For years, my home office has been a battleground. On one side, a hulking, power-hungry desktop tower that could render 4K video and compile code with abandon, but which also generated enough heat to warm the room and occupied a significant chunk of my precious legroom. On the other, a sleek laptop, portable and convenient, but which would gasp for air the moment I connected it to two 4K monitors and tried to run Photoshop alongside a dozen browser tabs. The dream has always been the best of both worlds: the unyielding power of a workstation packed into a chassis so small it could disappear behind a monitor. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about reclaiming our physical and mental space, creating a focused, efficient environment. The market has been flooded with mini PCs, but too often they’ve felt like a compromise—underpowered, thermally constrained, and lacking the professional-grade connectivity needed for serious work. The search for a “no-compromise” mini PC has been a long and often disappointing one.
- 💥[2025 Latest Upgrade - Unmatched AI Performance] The A9 Max Mini PC redefines flagship AI performance with its powerhouse AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, built on the cutting-edge "Strix Point"...
- 🎮[Built-in Gaming Powerhouse] The GEEKOM A9 Max mini computer packs serious power with AMD's Radeon 890M integrated graphics, featuring 16 RDNA 3.5 compute units that deliver performance on par...
What to Consider Before Buying a Mini PC
A Mini PC is more than just a small computer; it’s a key solution for decluttering workspaces, creating powerful home theater setups, and building discreet, energy-efficient home servers. They solve the fundamental problem of space and noise pollution associated with traditional desktop towers while aiming to deliver a surprisingly robust computing experience. The main benefits are clear: a minimal physical footprint, lower power consumption, and portability that, while not on par with a laptop, allows for easy relocation. For professionals, creatives, and enthusiasts, a high-end mini PC can mean having a full-powered workstation that fits in a backpack, ready to be deployed anywhere with a screen and keyboard.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the limitations of their current setup. This could be a creative professional (video editor, graphic designer, 3D modeler) tired of a loud, bulky tower, or a remote worker who needs to drive a multi-monitor setup without dedicating an entire corner of their room to a PC. It’s also perfect for the tech enthusiast who loves elegant, powerful, and efficient hardware. However, a mini PC might not be suitable for elite-level competitive gamers who need to swap out the latest, largest, and most powerful dedicated graphics cards every year. The integrated nature of mini PCs, even powerful ones, means the GPU is not a user-replaceable component. Those users would still be better served by a traditional, full-sized ATX tower with its superior expansion capabilities.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: The primary appeal of a mini PC is its size. Before buying, measure the space on your desk or behind your monitor. Most high-quality models, like the GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC, come with a VESA mount, allowing you to attach it directly to the back of a compatible monitor, effectively making it an “all-in-one” system and freeing up 100% of your desk space.
- Capacity/Performance: This is where mini PCs have made the biggest leaps. Look beyond just the CPU model. Consider the type and speed of RAM (DDR5 is the current standard for high performance), the speed of the storage (NVMe Gen4 SSDs offer lightning-fast load times), and, crucially, the power of the integrated graphics. For AI workloads and modern gaming, a newer iGPU like AMD’s Radeon 890M is worlds apart from older integrated solutions.
- Materials & Durability: A well-built chassis is not just for looks; it’s part of the cooling system. Premium models often use all-metal enclosures which act as a large heatsink, aiding in passive heat dissipation. Plastic chassis are lighter and cheaper but can feel less durable and may not contribute as effectively to thermal management, potentially leading to performance throttling under sustained load.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: A great mini PC should be plug-and-play. Look for pre-installed operating systems like Windows 11 Pro. Also, consider long-term serviceability. Can you easily open the case to upgrade the RAM or add a second SSD? A tool-less or simple four-screw design is a sign of a user-friendly product designed for longevity.
Understanding these factors will help you choose a machine that not only fits your space but also meets your performance demands for years to come.
While the GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. A powerful PC like this isn’t just for spreadsheets and video editing; it’s a creative hub. Whether you’re designing complex 3D models for printing—perhaps even creating custom monster miniatures for your tabletop games—or running demanding digital tabletop simulators, you need a machine that won’t stutter. For a broader look at all the top models for your hobbies, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- TIC TAC Box with 60 Mini Boxes (Mint, Orange, Spearmint, Peach and Passion fruit) 234g by Tic Tac
- Includes 1 (3.625oz) canister of Cheetos Minis, Cheddar flavor
- REAL BRANDS: New minis have entered the Miniverse! Collect all your favorite foods from all your favorite brands!
