PCSpecialist AZENA 1L Review

Introduction and Technical Specifications of the PCSpecialist AZENA 1L

With a volume of only 1 and a half liters, this mini PC that we show you in this Review of PCSpecialist AZENA 1L It is capable of hiding a motherboard with LGA1700 socket and a Core i9-14900T accompanied, in this configuration, by 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD

We are talking about a complete computer with good connectivity and power options that only occupies 198 mm x 42 mm x 186 mm, and that has a format with an already integrated support to be placed behind the monitor using the VESA standard.

Technical Characteristics of the PCSpecialist AZENA 1L

• Box: PCS AZENA 1L Thin Mini ITX Case
• Processor (CPU): Intel Core i9-14900T processor (24 cores up to 5.5 GHz) 36MB cache
• motherboard: ASUS PRO H610T D4 mini-ITX
• Memory (RAM): 32GB PCS PRO SODIMM DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 16GB)
• Graphic card: Integrated Intel UHD 7700
• First M.2 SSD drive: 1TB SOLIDIGM P41+ GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 4125MB/s read, 2950MB/s write)
• power adapter: 1 x 120W Power Adapter
• Power cord: 1 x 1.5 meter European Clover Power Cable
• Processor cooling: CPU copper heatsink- 103
• network card: 10/100/1000 Gigabit LAN port
• wireless network card: INTEL Wi-Fi 6 AX201 + BT 5.0 wireless card
• Physical connectivity:

  • 1 x HDMI.
  • 1 x Display Port.
  • 3 x USB-A 2.0.
  • 1 x USB-C
  • 1 x RJ45 1GbE.
  • 2 x USB-A 3.1.
  • 1 x USB-A 3.0
  • 5 x minijack.

• Operating system: Windows 11 Home 64 Bit.
• Dimensions: 198mm x 42mm x 186mm
• Price: €1,316.00

Design and Connectivity

He PCSpecialist AZENA 1L It has a compact format where its thin thickness stands out. Many mini PCs based on ITX boards use taller designs, but this one stands out for its contained profile.

Its design includes a module at the top with four threaded holes to fix it on a VESA mount behind any compatible monitor. This area also includes an air inlet with its own filter.

Wireless connectivity includes WiFi 6E and Bluetooth, while physical connectivity is distributed between a set of ports on the front, and the rest on the rear.

In front we have three minijacks, one combined for microphone and headphones, and two with separate supports. Just below there are two USB-A 2.0 (which at this point could already be 3.0), another USB-A 3.0 and a USB-C of the same type.

On the back we have an HDMI, a DisplayPort, two USB-A, two USB 3.1 10 Gbps, two other minijacks and an RJ-45 1 GbE LAN network, which would have been appreciated if it made the jump to 2, 5GbE or 5GbE. However, we must highlight the multitude of ports and options we have, with nothing to envy larger equipment.

In addition to the upper air inlet, there is also one in the front area and an outlet on the side that is connected directly to the heatsink.

Accessing the interior is very simple and only requires removing two screws. One of the advantages of using an LGA platform is that we have fairly easy expansion options. For example, we can see that metal tray in the upper area where 2.5-inch drives can be added for the two available SATA ports.

We have an M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD in M.2 2280 format, but underneath it hides another M.2 for M.2 2230 for the WiFi card.

The RAM uses the SODIMM format in two slots; However, they are located just below the fan, so to access them you must first remove it.

For power, an external 130W laptop-type source is all we will need to bring this equipment to life.

Performance of PCSpecialist AZENA 1L

One of the most striking details of the PCSpecialist AZENA 1L is that, despite its compact size, it houses a motherboard with desktop processors with LGA 1700 socket.

The Intel Core i9-14900T that we have in hand is a variant limited in consumption and performance of the Core i9-14900, one of Intel’s most powerful processors. In this variant we have a total of 24 cores and 32 threadswith 8 high-performance P-Cores and 16 E-Cores for efficiency.

Its base frequency is only 1.1 GHz in the P-Cores and 800 MHz in the E-Cores, with maximum Boosts of 5.5 and 4 GHz respectively.

Its base TDP is 35W, while it can reach 106W Boost. However, in this PCSpecialist AZENA 1L it is limited by default to 65W of boost (pl2), maintaining the usual 35W (Pl1) when multi-core performance is required. Such a limitation makes its performance considerably lower than what we can find in a standard desktop processor.and even falls well below the most capable laptop variants, which makes the fun of having a desktop processor in this format somewhat lost.

Of course, with this limitation the temperatures are kept under control, well below the values ​​that we can see on a laptop, which means that there would still be room to squeeze it a little more. In any case, it is still a sign that the 14900 are not particularly efficient.

The Intel UDH 770 GPU is also very basic, but it is not a device aimed at offering graphical power. For multimedia playback and screen management.

Multi-Core CPU Performance Test

Cinebench 2024 MP

GeekBench 6 Multi Core

1-Core CPU Performance Test

Cinebench 2024 SP

GeekBench 6 Single Core

GPU Synthetic Benchmarks

3DMark Steel Nomad Light – Vulkan

3DMark TimeSpy DX12

3DMark FireStrike

Office automation

PCMark10 Applications – MS Office

Artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence – Geekbench AI

SSD

CrystalDiskMark SSD

Temperatures and Noise

72º maximum, undoubtedly very tight temperatures for a processor like the Core i7-14900T. Of course, to achieve this we encounter a fairly considerable power limitation that means that the processor usually hovers around 35 W when multi-core performance is required. It is true that it can reach specific Boost moments of up to 65 W, but it remains more at 35W figures.

This means that its performance, as we have seen, is very limited and remains very low, even below laptop processor models.

Externally, the heatsink turbine does a good job and leaves us with contained temperatures. As for the sound level, it is not exactly a silent device, and even when it is not heavily loaded you can hear it clearly.

Analysis and Conclusion

This PCSpecialist AZENA 1L It is a very curious mini PC. On the one hand, the use of a desktop socket such as the LGA 1700 gives us versatility that is unthinkable in a miniPC with a processor soldered on the board. The possibility of replacing the processor is there, and although this variant already includes the most powerful model, in the variants with more modest CPUs there is always the option to improve.

On the other hand, the truth is that we expected more from the Intel Core i9-14900T. It is clear that it is a processor with certain cuts in power management, but here it is even more limited with that PL1 of 35W and that PL2 of 65W, TDPS which, after all, are lower than those achieved by a processor of HX range laptops. We must also not forget that Intel has entered into a whirlwind of changing sockets and this LGA 1700 will no longer have new releases, which limits update capabilities.

Of course, the temperatures are very good and, although it is not a completely silent device, we will not have overheating problems.

In it PCSpecialist AZENA 1L tWe have a very compact format, with a reduced thickness where, despite everything, we find all kinds of connectivity on the front and back. Accessing the interior is very simple and the already integrated VESA anchor makes it easy to set up a workstation. The processor, even with its limitations, offers enough performance to power virtually any office environment, and is also an interesting option for the home as a very small multipurpose PC.

One of the advantages it offers PCSpecialist, is that we can configure the AZENA 1L to our likingwith a wide catalog of processors, memory or SSD with which to adjust to the uses and needs of each user.

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