Sapphire Edge VS8 mini-PC

This mini PC has a versatile selection of ports, but its sluggish performance will be a turn off for...

The Sapphire Edge VS8 is the only machine in this test to include an AMD processor. The chip used here is one of the firm's APUs, and that means it includes a double hit of performance: it crams one of AMD's processors and a Radeon graphics core into the...

Considering how poorly AMD's A-series APU did in our Budget Builds story, you'd think that type of chip would be outclassed by its AM3+ siblings and Intel's crew in all scenarios. But, while that's true in the case of big desktops, when you miniaturize...

The Edge VS8 delivers somewhat unimpressive general performance, but really comes into its own with multimedia and gaming where it can outclass the competition. A good set of connectivity options is provided, along with a roomy 500GB hard drive. It can function well as a stand-alone family entertainment hub and is available at a very low price.

Overall, the VS8 is one of the nicest MiniPCs I have tested,and while I did have a few issues I have no doubt they will be fixed. When we spoke in the beginning of the article we said pricing was set at 500$ USD, this puts the Sapphire in favor with units of similar performance such as the ZBOX ID83 Plus.

For less than $500 this is a dynamite product. It’s super small and packs more premium features than you might believe for such an affordable desktop.

Those worried about what Sapphire could install within the full system should grab the barebone unit with an SSD and their choice of memory. With such a configuration, the VS8 will not only manage to impress in3D applications and games, but also in everyday use.

The Sapphire Edge VS8 may cost a bit more than most other units, but it offers an excellent price to performance ratio. The other comparable unit would be the brand new ID83 from Zotac. It costs around 10% more and offers a dual-core CPU with Intel...