General Analysis

In regards to build quality, the case is rugged, and the design, while simple, has no standout problems. Keeping temperatures in check, ASRock's base cooler works just fine. The CPU reported a maximum of 73°C, while the CPU Diode reported a peak of 80°C, and the GPU Diode cited a peak of 82°C. Regardless of how accurate these temperatures are, the CPU never once thermal throttled, and I encountered no issues with stability during continuous testing. In regards to power consumption, the system peaked at 100 watts at the wall as measured by my P3 Kill-a-watt meter. Finally, during intense loads, noise levels peaked at 42 dBA.


As for the BIOS, it is simple, but offers enough options to configure the system as necessary. Even better, it allows for higher memory speeds should users opt for high-performance offerings. While I don't see any real benefit to spending on pricey high-end memory for such a system, if a deal presents itself, users can opt to improve performance with faster memory. It should also be noted that the fan curve for the CPU cooler in the BIOS can be customized to either focus on silence or performance.

When it comes to size, the ASRock A300 is very small, though not compared to the likes of the ECS LIVA Q2 or LIVA Z units. However, I would say the A300 is what I would personally consider the right size. With an optional bracket, you can still mount this system to the back of a monitor, hiding it out of sight and out of mind. Add in the ability to use an M.2 SSD with the option for installing larger storage drives, and the system is a good fit for an HTPC system. The barebones price of $149.99 isn't half bad either. Factor in a Ryzen 2400G, some memory, and an SSD and the system still remains very affordable. A system built to the same specifications as I have tested here would roughly cost $430. Obviously, those looking to cut costs further could use a SATA SSD, drop to 8 GB of memory, or use the Ryzen 2200G or even more affordable Athlon 200GE, which easily allows users to build a small form factor system that is still responsive for even less.

ASRock decided to cut corners by not including extra I/O connectivity, relegating it to optional add-ons instead. While this does help reduce cost, I found myself running out of USB ports fairly quickly since the system only has three Type A ports by default, alongside a Type-C. Since Wi-Fi is not included, I used a USB Wi-Fi adapter for such things as Netflix streaming. This meant I only had two usable USB ports for peripherals. Considering the performance of the Ryzen 2400G, the system was great for classic gaming emulation; however, it was more of a hassle than I had anticipated due to the lack of ports. While I expect this on ultra-small systems, like the LIVA Q2, there is no excuse for not having a few more USB ports available by default here. I am not looking for an Apple-like experience as a power user. Adequate I/O connectivity is important, so I would greatly prefer ASRock step up their game here by providing more functionality out of the box. Granted, they at least offer a solution to this issue with their add-on accessories, but I am still not exactly enthusiastic about having to track down optional parts that are in stock.

As seen in the benchmarks, general performance is quite good, but not exceptional. Obviously, the Ryzen 2400G can't compete with an Intel i9 9900k or Ryzen 2700X used in higher-end desktops. However, it does mop the floor with the low-power Intel Celeron and Pentium N series processors most mini-PCs utilize. In fact, the ASRock DeskMini A300 in even a basic configuration can be seen as a proper alternative to a large desktop, especially for office work, browsing, HTPC use, etc. If going with a Ryzen 2400G, it can even function as a great system for casual gaming, console emulation, or running older titles from years ago.

When it came to the gaming tests, I was on the fence about running them at all since it is quite clear that the Ryzen 2400G isn't going to be running titles at high resolutions and settings. However, I was curious to see how it would do in more realistic gaming situations, and to be fair, it did better than expected. At 720p, gaming was quite smooth in most titles with no real problems to speak of. Sure, the games don't look as pretty as they could, but they were entirely playable and enjoyable at medium settings. Some games were even playable at 1080p. To up frame rates at 1080p, further tweaks to various settings could be made, but 720p is where the system seemed happiest. Using a resolution like 1600x900 with a few tweaks would likely be the sweet spot for performance and visuals in regards to casual gaming. If all you are into is the likes of Dota 2, League of Legends, or more casual games, like Stardew Valley, have no fear as this system can run those titles exceptionally well.

While emulating older consoles doesn't take much these days, it can still be taxing when trying to upscale the likes of PS2 games. By forcing 16x anisotropic filtering, higher resolutions, and even anti-aliasing, these older titles can be brought back to life, and for this, the AMD Ryzen 2400G proved quite capable. While it was not able to brute force insane settings, it still proved more than enough for running Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, Onimusha Warlords, and Suikoden IV at 1080p 60 fps with the exception of some cutscenes in Metal Gear which saw drops down into the 40 fps range. Even with that minor hiccup, the game played perfectly with the frame rate again pegged at 60 fps. Meanwhile, the other two games performed perfectly. In general, the system is quite capable of being a solid emulation and casual gaming system should users opt for it. Just make sure you pick up a few of those optional upgrades so you can actually plug in a controller.