Key Takeaways
- ASRock's new AI BOX-A395 marks a renewed collaboration with AMD, featuring the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 on the Strix Halo platform for AI inference tasks.
- The AI BOX-A395 includes 16 Zen 5 cores, 32 threads, and an advanced XDNA 2 NPU, providing 50 TOPS for inference and performance comparable to an Nvidia RTX 4070 for rendering and gaming.
- Its unique design features a sleek aluminum body with a handle for portability and a six-heatpipe cooling system for optimal airflow, along with a dual BIOS setup for enhanced security.
- The device offers extensive connectivity options, including multiple USB ports, HDMI, DisplayPort outputs, and advanced networking capabilities with 2.5 Gbps and 10 Gbps NICs.
- The expected price for the AI BOX-A395 configuration with up to 128 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 2 to 4 TB NVMe SSD storage is around $4,000, though ASRock has not confirmed pricing or availability.
ASRock has been one of the few mini PC manufacturers that didn't reveal any small form-factor (SFF) models with AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 last year. This can be attributed to their strong partnership with Intel. However, this year marks a new beginning as ASRock's Industrial division is re-establishing its collaboration with AMD, announcing a new product called the AI BOX-A395.
Compact Workstation for AI Tasks
The AI BOX-A395 is promoted as a portable workstation-class small form-factor PC which is built on AMD's Strix Halo platform, specifically aimed at AI inference applications. It boasts 16 Zen 5 cores along with 32 threads, and the advanced XDNA 2 NPU that provides an impressive 50 TOPS for inference tasks. Additionally, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is equipped with a Radeon 8060S integrated GPU, which matches the performance of an Nvidia RTX 4070 laptop GPU, proving to be an excellent option for rendering and can also serve as a dependable GPU for 1080p gaming.
Unique Design and Features
What makes the AI BOX-A395 unique compared to other Strix Halo mini PCs is its sleek aluminum body, which includes a convenient handle for easy portability. The aluminum casing dimensions are 200 x 100 x 232 mm (7.87 x 3.94 x 9.13 inches). Inside, it features a six-heatpipe cooling system with a copper foundation, designed for optimal airflow. ASRock has also included an internal power supply. A standout feature usually seen in business and enterprise systems is the dual BIOS setup, which adds an extra layer of security and stability with a backup BIOS.
Connectivity Options and Pricing Estimates
The connectivity options offered are comparable to other similar devices, featuring 2x USB4, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, and 2x USB 2.0 ports. It also has 2x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DP 2.1 video outputs, along with mic-in and audio-out jacks. Networking capabilities are supported by 2.5 Gbps and 10 Gbps NICs, plus a Wi-Fi 7 + BT 5.4 M.2 card.
Given the ongoing RAM and storage shortages, the expected price for this model is around $4,000. This is for the configuration that comes with a maximum of 128 GB LPDDR5X-8000 RAM and between 2 to 4 TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage arranged in a RAID 0/1 setup, even though ASRock hasn't shared details about pricing or availability yet.
Source: Link