Geekom A8

The Geekom A8 positions itself as a premium mini PC with two AMD Hawk Point configurations: the Ryzen 9 8945HS ($899) and Ryzen 7 8845HS ($699), both featuring 32GB DDR5-5600 RAM and 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. The 8945HS boasts an 8-core/16-thread Zen 4 CPU (4.0-5.2GHz) and Radeon 780M iGPU (RDNA 3, 2.8GHz), while the 8845HS runs slightly slower (3.8-5.1GHz CPU, 2.7GHz GPU). Both models include a 39 TOPS NPU for AI acceleration and USB4 (40Gbps) support. However, the A8's single-fan cooling system becomes a significant limitation under sustained loads, with thermal throttling observed at 95°C during Cinebench R23 runs. This thermal performance falls behind competitors like the Beelink SER8 (vapor chamber cooling, $609 for 32GB/1TB) and even the Minisforum UM880 (dual-fan design, $639), despite their lower price points.

The A8's compact 0.6L aluminum chassis prioritizes form over function, with the single-fan cooling solution reaching 67dB under load - noticeably louder than the Beelink SER8's vapor chamber (~55dB) or GMKtec K8 PLUS's dual-fan design. While the A8 supports quad-display output (USB4 + dual HDMI 2.1), it notably lacks an Oculink port, a critical omission for users considering eGPU setups. The USB4's 40Gbps bandwidth can bottleneck high-end GPUs compared to Oculink's direct PCIe lane access. Storage expansion is limited to dual M.2 slots (no 2.5" SATA support), and upgrades require removing 10+ screws - a cumbersome process compared to tool-free designs in competing models. The GMKtec K8 PLUS ($522 with same 8845HS CPU) includes both Oculink and dual USB4 ports, making it a significantly better value for expandability.

When evaluating value, the A8's AI capabilities (39 TOPS NPU) and USB4 support are genuine strengths, but they can't justify its premium pricing. The 8945HS model offers only 3-5% better CPU/GPU performance than the 8845HS for a $200 premium, while the Beelink SER8 (vapor chamber, $609) and GMKtec K8 PLUS ($522) deliver comparable real-world performance with better thermal solutions. Creative professionals might appreciate the A8's quad-display support, but gamers and power users will find better value in alternatives with Oculink or superior cooling. At $899, the A8 8945HS faces stiff competition from the Minisforum UM890 Pro (same CPU, Oculink, 64GB RAM at $729). Unless USB4 is an absolute requirement, the A8 struggles to compete in today's crowded mini PC market.

- GhostKeyboard Review.