Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 review: The mini PC with a Core i7-12650H and an Arc A730M within an attractive case
Minisforum advertizes the Neptune-series desktop PC with the name HN2673 as a high-performance mini PC. The manufacturer's Neptune series consists of compact PCs which, due to their size, are also in part fitted with dedicated graphics cards. This also includes the Minsforum Neptune Series HN2673 which, alongside the Intel Core i7-12650H, is also fitted with an Intel Arc A730M. Furthermore, the dedicated graphics card also has access to 6 GB VRAM, meaning the RAM doesn't have to be additionally split, as is often the case with iGPUs. There are no alternative versions of this PC when it comes to its base components. This means the CPU and GPU are always set. You can find variations of this device with different RAM. They always have a 1-TB SSD installed. The only deviation to this could be found within our test sample, which only has a 512-GB SSD installed and we had to make do with 16 GB DDR4 RAM. At the time of writing, this model is nowhere to be found on the manufacturer's website. The smallest configuration with 32 GB RAM and a 1-TB SSD can currently be found for around US$710.
This means the Minsforum Neptune Series HN2673 currently costs a little bit more than the Minsforum Neptune Series HX77G which relies on the AMD Radeon RX 6600M as a dedicated graphics card. The PC's predecessor, the Minsforum Neptune Series HX99G, already left quite a good impression on us. In addition, it will also be interesting to compare it to the Intel NUC 12, NUC12SNKi72 Serpent Canyon, as this too uses an Intel Arc as a dedicated graphics card. You can find a full overview of all the comparison devices in the following table.
Possible competitors compared
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87.1 % v7 (old) | 09 / 2023 | Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 i7-12650H, A730M | 1.7 kg | 66 mm | |
| 89.9 % v7 (old) | 02 / 2023 | Minisforum Neptune Series HX99G R9 6900HX, Radeon RX 6600M | 1.6 kg | 69.3 mm | |
| 88.4 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2023 | Intel NUC 12, NUC12SNKi72_Serpent Canyon i7-12700H, A770M | 2 kg | 60 mm | |
| 85.5 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2023 | Morefine M600, 6900HX R9 6900HX, Radeon 680M | 779 g | 40.6 mm | |
| 82.8 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2023 | Minisforum Venus Series UM790 Pro R9 7940HS, Radeon 780M | 666 g | 52.3 mm | |
| 85.1 % v7 (old) | 01 / 2023 | Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9 i9-12900H, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 1.2 kg | 66 mm | |
| 82.8 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2023 | Geekom AS 6, R9 6900HX R9 6900HX, Radeon 680M | 753 g | 58 mm | |
| 83.1 % v7 (old) | 08 / 2023 | Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit i7-1360P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 558 g | 37 mm |
Case - A mix of metal and plastic
Visually, the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 looks the same as the Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9. Both devices make use of the same case, although, the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 has a much higher weight of 1.6 kg. Its dedicated graphics card and much bulkier cooling system are the reason for this. The PC utilizes a nice mix of materials - metal and plastic - for the side covers, which can be removed quite easily. The Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 doesn't feature a VESA mount. Instead, the device can be placed vertically on your desk with the help of the supplied stand.
One other change compared to the Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9 can be seen in its power supply, which is considerably more powerful and weighs 781 grams.
Connectivity
Its connectivity options are rather generous. Even so, users will have to make do without a modern Thunderbolt port. In turn, the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 still features lots of other USB ports and can run up to four displays at the same time. Its connections are spread out between the front and back of the device and can be easily accessed.
Communication
The Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 houses an Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210. In our practical test using an Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 as a test router, our test device wasn't entirely convincing. When using the slower 5-GHz connection, our test sample couldn't achieve anything better than last place. Using 6 GHz, the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 achieved much better transfer rates. Even so, this wasn't enough to secure itself more than average results. The PC's integrated LAN port offers a good alternative to wireless connections and you can achieve maximum speeds of 2.5 Gbit/s.
Scope of delivery
Aside from the device itself, the scope of delivery includes a metal stand with all the screws required for assembly. Furthermore, you receive a 240-watt power supply and an HDMI cable.
Maintenance
The side covers can easily be removed from the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673. Both of the side covers are held onto the bottom with the help of two screws on each side. The generous space which we saw inside the Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9 is now considerably fuller. Now, the dedicated graphics card takes up a lot of inside space for its cooling unit. As a result, you can now only access the RAM and SSD via a slight detour. One reason why Minisforum decided to do this is because the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 isn't available as a barebone model. The Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 only has one M.2 connection anyway. However, two further storage devices can be installed via the back of the PC.
