Piston V Mini PC Review: A Dual-Boot Powerhouse With a Built-In Touch Display

Introduction

The Piston V is a mystery mini PC that arrived with no documentation and no clear manufacturer, yet it manages to stand out in a crowded market. It is a dual-boot system running both Windows and Steam OS, and it features a built-in circular touch display on the front panel. The design resembles an old-school alarm clock standing upright, with feet on the bottom and a touch power button integrated into an orange handle on top.

Under the hood, the Piston V surprises with genuinely capable hardware. It uses the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 APU with 10 cores and 20 threads, boosting up to 5 GHz on the Zen 5 cores. The integrated Radeon 890M GPU is based on RDNA 3 with 12 compute units clocking up to 2900 MHz. The unit ships with 32 GB of DDR5 RAM running at 5600 MT/s and a 1 TB M.2 2280 Gen 4 SSD. A 90 W power supply is included in the box, along with an HDMI cable and an Ethernet cable.

Design and Build

The Piston V takes a distinctive approach to mini PC design. Instead of the typical flat, horizontal form factor, it stands upright with small feet on the bottom. The front panel houses a circular touch display, which serves as both a secondary screen and a control surface. The top features a small orange handle that doubles as a touch power button.

Port selection is generous for a device this size. On the left side, there are two USB 3 ports and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The right side includes the power input, a full-size HDMI port, USB Type-C, and dual gigabit Ethernet ports. The rear panel has two hatches that open for easy access to the storage and RAM.

The build quality feels solid, and the design grows on you after spending time with it on a desk. The circular display is a conversation starter, and it works reasonably well as a secondary monitor when running Windows.

Hardware and Upgradeability

Opening the rear hatches reveals the upgrade path. The M.2 SSD is a 1 TB TE2280 Gen 4 drive, and the RAM consists of dual-channel SODIMM DDR5 modules running at 5600 MT/s with 32 GB pre-installed. Both are user-accessible, making future upgrades straightforward.

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 APU is the heart of this system. With 10 cores and 20 threads, it offers more processing power than typical mini PC offerings. The Zen 5 cores boost up to 5 GHz, while additional Zen 5C cores clock slightly lower for efficiency. The Radeon 890M iGPU shares the same architecture found in the Z2 Extreme, but the Piston V benefits from a stronger CPU with more cores and threads.

The unit runs at a sustained 54 W TDP out of the box, which keeps clocks respectable on both CPU and iGPU. There is no third-party TDP adjustment pre-installed, but users can install plugins like Simple Decky TDP to tweak power distribution if desired.

Dual-Boot Experience

The Piston V boots into a selection screen where users can choose between Windows and Steam OS directly from the touch display. Windows 11 runs with a customized taskbar, and the circular display works as an extended or duplicated monitor. Touch input functions well in Windows, making it practical as a secondary performance monitor.

The Steam OS side runs Bazzite rather than official Steam OS, though the experience is similar. The circular display shows a performance monitor with CPU, GPU, and RAM usage, and it automatically swaps to display the current game being played. However, touch input does not work within Bazzite at the time of testing, and there is no pre-installed application to customize the display behavior.

One limitation is the resolution handling. The operating system detects the built-in display as an internal display, similar to how the Steam Deck works. This means the external monitor resolution cannot be changed while in game mode, and the refresh rate is locked to 60 Hz. Desktop mode does allow resolution changes, but the limitation persists in game mode.

Gaming Performance

Gaming performance is where the Piston V impresses. The Radeon 890M iGPU handles modern titles at 1080p with respectable frame rates.

Spider-Man 2 runs at 1080p with frame generation enabled on high settings, averaging in the high 70s FPS. The performance monitor on the circular display shows real-time CPU, GPU, and RAM usage, which is a nice touch during gameplay.

Left 4 Dead 2 runs maxed out at 1080p and reaches around 170 FPS. The system could handle 1440p, but the resolution lock prevents going beyond 1080p in game mode.

Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart runs at 1080p high settings with FSR set to quality and FSR frame generation enabled. Without frame generation, it averages around 45 FPS. With frame generation, it feels smooth and very playable.

Cyberpunk 2077 at the 1080p Steam Deck preset with FSR on balance averages around 47-48 FPS. Enabling FSR frame generation pushes it into the 80s, and with some tweaking via third-party plugins, a steady 60 FPS is achievable.

Who Should Buy the Piston V

The Piston V suits users who want a compact gaming PC with the flexibility of dual-boot Windows and Steam OS. The built-in touch display adds a unique element that works well as a secondary monitor in Windows and as a live performance monitor during gaming.

It is also a good option for those who value upgradeability. The accessible M.2 SSD and SODIMM RAM slots make storage and memory upgrades straightforward without specialized tools.

However, the current lack of touch support in Bazzite and the resolution lock in game mode are limitations to consider. Users who primarily want a Windows mini PC will find the touch display more useful, while those focused on Steam OS gaming may find the restrictions frustrating.

Buying Advice

The Piston V is an intriguing device, but its availability remains unclear. At the time of review, no manufacturer information was available, and searches on major retail platforms did not turn up a listing. This makes it difficult to recommend as a mainstream purchase until more details emerge.

For those who can find it, the hardware is genuinely capable. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 APU with the Radeon 890M iGPU delivers solid 1080p gaming performance, and the dual-boot setup adds flexibility. The circular touch display is a distinctive feature that works well in Windows and shows promise for future Steam OS updates.

Conclusion

The Piston V is a fascinating mini PC that combines capable hardware with an unusual design. The dual-boot setup, upgradeable components, and integrated touch display make it stand out from typical mini PCs. Gaming performance is solid for an integrated GPU, and the sustained 54 W TDP keeps clocks respectable.

The main uncertainties are availability and manufacturer support. With no documentation and no online presence, potential buyers should wait for more information before committing. If the Piston V becomes widely available with continued software support, it could be a compelling option for compact gaming setups.