Modular, upgradeable, and super compact — HP’s new mini PC impressed me with its versatile hardware and capable cooling

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Mini PCs offer a compelling alternative to traditional laptops and desktop computers. They’re gaining popularity because they’re affordable, powerful, and take up very little space.

I’ve been testing out HP’s new EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) for a while now, and I’ve actually switched to using it as my main computer. So far, I’m really impressed! It’s a Copilot+ system that feels incredibly reliable, stable, and fast. I wanted to share my thoughts to help you decide if it’s right for you.

HP provided us with a sample unit for this review. However, HP did not influence the review in any way and hadn’t seen it before it was published.

A compact 1L chassis with extensive upgrade and replacement options

It’s always impressive how much power and cooling technology can be packed into small mini PCs, and the HP EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) is a perfect illustration of that.

This device is incredibly thin, measuring just 1.35 inches, and around 7 inches wide and deep. At 3.13 pounds, it’s surprisingly lightweight – comparable to many laptops – and easily portable in a bag. Despite being made of plastic and aluminum, the build quality feels very solid and durable.

The top of the case has holes to ensure good airflow for the cooling fans. The bottom features rubber feet to prevent slipping and includes mounting points for VESA compatibility. I personally use this PC lying flat, but you can easily add a stand to make it stand upright for just $2 when you order.

The front of the computer features a stylish plastic panel with several ports: one USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2) ports, and a single 3.5mm audio jack that works with headsets. The power button is also located on the front.

The back of the computer features most of its connections, including HDMI 2.1, two DisplayPort 2.1 ports, one USB4 port that can deliver 100W of power, two USB-A 3.2 ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired networking. There’s also a security lock slot to help prevent theft.

The EliteDesk 8 Mini is quite adaptable. The back panel has sections you can change, letting you customize the available ports. My test model included an extra Thunderbolt 4 port, which is unusual for PCs with AMD processors because of Intel’s licensing agreements, along with two Mini DisplayPort connections.

Need different ports? HP offers a wide variety, including video, 2.5GbE, and USB options. Most of these cost under $81—the dual Mini DP is the most expensive, at that price, but the next most expensive is just $17. You’ll also find several choices for wireless connectivity, from Wi-Fi 6 to the latest Wi-Fi 7.

While the components are closely packed inside, HP cleverly designed the system to make upgrades relatively easy.

The PC’s top panel comes off easily with just one thumb screw. While the components are close together inside, HP has designed it thoughtfully to make upgrades relatively simple.

The computer’s main fan is designed to be easily lifted out, giving access to the RAM slots underneath for upgrades. The fan has rubber dampeners on the sides to stop it from vibrating, and it operated silently during testing.

Replacing the SSD is a little tricky, as it’s underneath the second fan and secured with screws, but it’s not a major issue. HP has made repairability a priority with this mini PC, and replacement parts are readily available through their PartSurfer website. This is especially helpful now, with rising PC costs and shortages of components like RAM and storage.

Steady Ryzen performance and impressive cooling abilities

As of today, HP offers a variety of pre-built EliteDesk 8 Mini computers with prices starting at $759. All models use AMD processors, and you can choose between Ryzen PRO and standard Ryzen chips. You can also customize the computer with between 8GB and 64GB of RAM, and storage options range from 256GB SSDs to larger 2TB SSDs.

HP’s Wolf Pro Security comes standard with all features enabled, but if you’re customizing your computer, you can also add it during the build process. While it’s especially helpful for professionals handling confidential information, anyone can benefit from the extra security it provides.

Okay, let’s talk about how this thing performs. I’ve been testing the top-of-the-line model, and it’s packing an AMD Ryzen 7 AI PRO 350 processor. To go with that, it has a generous 32GB of super-fast dual-channel DDR5-5600 RAM and a speedy 1TB TLC M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. It’s a really solid setup, and I’m excited to see how it handles everything I throw at it.

This PC’s powerful AI capabilities – boasting 50 TOPS from the Ryzen Neural Processing Unit – qualify it for Copilot+. That means you can use the newest AI features in Windows 11, like Cocreator, Recall, Live Captions, and many others.

The HP EliteDesk 8 Mini is a great computer for everyday tasks, even if you don’t plan on using the built-in AI features of Windows 11. It ran smoothly during normal use and handled demanding tests with ease.

I experienced no hiccups during daily work, and it took on sustained stress tests like a champ.

I put the computer through a demanding 20-minute stress test, pushing the processor to its maximum speed of 4.3GHz, which resulted in a temperature of around 97°C. The loudest the PC got was 56dB measured right at the back exhaust fan. Stepping about a foot away, the noise level dropped to 49dB. You can definitely hear the fans working when the system is under heavy load, but they aren’t obnoxiously loud – they don’t scream, whine, or become distracting. The case itself also stayed reasonably cool.

This mini PC isn’t powerful enough for serious gaming, but its built-in Radeon 860M graphics can run simpler, well-made games without issue.

HP EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if …

  • You want a compact mini PC with Copilot+ tools on board.
  • You’re a professional who needs extra security via HP’s Wolf Pro.
  • You don’t have a lot of space on your desk and don’t want a laptop.

❌You should not buy this if …

  • You’re a gamer who wants a full-time gaming PC.
  • You have no interest in using AI on your PC.
  • You’d rather use a system with an Intel or Qualcomm chip inside.

The HP EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) is designed for businesses and offers a lot of flexibility. It’s highly customizable, includes extra security features, and even incorporates artificial intelligence.

However, everyday computer users can still benefit from this. It’s particularly helpful with HP’s customizable options, which let you avoid unnecessary expenses like professional-grade processors and faster storage drives.

I really like how easily you can customize the back connections, and the fan is impressively quiet while keeping things cool – those are features many other products lack. It handles everything I throw at it – lots of internet browsing, using Copilot, Photoshop, Office apps, and more – without any issues. I just have one small suggestion to make it even better.

If you want the best possible performance for running AI programs directly on your computer, I suggest looking at the HP Z2 Mini (G1a), which we reviewed positively. It features an AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ PRO 395 processor that can use up to 96GB of your computer’s memory as video memory for its Radeon 8060S graphics, making it a powerful choice for challenging AI tasks.

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2025-12-25 23:11