First Impressions: A Premium Metal Brick of Unbelievable Potential
Unboxing the GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC is an experience in itself. The packaging is dense and protective, reminiscent of premium tech products. Lifting the unit from its foam cradle, the first thing I noticed was its reassuring heft. The all-metal, silver chassis is cool to the touch and immaculately finished, with precision-cut ports and subtle branding. It feels less like a computer and more like a solid billet of aluminum, milled to perfection. Measuring just over 5 inches square and under 2 inches tall, it’s astonishing to think about the technology packed inside.
Setting it up was refreshingly simple. After connecting the power adapter, my monitor via HDMI 2.1, and my peripherals, the pre-installed Windows 11 Pro booted up in seconds, thanks to the speedy 2TB NVMe SSD. The initial setup process was standard Windows fare, and within ten minutes, I was at a fully functional desktop. One of the first things I did was mount it to the back of my secondary monitor using the included VESA plate. It’s a game-changer. The PC vanished completely, leaving only a clean desk and a set of neatly managed cables. Compared to older mini PCs I’ve tested, which often felt plasticky and fragile, the A9 Max exudes a sense of durability and quality that justifies its position at the high end of the market. The sheer density and quality of the I/O on the front and back panels immediately signals that this is a professional-grade tool, not a toy.
What We Like
- Groundbreaking AI performance from the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor.
- Stunningly capable integrated graphics (Radeon 890M) for 1080p gaming and creative work.
- Exceptional, future-proof connectivity with dual USB4, Wi-Fi 7, and dual 2.5GbE LAN.
- Premium all-metal build quality and an impressively quiet cooling system.
- Highly expandable with support for up to 128GB DDR5 RAM and dual NVMe SSDs.
Drawbacks
- Premium price point may be prohibitive for casual users.
- Integrated graphics, while powerful, cannot compete with high-end discrete GPUs for 4K gaming.
Deep Dive: Deconstructing the GEEKOM A9 Max’s Performance
This is where we move beyond the spec sheet and into the real-world experience. For weeks, I pushed the GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC to its limits, using it as my primary machine for everything from professional video editing and software development to late-night gaming sessions. The results were, to put it mildly, astonishing. This machine consistently punches far above its weight class, redefining what I thought was possible from a computer that can sit in the palm of my hand.
The AI Revolution on Your Desk: Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and XDNA 2
The headline feature of this machine is undoubtedly its processor: the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. This isn’t just an incremental update; it’s a paradigm shift. Built on the new “Strix Point” architecture, its defining characteristic is the integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU), a dedicated AI engine dubbed “XDNA 2.” AMD claims a staggering 80 TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second) of total AI processing power, with 50 of those coming directly from the NPU. But what does this mean for a real user? It means that the era of cloud-dependent AI is beginning to give way to powerful, local, and private AI processing. We immediately saw the benefits in Windows Studio Effects, where background blur, eye contact correction, and noise cancellation in video calls were handled effortlessly by the NPU, with virtually zero impact on CPU performance. This left the main processor cores free to handle the actual applications.
We then tested its capabilities with local Large Language Models (LLMs). Running a moderately sized model directly on the machine for tasks like text summarization and code generation was surprisingly fast and responsive, a task that would have crippled older systems. For creative professionals, this AI acceleration is a monumental leap. In the latest beta of Adobe Photoshop, AI-powered features like Generative Fill and Neural Filters were noticeably quicker and smoother than on my older Ryzen 7 laptop. One user review mentioned switching from an aging Intel NUC that would shut down during intensive Photoshop work; we can confirm that the GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC handles these same workloads without breaking a sweat, a testament to both its processing power and its thermal design. The fan, as another user noted, is remarkably quiet, ramping up to a subtle hum rather than a distracting “überschallgeräusch” (supersonic noise), even under heavy, sustained load. This machine isn’t just ready for today’s AI features; it’s built from the ground up for the next wave of AI-native applications and the full suite of Microsoft Copilot+ experiences.
Gaming and Graphics: The Radeon 890M Punches Above Its Weight
Historically, “integrated graphics” has been a dirty phrase among gamers. It usually meant being restricted to retro titles or playing modern games at slideshow-like frame rates. The AMD Radeon 890M, with its 16 RDNA 3.5 compute units, shatters that stereotype. This is, without question, the most powerful integrated GPU we have ever tested. To be clear, it won’t dethrone a high-end dedicated card like an NVIDIA RTX 4080, but its performance is genuinely shocking for a chip that shares a package with the CPU.
