Mega-Guide & Review: Acemagic S3A Ryzen 7 8745HS. Is this the new king of Mini PCs?

The compact computing market has taken an evolutionary leap. We are no longer talking about limited machines for basic office work; we are talking about powerhouses capable of editing 4K video and running Triple-A games in the palm of your hand. After a month of intensive use, today we break down the Acemagic S3A—a Mini PC that defies the laws of space and power.

1. Design and Ergonomics: The "Minimalist Tower" Concept

The first thing that surprises you about the Acemagic S3A is its form factor. Unlike 90% of its competitors, this unit bets on a vertical layout (tower-style).

Dimensions and Placement Standing 17.5 cm tall, 13 cm wide, and only 6 cm thick, the S3A is roughly the size of a thick paperback book. This verticality is no coincidence:

• Space Optimization: Being narrow, it clears a significant amount of desk surface for your mouse or keyboard.

• Visual Integration: If your monitor is at eye level (with a height-adjustable stand), the Mini PC fits perfectly under the screen, hiding rear cables while keeping front ports within reach. This wasn't the case for my setup...

Aesthetics and Materials The chassis is built from polycarbonate of quite acceptable quality. While it feels pleasant to the touch, it doesn't aim for a premium aluminum finish, but compensates with its functional design. Its RGB LED lighting stands out on the sides (with a honeycomb pattern) and the top logo, giving it a unique personality without being over the top.

2. Internal Engineering: Modularity and Maintenance

Acemagic has listened to users who hate closed systems. The left side cover is magnetic, eliminating the need for screwdrivers for basic maintenance.

WARNING: When removing this cover, you must be careful. One of the cooling fans is attached to the cover, and the connection cable is short. A sudden pull could disconnect it.

Surprises under the hood

Once opened, the S3A reveals a surprisingly modular architecture for its size:

• RAM: Two SODIMM slots (equipped with 32GB DDR5 in this unit).

• Storage: The system features two M.2 ports. It comes with 1TB installed but allows for a second drive for up to 4TB of total storage.

• Connectivity: The Wi-Fi module is also accessible and replaceable, which extends the device's lifespan.

3. Connectivity: Ready for the USB4 Standard

Despite its small volume, the S3A doesn’t skimp on ports. The inclusion of USB-C 4.0 is particularly noteworthy, a feature usually reserved for much more expensive machines.

• Front Panel: USB-C 4 port (40 Gbps), two USB-A 3.2 ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack (though the jack's placement could be better, as headphone cables can get in the way of the keyboard).

• Rear Panel: Four USB-A 3.2 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI, and DisplayPort.

4. Raw Performance: The Numbers Don't Lie

This is where the S3A flexes its muscles. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor, featuring 8 cores and 16 threads at 4.9 GHz, is quite simply a multitasking beast.

Synthetic Benchmarks I put the unit through tests like Cinebench, and the results confirm that we are dealing with a high-performance processor:

• Cinebench R23 Single Core: 1,651 points (demonstrating excellent agility for daily tasks).

• Cinebench R23 Multi Core: 13,700 points (a figure typically found in workstations from just a couple of years ago).

Real-World Performance For one month, I used this PC in an extreme multitasking scenario:

• Powered on 24/7 for a full week.

• Up to 4 Chrome windows with 15 tabs each (several streaming 4K YouTube).

• Simultaneous streaming on Netflix and HBO Max.

• Outlook, Word, and messaging apps running. The result: Absolute fluidity. The cooling system keeps temperatures in check, and fan noise is very low during productivity tasks.

5. Video Editing & Gaming: A Real Alternative?

Productivity (4K Rendering) For content creators, this Mini PC is a viable option. I rendered a 15-minute 4K video with color correction and basic effects, and the process finished in 18 minutes. For a machine without a dedicated GPU, this is a record-breaking time.

The Power of the Radeon 780M The AMD APU (Radeon 780M at 2,600 MHz) is the queen of integrated graphics. Its performance sits above the veteran Radeon RX 580 (8GB), allowing for a solid gaming experience:

• Forza Horizon 5: Stable 60 FPS (Medium/Low settings).

• Cyberpunk 2077: 50 FPS (using FSR in Balanced mode).

• Elden Ring: A rock-solid 50 FPS at 1080p.

6. Final Conclusion: Pros and Cons After a month of testing, the Acemagic S3A stands as one of the best price-to-performance purchases for 2026.

✅ Pros:

• Power: The Ryzen 7 8745HS handles everything in multitasking and productivity.

• Expansion: Being able to upgrade RAM, two M.2 drives, and Wi-Fi is a luxury in this size.

• USB4: The 40Gbps front port ensures compatibility with next-gen peripherals.

• Design: Compact, vertical, and with very aesthetic RGB.

❌ Cons:

• No VESA Support: If you want to hide it behind a TV, there is no official mount.

• Audio Jack: The front placement can be awkward for wired setups.

• Materials: The plastic is good quality, but some aluminum on the sides is missed.

Verdict: If you are looking for a powerful PC that saves space and allows you to work and game without spending what a high-end gaming laptop costs, the Acemagic S3A is undoubtedly a "small but mighty" contender you should consider.

What do you think about the performance of these new AMD APUs? Do you think integrated graphics will kill off low-end dedicated GPUs? Let me know in the comments!

Welcome to our new tech corner!

We are launching this blog by diving straight into the deep end with an in-depth analysis that leaves no stone unturned. We didn't want to start with empty introductions, so our first post is a statement of intent: hardware pushed to the limit, real-world testing, and honesty above all.

The protagonist? A tiny giant that promises to make conventional towers a thing of the past. Get ready, because we’re starting strong!