At a look
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Good options
- Two 2.5 Gbit Ethernet ports, a lot of USB ports
- Support for as much as 4 shows (as much as 8K)
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
- Upgradable DDR5 RAM as a substitute of soldered LPDDR
Cons
- Fan spins up abruptly underneath load and turns into clearly audible
- No USB-C port on the entrance
- Second SSD solely attainable in M.2-2230 format
- No Thunderbolt (USB4 accessible, however with out TB certification)
Our Verdict
The Geekom A7 Max builds on the confirmed idea of the A9 Max, however with a distinct technical focus. Instead of most AI acceleration, the main focus is on excessive basic CPU efficiency, quick built-in graphics and an general balanced platform. For customers who don’t require particular AI capabilities, the A7 Max is a robust mini PC for productiveness, multimedia and demanding all-round duties.
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Technical specs
- Dimensions: 135 × 132 × 46.9 mm (W × D × H)
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS
- GPU: AMD Radeon 780M
- Ram: 1× 16 GB Micron DDR5 5600MHz
- Internal storage: 1 TB from Wooposit Technology WPBSN4M8, M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 ×4 NVMe SSD
- SSD upgradeability: 1 × M.2 2230 PCIe 4.0 ×4 NVMe, as much as 4 TB
- Rear ports: 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 × USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 × USB 4.0 Type-C DP-Alt-Mode / PD-In, 1 × USB 4.0 Type-C DP-Alt-Mode, 2 × Ethernet RJ45 2.5 Gbit/s, 2 × HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1 × DC-In
- Front ports: 3 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A Always On, 1 × 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 × SD card reader 4.0
- Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
- Operating system: Microsoft Windows 11 24H2 (64-bit)
- Accessories: VESA mount (121.8 × 116.5 × 1.0 mm)
Geekom has been pursuing a clearly recognizable product technique for a while: as a substitute of a single top-of-the-range mannequin, the producer is launching a number of mini PCs which can be virtually similar in look however have totally different processor platforms.
The variations usually are not a lot within the case, connections or cooling, however primarily within the CPU—and thus within the supposed use. We have already examined the Geekom A9 Max, and now its technically totally different sibling, the A7 Max, is put to the take a look at.
With the A7 Max, Geekom is including a mannequin to its Max collection that intentionally foregoes most AI efficiency and as a substitute focuses on basic strengths.
Geekom A7 Max: Design
For the Max collection, Geekom has opted for a constant design idea with a stable metallic housing and clear, purposeful traces. The chassis appears to be like high-quality and in addition impresses with its stability.
Christoph Hoffmann
Although we now have not carried out any express endurance checks, the mini PC nonetheless offers a really strong impression in on a regular basis use. Neither stress nor slight makes an attempt at twisting result in creaking noises or noticeable yielding—a sign of a torsion-resistant and sturdy development.
Christoph Hoffmann
With its compact dimensions of 135 × 132 × 46.9 millimeters (W × D × H), the A7 Max stays pleasantly space-saving regardless of its highly effective {hardware}. It takes up hardly any area on the desk and blends inconspicuously into totally different working environments.
Alternatively, the mini PC will be mounted instantly on the again of a monitor utilizing the included VESA mount. This permits the system to vanish virtually utterly from view with out compromising on accessibility to the ports or satisfactory cooling.
Geekom A7 Max: Features
At the guts of the Geekom A7 Max is the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS. The highly effective eight-core processor belongs to the Ryzen 7040 HS collection and was initially designed for high-performance notebooks, however is now more and more being utilized in compact desktop programs. It presents 8 cores and 16 threads primarily based on the Zen 4 structure and achieves enhance clock speeds of as much as 5.2 GHz.
Christoph Hoffmann
The built-in graphics unit is the Radeon 780M primarily based on RDNA 3, which delivers very excessive graphics efficiency for an iGPU.
In addition, the processor has an built-in NPU primarily based on AMD’s XDNA structure. However, at round 10 TOPS, that is considerably weaker than present Ryzen AI processors and is primarily appropriate for easy AI acceleration.
In our take a look at mannequin, the processor is supported by 16GB of DDR5 RAM with 5,600 MT/s. Geekom doesn’t present detailed details about the reminiscence producer however a 16GB module from Micron is put in. Important: The reminiscence shouldn’t be soldered and may subsequently be upgraded—a transparent benefit over many competing fashions.
The A7 Max has an NVMe SSD with 1TB capability as its mass storage gadget. Depending on the batch, totally different producers could also be used right here. We can’t instantly assign the mannequin identify “WPBSN4M8” displayed in Crystal Disk Info to any producer. A fast search reveals that it’s an OEM mannequin from Wooposit Technology that isn’t bought as a retail product.
As is customary on this gadget class, Geekom reserves the suitable to make use of equal SSDs from different producers.
Christoph Hoffmann
An further M.2-2230 slot (PCIe 4.0 × 4) is on the market for expansions. Due to the shape issue, the choice is restricted although.