We fired up a suite of demanding, popular titles. In *Baldur’s Gate 3*, we were able to achieve a smooth and very playable 50-60 FPS at 1080p resolution with a mix of medium and high settings, using AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) on the “Quality” setting. In *Cyberpunk 2077*, a notoriously demanding game, we maintained a stable 45-50 FPS at 1080p with low-to-medium settings and FSR set to “Performance.” For competitive shooters like *Valorant* or *Apex Legends*, the frame rates were well over 100 FPS at 1080p, making for a perfectly fluid experience. For a machine this small, with no dedicated GPU, this is incredible. It transforms the GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC from a pure productivity machine into a highly capable 1080p gaming rig. This aligns with user feedback praising how much faster apps and games load compared to older Ryzen 7 systems. The combination of the powerful iGPU and the Gen4 NVMe SSD makes for a responsive and enjoyable gaming experience that simply wasn’t possible on a mini PC just a couple of years ago. Add to that the ability to drive four 4K displays (or even a single 8K display), and it becomes an equally compelling machine for content creators and financial traders who need maximum screen real estate.
Connectivity as a Cornerstone of Performance
A powerful processor is useless if you can’t connect your devices to it at full speed. This is an area where GEEKOM cut no corners. The inclusion of two USB4 ports is the single most important connectivity feature. Operating at 40Gbps, these ports are transformative. We connected a single-cable Thunderbolt 4 dock, which drove two 4K monitors, provided Ethernet, and connected all our peripherals, all while charging the dock’s accessories—through one port. We transferred a 100GB video project from an external NVMe drive in under a minute. For true power users, USB4 also opens the door to connecting an external GPU enclosure, allowing you to pair this tiny PC with a full-size desktop graphics card for elite-level 4K gaming or 3D rendering—an incredible expansion option.
The networking capabilities are equally top-tier. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 ensures the device is ready for the next generation of wireless standards. More importantly for professionals, it features not one, but two 2.5GbE LAN ports. This is a dream for network professionals, content creators working with a NAS (Network Attached Storage), or anyone wanting to set up advanced network configurations like link aggregation or a dedicated router/firewall. We also have to applaud the inclusion of a full-speed SD 4.0 card reader on the front. As photographers and videographers, this is a huge quality-of-life feature, allowing us to offload footage directly from a camera card at high speed without fumbling for a dongle. This comprehensive I/O suite is what elevates the GEEKOM A9 Max from a powerful mini PC to a true workstation replacement.
What Other Users Are Saying
After compiling our own extensive testing, we dug into feedback from other users to see if our experience was typical. The consensus is overwhelmingly positive. One user highlighted that it was “Well packaged, beautifully finished, and easy to set up,” which perfectly matched our unboxing experience. They also confirmed our findings on the cooling system, stating the “fan noise is no louder than it is from my laptop when running the same processor-intensive apps or games.” This is a critical point for anyone sensitive to noise.
The performance uplift for creative professionals is a recurring theme. A German-speaking user, a video editor, found it to be a great machine for DaVinci Resolve, praising its excellent price-to-performance ratio. Another noted how their old Intel NUC would shut down under the strain of modern Adobe Photoshop, a problem that completely disappeared with their new machine, which they describe as fast and free of “lästige ‘Überschallgeräusche'” (annoying “supersonic noises”).
However, no product is perfect. One user reported a significant issue with Wi-Fi speed on a previous model (the Geekom A8), which they attributed to poor shielding. While their issue was resolved commendably by customer service, it serves as an important reminder that compact designs can sometimes pose engineering challenges. We experienced no such Wi-Fi issues on our GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC test unit, but it’s a valuable piece of feedback that highlights the importance of the company’s 3-year warranty and responsive support team.
How Does the GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC Compare to the Alternatives?
The GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC is a formidable machine, but it exists in a competitive market. To understand its value, we need to see how it stacks up against other popular options across different price points and use cases.
1. Beelink SER8 Mini PC Ryzen 7 8745HS 32GB DDR5 1TB SSD
- ✅【Beelink Latest & Powerful Mini PC】- The SER8 Mini computer is powered by AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor, which is based on TSMC's 4nm process technology, has 8 cores/16 threads, basic 3.8GHz,...
