Geekom A8/A7 review: These Ryzen-powered mini-PCs are on another level entirely

As a tech enthusiast who has spent countless hours hunched over various gadgets, I can confidently say that the Geekom A8 and A7 mini-PCs have truly stolen my heart (and precious desk space). These diminutive powerhouses are perfect for those seeking a potent computing solution without sacrificing portability.

Geekom excels in the mini-PC segment, creating a unique space by providing potent solutions at competitive prices. Most of its offerings are Intel-centric, but the A7 and A8 models break the mold with their AMD-powered designs.

After trying out the Mini IT13 (review forthcoming), XT12 Pro, and GT13 Pro within the past few months, I’m quite certain that the currently fastest Geekom models, powered by Ryzen, are the A7 and A8. The integrated Radeon 780M for casual gaming is remarkably impressive.

Additionally, the design is appealing and offers much to appreciate, even though both items are priced higher compared to typical Geekom products. However, considering the hardware included, it remains a worthwhile investment.

1) The model A7 is equipped with the Ryzen 9 7940HS processor from Phoenix (Arizona), while the A8 sports the Ryzen 9 8945HS from Hawk Point. If you’re looking for a compact PC that offers impressive performance without consuming too much desk space, consider the A8 as your first choice; the A7 is a strong runner-up.

Geekom A8/A7: Pricing and availability

In May 2024, Geekom launched their mini-PC model A8, which is now available worldwide. You can purchase it for $849 on the Geekom U.S. website, or £899 on the Geekom U.K. site. It’s also listed on Amazon for $849. This device comes equipped with the Ryzen 9 8945HS processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD.

For readers of Windows Central, an extra 5% savings can be claimed by applying the code WINDOWSA8 at checkout when purchasing the A8. This offer is applicable not only on Geekom’s official site but also on Amazon, and it remains valid until November 30.

The Geekom A7 laptop is available in one version featuring the Ryzen 9 7940HS processor, 32GB RAM, and a 2TB SSD. It retails for $749 on Geekom’s US site and £749 in the UK, and it can also be purchased on Amazon for the same price. Just like the A8 model, Windows Central readers can enjoy a 5% discount by using the code WINDOWSA7 at checkout on either Geekom’s site or Amazon. This offer is valid until November 30th.

Geekom A8/A7: Design

Geekom frequently updates the look of its products, and this is also true for the A7 and A8 models. These devices boast an aluminum-alloy frame, and their design exudes a sleek, contemporary aesthetic – far more advanced than the Mini IT11 and Mini IT13 released last year.

The A8 model by Geekom is compact compared to previous versions, approximately half the size of an average router, and it’s lightweight too, only 450 grams. It has rubber feet at its base for stability on a desk, and it boasts ventilation on both sides for effective passive cooling.

From my analysis perspective, I’ve noticed an inconvenience in the new design: The screws for internal hardware access are positioned beneath the rubber feet. This means that before you can reach the screws, you’ll need to detach the feet, which are adhered to the casing. This isn’t as user-friendly as previous models, suggesting that Geekom might have prioritized aesthetics over accessibility in their design choices.

There’s a solitary fan inside the chassis that provides active cooling, and it does a decent enough job. There is audible noise under load, but I only noticed it when running synthetic tests; there aren’t any issues in this area in day-to-day use.

Regarding portability, the compactness and lightweight design of the A7 sets it apart from other options in Geekom’s lineup. This is a significant factor that influenced my decision to bring it along during my recent travels.

Geekom A8/A7: Ports and connectivity

The A7 and A8 models share identical port configurations, boasting several appealing features. They offer two USB-A ports (compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2) conveniently located at the front, as well as a standard 3.5mm audio jack. Additionally, there’s only a power button, which illuminates when the mini-PC is active.

At the rear, you’ll find two USB ports – one is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 compatible USB-A port, while the other uses USB 2.0. Additionally, there are two USB-C ports; one adheres to USB 4 Gen 3 and the other complies with the USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard.

This device features two HDMI 2.0 ports, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, a standard barrel plug, and an SD card reader located on its left side for easy access. In terms of wireless connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi 6e and Bluetooth 5.2. Although the Wi-Fi signal wasn’t as strong as some other devices I tested during my month-long use of the A8 and A7, I managed to maintain a stable connection with good bandwidth.

