Geekom A6 Mini PC Handles Windows 11 and Cloud Gaming for Under $500

For about a week now, I’ve been working primarily on the latest Geekom A6 mini PC. Having tried various mini PCs in recent times, I’ve developed an affinity for Geekom’s offerings, so I was eager to put this new machine through its paces and compare it with its earlier models.

The A6 might not be the most potent gadget I’ve handled, but it handles all my routine tasks flawlessly. It shares some constraints common to most compact PCs, but such limitations are typical in this class of devices.

I strongly suggest the Geekom A6 as an excellent budget computer, suitable for serving as your primary PC or for assigning specific tasks.

Geekom A6: Pricing and specifications

An entry price point of $449 makes the mini PC extremely affordable.
While not the most powerful computer, it does feature solid internals.
Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Among the numerous mini PCs currently on the market, quite a few don’t warrant much consideration. However, I often suggest Geekom as they consistently deliver high-quality compact devices, making them a reliable choice for many users.

The Geekom A6 is an exceptional budget-friendly mini PC, boasting a remarkably affordable price of $449.00 on Amazon or Geekom.com. Despite its low cost, you’ll find an impressive selection of ports and under the hood lies an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H CPU, AMD Radeon 680M integrated GPU, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Although it may not be the most powerful mini PC available, it more than capably manages everyday tasks.

For clarity, there are compact computers available on the market with comparable specs that might be $200 cheaper than this one. But it’s generally wiser to buy from a reputable brand you have confidence in, as I’ve encountered instances where budget-friendly mini PCs came pre-loaded with malware. A company we trust at Windows Central is Geekom, and their mini PC offers a solid configuration at a reasonable price point.

Due to its space-saving design and light body, installing the Geekom A6 is effortless either on top of monitors or beneath desks, resulting in a much cleaner aesthetic.

Geekom A6 — What’s in the box?

Besides the mini PC itself, the Geekom A6 also includes a VESA Mount, screws, an HDMI cable, a power adapter, and a user manual. These accessories ensure you have everything required to connect it to a monitor or even mount it on the back of a compatible monitor for a clean, hidden setup straight out of the box.

Geekom A6: Design and build quality

The casing looks good and doesn’t take up a lot of room.
Plenty of ports and some upgradability make it convenient to use.
Design rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Geekom A6, with its plain aluminum alloy frame and square design, tends to blend rather than stand out among other mini PCs. This is an advantage because it’s less flashy compared to some others. As a result, it can suit both professional and casual environments equally well.

This compact device measures approximately 11.2 centimeters by 11.2 centimeters in size and is roughly 3.7 centimeters thick, making it effortless to position beneath a monitor or slide into a desk. Additionally, it tips the scales at just 2.42 pounds, ensuring minimal stress on screws or the provided VESA mount when affixed somewhere.

To put it simply, even though this mini PC has a small size, it doesn’t skimp on connectivity options. On the front, you can find two USB-A ports and a headphone jack for easy access. Flip it over, and you’ll discover a USB4 Gen 3 USB-C port, another USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, a USB-A 2.0 port, an Ethernet port, and an SD card reader located on the right side of the device.

Component access and upgradability

Due to its compact size, the A6 model has limited room for upgrades, but it was intentionally designed with some degree of openness for potential modifications. Similar to other Geekom mini PCs I’ve handled, I needed to detach the rubber feet at the bottom to expose four screws. After unscrewing these, I used my screwdriver as a pry bar to carefully remove the back plastic panel, thereby accessing the internal components of the A6.

On one side of the mini PC, there are two vertically arranged DDR5 4800MT/s RAM sticks providing 32GB capacity, though it can accommodate a maximum of 64GB in total. In contrast, the A6 model is equipped with a 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD. If additional storage is needed, you can utilize the available 2.5″ M.2 SATA SSD slot, which has the potential to store up to 2TB more.

Geekom A6: Performance and thermals

It offers solid performance and never gets super loud.
You shouldn’t expect it to run games locally or do more demanding tasks, but it’s ideal for casual workloads.
Performance rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

For a week, I made the Geekom A6 my primary work computer. Throughout that period, I was busy writing articles, tweaking images in Photoshop, browsing the internet, and engaging in some light gaming. Granted, it’s not a powerhouse machine, but it proved capable of handling everyday tasks with ease. Surprisingly, it handled neural filters and camera RAW filter edits exceptionally well.

