Beelink
Beelink SEi8 (Core i3-8109U / i5-8259U)
The SEi8 is an older Beelink mini PC (124 x 113 x 41 mm) built on 8th-gen Intel U-series laptop chips. Beelink sold it with the dual-core Core i3-8109U and, per CNX Software, an i5-8259U model also existed in the SEi line. Both have Intel Iris Plus 655 graphics. It has two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, an NVMe SSD slot, a 2.5-inch bay, gigabit Ethernet and a replaceable Wi-Fi card. CNX Software measured 7.1 W idle in Ubuntu but found the fan louder than its sibling SER3, and its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth older than advertised. It's a reasonable cheap box for a basic desktop, Home Assistant or light Plex direct play. Keep in mind the i3 version is only dual-core.
Specs that matter used
- CPU generation
- Intel 8th Gen (Coffee Lake / Whiskey Lake / Kaby Lake-R)
- CPU options
- Core i3-8109U, Core i5-8259U
- Form factor
- Consumer mini PC
- Memory
- DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2 slots
- Storage
- 1x M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe 3.0), plus a 2.5-inch SATA mount in the lid
- Ethernet
- 1 × 1 GbE (Realtek RTL8111-family gigabit)
- Wi-Fi
- Intel Wireless-AC 3165 (Wi-Fi 5, BT 4.0) on a replaceable M.2 2230 card, despite listings saying Wi-Fi 6 / BT 5.0
- vPro / AMT
- No
- Cooling
- Fan-cooled
- Power adapter
- External DC brick (rating not found)
- Measured idle draw
- 7.1 W (Measured by CNX Software on a Core i3-8109U unit with 16 GB / 512 GB in Ubuntu 22.04; source)
- Windows 11
- CPU generation is on Microsoft's supported list
Spec sources
- https://www.cnx-software.com/2022/05/24/beelink-sei8-ser3-review-intel-core-i3-8109u-amd-ryzen-3-3200u-mini-pcs-windows-11/
- https://www.cnx-software.com/2022/06/17/beelink-ser3-sei8-mini-pcs-review-part-2-ubuntu-22-04/
- https://www.cnx-software.com/2021/02/09/beelink-sei-review-a-core-i3-10110u-mini-pc-tested-with-windows-and-ubuntu/
Check before you buy
- Confirm whether the CPU is the dual-core i3-8109U or the quad-core i5-8259U; both are sold as SEi8.
- Expect Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.0 even if the listing says Wi-Fi 6; the card is a replaceable M.2 2230 if you want to upgrade.
- Expect some fan noise under load: CNX Software measured 37 dBA, louder than comparable Beelinks.
- Make sure the power brick is included, since no rating was published to help you find a replacement.
General off-lease checks (BIOS passwords, Computrace, missing drive caddies) are in the used mini PC buying checklist.
On eBay
Find a Beelink SEi8 (Core i3-8109U / i5-8259U)
Search eBay for “Beelink SEi8”. Off-lease units are listed in batches, often with the RAM, drive and power adapter in the title, so compare those before price. Use the checks on this page before you buy.
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