Gicom Co., Ltd.
GEEKOM A8 review: Compact but powerful high-performance mini PC equipped with Ryzen 9 8945HS
This article “GEEKOM A8 Review” is reprinted from OREFOLDER. ……
[Image 1: https://prtimes.jp/i/141101/8/resize/d141101-8-9083d19bf9ec97a84583-0.jpg&s3=141101-8-1e42d5d4e58c73f781b6ab281f935731-1200×675.jpg] GEEKOM, which handles many mini PCs, provided us with a
high-performance mini PC “GEEKOM A8” equipped with Ryzen 9 8945HS for review.
Among the mini PCs handled by GEEKOM, the GEEKOM A8 is one of the top models. It is equipped with Ryzen 9 8945HS, which is also installed in gaming notebook PCs, Radeon 780M as GPU, 32GB of memory, and 2TB of storage. It’s a high-spec mini-PC that can be used comfortably for normal home use, although it can’t be used comfortably even when playing heavy games.
I’m already using GEEKOM A8 as my main PC because its specs are clearly higher than the main PC I’ve been using. Of course, this article itself was written using the GEEKOM A8. (orefolder)
In addition, GEEKOM A8 has Ryzen 7 8845HS/1TB model and Ryzen 9 8945HS/2TB model. This time we will review the Ryzen 9 8945HS/2TB model.
The price on the official website is 158,000 yen, and as of June 8, 2024, you can purchase it for 130,000 yen with a discount, and if you enter the discount code on this site, you can get an additional 5,000 yen off and purchase it for 125,000 yen. Ryzen 7 8845HS can be purchased for 97,900 yen using the discount code.
Discount code: OREPRTIMES
compact and light
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The main body of GEEKOM A8 is made of aluminum and has a subdued silver body. There is a GEEKOM logo on the top, and only that part is reflective. It’s a design that can blend in anywhere without attracting attention.
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The size is 112.4 x 112.4 x 37mm, 0.47L, and the weight is 450g. When you actually see it, it’s smaller than you imagined, and it’s only about the size of the palm of your hand.
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On the front, there are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A ports (one is PD compatible), an earphone jack, and a power button.
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On the back, there are two HDMI 2.0, one each of USB 4 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 for Type-C, one each of USB 3.2 Gen 2 and USB 2.0 for USB-A, and a wired LAN compatible with 2.5GbE. Both USB-C supports video output, and together with HDMI, up to 4 display outputs (up to 8K) are possible.
[Image 6: https://prtimes.jp/api/file.php?c_id=141101&t=animationGifImage&f=81878790ad30620c71ea397f0d1c9ef5.gif] There is nothing on the right side, and there is an SD card slot on the left side.
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There are four rubber feet on the bottom to support the main body.
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Each rubber foot is held in place with double-sided tape, and when you peel it off, you can see the screws that allow you to remove the bottom panel and access the inside.
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Even if you open one, there’s another one. Please be careful as they are connected by a thin cord.
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When you look inside, you’ll see Crucial’s 16GB RAM x 2 and Acer’s 2TB SSD, which you can replace by yourself. However, 32GB of RAM is sufficient, so most people should be fine with it.
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In addition, the contents include an HDMI cable, AC adapter, VESA mount kit, and manuals (not shown in the image above).
[Image 12: https://prtimes.jp/api/file.php?c_id=141101&t=animationGifImage&f=2394502f1238b7763d7c22d10e586728.gif] The AC adapter is not particularly large, and the plug part is L-shaped. Also, since the outlet plug part is a 3-pin type, it is better to prepare a conversion adapter yourself.
specs and performance
The main specifications of GEEKOM A8 are as follows.
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Equipped with Windows 11 Pro
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GEEKOM A8 is equipped with Windows 11 Pro. It seems to be good when using remote desktop for telework.
PS: (Even if I select the Japanese layout keyboard in the initial settings, for some reason it becomes the English layout.Settings → Time and language → Language options (three-dot menu on the right that says Japanese) → Keyboard layout → It is OK if you select the Japanese keyboard by changing the layout.)
benchmark
I tried using several ventmark apps.
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In Geekbench 6, the CPU was single 2,661, multi 13,344, GPU was 30398 with OpenCL, and 32,843 with Vulkan.
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PCMARK 10 was 7,526.
[Image 17: https://prtimes.jp/api/file.php?c_id=141101&t=animationGifImage&f=b87518712982e26df7d2a89e8dc8a4b2.gif] 3DMARK had Time Spy at 2,415 and Steel Nomad Light at 2,810.
