Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti with Intel Core Ultra 9 185H in review: AI mini-PC with touch display, camera and OCuLink

The Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti combines an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H with 32 GB DDR5 RAM and a 1 TB SSD in a stylish case. Speaking of the case, Minisforum is taking a new approach here and equipping the AtomMan X7 Ti with a 4-inch touchscreen, which is used to display the most important system parameters. There is also a camera and plenty of connection options for peripheral devices. With this overall concept, the Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti is a serious contender and in practice is suitable for significantly more applications than the competition. The mini-PC from the Far East costs 959 euros in the version we tested, and there will also be a barebone option. The manufacturer is currently charging 759 euros for this.

We will now take a closer look at how well the Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti performs against its competitors in terms of performance. We have compiled an overview of the comparison devices in the following table.

At first glance, the Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti reminds us of the Minisforum EliteMini UM780 XTX. On closer inspection, however, there are clear differences, and the dimensions alone indicate that a completely different case serves as the basis. The Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti is larger and its dimensions are comparable to the Acemagic F2A. However, the Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti takes up considerably less space on the desk due to the vertical or slightly angled mount. There is no way around the vertical setup if you want to use the built-in camera. However, horizontal operation is possible. The stand can be mounted without tools, as the device is hooked into the stand. The angle of inclination can also be changed, which is essential when using the built-in camera. However, if the tilt angle is too flat, the device can quickly tip backwards.

Minisforum relies on a mix of metal and plastic for the choice of materials. The latter can be seen on the underside and on the front, which also contains a 4-inch touch display. The most important system parameters are displayed here. The current time can also be displayed as an option. However, nothing is displayed when the device is switched off. This is a pity, as a time display in off mode would certainly be a useful option. The workmanship of the Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti is impeccable.

The Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti is one of the few mini-PCs that is equipped with a camera. A 1080p webcam is installed here, which also enables logging into the system (Windows Hello). However, the quality is not optimal, as image noise is quickly visible in low light. The built-in model could certainly be used as an emergency solution, and whether you want to place the mini-PC directly in front of you is a matter of taste.

The scope of delivery includes the device as well as a 120-watt power supply unit and the stand for vertical operation. There is also an HDMI cable, a quick start guide, and a power cable.

Knowing that Minisforum also sells the AtomMan X7 Ti as a barebone system, dismantling it to access the RAM and SSD is a complicated process. On the one hand, the screws for removing the base plate are located under the glued-on rubber feet, and on the other hand, there are several other screws under the cover. The fan is fixed in place with a total of twelve small screws. The slots for the RAM and mass storage can only be accessed after the disassembly. Speaking of mass storage: only SSDs can be accommodated in the AtomMan X7 Ti. An 80-millimeter and a 30-millimeter SSD can be installed under the large heat sink. If you are still looking for the Wi-Fi module, you will have to dismantle the device further, as the former is located on the other side of the mainboard. Disassembly is generally possible, although we do not recommend it. Very short cable connections for the camera module and additional cables for the screen are a few points that cause a few beads of sweat during assembly.

We used the "Balanced" power profile for all performance tests with this device. In addition, all relevant tests were carried out with Performance profile. Other profiles were used only in the energy and noise measurements according to our Test criteria.

The Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H. The latest model from Intel offers 16 cores and 22 threads, which makes the model installed here identical to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H thta is used in the Acemagic F2A. There are differences in the clock rates, as the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H achieves up to 5.1 GHz on the P cores, whereas the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H can only operate at a maximum of 4.8 GHz. However, the manufacturer can have an enormous influence on performance when it comes to the power limit: at 65 watts, the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is significantly more limited than the competition. In the test, the SoC of the Acemagic F2A worked with a maximum of 77 watts, which means that the targeted 90 watts were not reached anyway. Minisforum directly reduced the power somewhat in order to provide stable and continuous performance.

Despite this small limitation, it is enough to place it ahead of the Acemagic F2A in the comparison overview. However, there is no way around the competitors with AMD Ryzen APU. Only in individual tests can our test sample take the lead in places. In the AIDA64 tests, all Intel-based devices perform slightly worse than their AMD counterparts. However, the Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti performs best among the Intel-powered devices.

If you are not dependent on the full performance of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, you can change the performance using the predefined performance profiles. There are three performance modes to choose from via the 4-inch touchscreen (see table). However, you won't notice a noticeable difference in performance in everyday use. The Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti copes excellently with everyday use, even in Energy Saving Mode.

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