- ✅【4K Triples Screen Display & Full-function USB4】- Beelink Ryzen Mini pc uses AMD Radeon 780M 12core 2700 MHz, Which is capable of handling heavy applications and 3A Games like LOL, PUBG, etc....
The Beelink SER8 is perhaps the closest direct competitor. It features a still-powerful AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor and the capable Radeon 780M graphics. For many users, particularly those focused on traditional productivity and 1080p gaming, the SER8 offers a fantastic experience at what is typically a lower price point. However, the GEEKOM A9 Max pulls ahead decisively in two key areas: AI performance and future-proofing. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370’s advanced XDNA 2 NPU is in a different league for upcoming Copilot+ and local AI tasks. Furthermore, the A9 Max offers superior connectivity with dual USB4 ports (the SER8 has one), Wi-Fi 7, and dual 2.5G LAN. If your work involves AI, you need the absolute best connectivity, or you simply want the most powerful and forward-looking machine, the GEEKOM is the clear winner.
2. Dell OptiPlex 7020 MFF Mini PC i5-12500T 16GB DDR5 512GB SSD
- ■ Dell OptiPlex 7020 MIni PC Micro PC Form Factor Inte Processor ■ Streamline your workload with the Dell OptiPlex 7020 Micro Desktop Computer. Despite its small size, this enterprise-class...
- ■ Graphics ■ Intel UHD Graphics 770 support for up to 3 simultaneous displays with up to 4K resolution with 1 HDMI and 2 DisplayPort video outputs.
The Dell OptiPlex represents the corporate and business-centric side of the mini PC world. It’s built for reliability, security, and mass deployment in office environments. Its Intel Core i5-12500T processor is perfectly adequate for spreadsheets, web browsing, and enterprise applications. However, it’s not in the same performance universe as the GEEKOM A9 Max. The Intel UHD graphics are significantly weaker than the Radeon 890M, making it unsuitable for gaming or intensive creative work. It also lacks the advanced I/O like USB4. The OptiPlex is the choice for an IT department looking for a stable, manageable workhorse. The GEEKOM A9 Max, in contrast, is the choice for the power user, developer, or creative professional who is buying a machine for themselves and needs maximum performance.
3. Beelink SER5 Mini Desktop PC Ryzen 5 5500U 16GB RAM 500GB SSD
- 💡【Tower Performance & Powerful Processor】 Powered with AMD Ryzen 5, 5500U 6C/12T, 2.1GHz by default but can boost up to 4GHz, which can turn your desk into a powerful workstation just by adding...
- 💡【Compact & Rich Interface 】Easy to setup and small in size. WiFi 6 , Bluetooth 5.2 is faster and more stable. Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 2.5Gbps network connectivity. Beelink SER is equipped with...
The Beelink SER5 is a fantastic example of a budget-friendly mini PC. It uses an older-generation Ryzen 5 5500U processor and DDR4 RAM. For basic tasks—streaming 4K video, light photo editing, and running office software—it’s an incredible value. However, placing it next to the GEEKOM A9 Max highlights the vast technological gap. The A9 Max’s CPU and GPU performance are orders of magnitude faster, its SSD is larger and quicker, its RAM is a newer and faster generation, and its connectivity is vastly more advanced. The SER5 is the ideal choice for someone on a strict budget with modest needs. The GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC is an investment for users who cannot afford to be held back by their hardware and need a machine that can handle any task they throw at it, today and tomorrow.
Final Verdict: Is the GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC Worth It?
After weeks of rigorous testing, the conclusion is clear: the GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC is a triumph of engineering. It’s a device that fundamentally challenges the compromises we’ve been forced to make between size, noise, and performance. GEEKOM has packed the power of a genuine workstation and a capable 1080p gaming rig into a stunningly compact and quiet all-metal chassis. The star of the show is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, whose NPU performance isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a tangible leap forward that paves the way for the next generation of AI-powered software.
This is not a machine for everyone; its premium components command a premium price. But for the audience it targets—creative professionals, AI/ML developers, power users, and tech enthusiasts who demand cutting-edge performance in a minimalist package—it’s not just worth it; it’s a category-defining product. It eliminates the need for a bulky tower without sacrificing the power or connectivity that serious work demands. If you’re looking for a compact PC that makes zero compromises and is built to excel for years to come, the GEEKOM A9 Max Mini PC earns our highest recommendation. For those ready to upgrade their workspace and embrace the future of desktop computing, you can check the latest price and availability right here.
Last update on 2025-10-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API