Geekom A5

The GEEKOM A5 ($329) offers solid productivity performance with its AMD Ryzen 7 5825U (Zen 3, 8C/16T) and Vega 8 iGPU, targeting budget-conscious users needing a compact workstation. It handles office tasks, 4K streaming, and light gaming (League of Legends at 1080p/60fps) competently, but faces stiff competition. The Ayaneo AM01 ($359) provides double the RAM (32GB) and storage (1TB SSD) in a retro-inspired chassis with superior cooling, while the GMKtec M6 ($329) packs a faster Ryzen 5 6600H (Zen 3+, up to 4.5GHz) and RDNA 2 iGPU (660M), delivering 30–40% better gaming performance in titles like GTA V.

The A5’s upgrade flexibility is a highlight: dual DDR4 slots, dual M.2 slots (PCIe 3.0 + SATA), and a 2.5" bay allow for cost-effective expansions. However, its plastic chassis and single-fan cooling limit thermal headroom (CPU throttles to 3.8GHz under sustained loads), and the Vega 8 GPU struggles with modern titles (Elden Ring runs below 30fps at 720p). WiFi 6 and quad-display support (8K via USB-C) are rare at this price, but the Realtek NIC suffers latency spikes versus Intel AX200 alternatives.

For pure value, the GMKtec M6’s 6600H is the smarter buy at $329—its RDNA 2 graphics and higher IPC outperform the 5825U in both gaming and multi-threaded workloads. The Ayaneo AM01 justifies its $30 premium with 32GB RAM/1TB SSD and a thermally efficient design, making it better for creators. The A5 remains viable for basic tasks, but its aging Zen 3 architecture and PCIe 3.0 limitations make it hard to recommend over newer alternatives.

- GhostKeyboard Review.