ACEMAGIC F5A

Starry Hope Rating
4.5

Published on

ACEMAGIC F5A lifestyle

The ACEMAGIC F5A packs one of AMD's newest mobile flagships, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, into a roughly one-liter metal-bodied box aimed at power users, creators, and home-lab tinkerers. The 12-core, 24-thread Gorgon Point chip pairs with Radeon 890M integrated graphics and a 55 TOPS NPU, and ACEMAGIC surrounds it with a genuinely enthusiast-grade port layout: dual USB4, a dedicated OCuLink connector for external GPUs, WiFi 7, and two 2.5GbE LAN jacks. What makes the F5A unusual is that it ships two ways. A barebone model leaves the DDR5 SO-DIMM slots and M.2 bays empty for you to populate, while a pre-configured model solders in faster 32GB LPDDR5X-8000 memory and a 1TB SSD. That fork lets you choose between upgradeability and raw memory bandwidth rather than having the decision made for you.

Pros and Cons of the ACEMAGIC F5A

ProsCons
Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (12 cores, 24 threads) with a 55 TOPS NPU and up to 86 TOPS total platform AIConfigured model's 32GB LPDDR5X-8000 is soldered and cannot be upgraded
Radeon 890M (RDNA 3.5, 16 CU) integrated graphics for 1080p gaming and creative workTwo of the three M.2 slots on the configured model run at PCIe 4.0 x2, not x4
Dual USB4 (40Gbps) plus a dedicated OCuLink port (PCIe 4.0 x4, 64Gbps) for an external GPUBulky 120W power brick that is not a compact GaN unit
WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and dual 2.5GbE EthernetScrews hidden under glued-on rubber feet make disassembly fiddly
Barebone option with upgradeable DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM (up to 128GB) or soldered LPDDR5X for speedDefault iGPU VRAM is set low at 2GB, and ACEMAGIC posted no BIOS updates on its site at review time
Configured model adds a third M.2 slot for up to 12TB of storageA single HDMI and single DisplayPort; extra monitors run off the USB4 ports

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Price

List Price: $769.00

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List Price: $1199.00

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VersionBarebone (no RAM/SSD)32GB/1TB LPDDR5X
Performance Rating9.610.3
Operating SystemWindows 11 ProWindows 11 Pro
ProcessorTwelve-core 2.00 Ghz (max 5.20 Ghz)
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470
Twelve-core 2.00 Ghz (max 5.20 Ghz)
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470
GPUIntegrated AMD Radeon 890MIntegrated AMD Radeon 890M
RAM0 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2-channel (2x SO-DIMM DDR5-5600, to 128GB)32 GB LPDDR5X, 2-channel (Soldered LPDDR5X-8000)
Internal Storage0 GB NVMe SSD (not included)1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Dimensions
width x length x thickness
5.12 x 5.2 x 2.44 inches
(130.05 x 132.08 x 61.98 mm)
5.12 x 5.2 x 2.44 inches
(130.05 x 132.08 x 61.98 mm)
Weightunknownunknown
WiFiWi-Fi 7 (802.11be)Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
BluetoothBluetooth 5.4Bluetooth 5.4
Ethernet2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps
HDMI1 Full-Size HDMI Port1 Full-Size HDMI Port
DisplayPort1 DisplayPort (DP 2.1; up to 4 displays)1 DisplayPort (DP 2.1; up to 4 displays)
VGANo VGA PortsNo VGA Ports
USB Ports1 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3, 2 USB 4
2x USB4-C 40Gbps, 3x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x USB-A 2.0
1 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3, 2 USB 4
2x USB4-C 40Gbps, 3x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x USB-A 2.0
Thunderbolt PortsNoNo
OCuLinkPCIe 4.0 x4 (64Gbps) for eGPUPCIe 4.0 x4 (64Gbps) for eGPU
Internal SATA PortsNo SATA portsNo SATA ports
Card ReaderNo Card ReaderNo Card Reader
Headphone Jackcombocombo
FanlessNoNo
VESA MountYesYes
In the BoxMini PC, 120W power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount with screws, manualMini PC, 120W power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount with screws, manual
Expandability2x SO-DIMM DDR5-5600 (up to 128GB); 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4; OCuLink for eGPU.32GB LPDDR5X-8000 soldered; 3x M.2 (1x PCIe 4.0 x4 + 2x x2), up to 12TB; OCuLink for eGPU.

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Detailed Insights into the ACEMAGIC F5A

The F5A measures about 130 x 132 x 62 mm (roughly 5.1 x 5.2 x 2.4 inches), placing it just under a liter in volume, with a metal midsection, plastic top and bottom panels, and a perforated top plus side vents for airflow. Cooling comes from an internal fan working with a heatsink over the primary SSD. The front panel keeps the everyday connectors within reach: a power button, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, two USB-A ports, one USB4 Type-C, a microphone, and a reset pinhole. The rear carries the display and networking cluster, with HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, a second USB4 Type-C, another USB-A, a USB 2.0 port, the two 2.5GbE jacks, the OCuLink connector, and the DC input. A VESA mount and screws are included so the unit can hide behind a monitor.

At the center sits the Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, a Gorgon Point part that combines four full Zen 5 cores with eight compact Zen 5c cores for 12 cores and 24 threads, boosting up to 5.2 GHz and scoring around 36,900 on PassMark's multi-thread test. It is a measured refresh of last year's HX 370 rather than a clean-sheet redesign, nudging clocks and NPU throughput upward while keeping the same Radeon 890M graphics. That 16-compute-unit RDNA 3.5 iGPU is capable enough for 1080p gaming and GPU-accelerated creative tasks without a discrete card, and the 55 TOPS XDNA 2 NPU clears the Copilot+ PC bar, with AMD quoting up to 86 TOPS across the whole platform. One quirk worth knowing: the iGPU defaults to a small 2GB VRAM allocation, which can be raised in the BIOS for memory-hungry graphics work.

