Geekom AE8 mini PC review
Geekom AE8: 30-second review
The Geekom immediately impresses with its stylish aluminum casing, highlighting that this is a premium mini PC with a build to match. While this mini PC is at the higher end of the pricing spectrum for this type of machine, there’s a good reason for that. Inside is one of the latest AMD Ryzen 9 processors with onboard AMD AI, which provides a significant boost for many applications that support the chipset.
Setup is simple, and there are plenty of ports on the back, allowing you to quickly plug in a variety of accessories, including two USB Type-C ports, one of which supports a monitor and allows you to connect an eGPU if you need power. The machine comes with great equipment as standard, but also allows you to upgrade the SSD and RAM, doubling the amount that comes with it, which will help ensure that this is an investment for the future given the capabilities of the machine.
Used for creative applications, the machine has stable performance and can run Photoshop and Lightroom smoothly. Easily work with files containing multiple layers or effects. Open Premiere Pro and the machine can once again handle 1080p and 4K video for simple to mid-range editing without too many cuts and effects. However, internal storage does need to be supplemented by an external SSD to increase capacity.
Likewise, if you want to push your editing even further, you can install an eGPU to help shorten your machine’s rendering times.
Considering this is a mini PC, performance is impressive from the get-go. If you need a compact, portable machine for working in the field, or your desk space is somewhat limited, this one best mini pc for such work.
Geekom AE8: price and availability
- how much does it cost? £749/$799
- When will it be released? Now
- Where can you get it? Widely available
The Geekom AE8 R9-8945HS is widely available and can be purchased directly from the Geekom website in the US (here) and the UK (here). It is also widely sold on Amazon.
Want to save? I’m also offering a 6% discount when you use code TECHAE8.
Geekom AE8: Specs
| thing | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS |
| Graphics processor: | AMD Radeon 780M |
| Memory: | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage: | 1TB solid state drive |
| Front port: | USB 3.2 Type A, USB 3.2 Type C, 3.5mm |
| Rear ports: | USB 4, USB 3.2 Type A, USB 3.2 Type C, 2 HDMI 2.0, USB 2.0 Type A, RJ45 |
| Connectivity: | LAN 2.5Gbps, Bluetooth 5.2, WiFi 6E |
| operating system: | Windows 11 Pro (preinstalled) |
| aspect: | 112.4 x 112.4 x 37mm |
| Accessories | VESA mount |
Geekom AE8: Design
Like all mini PCs, the AE8 is compact in size and weight, measuring 112.4 x 112.4 x 37 mm and weighing 630 grams. This actually makes it one of the smaller mini PCs on the market, and with the versatility of the VESA mount, it offers a variety of options for mounting your machine.
The physical build and quality of the PC is very high, and the metal casing gives a high-quality impression. Check out the ports and access the upgrade options and you can see the attention to detail that went into the design. This build quality not only results in a beautiful and stylish machine, but it also gives you peace of mind that the machine can withstand use in the field or as part of a mobile setup if required.
Once set up, the arrangement of ports offers plenty of connectivity options, with two HDMI ports making it easy to link to multiple displays. In fact, there’s also a LAN port and two USB Type-C ports (both monitor-ready), allowing you to connect an eGPU to further enhance graphics processing if needed.
Up front, the machine is well laid out, with two fast USB 3.2 ports, both Type A; it would be nice to have at least a Type-C port here. Otherwise, the front remains clean and simple, except for the 3.5mm headphone input and power button.
Another nice touch is the SD card reader integrated into the side of the machine.
Inside the machine, accessed through the base, the layout of the internal components has been configured to allow for ample airflow. Once again we see Geekom’s efficient IceBlast 1.5 cooling system in place. The unit uses large fans, along with other technology, to push hot air away from components and out through vents on the back of the machine. Through our testing, the system performed exceptionally well and quietly.
Geekom AE8: Features
For compact PCs, Geekom has equipped AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS with AMD Radeon 780M graphics card, which provides powerful performance. This combination makes it ideal for a variety of applications, from standard office tasks to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.
What really makes this machine stand out is that it’s part of a new wave of devices with artificial intelligence enhancements to better allocate resources to open applications. So while on paper the cores and threads may look similar to previous generations of CPUs, when you compare the performance of these new CPUs side by side, you’ll see a huge jump in performance.
In addition to processing, there is also ultra-fast SSD storage, specifically the M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4*4 SSD, which can be upgraded to 2TB. If you need more storage, you can connect a super-fast external SSD using one of the USB Type-C ports. In addition, there is 32GB DDR5 5600MT/s dual-channel RAM, which can be upgraded to 64GB. However, given the machine’s current capabilities, you may only need this upgrade for high-end video editing.
All internal components are high-performance and therefore generate a lot of heat. To balance this out, Geekom added its own IceBlast 1.5 cooling system, which helps prevent thermal throttling when components are put under constant stress.
