Khadas Mind Maker Kit Review: Power-Packed Mini PC for Windows 11

Ladies and gents, brace yourselves! The tech nerd’s dream is finally here: the Khadas Mind Maker Kit Part 2 Review is making waves as this AI-focused mini-PC aims to redefine performance benchmarks under Windows 11 Pro. If you’ve been on the hunt for a compact, ultra-efficient machine with cutting-edge AI capabilities, this device demands your attention!
This review delves deep into its nerve center—the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Lunar Lake processor—and its performance in running Windows 11 Home 24H2. Let's dig into every avenue of performance, from AI benchmarks to thermal tests and even display output capabilities. What you'll read may leave you contemplating whether this little machine is too much power packed into a slim chassis. Buckle up!

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The Hardware: Peak Intel Lunar Lake Performance in a Compact Shell​

At its core, the Khadas Mind Maker Kit flaunts one of Intel’s premier processors: the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Lunar Lake. It's an octa-core beast (4 performance + 4 efficiency) clocked at a 2.20 GHz base frequency, with Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics and an Intel AI Boost NPU onboard. You’ll also get 32 GB of LPDDR5X memory and 1 TB of NVMe SSD storage bolted to the motherboard.
This isn’t just hardware. This is an orchestra of innovation, showcasing:

• 115 TOPS of AI Performance: Mind-blowing for such a compact device.
• Direct compatibility with Windows 11 (Home 24H2) for maximum functionality.
• Wi-Fi 6R and Bluetooth 5.3 for seamless connectivity.
• High-performance storage: a 1TB NVMe WD PC SN740 SSD, providing industry-standard speeds.

Setting itself apart from typical desktops, the compact design houses quad-channel LPDDR5X RAM soldered directly to the board. Why? Better thermal efficiency and compactness—two elements any developer or AI enthusiast prioritizes.
One thing’s for sure: it’s not just compact; it's engineered to challenge traditional laptops and desktops alike.

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Benchmarks Galore: Pushing Performance To Its Edge​

So, let’s put this powerhouse through its paces. It’s one thing to brag about having high-tech specs, but does it hold water when stressed? The Khadas Mind Maker Kit underwent a range of benchmarks, each revealing surprising strengths (and a few quirks).

PCMark 10 Performance​

When switching Windows 11 to “Best Performance” mode, the Mind Maker Kit scored an impressive 7,116 points—leaving behind Khadas’ last-gen “Mind Premium” mini PC while coming tantalizingly close to beating leading rivals like the GEEKOM GT1 Mega.
This device is particularly stellar in digital content creation tasks (video editing, rendering, 3D animation, etc.), receiving a sub-score of 9,935 within PCMark, a testament to its capability for creative professionals.

3DMark Fire Strike​

3D benchmark enthusiasts, rejoice! Sporting its Intel Arc 140V GPU, this PC hit a record 9,023 points in Fire Strike. That’s the highest score for any internal GPU in a mini PC tested to date! Comparing this to budget gaming rigs might feel unfair since mini PCs prioritize power efficiency.

AI Benchmarks (Geekbench AI)​

Now for the exciting part—Artificial Intelligence. Using OpenVINO as the AI backend, the Mind Maker Kit demonstrated explosive performance:

• NPU Single Precision Score: 3,030 points
• Half-Precision: 16,630 points
• Quantized Inference: 23,255 points

It’s particularly noteworthy that these scores weren’t just an improvement over prior models—they revealed true AI capabilities for compact machines! However, interestingly, the onboard Intel Arc 140V GPU outperformed the AI Boost NPU across many tasks, likely because the GPU delivers higher raw TOPS (64 TOPS compared to the NPU’s 47 TOPS).
AI workload enthusiasts working with modern frameworks like TensorFlow or Microsoft Co-Pilot+ will find this system versatile.

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Mindfulness Meets Multi-Display Menace!​

The Khadas Mind Maker Kit scored big in other hardware arenas—like USB speeds and storage. But its multi-monitor support threw up some unexpected flags, especially for users needing three simultaneous displays.
Here's what I found:

• Dual Displays? No problem! Whether HDMI + USB-C or dual USB-C setups, you’ll get stunning visuals.
• Triple displays? A Catch. The third display stubbornly refused to activate without adding extra docking hardware.

Khadas later admitted this is due to a hardware limitation, and in their own tests, configurations topping out at two simultaneous displays were stable. So, while you can push for three with docks or adapters, this might feel a little dated considering the premium positioning of the kit.

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The Silent Warrior: Thermals & Sound!​

Heat generation in technology is inevitable. According to thermal tests:

• The maximum CPU temp peaked at 87°C under balanced workloads.
• More importantly, no thermal throttling was detected despite extended stress tests.

The fan noise was surprisingly low, sticking at 39-40 dBa when idle. Under intense load, it climbed to only 50 dBa—an acceptable level for most work environments.
Let’s just say it's efficient, cool under pressure, and nowhere close to being a desk-stewing space heater.

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Wi-Fi 6 Magic & Battery Backups​

Equipped with Intel Wi-Fi 6R AX211, the Mind Maker Kit reached smoking-fast speeds:

• 1.78 Gbps Download
• 1.93 Gbps Upload

But something game-changing: it packs an integrated battery for power backup—revolutionary for mini PCs! It’s not built for prolonged use but will survive unexpected outages for up to 25 hours on standby, or 20 minutes under typical operational load. A lifesaver indeed.

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Verdict: Is the Khadas Mind Maker Kit Mind-Blowing Enough?​

Now, let’s break this down: Is the Khadas Mind Maker Kit worth it for Windows power users or developers? Turns out, the answer highly depends on what you’re looking for:

• For AI Developers: This mini-PC isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a cornerstone tool delivering superb AI inference capabilities for tasks like edge computing or local testing.
• For Compact Hardware Lovers: It's one of the most portable, high-powered, and future-proof devices around, albeit slightly limited in multi-display support.

What’s Perfect?

• Superb AI readiness for Windows 11.
• Stellar graphics with Intel Arc 140V GPU.
• Compact and thermally efficient build.
• World-beating 3DMark scores for iGPU-based mini PCs.

The Trade-Offs?

• Just 8 cores (no hyper-threading). It's not a multitasking champion.
• Triple-display compatibility requiring docks.
• For $999+, it’s a targeted product—everyday users on general desktops might find better value elsewhere.

In conclusion, Khadas delivers a future-proofed piece of tech that may sit at the cutting edge of AI-based desktops. It’s not perfect—but boy, is it exciting!

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Source: CNX Software https://www.cnx-software.com/2025/01/05/khadas-mind-maker-kit-review-part-2-windows-11-pro-on-an-intel-core-ultra-7-258v-ai-mini-pc/