Geekom A8 review: Compact mini PC power in an elegant design

Best Prices Today: Geekom A8

Technical specs

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (8 cores, 16 threads)
• Memory: Micron 16 GB DDR5-5600, expandable to 64 GB
• Hard drive: 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4×4 SSD (Wodposit WPBSN4M8-1TGP)
• Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics 780M (built-in)
• Front ports: 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 × 3.5 mm audio
• Rear ports: 1 × USB 4 (Type-C), 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C), 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), 1 × USB 2.0 (Type-A), 2 × HDMI 2.0, 1 × 2.5G LAN
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
• Operating system: Windows 11 Pro pre-installed
• Dimensions: 112.4 × 112.4 × 37 mm (W × D × H)
• Accessories: VESA mount, HDMI cable, exterior energy provide

The marketplace for compact desktop options is growing quickly. With the Geekom A8, now we have a brand new machine that claims to interchange basic tower PCs when it comes to workplace efficiency. Here we’re testing the A8 in a configuration with an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, 16 GB DDR5 RAM and a 1 TB SSD. Let’s discover out if it may possibly dwell as much as that declare.

Geekom A8: Design

The chassis of the Geekom A8 is manufactured from aluminum alloy. The silver floor seems elegant and is proof against fingerprints. In direct comparability to the bigger A9 Max models, the case seems considerably extra compact – it measures simply 112 x 112 x 37 millimeters (W × D × H).

Christoph Hoffmann

This makes the A8 flatter than opponents such because the Peladn WO4 or the Alliwava GH8. The rounded corners give the machine a contemporary look harking back to Apple merchandise.

Despite its small measurement, the mini PC seems strong. The gaps are exactly crafted. The producer’s emblem is emblazoned on the highest. The aspect panels are perforated for air circulation. There are rubberized ft on the underside to stop it from slipping on the desk. They additionally cowl the screws used to open the case. The workmanship is nice, and all the things seems as if it have been made out of a single mildew.

Christoph Hoffmann

The cooling system is exceptionally quiet underneath regular load. The fan is often inaudible throughout easy workplace work. Under full load, it revs up audibly with out producing an annoying whistling noise. Heat dissipation by way of the steel floor works nicely.

The included exterior energy provide continues to be compact.

Geekom A8: Features

The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS belongs to the Hawk Point technology and is classed as a strong higher mid-range cellular processor designed particularly for environment friendly multitasking, workplace workflows and productive purposes. The CPU was launched in early 2024 and provides eight cores and 16 threads, however not like the highest fashions, it intentionally does with out a devoted NPU for AI acceleration.

The AMD Radeon 780M is a contemporary built-in graphics answer primarily based on the RDNA 3 structure, which is present in CPUs such because the Ryzen 7 8745HS and is appropriate for mainstream graphics duties and video games with low {hardware} necessities; It delivers considerably extra efficiency than older iGPUs, however nonetheless lags behind devoted graphics playing cards and is simply really appropriate for e-sports titles, that are often performed at decreased decision and low 3D settings.

Christoph Hoffmann

Given its compact design, the Geekom A8 surprises with its number of ports. On the entrance, there are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and a 3.5 mm jack for headphones and headsets. The flush-mounted energy button has an outlined strain level.

Christoph Hoffmann

The rear panel is densely populated: right here, customers will discover a USB4 port with as much as 40 Gbit/s. It additionally helps picture output and energy provide for exterior units. In addition, there are two HDMI 2.0 ports and one other USB-C port. The quick 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connection (Realtek RTL8125) ensures secure community connections.

Christoph Hoffmann

While cheaper fashions such because the Acemagic M1 usually skimp on USB pace, the A8 provides constantly quick ports.

For wi-fi connectivity, the mini PC depends on a MediaTek MT7922 (IEEE 802.11ax) Wi-Fi 6E module, which helps the 6 GHz band along with the two.4 and 5 GHz bands. This allows increased knowledge charges, decrease latencies and a extra secure connection in closely utilized networks. Bluetooth 5.2 can be included within the wi-fi tools. This permits enter units, headsets and different equipment to be linked wirelessly.

The 16GB of RAM comes from Micron and is positioned in a DDR5 SO-DIMM slot. According to the producer, the RAM could be expanded to as much as 64GB of DDR5 RAM. This offers adequate reserves for demanding multitasking situations, productive purposes and long-term use.

Christoph Hoffmann

A 2280-format M.2 SSD with PCIe 4.0 x4 connection from Wodposit (mannequin WPBSN4M8-1TGP) is used for knowledge storage. It allows very excessive sequential switch charges and quick entry occasions, which has a constructive impact on each system begins and the loading of enormous quantities of knowledge, noticeably dashing up the mini PC as a complete.

Christoph Hoffmann

Geekom A8: Operating system

The Geekom A8 comes with a hardware-bound Windows 11 license pre-installed, so no further activation is important. When you turn on the mini PC for the primary time, the Windows setup wizard begins routinely. During this setup, the primary system and safety updates are downloaded. Nevertheless, it’s advisable to verify for additional updates manually after the set up is full.

