Blackview MP200: Complete (and cheap) miniature PC

Parameters and details

The mini PC category is less represented in our country compared to laptops, but occasionally we get a piece from MSI or Gigabyte. When I received an email from Blackview and with it an opportunity to broaden my horizons, I didn’t hesitate and agreed to test their MP200 solution. The compact computer with an 11th generation Core i5 processor got both RAM and an SSD in the package, which is remarkable at a 400-euro price.

Basic parameters

Details

The small MP200 computer is packaged in a stylish black box with gold lettering and a sort of brick wall motif in the background. The more luxurious packaging is not something one would expect in a budget-oriented product.

On the back you will find some basic information about the equipment and dimensions.

Unpacking the box continues the rather premium presentation thanks to the high quality cardboard and foam cover that protects the computer in transit. The quality of the packaging continues to amaze, and hopefully the product itself will be at least as surprising.

In addition to the computer itself, the package also includes a power adapter, HDMI cable, stand with brackets and small documentation.

The outer casing impresses with a grooved texture that is in multiple directions, creating interesting light plays on the side. The panels are rubbery to the touch, thanks to the aforementioned texture. Weighing in at 677 grams, the MP200 is compact and easily portable, which can be a big advantage when travel is necessary. The volume of just 2.07 litres is testimony to this. The design and build is surprisingly good and I have nothing to complain about.

As for the internal equipment, we find here not exactly the latest, but still adequate Intel Core i5-11400H processor with 6 cores and 12 threads on 10 nm and a maximum clock speed of up to 4.5 GHz. You also get 16 GB of 3200 MHz SO-DIMM RAM and a 512 GB M.2 SSD in the package. You can expand both of these and even add another 2.5″ SSD while you’re at it. We’ll look at that later, of course. The presence of both RAM and storage is a surprise in this price range, usually we only encounter so called barebones systems, that is a bare motherboard with no memory present.

Due to the symmetrical design of the MP200, it can be placed in a vertical position where we have the opportunity to look at the port selection. On the front there is a pair of 10 Gb USB Type-As as well as a 15 W USB-C. There is also a 3.5mm audio jack and a power button.

The rear side will offer two more USB ports, as well as HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, Gigabit Ethernet and a power connector. A slight disappointment is the absence of an SD card reader, then there wouldn’t be much to complain about the port selection. Of course compared to more expensive mini-PCs, especially NUCs, we don’t find Thunderbolt here, which offers a wide range of uses.

By simply removing the two screws at the bottom of the side panel, it can be slid out to access the designated section for storage. Here we find two SO-DIMM slots, one M.2 slot and one 2.5″ SATA6 connector. You can upgrade all three types to suit your needs in a matter of seconds. Still, the presence of 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD is more than welcome. Although it must be acknowledged that for optimal performance it will be advisable to purchase a second RAM for a dual-channel configuration.

By removing the perimeter frame you could also get to the motherboard, where you can also find the WiFi card and the cooling system, which is dominated by a 4300-rpm fan that, according to the manufacturer, ensures operation up to 39 dB, but my experience is that the MP200 can also growl a little and is definitely not quite as quiet as, for example, a Mac Mini with the M1 processor.

Both the external and internal packaging look really up to scratch and with the price tag of around 450 euros including memory, it is definitely an interesting combination. Let’s see if the test results will be equally favorable.

• Contents
• Parameters and details
• Metodika testovania
• Rendering and Geekbench
• 3D/PC Mark and Unigine Heaven/Superposition
• Gaming tests – integrated graphics
• Encryption, encoding
• Memory and drive tests
• CPU and GPU temperatures
• Evaluation