Mini PCs are not short of power these days, but they are almost universally short of character — a parade of identical black and silver boxes. AceMagic’s Retro X5 is the exception, wrapped in a shell modelled on the 1985 Nintendo Entertainment System. Underneath the nostalgia, though, is a specification that solves a problem the entire AI mini PC category has been ignoring. Details are on AceMagic’s site.
That problem is memory. Every Ryzen AI Max+ 395 machine we have covered — the GMKtec EVO-X2 and EVO-X3, the Bosgame M5, the Minisforum MS-S1 Max — uses soldered LPDDR5X. Fast, but permanently fixed at whatever you buy. The Retro X5 uses conventional SO-DIMM DDR5-5600, supports up to 128GB, and gives you tool-free access via a removable top cover. If the ability to upgrade matters to you, that is a genuine and rare advantage.
The hardware behind the nostalgia
It runs AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 from the Strix Point family — 12 cores and 24 threads in a hybrid arrangement of four Zen 5 and eight Zen 5c cores, boosting to 5.1GHz, with 24MB of L3 cache. Graphics come from the Radeon 890M with 16 RDNA 3.5 compute units at up to 2.9GHz, and there is an XDNA 2 NPU rated at 50 TOPS, contributing to around 80 TOPS across the platform.
That is a step below the Strix Halo machines — 16 compute units against 40 — so this is not the choice for heavy 4K grading or running very large local AI models. For Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, moderate video work and general editing, it is perfectly competent, and performance is broadly comparable to an entry-level discrete GPU.
Storage runs to two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots for up to 4TB, and connectivity is thoroughly modern despite the vintage exterior: dual 2.5Gb Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB4 with 100W power delivery, HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.0 driving up to four 8K displays. The USB4 port supports an external GPU enclosure if you outgrow the integrated graphics.
Worth it for the looks?
Partly, and there is no shame in that. This is a machine for someone who wants their desk to have some personality, and the mechanical grille vents are functional rather than decorative. But the upgradable memory is the more serious argument, and it applies whether or not you care about the styling.
Pricing has moved around considerably — launched in China at around $941, presale at $959, and listed on Amazon at $1,399.99 with discount codes bringing it closer to $1,049. Worth watching for a promotion rather than paying list.
AceMagic Retro X5: Specifications
Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (Strix Point) — 12 cores / 24 threads (4 Zen 5, 8 Zen 5c), up to 5.1GHz, 24MB L3 cache.
Graphics: AMD Radeon 890M, 16 RDNA 3.5 compute units, up to 2.9GHz.
AI: XDNA 2 NPU up to 50 TOPS; approximately 80 TOPS platform total.
Memory: DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM, upgradable to 128GB (32GB in the standard configuration).
Storage: two M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots, up to 4TB (1TB supplied).
Networking: dual 2.5Gb Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4.
Ports: USB4 with 100W power delivery, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.0, 3.5mm audio.
Display: up to four 8K displays.
Cooling: Fresh Air Cooling System 3.0 with dual copper heat pipes and centrifugal fan.
Other: tool-free removable top cover; RetroPlay Box emulator software bundled; Windows 11 Pro.
AceMagic Retro X5: Price and availability
The Retro X5 launched globally in March 2026 and is available via Amazon and AceMagic. Pricing has varied between roughly $941 and $1,399 depending on region and promotion, with discount codes frequently bringing it to around $1,049. UK pricing varies by retailer — check current pricing before purchase.
