Beelink GTR9 A.I MAX 395 Launch News

Beelink's GTR9 Pro AI is one of the first mini PCs featuring AMD's flagship Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 "Strix Halo" APU, joining competitors like the GMKtec EVO-X2 and HP Z2 Mini G1a. This 4.3L system packs a 16-core/32-thread Zen 5 CPU and Radeon 8060S (40 RDNA 3.5 CUs) into a Mac Studio-inspired chassis, targeting professionals and AI enthusiasts with its 128GB RAM support and 126 TOPS AI performance.

Priced at $1,999 (128GB), it's positioned as a premium alternative to traditional workstations, though its high cost and niche focus have sparked debate among mini PC enthusiasts.

1. Strix Halo APU: Zen 5 & RDNA 3.5

The Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 delivers:

• 16C/32T Zen 5 @ 5.1GHz boost, 80MB cache
• Radeon 8060S iGPU (40 CUs) – rivals RTX 4070 laptop GPU in some workloads
• 50 TOPS NPU (XDNA 2) + 76 TOPS from CPU/GPU = 126 TOPS total AI performance

2. Memory & Storage

• Up to 128GB LPDDR5X-8000 (soldered) with 96GB allocatable as VRAM
• Dual PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots (no SATA support)

3. Connectivity & Cooling

• Dual USB4 (40Gbps) + dual 10GbE LAN + Wi-Fi 7
• Vapor chamber + triple-fan cooling (230W peak power draw)

1. CPU & GPU Performance

• Cinebench R24: ~1,767 (multi-core) – desktop-class performance
• 3DMark Time Spy: ~3,200 (GPU score) – competes with RTX 3050-4060 laptops

2. AI & Productivity

• Runs 70B-parameter LLMs locally (e.g., LLaMA 3, DeepSeek-R1)
• 4K video editing at 60FPS in DaVinci Resolve

The announcement on r/MiniPCs sparked mixed reactions:

• Positives:
  • "Finally a mini PC that can handle local AI models without a dGPU"
  • "The 96GB VRAM allocation is a game-changer for ML workloads"
• Criticisms:
  • "$2K is too much when GMKtec's EVO-X2 offers similar specs for $1,799"
  • "Still no Thunderbolt support despite the premium price"
• Debates:
  • "Is the Mac Studio design just copying Apple, or is there functional value?"
  • "Will the cooling handle sustained 140W loads without throttling?"

Model	Price	Key Advantages
Beelink GTR9 Pro AI	$1,799-$1,999	industrial cooling, 126 TOPS AI
GMKtec EVO-X2	$1,799	LPDDR5X-8000 (faster memory), more compact
HP Z2 Mini G1a	$2,067	ISV certifications, workstation reliability

The GTR9 Pro AI is a technical marvel but faces stiff competition:

• Pros: Unmatched AI performance, desktop-grade CPU, exceptional cooling
• Cons: High price, soldered RAM, no Thunderbolt

Verdict: Ideal for AI developers and pros needing max performance in a compact form, but casual users should consider cheaper alternatives like the Beelink SER9 Pro.