I converted a mini PC running Windows 11 into a Linux workstation, and it blew me away!
If you’re looking for a small form-factor PC that doesn’t skimp on performance, the Herk Orion might be just what you need.
I’ve been using and reviewing PCs for a long time. I used to build my own PCs (back when it was impossible to find a machine that came with Linux pre-installed). While I no longer have time to spend choosing components and building a custom machine, I still appreciate a well-designed, well-built PC.
The Herk Orion is such a system. This extremely small form factor desktop PC is powered by the Ryzen 9 CPU, which means it can handle just about workflow you throw at it.
The machine I received had Windows 11 pre-installed (even though I requested a Linux version). After a few weeks of using the machine as-is, I decided to install the latest version of Ubuntu and see how the experience compared.
Here are the specs for the unit I was sent:
CPU – AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS with 8 cores and 16 threads
Clock speed – 4.0 GHz with a 5.2 GHz boost
GPU – AMD Radeon 780M at 2800 Hz with RDNA3 iGPU
RAM – LPDDR5 dual channel – 32 GB
Cooling system – vapor chamber
Storage – 1 TB SSD PCIi Gen4 x 4 M.2 2280
Number of M.2 slots – 2x (1 unused)
Connectivity – 2.5 Gbps LAN, WiFi6e up to 2.4 Gbps, and Bluetooth 5.2
Ports – USB 3.2 x2; USB 2 x2; USB 4(15w) x2
Supported OSes – Linux and Windows
Power supply – DC17V/140W
The specs confirm that the Orion is a very capable machine.
