ASUS VivoMini VC66R Review: Kaby Lake Goes Compact

These days, a lot of companies rely on space-saving solutions. From the layout of the tables, to how people can sit in a row of stations, maximizing available space for the most essential elements is important. ASUS know this, so they came up with a device that is not only extremely compact, but seems to boast a lot of muscle as well.

Meet the ASUS VivoMini VC66R. At the size of just about half of a shoebox, this Mini PC sports a 7^th Generation Intel Core processor, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, and a 1TB Hard Drive. Should be more than enough for what an average office employee does right? But is it actually as good as it says on paper? Let’s find out in this full review:

Compact and Versatile

At first glance, the VivoMini PC seems to resemble a smaller version of a popular gaming console with its black matte finish, and a gap in the middle.

Up front are two USB 2.0 ports, a USB 3.0 port, a USB 3.0 Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s no microphone jack, which means you’ll have to use the chat box on your Skype conference. There’s also an illuminated Power button along with the HDMI logo and some branding.

Both sides of the device are fitted with air vents for adequate cooling.

The rear houses two additional USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet port, a serial port, an HDMI Port, a Displayport, a DVI port, and a Kensington security slot. The vast number of USB ports make it ideal for those who have a number of peripherals, and the variety of display ports make it compatible with most monitors.

The VivoMini VC66R also comes with VESA mount kit, which allows it to be attached to the back of a compatible monitor.

Uncompromised Performance

ASUS VivoMini VC66R Specs:

Benchmarks:

The 7^th Generation Intel Core i5 processor in the VivoMini should be more than enough to handle daily task such as document editing, spreadsheets, Powerpoint presentations, basic photo editing, etc (There’s also an i3 and an i7 variant). The 8GB of RAM also made switching between running apps a breeze. Editing a document while listening to music and watching a tutorial on YouTube? No problem.

The onboard graphics chip is quite capable as it handled 1080p video playback and even casual gaming without any issues. Another good thing about the Kaby Lake processors is native 4K video playback support, so just in case you want to have fun at the office by watching a movie on a big screen? This thing will do the job.

Bootup was quite fast, thanks to the VivoMini’s SSD. There also a 1TB Hard Disk Drive installed, which provides probably more than enough storage for the average user, except for those who are working on a huge library of music, videos, or high resolution images.

Well Optimized Operating System, But Could Do Away With Bloatware

The VivoMini comes with Windows 10 Home pre-installed along with a slew of ASUS Apps, including ASUS Manager, an which serves as a control center for managing several aspects of the device such as Power Profiles, System Restore Points, and Backups. There’s also McAfee LiveSafe installed, which, fortunately, you can uninstall if necessary.

Overall, the experience with Windows 10 on the VivoMini was generally smooth with no issues. Apps were quick to start, multi-tasking is fairly easy, and there were no hints of slowdown at any point throughout the time I was using it.

Verdict

The ASUS VivoMini VC66R is a very capable machine that doesn’t require a lot of room in a desk. The design looks simple but sturdy, the processing package can handle most daily tasks and multi-tasking with ease, and the operating system is well optimized for the job. It’s also quite versatile as it can connect to most displays, and is fitted with enough ports for a number of peripherals.

On the other side, the lack of a microphone jack is a bit disappointing, as it may be of use for companies which rely on video conferencing, or voice communication with clients and among employees. The compact form factor also takes out any room for installing a dedicated graphics card, which is essential for a lot of industries. There’s no price for it yet, but if they’re able to get it right, the VivoMini is a great choice not only for an office PC, but also for personal use at home.

The Good

• Build Quality
• Performance in Daily Tasks and Multi-Tasking
• Well-optimized software
• Compatible with Most Displays
• More than Enough USB Ports for Peripherals

The Not So Good

• No Microphone Jack
• No Room for Adding a Dedicated Graphics Card

Emman Tortoza

Website

Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.