design and can be disassembled even further without any problems.
Performance - Intel Core i3-N305 with 8 cores
The mini PC is equipped with the Intel Core i3-N305 - an economical SoC that offers eight physical computing cores. The processor's power limits are defined at a level of 15 to 35 watts. The SoC is supported by 16 GB DDR4 RAM, which is installed as an SO-DIMM module. In total, the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 can be equipped with up to 32 GB of RAM. However, only one RAM module can be installed. The Intel Core i3-N305 does not support dual-channel mode anyway. The SSD is a model with 512 GB of storage space, which works at SATA speed, which is appropriate for simple office use.
Test conditions
We carried out all performance tests with the maximum performance
energy profile. Other energy-saving plans were only used for the energy consumption measurements and the noise measurements. Further details on our test criteria can be found here.
Processor
The Intel Core i3-N305 provides the necessary working speed in the Maxtang MTN-ALN50. With its 8 cores, the SoC clearly outperforms its competitors. Even compared to the Zotac Zbox pico PI430AJ, which is equipped with the Intel Core i3-N300, our test sample has an easy game due to the higher TDP limits. Under continuous load, the Intel Core i3-N305 in the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 has up to 15 watts available, although up to 35 watts are possible in the short term. We can also see these limits again and again during our tests, which means that the built-in cooling is well-dimensioned.
You can find more benchmarks for the processors here.
WinRAR - Result | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
Trigkey G4 | |
Acemagic S1 | |
BOSGAME N95 | |
Blackview MP80 | |
Minipc Union NiPoGi GK3PLUS - N95 | |
Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
Zotac ZBOX PI430AJ |
* ... smaller is better
AIDA64: FP32 Ray-Trace | FPU Julia | CPU SHA3 | CPU Queen | FPU SinJulia | FPU Mandel | CPU AES | CPU ZLib | FP64 Ray-Trace | CPU PhotoWorxx
Maxtang MTN-ALN50 vs. Cinebench R15 multi-loop
The Cinebench R15 continuous loop shows us at this point how well the built-in cooling system performs under continuous load. During the first run, the Intel Core i3-N305 can benefit a little more from its Turbo clock. Later on, we only see a very short peak before the SoC continues to operate at 15 watts. With a few exceptions, which are not significant, our test sample was able to complete the test with an excellent result and achieved an average of 796 points.
System performance
Good CPU performance also ensures excellent results in the system performance benchmarks. Only in the RAM tests does our test sample have to admit defeat to Zotac Zbox pico PI430AJ. If Maxtang had also used DDR5 RAM here, this would probably have improved the overall performance of the Intel Core i3-N305 even more. Nevertheless, the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 coped well with everyday use.
* ... smaller is better
DPC latencies
We achieved the DPC value documented here while surfing the Internet (opening several websites in the Edge browser). This did not change during the playback of our 4K test video or the stress test with Prime95. In principle, the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 can therefore be used for streaming, but you have to be satisfied with somewhat lower resolutions. Unfortunately, the 4K playback could not be completed without dropped frames. The iGPU was utilized at around 31 percent.
* ... smaller is better
Mass storage
A simple 512 GB SSD from Foresee is installed in the test sample of the Maxtang MTN-ALN50. However, the installed model only works at SATA speed, which is also clearly reflected in the benchmarks. However, the transfer rates are still sufficient for everyday use. We did not notice any temperature problems during the stress test. The Maxtang MTN-ALN50 can also be equipped with a second mass storage device. The necessary connection adapter and socket are included in the scope of delivery.
For more comparisons and benchmarks, please refer to our Comparison table.
* ... smaller is better
Continuous reading: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Graphics card
The image output of the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 is handled by the Intel UHD Graphics with 32 EUs. However, the good performance development of the processor, which we have already seen, does not affect the 3D performance of the iGPU. Compared to the Zotac Zbox pico PI430AJ with a similar SoC, our test sample does not really stand out. In some cases, we also see slightly worse results, but these can also be interpreted as a measurement tolerance.
You can find more benchmarks for the Intel UHD Graphics here.