As an analyst, I can confirm that the internal connectivity of this device features a single M.2 2280 slot currently occupied by the pre-installed Gen 4.0 SSD. Previous Geekom models allowed for a second SSD addition, however, this option is not available in the A7 and A8 models.

For your memory needs, you have access to two separate DDR5 SODIMM channels. Each channel accommodates a 16GB module, allowing for simple swaps if you’d like to upgrade to 32GB modules. By doing so, you can expand the total memory capacity to 64GB whenever necessary.

What’s different with the Geekom A7?

The designs of the A7 and A8 are virtually identical, sporting the same aluminum frame and offering the same selection of ports, making them equal in weight too. However, while they share many similarities on the outside, there’s a significant difference under the hood: The A7 is powered by the Phoenix-class R9 7940HS, unlike the A8.

Even then, the difference in daily use is barely noticeable, and in all the synthetic benchmarks I ran, there was less than a 5% differential between both products. If anything, I ended up using the A7 more than the A8. If you want to save some extra cash, the A7 is a terrific choice.

Geekom A8/A7: Performance

Before moving on to the performance, a quick note about the software: Both A7 and A8 models arrive with Windows 11 Pro (23H2) already installed, and they lack the unnecessary software typically found in Microsoft products. During my assessment, I didn’t encounter any software-related problems, and it was wise of Geekom to exclude additional utilities that might not be needed.

As a tech enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the A8’s performance, powered by the Ryzen 9 8945HS. This bad boy boasts eight cores, capable of handling 16 threads simultaneously. It can turbo boost up to 5.2GHz, with a base clock speed of 4.0GHz. It’s equipped with an 8MB L2 cache and a mighty 16MB L3 cache. The thermal design power (TDP) is 45W, but it can adjust its power limits for optimal performance. With PL1 set at 45W, it can bump up to 65W with PL2.

As a devoted user, I observed that the A8, when under heavy use, drew up to 91 watts of power. This aligns well with typical mini-PC systems in the market. Interestingly, the A8 comes with a 120-watt power adapter, and Geekom has adopted a unified design for all their products, ensuring consistency across their product line.

The A8 really shines when it comes to performance; this mini-PC is currently Geekom’s top-notch offering, and it manages demanding tasks effortlessly. It boasts the highest single-core and multi-core scores among all mini-PCs I tested, and while it’s not a dedicated gaming machine, it can handle modest gaming titles quite well, as long as they aren’t too visually intensive.

Everyday tasks such as browsing and productivity workflow ran smoothly without a hitch on the A8. During my testing period, it demonstrated impressive capabilities in image and video editing. I didn’t encounter any lags or issues while adjusting colors in Lightroom, manipulating images in Photoshop, or creating videos in Premiere Pro.

Geekom A8/A7: The alternatives

Geekom has an extensive catalog available, and the GT13 Pro is a decent alternative to the A7 and A8. If you need the same Ryzen-based hardware instead, the Minisforum HX77G is a good choice; it includes the Ryzen 9 7940HS, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, and it costs $799. You get better thermal management and dual SSD slots, but the design isn’t as portable.

Geekom A8/A7: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if..

✅ You need a powerful mini-PC that doesn’t take up much room

✅ You want decent connectivity and an SD card reader

✅ You want a mini-PC that can run casual games without any hassle

You shouldn’t buy this if..

❌ You need two M.2 SSD slots

After extensively working with the A7 and A8 models, I find that their main drawback seems to be that they only offer a single M.2 slot. Other than this, there isn’t much else these models seem to lack, and they both excel in everyday productivity tasks as well as challenging image and video editing workflows, providing exceptional performance.

The portable design is a decent differentiator, and both the A7 and A8 are among the most diminutive products in this category. The issue with the size is that it affects thermal management, and Geekom should really consider increasing the height so it can slot in a bigger fan in the next generation.

Fortunately, there were no problems related to throttling observed, and only in gaming or heavy tasks did the fan operate at high speed and produce a noticeable sound. Given the connectivity options and the performance capabilities they offer, the A7 and A8 mini-PCs rank among the top choices available today, whether from Geekom or any other manufacturer.

2024-11-12 19:40