The market for compact computing systems has grown substantially as improvements in processor performance per watt have allowed ultra-compact form-factor (UCFF) and small form-factor (SFF) machines to replace traditional desktop PCs. The Intel Meteor Lake series is the latest entrant in this space, launching in September 2023 with a tile-based chiplet configuration and Foveros packaging.While primarily aimed at notebook platforms, the meteor Lake Ultra H-series (MTL-H) processors are now appearing in SFF and UCFF desktop systems.

The ACEMAGIC F2A 125H was evaluated alongside the ASRock Industrial NUC BOX-155H and the ASUS NUC14RVHv7 UCFF systems. The F2A has a larger physical footprint,which facilitates a better thermal solution,allowing the Core Ultra 5 125H processor to operate at a sustained power limit (PL1) of 65W.

This review provides an in-depth analysis of the ACEMAGIC F2A 125H’s features and performance, offering insights into the optimal operating power settings for MTL-H processors.

First Impressions

Processor performance and power efficiency have improved significantly over the past decade. Combined with advancements in thermal solutions, compact systems with low-power SoCs can now replace bulky desktops for many applications. Intel’s introduction of the ultra-compact form-factor (4in. x 4in.) NUC in the early 2010s significantly boosted this trend.

Processors integrated into these systems have seen a steady increase in power envelope. First-generation NUCs featured processors with a TDP between 6W and 15W. By the late 2010s, 28W processors were the flagship models. With Tiger Lake, Intel introduced the Panther Canyon NUCs with a 40W limit. Cooling 65W within UCFF constraints has proven challenging,leading ASUS to introduce the NUC14 Pro+ with a slightly larger footprint. the ACEMAGIC F2A also runs its processor at 65W, but with an even larger footprint than the NUC14 Pro+.

the F2A system measures 147 mm x 147 mm x 52 mm, compared to the NUC14 pro+’s 144 mm x 112 mm x 41 mm and the tall 4″x4″ NUC14 Pro’s 117 mm x 112 mm x 54 mm. The PC’s AI capabilities are heavily promoted. The package includes a 120W (19V @ 6.3A) power adapter, a power cord, a HDMI cable, a user manual, and a mounting plate with screws.

The F2A comes as a ready-to-use system with 32 GB of DDR5-5600 SODIMMs and a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD,with Windows 11 Home pre-installed. It is generally recommended to wipe the drive and install a fresh OS copy after