Shoppers looking for a new mini PC now face a subtle but expensive shift: the “AI tax.” The MinisForum AI X1 Pro arrives equipped with AMD’s cutting-edge Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, promising advanced neural processing alongside fresh CPU and GPU cores. However, for everyday users and gamers, the price premium attached to these AI features significantly outpaces the actual performance gains you get in real-world play.
While the upgraded integrated graphics deliver a bump in frame rates, the leap over previous-generation processors is incremental rather than transformative. Most gaming and emulation tasks do not utilize the dedicated NPU, meaning buyers are footing the bill for specialized silicon that sits idle during standard desktop use and gaming sessions.
- Modest graphical uplift: The integrated Radeon 890M offers measurable performance improvements, but it doesn’t represent a generational leap over the ubiquitous Radeon 780M found in cheaper units.
- The AI price creep: Dedicated NPU hardware drives up chip manufacturing costs, pushing the price of this compact PC into territory where budget-conscious buyers expect substantially higher gaming output.
- Last-gen still holds the value crown: Mini PCs featuring AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS or 8845HS processors deliver comparable frame rates for typical gaming and emulation at a fraction of the cost.
- Capable but niche: The X1 Pro itself is well-engineered with solid build quality and cooling, but its primary selling points appeal more to developers and local AI enthusiasts than traditional PC buyers.
Bottom line: Unless your daily workflow directly relies on onboard NPU acceleration for local AI tasks, budget-minded gamers will get drastically better performance-per-dollar by sticking with discounted previous-generation AMD mini PCs.
