Affordable Performance: The Kamrui Hyper H2 i9-11900H Mini PC Review

The mini PC market continues to evolve, and today I'm examining a system built around Intel's 11th generation i9-11900H processor. This configuration represents an interesting value proposition in the current market, pairing a capable mobile CPU with entry-level supporting components. Let's see how this balance performs in real-world testing.

System Configuration

Processor: Intel Core i9-11900H (8C/16T, up to 4.9 GHz)

Memory: 32GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM

Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics (integrated)

Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 3 NVMe SSD (DRAMless, likely QLC)

Networking: Realtek RTL8852BE Wi-Fi 6 (2.4/5 GHz), 2.5GbE LAN

Power Consumption: 20W idle / 50W typical / 77W maximum

The Intel i9-11900H in Context

The i9-11900H launched in May 2021 during one of the most turbulent periods in Intel's recent history. Built on Intel's long-delayed 10nm process node, the 11th generation architecture arrived at a pivotal moment when AMD's Ryzen processors had finally achieved performance parity, or in many cases, superiority, in the desktop market.

Intel's desktop 11th generation processors, code-named Rocket Lake, are widely regarded as one of the company's weakest product lineups. Serving primarily as a stop-gap solution to counter AMD's fierce competition, these chips were quickly superseded by the 12th generation Alder Lake architecture, which introduced a hybrid core design and restored Intel's competitive position.

The mobile 11th generation processors, including the i9-11900H, told a somewhat different story. While still based on the same troubled architecture, the mobile variants benefited from the 10nm process node's power efficiency advantages, making them more competitive in laptop and mini PC applications than their desktop counterparts.

Now in 2025, four years after launch, examining the i9-11900H provides an interesting glimpse into what Intel offered during this challenging transitional period. The processor represents the last generation before Intel's architectural reset with Alder Lake, capturing a moment when the company was fighting to maintain relevance against AMD's momentum while working to recover from years of manufacturing delays.

For budget-conscious buyers today, these processors offer a value proposition: capable 8-core/16-thread performance at significantly reduced prices compared to their original launch, though with the inevitable compromises that come from four-year-old silicon competing in a market that has moved forward considerably.

Port Layout and Connectivity

This system features an identical port configuration to higher-end mini PCs in the same chassis family, providing comprehensive connectivity options despite the budget-oriented component selection.

Front Panel:

2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (10 Gbps)

1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port (10 Gbps)

3.5mm combination audio jack

Power button with LED indicator

Rear Panel:

4x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (10 Gbps)

1x HDMI 2.0 output

1x DisplayPort 1.4

2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port (RJ45)

DC power input

Kensington lock slot

The dual-display capability through HDMI and DisplayPort connections supports multi-monitor productivity setups, though the integrated graphics will limit resolution and refresh rate options compared to systems with discrete GPUs. The front-panel USB-C port adds modern connectivity for smartphones, external SSDs, and newer peripherals, while the four 10 Gbps Type-A ports ensure fast data transfer for storage devices. The rear USB 2.0 ports are perfectly adequate for keyboards, mice, and other low-bandwidth devices.

One notable omission is Thunderbolt support: the USB-C port provides standard USB 3.2 Gen 2 functionality only. This limits options for high-performance external GPU enclosures, daisy-chained displays, or ultra-fast storage arrays that rely on Thunderbolt's 40 Gbps bandwidth and PCIe tunneling capabilities.

The generous port selection means users won't immediately need a USB hub for typical desk setups, a practical consideration that adds value to the overall package.

Expandability and Internal Storage Options

A significant advantage of this mini PC is its dual M.2 NVMe slots, providing excellent expandability options that elevate its utility beyond basic configurations. While the system ships with a single 1TB drive, the second M.2 slot opens up a range of possibilities for power users and enthusiasts.

The most straightforward upgrade path involves adding a second NVMe drive for additional storage capacity or a dedicated OS/data separation strategy. This proves particularly valuable for home server applications where you might want the OS on one drive and media libraries or virtual machine images on another.

More interestingly, the M.2 form factor supports a variety of adapter cards beyond simple storage. Users can install M.2 to SATA HBA adapters, enabling connections for additional 2.5" or 3.5" drives, very useful for building a compact NAS solution. Other options include M.2 expansion cards for additional network interfaces, capture cards, or even Google Coral TPU accelerators for AI/machine learning workloads at the edge.

This flexibility is uncommon in this price point, where manufacturers often limit expansion to save costs or reduce chassis size. The inclusion of two M.2 slots transforms this system from a fixed-configuration appliance into a platform that can adapt to diverse use cases. For homelab enthusiasts experimenting with different hardware configurations, this expandability significantly extends the system's useful life and versatility.

The ability to customize internal storage and add specialized hardware without relying on external USB devices or network-attached solutions makes this a compelling option for users who value flexibility and want room to grow their system's capabilities over time.

Performance Analysis

CPU Performance

The i9-11900H delivers respectable performance for an 11th-generation mobile processor. In Geekbench 6, the system achieved single-core and multi-core scores of 2225 and 8408 respectively. These results place it in the upper-middle tier of mobile processors, though noticeably behind current-generation equivalents.

Cinebench 2024 testing yielded 548 points multi-threaded and 91 points single-threaded. While these scores confirm the chip remains viable for productivity workloads, the architecture's age shows when compared to newer Intel 12th/13th/14th generation or AMD Ryzen 6000/7000 series processors.

