Geekom will increase the number of new products in 2024: the Chinese manufacturer will in fact market several mini PCs equipped with particularly powerful AMD processors, and even models designed for video games.
Long confidential, the mini PC market seems in better shape than ever. On the one hand, because a growing number of users are now turning to these miniature computers which advantageously replace the large towers of yesteryear. On the other, because manufacturers specializing in this field are constantly moving upmarket with increasingly varied and increasingly powerful models. In fact, while countless Chinese brands now offer very economical mini PCs for basic needs – there are a host of them between 150 and 200 euros from NiPoGi, Bmax, Acemagician, Fodenn, Letsung, etc. –, some more cutting-edge specialized manufacturers are integrating the latest generation components to offer ever more efficient machines that no longer have much to envy of classic high-end computers, or even PCs for gamers.
This is particularly the case of Geekom, a Chinese manufacturer which began to stand out in 2022 with modest but very well designed mini PCs like the MiniAir 11, the Mini IT8 and the Mini IT11, before moving upmarket in 2023 with more ambitious models, equipped with more recent processors, such as the AS5 and AS6, the Mini IT 12 or the Mini IT13, most of which have been tested in our columns. And the manufacturer does not intend to stop there, as evidenced by its recent announcements.
Geekom A7 and A8 Max: latest generation Ryzen
Thus, after ending the year 2023 with the A5, a mid-range model powered by a Ryzen 7 5800H, a powerful but not very young processor, Geekom is starting 2024 with two mini PCs equipped with the latest generation AMD chips.
First, the A7, a model equipped with a choice of a Ryzen 7 7800H or a Ryzen 9 7940H, very high performance processors (Zen 4 architecture, 8 cores-16 threads, 780M integrated graphics circuit… ), with 32 or 64 GB of RAM in DDR5, a 1 or 2 TB SSD in PCIe Gen4x4 and multiple interfaces (USB4, Ethernet 2.5 Gbit/s, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3…), the everything in a particularly compact 0.47 l case and for a reasonable price (between 750 and 900 euros depending on the configuration chosen). In short, a complete, balanced and versatile computer, which should easily compare with the best models from Beelink or Minisforum.
Then, and above all, with the A8 Max, which will be one of the very first mini PCs on the market to carry Ryzen 8e generation, in this case the Ryzen 7 8840HS and Ryzen 9 8940HS, chips based on the Hawk Point architecture which promises better graphics management thanks to an optimized GPU but also some linked to artificial intelligence with neural units ( NPU). Very close to the Ryzen 7000 series, these processors can easily be housed in a compact box, similar to that of the A7, with similar interfaces.
Geekom APro8 Max: a mini gaming PC with a real graphics card
But things will change dramatically with the APro8 Max. Equipped with a Ryzen 9 8940H, this gaming-oriented model will benefit from a much larger case because its processor will be supported by a real independent graphics circuit, namely a Radeon RX 7600M XT accompanied by 8 GB of dedicated GDDR6 RAM . Enough, on paper, to offer performance equivalent to that of a GeForce RTX 4060, one of Nvidia’s latest chips. Enough to really play the most demanding games in good conditions, taking advantage of ray tracing and other advanced graphics functions.
Small appreciable detail, the whole could exploit AMD Smartshift technology to dynamically switch between the GPU integrated into its processor and its dedicated graphics card according to the needs of the applications used, which would limit energy consumption – the graphics cards are always more delicious. Significantly larger than other Geekom mini PCs (252 x 193 x 92 mm), the APro8 Max would be designed to be positioned vertically, like a PS5-type game console. And it will also have a host of sockets and interfaces (6 x USB-A in USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB-C in USB4, 2 x HDMI 2.0 + 2 x DisplayPort 1.4, 2 x Ethernet 2.5 Gbit/ s…). There should therefore be no shortage of sockets, whatever the intended use!
The APro8 Max will not be the manufacturer’s only gaming-oriented mini PC. Geekom has indeed introduced other models of this type to its catalog, with the Mini FUN9 and MiniFUN11. However, these computers are significantly larger because their cases are designed to accommodate large PCIe graphics cards (up to 321 mm), such as those of the AMD Radeon RX 6000 or Nviidia GeForce RTX 3000 series. In addition, they respectively operate 9 Intel chipse and 11e generation significantly less powerful than the Ryzen 9 8940H of the APro8 Max which should constitute the new flagship of the brand.
Furthermore, if Geekom clearly emphasizes AMD chips in its new models, the manufacturer does not forget Intel. And after the MiniIT12 and Mini IT13, respectively equipped with Intel 12 chipse and 13e generations, the brand will launch the Mini IT14 Pro, a mini computer equipped with a 14th generation Intel processor (known as Meteor Lake), namely a Core Ultra 7-155H. More efficient than the previous ones thanks to its Metor Lake architecture, it will especially benefit from an integrated Arc-type graphics module, much more at home in video games than the Iris Xe.
We see, Geekom has great ambitions for 2024, especially since the year has just started. Note that if the A7 is already on sale on the official website (with a discount for its launch), the manufacturer has not yet indicated either date or price for its other models.