3DMark 06 - 1280x1024 Standard Score AA:0x AF:0x | |
Average AMD Radeon 780M (37928 - 45612, n=8) | |
Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
Blackview MP80 | |
BOSGAME N95 | |
Acemagic S1 | |
Trigkey G4 | |
Zotac ZBOX PI430AJ | |
Minipc Union NiPoGi GK3PLUS - N95 | |
Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV |
Unigine Valley 1.0 | |
1920x1080 Extreme HD DirectX AA:x8 | |
Average AMD Radeon 780M (17.7 - 25, n=6) | |
Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
Zotac ZBOX PI430AJ | |
Blackview MP80 | |
BOSGAME N95 | |
Trigkey G4 | |
Acemagic S1 | |
Minipc Union NiPoGi GK3PLUS - N95 | |
Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
1920x1080 Extreme HD Preset OpenGL AA:x8 | |
Average AMD Radeon 780M (12.2 - 21.7, n=6) | |
Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
Zotac ZBOX PI430AJ | |
Blackview MP80 | |
BOSGAME N95 | |
Acemagic S1 | |
Trigkey G4 | |
Minipc Union NiPoGi GK3PLUS - N95 | |
Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV |
3DMark 06 Standard Score | 14041 points | |
3DMark Vantage P Result | 9948 points | |
3DMark 11 Performance | 2979 points | |
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 54112 points | |
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 11257 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 1791 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score | 869 points | |
3DMark Time Spy Score | 613 points | |
Help |
Gaming performance
The limited 3D performance of the iGPU of the Intel Core i3-N305 is only suitable for undemanding games. The Intel UHD Graphics should also be able to handle casual or browser games. There is noticeably more performance with the AMD Radeon 780M, which can be found, for example, in the Minisforum EliteMini UM780 XTX.
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark: 1280x720 Lite Quality | 1920x1080 Standard Quality
X-Plane 11.11: 1280x720 low (fps_test=1) | 1920x1080 med (fps_test=2)
low | med. | high | ultra | |
GTA V (2015) | 55.6 | 46.4 | ||
The Witcher 3 (2015) | 38.1 | 12.3 | 5.5 | |
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 62.5 | 43.8 | 25.1 | 23.1 |
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 18.7 | 9.73 | 6.92 | |
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 32.4 | 21.6 | 20.1 | |
Far Cry 5 (2018) | 20 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Strange Brigade (2018) | 41.3 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 14.5 |
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) | 16.5 | 9.2 | 8.6 | |
Far Cry New Dawn (2019) | 21 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
F1 2020 (2020) | 35.4 | 18.8 | 14 | 8.7 |
F1 2021 (2021) | 46 | 18.3 | 16.5 | 10.5 |
GRID Legends (2022) | 27.3 | 21.1 | 15.9 | |
Prince of Persia The Lost Crown (2024) | 37 | 26.7 | 24 |
Emissions - Not outstanding, but good
Noise emissions
The Intel Core i3-N305 is cooled with a compact active cooling unit. As our measurements show, the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 can be operated silently in idle mode, although only just over 33.4 dB(A) is achieved under average load. At its peak, however, we recorded a sound pressure level of 43 dB(A), making the Mini-PC clearly audible. With that said, the maximum noise level is not reached continuously. Compared to the competitors in this review, our test sample performs slightly worse here. However, the sound pressure level is within an acceptable range in everyday use concidering the performance shown.
Noise Level
Idle |
| 25.1 / 25.1 / 25.1 dB(A) |
Load |
| 34.5 / 43 dB(A) |
| ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min: , med: , max: Earthworks M23R (15 cm distance) environment noise: 25 dB(A) |
Maxtang MTN-ALN50 i3-N305, UHD Graphics 32EUs | Acemagic S1 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Blackview MP80 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV N200, UHD Graphics Xe 750 32EUs | BOSGAME N95 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Trigkey G4 N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Minipc Union NiPoGi GK3PLUS - N95 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Minipc Union Ace Magician T8Pro Celeron N5095, UHD Graphics (Jasper Lake 16 EU) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noise | -2% | 3% | 12% | -7% | -10% | -16% | -7% | |
off / environment * | 25 | 25 -0% | 25.2 -1% | 25 -0% | 29.7 -19% | 24.8 1% | 30.4 -22% | 30.2 -21% |
Idle Minimum * | 25.1 | 25.5 -2% | 25.4 -1% | 25 -0% | 30.2 -20% | 30.6 -22% | 31 -24% | 30.2 -20% |
Idle Average * | 25.1 | 26.9 -7% | 25.5 -2% | 25 -0% | 30.2 -20% | 31.3 -25% | 31.1 -24% | 30.2 -20% |
Idle Maximum * | 25.1 | 27 -8% | 25.5 -2% | 25 -0% | 30.2 -20% | 32.1 -28% | 31.8 -27% | 30.2 -20% |
Load Average * | 34.5 | 34.3 1% | 32.3 6% | 25 28% | 30.4 12% | 34.8 -1% | 33.3 3% | 30.5 12% |
Load Maximum * | 43 | 40.3 6% | 36.4 15% | 25 42% | 31.4 27% | 37.1 14% | 42.5 1% | 30.9 28% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
The casing of the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 only heats up slightly. We see a maximum of 90 °C on the processor itself during the stress test, which is only reached directly after the start of the stress test. As the test progresses, the CPU temperature stabilizes at just under 80 °C. However, we also see that the PL2 value (35 watts) cannot be reached. The temperature rises too quickly and the Intel Core i3-N305 only reaches 24 watts at its peak before the power is then reduced to 15 watts. However, this means that the SoC works within the specifications that Intel sets for the Core i3-N305.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 33.7 °C / 93 F, compared to the average of 35.6 °C / 96 F, ranging from 26 to 69.5 °C for the class Mini PC.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 33.2 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 37 °C / 99 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.1 °C / 84 F, compared to the device average of 32.2 °C / 90 F.