Christoph Hoffmann

Although Windows 11 is mainly prepared to make use of as quickly as it’s delivered, the person should nonetheless set up drivers for secure and performance-optimised operation. In explicit, the most recent AMD drivers for the Radeon graphics unit and the chipset ought to be put in as quickly as doable. Both have a decisive affect on system stability, power effectivity and graphics efficiency.

Christoph Hoffmann

In addition, you may verify whether or not the function replace to Windows 11 model 25H2 is already out there and could be put in. This was the case for us. Among different issues, the replace accommodates security-related changes in addition to modifications to system capabilities and working system administration. An replace ensures that the system complies with the present help and replace standing from Microsoft.

Geekom A8: Performance

At the center of the A8 is the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor. The eight cores clock at excessive pace and deal with multitasking duties with ease. The benchmarks clearly present the power of this CPU: in PCMark 10, for instance, the system achieves a complete rating of 6,470 factors. The tiny machine is especially spectacular within the Essentials class with 9,912 factors and in Productivity with 9,129 factors. Office purposes, browsing the online with dozens of tabs and video conferencing aren’t any drawback in any respect.

Christoph Hoffmann

The A8 achieves a stable 8,125 factors in digital content material creation. The A8 is ideally outfitted for picture enhancing in Adobe Photoshop or easy video enhancing. The 16 GB DDR5 RAM ensures clean system operation.

For comparability: the Alliwava GH8 with AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS achieves virtually the identical outcome on this benchmark. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS within the Geekom A7 Max is simply barely quicker.

In the CPU-specific assessments of 3DMark, the processor scores 7,359 factors at most thread depend. This underlines its suitability for computationally intensive duties. The variations to the 2 mini PCs talked about above are just like these in PCMark 10.

Christoph Hoffmann

When it involves graphics efficiency, the Geekom A8’s built-in Radeon unit reaches its limits. It scores 1,877 factors within the Time Spy benchmark, which is simply ten factors lower than the Geekom A7 Max.

The Steel Nomad Light take a look at delivers a transparent sign with 12.41 FPS: this mini PC will not be a gaming machine. Even present blockbuster titles can solely be performed with tremendously decreased particulars and low decision. The estimated gaming efficiency often stays under 30 FPS. Older e-sports titles resembling League of Legends, alternatively, run easily.

Compared to the Sapphire Edge AI 370 or the Minisforum AI-X1 Pro, the A8 ranks within the higher mid-range.

The lack of an NPU is noticeable within the Geekbench AI scores: the system achieves 3,646 factors within the single precision rating. The dearer Max fashions are higher fitted to specialised AI workflows.

Christoph Hoffmann

With learn speeds of over 7,160 MB/s and write speeds of 6,129 MB/s, the SSD delivers excessive switch charges. Programs begin with none noticeable delay. The system feels responsive and secure.

Christoph Hoffmann

Stress assessments present that the compact case reaches its bodily limits underneath extended full load. Although the Ryzen 7 8745HS briefly achieves very excessive increase clock speeds, after a couple of minutes of intensive computing, the system begins to barely throttle efficiency (thermal throttling) with a view to hold CPU temperatures inside a non-critical vary. Although the IceBlast cooling system is nicely optimized for brief efficiency peaks, you may anticipate a efficiency drop of about 5 to 10 p.c in comparison with a chilly begin throughout hours of steady use.

Geekom A8: Energy consumption & working noise

The Geekom A8 is sort of environment friendly total, however it takes its toll underneath load. When idle, the system consumes a modest 5 to 11 watts. However, as quickly as full computing energy and Radeon graphics are required, consumption rises to a mean of 35 to 50 watts, with peaks of as much as 90 watts.

The included 120-watt energy provide is due to this fact generously dimensioned and provides adequate reserves to reliably energy linked USB 4 peripherals. Under full load, nonetheless, consumption is increased than that of easy workplace mini PCs.

The noise degree of the A8 is a compromise between measurement and efficiency. While the PC runs virtually silently when performing easy duties resembling browsing the Internet, the fan curve spikes shortly underneath altering masses. This can result in audible fluctuations when background processes briefly demand CPU energy.

Under full load, the fan reaches ranges of as much as 45 to 55 dB(A). The noise is extra of a continuing hum with out high-frequency whistling. In a quiet working surroundings, the mini PC is clearly noticeable underneath load.

Is the Geekom A8 value it?

In testing, the Geekom A8 proved to be an especially versatile work laptop for personal use and the trendy house workplace. It handles typical on a regular basis duties resembling workplace purposes, net analysis, video conferencing, picture enhancing and multimedia playback with ease and with none noticeable delays. Thanks to its excessive system efficiency, the mini PC can be appropriate for extra demanding multitasking and productive workflows which are in any other case reserved for bigger desktop programs.

Naturally, limitations develop into obvious with graphics-intensive purposes. Users who commonly render skilled 3D fashions, work on advanced CAD initiatives or need to play the most recent video games in 4K decision with excessive element ranges are higher off getting a system with a devoted graphics card. For the overwhelming majority of customers, nonetheless, the A8 is a compelling answer.

This article initially appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.