Key Takeaways
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
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