Performance - Intel Alder Lake with 10 cores and 16 threads
The base of the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 always consists of a combination of an Intel Core i7-12650H and an Intel Arc A730M. With the help of the installed components, the PC can tackle even more demanding tasks. In particular, its dedicated graphics card widely expands its 3D uses. Let's take a closer look at everything the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 can do.
Testing conditions
We used the energy profile Maximum Performance for all performance tests performed on the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673. Deviations from this were only made in the power consumption and noise emission measurements according to our test criteria. The performance of the CPU and the cooling was not changed in the BIOS.
Processor
The Intel Core i7-12650H comes from the field of laptops and is based on Alder Lake architecture. This hybrid architecture combines P and E cores, which can process a maximum of 16 threads at once. Its maximum power limit is set at 95 watts (PL2), which is already much more conservative on the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 compared to what Intel specifies as a maximum for the Intel Core i7-12650H. During the further course, we noted that even the 95 watts were never reached, which resulted in the PC's comparatively poor CPU benchmarks. The Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9 already stood out for its comparatively weak CPU performance. Unfortunately, not much has changed on the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673.
You can find further processor benchmarks here.
* ... 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
Minisforum's Neptune Series HN2673 during the Cinebench R15-Multi Loop
With regard to the temperatures we recorded during the Cinebench R15 continuous loop, the CPU's cooling unit is sufficiently sized. At the same time, you do have to note that the Intel Core i7-12650H only consumes an average of 40 watts. In turn, we did note relatively stable results.
System performance
The system benchmarks perfectly reflect the SoC's performance. In total, the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673's results were in the lower average field. The installed RAM also can't set itself apart from the competition with good values. The SoC also could've supported DDR5. In order to cut costs, the manufacturer likely decided to go for the cheaper DDR4 alternative. Subjectively seen, this is all critique on a very high level. The installed hardware works well together and in everyday use, there are no noticeable latencies.
| AIDA64 / Memory Copy | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM790 Pro | |
| Average Intel Core i7-12650H (43261 - 69735, n=14) | |
| Geekom AS 6, R9 6900HX | |
| Morefine M600, 6900HX | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series HX99G | |
| Average of class Mini PC (6481 - 89287, n=119, last 2 years) | |
| Intel NUC 12, NUC12SNKi72_Serpent Canyon | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9 | |
| Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Read | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM790 Pro | |
| Average Intel Core i7-12650H (47313 - 67412, n=14) | |
| Geekom AS 6, R9 6900HX | |
| Morefine M600, 6900HX | |
| Intel NUC 12, NUC12SNKi72_Serpent Canyon | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series HX99G | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9 | |
| Average of class Mini PC (6914 - 99171, n=119, last 2 years) | |
| Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Write | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM790 Pro | |
| Morefine M600, 6900HX | |
| Geekom AS 6, R9 6900HX | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series HX99G | |
| Average Intel Core i7-12650H (45617 - 59361, n=14) | |
| Average of class Mini PC (6862 - 98583, n=119, last 2 years) | |
| Intel NUC 12, NUC12SNKi72_Serpent Canyon | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9 | |
| Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Latency | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9 | |
| Intel NUC 13 Pro Desk Edition Kit | |
| Morefine M600, 6900HX | |
| Average of class Mini PC (44.9 - 184.8, n=119, last 2 years) | |
| Geekom AS 6, R9 6900HX | |
| Intel NUC 12, NUC12SNKi72_Serpent Canyon | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM790 Pro | |
| Average Intel Core i7-12650H (71.6 - 103.9, n=14) | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series HX99G | |
| Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 | |
* ... smaller is better
DPC latency
With the help of the tool LatencyMon, we took a look at the mini PC's latencies in a variety of uses. Here, we didn't document any raised latencies while opening multiple tabs in Edge and playing our 4K test video. The 4K test video uses about 20 % of the iGPU's load. We only noted slightly raised latencies after starting Prime95.
* ... smaller is better
Storage devices
Our test version of the Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 is fitted with a 512-GB SSD from Kingston. This is the same model as we found in the Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9. In our present test sample, the SSD wasn't able to utilize its full performance which we saw in the NAD9. Even so, this Kingston SSD is a solid storage device with PCIe 4.0 x4 connectivity. Its 4K read rates at over 200 MB/s are particularly notable. The model even copes with permanent accesses without performance drops. Here, the four case fans really pay off, as we noted slight performance drops on the NAD9 at this stage. The Minisforum Neptune Series HN2673 can be fitted with three storage devices in total. The back of the motherboard has a mount which can accommodate two further 2.5-inch storage devices. The required cable to connect these comes pre-installed.
For further comparisons and benchmarks, take a look at our comparison table.