PassMark CPU testing delivered 21,152.7 points, placing the system in the 72nd percentile overall, which is a solid showing that indicates this processor still handles everyday computing tasks and moderate multitasking without issue.

Graphics Performance

Integrated graphics performance lands squarely in entry-level territory. The Geekbench OpenCL compute score of 7334 and Heaven Benchmark result of 47.2 FPS (basic preset) confirm this system isn't targeting gaming workloads. PassMark's 3D graphics score of 1,582.7 points (23rd percentile) reinforces this limitation.

For context, these results are adequate for casual gaming at low settings, media playback, and basic GPU-accelerated tasks, but anyone planning significant gaming or GPU compute workloads should look elsewhere or consider an external GPU solution, though the lack of Thunderbolt support complicates eGPU implementation.

Storage Performance

The 1TB PCIe Gen 3 SSD delivers mixed results typical of budget DRAMless QLC drives. CrystalDiskMark sequential performance was impressive, with reads and writes both exceeding 3,400 MB/s in the Q8T1 test. Single-queue sequential performance remained strong at approximately 3,000 MB/s in both directions.

However, the compromises of DRAMless QLC flash become evident in random 4K operations. Q32T1 testing showed 770 MB/s reads and 643 MB/s writes, reasonable for this drive class, but Q1T1 performance dropped significantly to 59 MB/s read and 123 MB/s write. These lower scores will manifest as occasional stuttering during OS operations and application launches, though the high sequential speeds partially offset this weakness.

PassMark's disk score of 20,735 (72nd percentile) suggests the drive performs adequately for general use despite its architectural limitations.

Network Performance

The Realtek RTL8852BE Wi-Fi 6 adapter delivered 312 Mbps in iperf3 testing, a respectable result for a mid-range wireless solution, though notably this adapter lacks 6 GHz band support found in Wi-Fi 6E implementations. For users with gigabit internet or local network transfer needs, the included 2.5GbE port provides a reliable wired alternative.

System-Wide Performance

PassMark's overall system score of 2,837.8 (31st percentile) reveals the impact of the integrated graphics and budget storage on overall system rankings. Individual component percentiles tell a more nuanced story: the CPU (72nd percentile) and disk (72nd percentile) perform well, while the 3D graphics (23rd percentile) and 2D graphics (42nd percentile) significantly drag down the composite score.

The memory subsystem scored 2,798.7 points (54th percentile), middle-of-the-pack performance appropriate for DDR4-3200 SO-DIMMs on this platform.

Power Consumption

Power efficiency represents a highlight of this configuration. Idle consumption of approximately 20W is excellent for a system with these specifications, making it suitable for 24/7 operation without excessive electricity costs. Typical gaming loads drew around 50W, while the maximum observed consumption during Cinebench stress testing peaked at 77W, well within the cooling capabilities of most mini PC chassis and power delivery systems.

Use Case Recommendations

This configuration excels in several specific scenarios:

Home Server/NAS Applications: The acceptable idle power consumption, capable CPU, and adequate storage make this an excellent choice for Plex servers, file storage, or home automation hubs. The 2.5GbE port supports fast local network transfers.

Office Productivity: For business applications, document editing, web browsing, and video conferencing, the i9-11900H provides more than sufficient performance with excellent power efficiency.

Light Content Creation: Photo editing, 1080p video editing, and similar workloads run acceptably, though render times will be longer than on systems with discrete graphics.

Development Workstation: For software development, especially containerized environments or virtual machines, the 32GB RAM and capable CPU create a serviceable development environment.

Budget Constraint Gaming: While not ideal, the system can handle esports titles, pre-PS3 emulators and older games at reduced settings, though anyone prioritizing gaming should invest in discrete graphics.

Value Proposition

The i9-11900H occupies an interesting market position. While newer processor generations offer better performance and efficiency, 11th-generation mobile chips have dropped significantly in price, creating value opportunities for buyers who don't need cutting-edge performance.

The component selection reflects budget-conscious design choices: 32GB of RAM provides headroom for multitasking, the DRAMless Gen 3 SSD offers good sequential performance at a lower price point, and the Wi-Fi 6 (non-6E) adapter provides modern connectivity without premium pricing.

Conclusion

This i9-11900H mini PC represents a thoughtful balance of performance and value. The processor remains capable for most productivity and content consumption tasks, the power efficiency impresses, and the configuration provides enough RAM and storage for typical use cases.

However, the integrated graphics and budget storage architecture impose real limitations. Users requiring GPU performance should look elsewhere, and those sensitive to system responsiveness during intensive multitasking may notice the storage's 4K random performance limitations.

For home server applications, office productivity, or as a secondary system, this configuration offers solid value. The low idle power consumption makes it particularly attractive for always-on scenarios, while the capable processor ensures it won't become obsolete quickly for its intended workloads.

The historical context matters here: this represents Intel's offering from a difficult transitional period, now available at reduced prices that make its compromises more palatable. It's not cutting-edge, but for the right use cases and at the right price point, it doesn't need to be.

Final Recommendation: A practical choice for users prioritizing power efficiency and CPU performance over graphics capability, particularly well-suited to home server and productivity applications where its strengths shine and its weaknesses matter less. The four-year-old architecture won't win any performance crowns, but delivers solid value for budget-conscious buyers with appropriate expectations.

You can visit the subreddit post to share your thoughts:
https://www.reddit.com/r/mctk/comments/1p9fzw5/affordable_performance_the_kamrui_hyper_h2/