In terms of network, the machine is equipped with LAN 2.5Gbps, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2 and other configurations. Likewise, you can connect up to four monitors – two via HDMI and two via the USB Type-C port on the back. This setup supports 8K @ 30Hz from each USB Type-C port and 4K @ 60Hz from each HDMI 2.0 port.
Another feature of interest for those working off-grid or powering the machine via an on-site portable power station is the machine’s power consumption, which is only 45W, which is very low considering its power.
While this small machine is self-contained, what will appeal to many users is the ability to expand its capabilities with external devices such as storage and eGPUs. This all happens via a USB4 port that supports data transfer rates up to 40Gbps, video output up to 8K, 15W PD power, and the ability to connect an eGPU or SSD.
This is all very impressive as a feature set for a small machine, and its expansion potential is even more impressive.
Geekom AE8: Performance
| mini computer | Header Cell – Column 1 | Header Cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark | wild animals | 17945 |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 | Firepower strikes the whole | 7751 |
| Row 2 – Cell 0 | fire strike graphics | 8442 |
| Row 3 – Cell 0 | fire strike physics | 27813 |
| Row 4 – Cell 0 | fire strike combination | 2876 |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 | time spy overall | 3344 |
| Row 6 – Cell 0 | time spy graphics | 2975 |
| Row 7 – Cell 0 | time spy CPU | 11326 |
| CineBench23 | single | 1804 |
| Row 9 – Cell 0 | many | 16459 |
| geek treadmill | single | 13538 |
| Row 11 – Cell 0 | many | 2658 |
| Row 12 – Cell 0 | calculate | 31805 |
| crystal plate | Read MB/sec | 4928.41MB/sec |
| Row 14 – Cell 0 | Write MB/sec | 4239.73MB/sec |
| PCMark 10 | office | 7453 |
| Wei | Row 16 – Cell 1 | 8.2 |
Overall, the Geekom AE8 performs well in both real-world applications and benchmarks. Starting with general load times and application performance, the SSD enables high transfer rates, making tasks feel fast and responsive. While the moderate speed of 4,000MB/s (4,928.41MB/s read and 4,239.73MB/s write) is fast, there are other drives with higher speeds. However, in actual performance running The best video editing softwareThe machine responded quickly when performing tasks like loading applications and transferring or saving files in Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, making it a The best computers for video editing We have tested it on small devices.
Geekbench results (Single: 13,538 and CPU Multi: 2,658) showcase the processing power of this machine. In Photoshop, brush strokes are applied smoothly to high-resolution images, and effects are applied instantly with no delay. Likewise, after editing multiple video timelines in 4K, the machine rendered the timelines quickly and scrubbed footage smoothly, making processing the files relatively painless.
For office-based applications such as Word and Excel, the machine can quickly open these applications and access and edit documents without any problems. So it’s certainly a compact alternative to either best business computers There.
The computer further demonstrated its power when running graphics-intensive tasks such as Cinebench (CPU Multi: 16,459 and CPU Single: 1,804) and 3DMark tests, handling complex computing tasks and the vast majority of games with ease. Although some settings are reduced compared to high-end PCs, the overall performance is impressive, and the smoothness of Hogwarts Legacy highlights the power of this little machine. This gaming experience is once again reflected in the benchmark scores, which highlight its strong performance across a variety of applications.
Geekom AE8: Final Verdict
The Geekom AE8 mini PC is an interesting choice because it bridges the gap between the features and capabilities of desktop PCs and these smaller form factor machines. Its price also puts it in line with many mid-range computers, so you essentially have a powerful machine for the same price, but one that’s much smaller and easier to place when space is limited. The size also makes it an ideal solution if you need to work on site or want to use a powerful machine in the workshop or for van life.
Of course, the downside to this machine is that internal upgrade options are limited, with only minor upgrades to the RAM and SSD. However, with the addition of 10Gbps and 40Gbps USB Type-C ports, there are tons of expansion options available through connected devices, which is what makes this machine so interesting.
With the power of the AI ​​processor and GPU, along with connectivity options and the ability to connect to an eGPU and enhanced storage options, there’s essentially plenty of upgrade potential, and the machine will be more than capable of handling some pretty heavy processing right from the start.
Of course, if you just need a high-performance machine for office work, then this will handle that with absolute ease, although it may be a bit overkill for this purpose, however, you will be able to play most of the latest games without any problems gaming, making it an ideal solution for all computing purposes, especially for those working in creative fields.
Should I buy the Geekom AE8?
| value | This is great value considering the powerful CPU and GPU combo, and is in line with larger machines | 5 |
| design | Stylish and understated – one would never guess how powerful this machine is | 5 |
| feature | Internally, it’s packed with features and also offers plenty of expansion potential | 5 |
| Performance | Excellent performance in both real-world applications and benchmarks | 5 |
| work clothes | A great machine for demanding applications and gaming | 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
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