Acemagic Board 3 Dual-C Retro Style: AMD Gorgon Point Mini-PC Channels Dreamcast and PS1 Design

Acemagic has officially teased its second retro-themed mini-PC of 2026, and this time the design team reached into the late-90s console wars for inspiration. The upcoming Board 3 Dual-C Retro Style trades the Nintendo Entertainment System aesthetics of the earlier Retro X5 for a look that unmistakably channels the Sega Dreamcast and Sony PlayStation 1. Two circular buttons sit on the top edge next to a disc-drive-style motif, while the front panel houses a dedicated power button alongside USB Type-A, USB Type-C, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

What's New: Gorgon Point Inside

The Retro Style isn't just about nostalgic styling. Acemagic has built it around AMD's Gorgon Point architecture, the successor to Strix Point that AMD announced in late 2025. The company has confirmed two initial processor configurations:

• Ryzen AI 9 465: A 12-core/24-thread APU with Zen 5 cores, RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics, and a 50 TOPS NPU for AI workloads
• Ryzen AI 9 HX 370: A higher-clocked 16-core/32-thread variant with enhanced GPU performance and the same XDNA2 neural processing unit

Both chips represent a meaningful step up from the Strix Point APUs found in Acemagic's earlier retro box. Gorgon Point brings improved power efficiency, faster DDR5 memory controllers, and AMD's latest RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture, which should deliver noticeably better gaming performance in a mini-PC form factor.

Memory support extends to 64 GB of DDR5 across two SO-DIMM slots, while storage options top out at 4 TB via dual M.2 2280 NVMe slots. That's generous for a system measuring just 148 x 128 x 40.8 mm—roughly the footprint of a thick paperback book.

How It Compares: Retro X5, Competitors, and the Mini-PC Market

The Retro Style follows Acemagic's Retro X5, which launched at CES 2026 with NES styling and the same Strix Point APUs now being replaced by Gorgon Point. The X5 started around $899 for a base configuration, though pricing varied by region. The Retro Style will likely command a premium due to the newer silicon and potentially more complex chassis design.

Against other mini-PCs using AMD's latest architecture, the Retro Style faces stiff competition:

• Geekom A9 Max: Already shipping with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, 32 GB DDR5, and 2 TB storage for about $1,199
• Minisforum UM890 Pro: Uses the previous-gen Ryzen 9 8945HS but offers similar performance for less money
• Beelink SER8: A budget-focused alternative with Ryzen 7 8845HS and fewer premium features

The Acemagic's unique selling proposition is clear: it's the only Gorgon Point mini-PC that looks like it could have been pulled from a 1999 entertainment center. Whether that justifies a price premium will depend on final MSRP.

Who Should Buy This?

Retro gaming enthusiasts will appreciate the design language, but the real appeal is under the hood. Gorgon Point's RDNA 3.5 iGPU can handle modern esports titles at 1080p and emulate systems up to PlayStation 2/GameCube era smoothly. The 64 GB RAM ceiling means you could run a full MAME arcade collection or multiple game servers.

Content creators on a budget get a compact workstation. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370's 16 cores handle 4K video editing in DaVinci Resolve, while the NPU accelerates AI filters and background removal. The dual M.2 slots allow for a fast OS drive and a separate scratch disk.

Home lab hobbyists can leverage the efficiency. At an estimated 35-65W TDP, these APUs deliver server-grade performance without the noise or power bill of a traditional rackmount. Six cores can run Proxmox or Unraid with multiple VMs, while the integrated 2.5 GbE handles network storage duties.

Trade-offs and Considerations

The compact size and distinctive styling come with compromises. The top-mounted "disc drive" buttons and circular motif suggest a plastic-heavy chassis that may not dissipate heat as effectively as a pure aluminum design. Mini-PCs using Gorgon Point will need active cooling, and Acemagic's thermal engineering will determine whether the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 can sustain boost clocks under sustained load.

Upgradeability is also limited by design. The SO-DIMM slots and M.2 slots are accessible, but the case likely requires tools to open. If you plan to swap components frequently, a standard desktop tower remains more practical.

Finally, the retro aesthetic is polarizing. It looks fantastic on a shelf next to actual consoles, but it may clash in a minimalist office environment. Acemagic hasn't confirmed if alternative colorways or neutral front panels will be available.

Pricing and Availability

Acemagic has not announced a release date or pricing for the Board 3 Dual-C Retro Style. The company typically announces at Computex or CES, then ships 2-3 months later. Given the Gorgon Point architecture is still fresh, expect a Q3 2026 launch window with pricing likely starting around $999 for a base Ryzen AI 9 465 model and climbing to $1,399 for a fully-loaded HX 370/64 GB/4 TB configuration.

If the Retro X5's trajectory is any indication, early adopters may see bundle deals with extra RAM or storage. Acemagic also tends to offer international power adapters and VESA mounting brackets as standard.

Bottom Line

The Acemagic Board 3 Dual-C Retro Style merges cutting-edge AMD silicon with a deliberate throwback design. It's not the first retro-themed PC, but it's the first to pair that aesthetic with Gorgon Point's AI-accelerated performance. For buyers who want modern horsepower in a box that sparks nostalgia, it's worth waiting for. For everyone else, the same silicon will appear in more conventional mini-PCs from established brands within weeks.

Keep an eye on Acemagic's official product page for pre-order details, and check AMD's Gorgon Point architecture overview for a deeper technical breakdown of what's inside.