Beelink SER8 (24GB + 1TB) Review: Eight Ryzen Cores With a Free Memory Slot to Grow Into
The 24GB + 1TB build of the Beelink SER8 keeps everything that defines the platform (the eight-core, sixteen-thread Ryzen 7 8845HS, Radeon 780M graphics with 12 compute units, a USB4 port, HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 for three screens, 2.5G Ethernet and vapor chamber cooling) and changes only the memory: one 24GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM instead of a pair, which runs single-channel as shipped but leaves a slot free for expansion up to 256GB. With a 1TB PCIe 4.0 drive, a second M.2 slot and Windows 11 Pro installed, it is a capable everyday desktop in a very small metal chassis. The trade-offs are Wi-Fi 6 rather than Wi-Fi 7, an external power adapter and no SD card reader.
- Everyday desktop replacement
- Multi-monitor home office
- Planned memory upgrades
- Light 1080p gaming
Pros
- Eight-core, sixteen-thread Ryzen 7 8845HS boosting to 5.1 GHz
- Radeon 780M graphics with 12 compute units
- USB4 port at 40Gbps with Thunderbolt 3 compatibility
- Triple display over HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4 and USB4
- Second SO-DIMM slot left free, expandable to 256GB of DDR5
- Two M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots, 1TB drive included
- Vapor chamber cooling in a compact 0.8 liter metal case
- Three-year warranty, Windows 11 Pro and an HDMI cable included
Cons
- Single 24GB module, so memory runs single-channel until a second one is added
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 rather than Wi-Fi 7
- External power adapter instead of an internal supply
- Two of the rear USB Type-A ports are USB 2.0
- No SD card reader, fingerprint sensor or Kensington lock slot
- No built-in speakers or microphone
Who is the Beelink SER8 (24GB + 1TB) for?
It suits anyone who wants a full desktop without a tower: office work, heavy browser multitasking, photo editing, software development and media playback all fit the Ryzen 7 8845HS, an eight-core, sixteen-thread Zen 4 chip that boosts to 5.1 GHz within a 65W power target. The integrated Radeon 780M, with 12 compute units, handles 1080p gaming in lighter titles and 4K video. This configuration makes most sense for someone who either finds 24GB enough today or intends to add a second module later, since one of the two memory slots ships empty.
What stands out on paper
Display and expansion options are generous for a 0.8 liter box. A full-featured USB4 port runs at 40Gbps with Thunderbolt 3 compatibility, DisplayPort output and power delivery, so a dock or fast external drive connects with one cable, and together with HDMI 2.1 (4K at 120Hz) and DisplayPort 1.4 (4K at 144Hz) it drives three screens at once. Storage uses two M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots, one holding the included 1TB drive and one free, for up to 8TB in total. Cooling is the MSC 2.0 design with a vapor chamber, a quiet fan and an SSD heatsink, with air drawn in through a metal dust filter on the base. Networking covers 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6 on an Intel AX200 card and Bluetooth 5.2, and there are two 3.5 mm audio jacks, one at the front and one at the back. Beelink backs it with a three-year warranty and includes an HDMI cable.
What to know before you buy
The 24GB is a single DDR5 module, so the memory runs single-channel out of the box. Dual-channel memory offers more bandwidth, which is why this build rewards adding a second SO-DIMM; the slot is there and the platform accepts up to 256GB. Wireless is Wi-Fi 6, a generation behind the Wi-Fi 7 machines in the category, and there is only one Ethernet port. Power comes from an external 19V, 5.26A adapter rather than an internal supply. Two of the rear USB Type-A ports are USB 2.0, and the case has no SD card reader, no fingerprint sensor, no Kensington lock slot and no built-in speakers or microphone. There is no VESA mount in the box.
Is the Beelink SER8 (24GB + 1TB) worth it?
As a platform the SER8 is well specified for its size: eight fast cores, capable integrated graphics, USB4, triple display and two Gen 4 storage slots. The 24GB build is the one to pick if its price sits clearly below the 32GB dual-channel version, or if the plan is to add memory anyway, because the free slot turns the smaller configuration into a sensible starting point rather than a compromise. If maximum graphics performance out of the box matters more than upgrade room, the dual-module configurations are the safer choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 24GB in the Beelink SER8 one module or two?
One. This configuration ships with a single 24GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM and leaves the second of its two slots empty, so it runs in single-channel mode until another module is added.
How much memory can the SER8 take?
Up to 256GB of DDR5-5600 across its two SO-DIMM slots, according to Beelink.
Can I add a second SSD?
Yes. There are two M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots, one used by the included 1TB drive, and each accepts up to 4TB for 8TB in total.
How many monitors can it drive?
Three at once, using HDMI 2.1 at up to 4K 120Hz, DisplayPort 1.4 at up to 4K 144Hz and the USB4 port with DisplayPort output.
Does it support Thunderbolt?
Its USB4 port runs at 40Gbps and is compatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices, with DisplayPort output and power delivery on the same connector.
Does it have an internal power supply?
No. It uses an external 19V, 5.26A adapter, included in the box along with an HDMI cable.