Typical for a mini PC, Geekom distributes the ports throughout the back and front, permitting for versatile orientation on the desk. The energy button, which clearly marks the entrance, gives orientation. The producer is beneficiant on the subject of connectivity: the mini PC helps as much as 4 high-resolution shows and gives two USB4 interfaces with DisplayPort 1.4 help and two HDMI 2.1 outputs for this function.
Christoph Hoffmann
One characteristic that isn’t a given on this gadget class is the 2 2.5 Gbit Ethernet ports. In conjunction with an appropriate router or swap and an NAS, quick community and storage options will be applied.
The vary of connections is complemented by further USB ports. A complete of eight USB interfaces can be found in varied designs – from USB 2.0 to USB 3.2 Gen 2 to USB4 Type-C. This permits quick exterior SSDs and different peripheral units to be linked with out restrictions.
Christoph Hoffmann
One minor criticism is that Geekom has omitted a USB-C port on the entrance, which means that corresponding units can solely be linked through the rear ports.
Geekom A7 Max: Operating system
The A7 Max comes with a hardware-bound licence for Windows 11. The Windows set up begins after the mini PC is booted for the primary time. Updates are downloaded throughout setup, however Windows will supply additional updates afterward.
Important word: After the preliminary set up of Windows 11, quite a few drivers are required, most notably the AMD drivers for the Radeon graphics card and the chipset. This ensures that the mini PC runs underneath optimum circumstances and that every one parts can ship their full efficiency.
Geekom A7 Max: Performance
The Geekom A7 Max options an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS with eight cores and 16 threads primarily based on the Zen 4 structure. The processor achieves clock speeds of as much as 5.2 GHz and is supported by the built-in Radeon 780M graphics unit.
We decided the precise efficiency utilizing the PCMark 10 benchmark take a look at. This software program offers us life like values by working via on a regular basis duties one after the opposite. In the default setting, the system achieves a complete of 6,853 factors (A9 Max: 8,953 factors), with 10,505 in “Essentials”, 9,620 in “Productivity” and 8,641 in “Digital Content Creation”. By comparability, the A9 Max achieves 11,559 factors in “Essentials”, 10,853 factors in “Productivity” and 15,527 factors in “Digital Content Creation”.
Christoph Hoffmann
The CPU profile from 3DMark reveals respectable scaling throughout all thread ranges and delivers robust multicore efficiency – Max. threads: 7,718, 16 threads: 7,765, 8 threads: 6,640, 4 threads: 3,883, 2 threads: 2,002 and 1 thread: 1,024. The A7 Max advantages from the eight bodily cores, particularly in parallelized purposes.
Christoph Hoffmann
With 9,528 factors at full capability, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is greater than 23 % above the decided values.
The gaming graphics efficiency of the Geekom A7 Max is set by 3DMark Steel Nomad Light with a results of 1,607 factors. This is under common and fewer than half the efficiency of the A9 Max with 3,279 factors. The Time Spy benchmark delivers 1,866 to 3,701 factors. This makes the A7 Max appropriate for easy video games, older titles and eSports video games, however not for present AAA titles with excessive settings.
Compared to the A9 Max, the AI efficiency is decrease. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS has an built-in NPU primarily based on AMD’s XDNA structure. However, at round 10 TOPS, that is considerably weaker than present Ryzen AI processors. In the Geekbench AI Pro benchmark, the Geekom A7 Max achieved the next outcomes: 3,053 for “Single Precision”, 1,674 for “Half Precision” and 7,365 for “Quantized”. The efficiency is enough for easy AI purposes, however specialised AI workloads profit extra from the A9 Max mannequin.
Christoph Hoffmann
The M.2 NVMe SSD delivers a learn efficiency of 6,895 MB/s and a write price of 6,098 MB/s in Crystal Disk Mark. This is an above-average worth for a PCIe 4.0 SSD. By comparability, the Lexar from the A9 Max is considerably decrease at 6,242 MB/s for studying and 5,423 MB/s for writing.
Christoph Hoffmann
Is the Geekom A7 Max price it?
With the A7 Max, Geekom is including a mannequin to its Max collection that intentionally foregoes most AI efficiency and as a substitute focuses on basic strengths. The focus is clearly on excessive CPU efficiency, a really highly effective built-in GPU and an general balanced platform that proves to be extraordinarily sensible in on a regular basis use.
The A7 Max presents greater than sufficient efficiency for productiveness duties, multitasking, multimedia purposes and artistic workloads. The Radeon 780M graphics additionally allow simple gaming and easy 8K playback. Added to this are a quick PCIe 4.0 SSD, upgradeable DDR5 RAM and an unusually intensive vary of connections for this class, together with USB4, 4 show outputs and two 2.5 Gbit Ethernet ports.
Criticisms such because the fan, which is audible underneath load, the shortage of a USB-C port on the entrance and the second SSD slot restricted to M.2-2230 solely barely detract from the general enchantment. Also, the built-in NPU is simply appropriate for easy AI duties.
All in all, the Geekom A7 Max is a really highly effective and versatile mini PC. Those who need to speed up particular native AI workloads are nonetheless higher off with the A9 Max, whereas the A7 Max performs to its strengths in basic computing energy and versatile on a regular basis and productive use.