Power consumption
The power consumption looks slightly worse compared to the competitors, which is due to the better performance of the Intel Core i3-N305. Nevertheless, we see quite low values in the test. The power supply only has to deliver 3.9 to 7.2 watts in idle mode. At the peak, we recorded just under 49 watts, although only around 30 watts are shown on the display under continuous load. With a maximum output power of 60 watts, the power supply unit is sufficiently dimensioned. The manufacturer does not use a proprietary connection here, which means that alternative power supply units can also be used. However, the correct voltage must be ensured, as the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 is only supplied with 12 volts.
Off / Standby | 0.05 / 0.67 Watt |
Idle | 3.9 / 7 / 7.2 Watt |
Load |
30.1 / 48.7 Watt |
Maxtang MTN-ALN50 i3-N305, UHD Graphics 32EUs | Acemagic S1 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Blackview MP80 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV N200, UHD Graphics Xe 750 32EUs | BOSGAME N95 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Trigkey G4 N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Zotac ZBOX PI430AJ i3-N300, UHD Graphics 32EUs | Minipc Union NiPoGi GK3PLUS - N95 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Average Intel UHD Graphics 32EUs (Alder Lake) | Average of class Mini PC | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -39% | 10% | 11% | 31% | -22% | -60% | 2% | -10% | -94% | |
Idle Minimum * | 3.9 | 7.1 -82% | 4.9 -26% | 4.4 -13% | 3.5 10% | 8.2 -110% | 11.3 -190% | 6.1 -56% | 5.88 ? -51% | 9.75 ? -150% |
Idle Average * | 7 | 12.1 -73% | 7.1 -1% | 6 14% | 3.6 49% | 8.6 -23% | 11.6 -66% | 6.9 1% | 7 ? -0% | 11.7 ? -67% |
Idle Maximum * | 7.2 | 13.9 -93% | 7.3 -1% | 9.7 -35% | 6.2 14% | 10.4 -44% | 15.2 -111% | 8.9 -24% | 9.35 ? -30% | 14.7 ? -104% |
Load Average * | 30.1 | 23.8 21% | 20.6 32% | 14.6 51% | 20.4 32% | 19.4 36% | 22.8 24% | 20 34% | 26.4 ? 12% | 51.9 ? -72% |
Load Maximum * | 48.7 | 33 32% | 26.2 46% | 30.2 38% | 25 49% | 33.1 32% | 28.5 41% | 21.1 57% | 39.3 ? 19% | 86 ? -77% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption with external monitor
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Good everyday device with economical Intel Core i3-N305
The Maxtang MTN-ALN50 is a simple mini PC without any visual highlights. The manufacturer's choice of materials primarily includes metal, which gives the device excellent stability, but also has the side effect of a comparatively high weight. In terms of build quality, however, we have already seen better devices in the test. Also, the MTN-FP750 shows that Maxtang can do better. Beveled edges on the housing are the keyword here. As far as performance is concerned, there is hardly any criticism from us. The Intel Core i3-N305 is not one of the fastest processors, but with a power consumption of just 15 watts, the SoC offers 8 computing cores. Together with the active cooling unit, it can deliver adequate performance even under load. Unfortunately, Maxtang only installs DDR4 RAM here, although the SoC could also handle DDR5 RAM.
The Maxtang MTN-ALN50 is interesting because of the Intel Core i3-N305. The SoC delivers excellent performance - there is some catching up to do in terms of build quality.
In terms of connectivity, we are somewhat divided. On the one hand, the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 scores with two 2.5G LAN connections. On the other hand, it does not have a WLAN module, which must be retrofitted by the user. Nevertheless, the device offers a slot for this. The remaining connections are rather standard and do not offer any significant added value compared to the competition. The primary selling point of the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 is and remains the economical processor with good performance. Comparable mini PCs with a similar SoC, such as the Zotac Zbox pico PI430AJ, are currently very rare and also cost considerably more.
Prices and availability
The Maxtang MTN-ALN50 is available in our test configuration for 348 US dollars directly from the manufacturer.
Maxtang MTN-ALN50
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02/08/2024 v7
Sebastian Bade
Transparency
The present review sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.