[Image 18: https://prtimes.jp/api/file.php?c_id=141101&t=animationGifImage&f=d50023ba2659f6a5c5a93c5b9969a3f5.gif] At CINEBENCH 2024, it was 105 for single and 824 for multi.
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I ran the Final Fantasy XIV: Golden Legacy benchmark with several settings, and the results are as follows.
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Depending on the game settings, normal tasks are comfortable. GEEKOM A8 is equipped with Radeon 780M, an on-mode GPU, and you can play most games normally depending on the settings. As expected, it seems difficult to play a game with high quality graphics without adjusting the settings, but you can play it if you do. There is a big difference between “it can be done with some adjustment” and “it is difficult no matter how you adjust it.”
When I installed the PC version of Genshin, it was set to the lowest image quality, but I was able to play the game without any problems. (However, since it’s the first area, I don’t know if I move on…) I’d give up on BLUE PROTOCOL on my previous PC, but it seems like there’s nothing you can do if you adjust the settings, so I thought I’d give it a try. thinking about.
It’s quite comfortable for general office work other than gaming. You won’t get stuck with office work, and it’s comfortable even when adjusting large images in Photoshop. Although some of Photoshop’s new features are quite heavy these days, it can handle features like AI noise removal fairly quickly.
In addition, Ryzen 9 8945HS has a built-in NPU that specializes in AI tasks, and demonstrates performance in AI processing such as image recognition and audio processing. This is probably why the process is faster.
I’m concerned about the sound of the fan when it’s under load. It’s pretty quiet when I’m doing normal office work, but when I’m doing some heavy duty work, the fan starts spinning loudly and makes a whirring noise. It’s around 40dB, but it’s quite noticeable. If you play a game for a while, the fan keeps spinning, which can be annoying, so it’s a good idea to wear earphones.
Good and bad points about GEEKOM A8
I will summarize the good and bad points I felt after using the GEEKOM A8.
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Good cost performance
It is equipped with Ryzen 9 8945HS, 2TB of storage, and 32GB of RAM, so it is quite cost-effective. Since I can replace it myself, I think I should increase the RAM to 64GB. That’s what I thought, but in my work environment I don’t have any complaints with 32GB. Well, as long as you have memory, it’s good, so if you have enough budget and there’s a sale, I might try increasing it. That’s what I’m thinking. It’s fun to think about things like this.
If you use the discount code, it will cost you 125,000 yen, and if you choose the Ryzen 7 8845HS model, it will cost you less than 100,000 yen, so it is especially recommended for people who are considering a PC on a budget of around 100,000 yen. It’s cheaper than modern smartphones…
up to 4 displays
GEEKOM A8 allows up to 4 display outputs with 2 HDMI and 2 USB-C. I don’t think there are many people who need 4 screens at all times, but it can also be used for applications such as 3 screens for the main + sub display and LCD pen tab.
The sound of the fan depends on how you use it.
The whirring fan noise bothers me even though it’s usually quiet. However, it only works in limited cases, such as when you are doing some heavy work or playing games.
When I was performing initial settings, data migration, benchmark tests, etc., the fan kept spinning, which was a bit bothersome, but once it calmed down and I was just doing normal work, I didn’t have any problems. I’m relieved now that I can continue using this as my main PC without any stress.
summary
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(PS: About my current main PC. This compact size is good)
I’ve been using only small PCs for the past few years. It’s not scalable, but it doesn’t expand much either. With mini PCs, you may be dissatisfied with the number and location of USB ports, but GEEKOM A8 has two USB-A ports on the front and plenty of them on the back. If you use a keyboard and mouse with a Bluetooth connection, you’ll surprisingly have extra USB ports.
Although it is a fairly compact mini PC, it is powerful with Ryzen 9 8945HS, 2TB of storage, and 32GB of RAM. GEEKOM A8 is perfect for those who are looking for a compact mini PC as a main PC rather than a sub PC.
Official website A8 URL:
https://geekom.jp/products/geekom-nuc-a8-amd-ryzen-r7-8845hs-r9-8945hs?variant=48742735413532&sca_ref=6030996.Ai19lSu1Oc Discount code (5,000 yen off): OREPRTIMES
(PS: GEEKOM will be holding a 21st anniversary event on their official website from June 11th. It looks like this GEEKOM A8 will be even cheaper, so be sure to check it out as well.)