Expansion is where the F5A tries to stand out. Beyond the two USB4 ports, the OCuLink connector offers a PCIe 4.0 x4 link (64Gbps) purpose-built for external GPU docks or high-speed storage, and WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and the dual 2.5GbE ports round out connectivity. Storage differs by model: the barebone version has two M.2 2280 slots running PCIe 4.0 x4 for up to 8TB, while the configured version fits a third M.2 slot for up to 12TB total, though only the first slot is x4 and the other two are x2. Memory is the other fork. The barebone uses two SO-DIMM slots for user-replaceable DDR5-5600 (up to 128GB), whereas the configured unit trades that flexibility for soldered LPDDR5X-8000, which is faster and frees the internal space that the third M.2 slot occupies. The whole system can drive up to four displays across its HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB4 outputs.

Reviewer Insights on the ACEMAGIC F5A

Robtech's Perspective

Robtech reviewed the 2026 HX 470 version of the F5A with a full teardown, thermal and acoustic testing, and benchmark runs, opening with the framing that "AceMagic's F5A was an absolute banger of a mini PC. But this year, they've changed more than just the CPU." His teardown found the surprise upgrade to be storage: "With the extra space provided by the LPDDR5X soldered memory, they've gone the extra mile and added a third M.2 slot. Unexpected and a really nice addition." He did note that the two extra slots run at Gen4 x2 speeds and that no heatsinks are supplied for them.

On acoustics, Robtech was positive, saying "the F5A is very much one of the quieter minis around with its default balanced mode. On top of that, Ace Magic has fixed the high idle noise found on last year's unit." His running gripes were mechanical and small: a large 120W power brick that is not a compact GaN design, and screws hidden under glued-on rubber feet that slow down disassembly. He also flagged that ACEMAGIC had not posted BIOS updates on its website and that the graphics memory defaults to a conservative 2GB.

His overall verdict landed firmly in favor of the refresh. Scoring the unit against his own feature checklist, Robtech called it "the closest anyone's come to completing the checklist which is fitting for such a nice mini PC. 28 out of 30," and summed the generational change up as "they didn't just CPU swap it, they improved it."

Conclusion

The ACEMAGIC F5A is a strong pick for someone who wants a current-generation AMD mini PC with real expansion headroom rather than a sealed appliance. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 and Radeon 890M handle productivity, light-to-moderate gaming, and creative workloads comfortably, and the combination of dual USB4 and a dedicated OCuLink port means you can bolt on an external GPU later if integrated graphics stop being enough. Dual 2.5GbE, WiFi 7, and up to 12TB of NVMe storage also make it a capable home-server or virtualization host in a footprint that hides behind a monitor.

The choice between the two models is the real decision. The barebone unit is the one to buy if you value upgradeable SO-DIMM memory and want to supply your own RAM and SSDs, while the configured 32GB/1TB model trades that flexibility for faster soldered LPDDR5X-8000 and the extra M.2 slot. Buyers who want the quietest possible desktop or a compact GaN power adapter should weigh Robtech's notes on the bundled brick, and anyone planning heavy multi-drive storage should remember that two of the three M.2 slots are limited to PCIe 4.0 x2.

For those comparing options, see our Mini PC Comparison Chart to weigh the F5A against other compact AMD and Intel systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What processor does the ACEMAGIC F5A use?

The F5A uses the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, a Gorgon Point chip with 12 cores and 24 threads (four Zen 5 plus eight Zen 5c) that boosts up to 5.2 GHz and scores around 36,900 on PassMark's multi-thread benchmark. It includes Radeon 890M integrated graphics and a 55 TOPS NPU, with AMD quoting up to 86 TOPS of total platform AI performance.

Can I upgrade the RAM in the ACEMAGIC F5A?

It depends on which model you buy. The barebone version has two SO-DIMM slots for user-replaceable DDR5-5600 memory, supporting up to 128GB. The pre-configured 32GB model instead uses LPDDR5X-8000 soldered to the mainboard, which is faster but cannot be upgraded after purchase.

What is the OCuLink port on the F5A for?

OCuLink provides a PCIe 4.0 x4 connection (64Gbps), most commonly used to attach an external GPU dock so the F5A can drive a full desktop graphics card. It is faster than a USB4 or Thunderbolt eGPU link and can also be used for high-speed external storage.

How much storage can the ACEMAGIC F5A hold?

The barebone model has two M.2 2280 slots, both running PCIe 4.0 x4, for up to 8TB of NVMe storage. The configured model adds a third M.2 slot for up to 12TB total, though only the first slot is PCIe 4.0 x4 and the other two run at PCIe 4.0 x2.

What ports does the ACEMAGIC F5A have?

The front panel has a power button, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, two USB-A ports, one USB4 Type-C, a microphone, and a reset pinhole. The rear adds HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, a second USB4 Type-C, another USB-A, a USB 2.0 port, two 2.5GbE LAN jacks, the OCuLink connector, and the DC power input.

How many displays can the ACEMAGIC F5A drive?

The F5A supports up to four simultaneous displays, using its HDMI 2.1 port, DisplayPort 2.1 port, and both USB4 Type-C ports with DisplayPort Alt Mode. This makes it well-suited to multi-monitor productivity and creative setups.

Is the ACEMAGIC F5A quiet?

In his review of the HX 470 model, Robtech described the F5A as one of the quieter mini PCs around in its default balanced mode and noted that ACEMAGIC fixed the high idle fan noise present on the previous year's unit. The bundled power adapter is a large 120W brick rather than a compact GaN unit, which is worth noting if desk space matters.