Geekom A7 Mini PC

The Geekom A7 (7940HS) arrives as a perplexing offering at $749, pairing last-gen Phoenix silicon with inflexible configurations. While the Ryzen 9 7940HS (8C/16T, 5.2GHz) and Radeon 780M (RDNA 3) deliver solid 1080p gaming performance (Cyberpunk 2077 35fps at Low), single M.2 slot severely limit future upgrades. Compared to newer 8845HS models like the GMKtec K8 PLUS ($522 with dual M.2 + Oculink), the A7 feels outdated. The 2TB SSD inclusion seems generous until realizing there's no secondary slot for expansion - a baffling choice when rivals offer dual M.2 configurations at lower prices. The single-fan cooling system also struggles, hitting 92°C in sustained workloads while emitting 65dB noise.

Connectivity is the A7's strongest suit, with dual USB4 ports (40Gbps) enabling dual eGPU setups or high-speed storage. However, the lack of Oculink handicaps GPU performance compared to the Beelink SER7 (PCIe 4.0 x8). The Radeon 780M remains competent for esports (Valorant 120fps at 1080p), but without RAM upgrades or NPU acceleration (unlike 8040/8945HS models), the A7 struggles to justify its premium. The Minisforum UM780 XTX (same CPU, $649) offers liquid metal cooling and Oculink, while the Beelink SER7 (7940HS, $579) includes a vapor chamber - both undercutting the A7's price.

At $749, the A7 exists in a pricing no-man's-land. The fixed 32GB/2TB configuration ignores user preferences (16GB/1TB would suffice for many), while the soldered RAM and single storage slot contradict Geekom's "upgrade-friendly" marketing. Gamers would prefer the Minisforum EM780 (7840U, $599) for better thermals, while creators benefit from the GMKtec K8 PLUS' Oculink and dual USB4. Unless dual USB4 is non-negotiable, the A7's value proposition crumbles against newer, more flexible alternatives.

- GhostKeyboard Review.