The AMD Phoenix-based mini PC features a compact design for home and office use, offering high performance and support for Full HD gaming at low graphics settings. The flagship model Geekom A8 is discussed in this article, equipped with the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor featuring an enhanced NPU block to boost AI application performance.
The kit includes a power adapter, HDMI cable, and instructions. The device’s aluminum alloy case makes it lightweight and durable. However, the cooling system may struggle under heavy loads, potentially causing overheating of the processor.
Externally, the design of Geekom A8 is very similar to its predecessor, Geekom A7, but with some differences in styling. All major components can be easily replaced without special tools. The Crucial RAM and M.2 PCI-e x4 Gen4 ACER N5000 storage are not among the most popular brands but provide good performance.
Despite its compact size, Geekom A8 offers numerous interfaces such as HDMI 2.0b, USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A and C, RJ45 LAN 2.5G, and others. However, the BIOS is quite limited with few settings available.
In conclusion, although Geekom A8 is a compact, lightweight, and functional device, it has limitations for gaming at high resolutions or with demanding graphics settings. It’s more suited to professional use and applications that involve AI, hinting at its enhanced NPU capabilities. While Microsoft promotes their Copilot, other major software producers may also incorporate AI technologies into their products, potentially affecting fields like image editors, video editors, CAD/CAM applications, etc.
Regarding Geekom A8 specifically, the computer is compact, lightweight, and functional but has some drawbacks due to its size constraints. While it offers a good number of ports and interfaces, there are trade-offs in terms of expandability and cooling performance for the processor. The aluminum case looks elegant but is very compact, forcing certain sacrifices. For instance, there’s no room for a 2.5″ SATA 3 hard drive, and only one M.2 slot is available for expansion. Although it supports PCI-e x4 Gen4, high-speed storage usually requires better cooling than what the device can provide without causing excessive noise levels. The manufacturer has addressed this by installing a powerful buffered storage on the MAXIO MAP1602A controller, which does not get as hot.
However, there’s also an issue with processor cooling under heavy loads. The compact size and inability to install more advanced cooling systems likely contributed to overheating when using benchmarks like Prime95, causing throttling of the processor and reduction in clock speeds once temperatures reach around 95°C after a few minutes of testing. The BIOS is quite limited as well, offering few customization options similar to most mainstream laptops. The fan operates normally but goes into passive mode without load, resulting in an acceptable noise level overall.
In terms of build quality, the aluminum case is lightweight and elegant, meeting all expectations for this type of device.