Just like any computer I examine, I subjected the Geekom A6 to a series of rigorous benchmark tests to assess its capabilities relative to other machines of similar specifications. Although it may not deliver jaw-dropping performance, this compact PC holds its own admirably in its category.

Initially, I put the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H CPU to the test with Geekbench 6. The single-core score it garnered was 2,564, while its multi-core score reached 13,215. These scores are typically higher than what we’ve observed in other tests of this particular processor.

After that, I performed some 3DMark benchmark tests to gain more insights into the system’s built-in graphics card. Given that the A6’s Radeon 680M graphics processor isn’t the most potent alternative, it didn’t shock me when this compact PC scored just 2,399 in Time Spy for gaming graphics. I proceeded to conduct an integrated GPU benchmark with Night Raid, and the GPU managed a respectable score of 22,249, which is slightly above the average for this processor.

Out of interest, I decided to install the game Cyberpunk 2077 onto my Geekom A6 and ran a benchmark test after setting the graphics to their lowest default (non-Ray Tracing) level. As expected, the mini PC managed to finish the test but it was quite choppy, averaging around 11 frames per second. I then played the game using an NVIDIA GeForce NOW server and saw a significant improvement in frame rate, with an average of 45 FPS while using Ray Tracing: Overdrive settings. Additionally, Cyberpunk 2077 loaded much faster on the server compared to running it locally on my mini PC. Therefore, if you use this or similar services, you will definitely be able to enjoy your favorite games smoothly on the Geekom A6.

Subsequently, I measured the transfer speeds of the SSD using CrystalDiskMark. The Geekom A6 achieved a read speed of 4,058 MB/s and a write speed of 3,157 MB/s, which while not incredibly swift, offers a highly dependable performance level. Essentially, this means you won’t have to endure excessive wait times when the Geekom A6 is saving, loading, or accessing data. For additional context, I also tested the A6 by transcoding a 4K version of Tears of Steel in Handbrake. The mini PC required approximately 2,767 seconds (around 46 minutes) to finish this task. While it’s not the swiftest we’ve encountered, it is admirable.

To conclude, I assessed the A6’s overall performance using CrossMark. The score of 1,460 it received is a tad lower than anticipated but still acceptable. Ultimately, this mini PC can manage everyday tasks effortlessly, making it suitable for schoolwork, office work, and personal use. However, remember that it may not be able to handle graphically demanding tasks locally.

Thermals and fan noise

During a 20-minute CPU stress test with the Geekom A6 mini PC, the decibel level peaked at 59.2 dB, which is somewhat louder than a tranquil office but still quieter than a typical conversation. Essentially, you’ll hear the gentle hum of the machine, but it will never become excessively loud. If positioned behind your monitor or under your desk, it may even go unnoticed.

Just like numerous compact computers, the Geekom A6 operates without a fan, implying it doesn’t dissipate heat as efficiently as larger machines. However, during my testing, I observed that the device didn’t heat up significantly. Upon using a thermal camera after 20 minutes of intense CPU stress testing, it was discovered that the warmest spot, predictably, was the rear ventilation areas, reaching a peak of 132 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 55 degrees Celsius). Conversely, the front side of the mini PC only warmed up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (around 32 degrees Celsius).

Geekom A6: Alternatives

Geekom A6: Score card

Geekom A6: Final thoughts

You should buy this if …

✅You want a compact computer that doesn’t take up a lot of room

The Geekom A6 has dimensions of 4.42 inches by 4.42 inches by 1.45 inches, making it small enough to fit comfortably beneath a monitor, be mounted behind a screen, or be tucked away under a desk, freeing up additional space for your convenience.

✅You need a reliable mini PC that doesn’t cost too much

On a budget under $500, the Geekom A6 offers a versatile computer that excels in activities like web surfing, video streaming, picture editing, and even light gaming.

You should not buy this if …

❌You want a device that can handle more graphically demanding creative programs and gaming

The majority of compact computers available for purchase lack high-performance graphics processors, including the Geekom A6. If you require a machine capable of running demanding software locally, it would be advisable to explore other options instead.

❌You need an even more affordable mini PC

The Geekom A6 is an affordable, well-built mini PC, although it should be noted that there may be less expensive alternatives available for those with very tight budgets.

2025-02-04 17:10