GEEKOM A8 Max

Compact AMD Ryzen™ 7 Mini PC — Hawk Point Zen 4

The GEEKOM A8 Max is a refined, all-metal compact mini PC that delivers genuine desktop-class productivity in a chassis measuring just 135 × 132 × 45.9 mm and weighing 685 g. Built around AMD’s Ryzen 7 8745HS — a Hawk Point Zen 4 APU originally developed for the Chinese market but now widely adopted in compact desktop hardware worldwide — the A8 Max combines eight full Zen 4 cores, the capable Radeon 780M integrated GPU, and GEEKOM’s mature IceBlast 2.0 cooling system in a package that operates nearly silently under everyday workloads. Reviewed by ITPro, PCWorld, NotebookCheck, and Guru3D, the A8 Max earned consistent praise for its build quality, port selection, SSD performance, and thermal management. It is an honest, well-executed machine for professionals, home office users, and anyone who wants a capable, quiet, and expandable desktop without the bulk of a tower.

One important clarification before purchase: despite GEEKOM marketing this product with “AI” in its name, the Ryzen 7 8745HS processor does not include a neural processing unit (NPU). It is not a Copilot+ PC and does not support Windows 11 AI features such as Recall or live AI translation. Users who require NPU-accelerated AI workloads should consider the GEEKOM A9 Max with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 instead.

AMD Ryzen™ 7 8745HS — Hawk Point Zen 4, Eight Cores at 4.9 GHz

The Ryzen 7 8745HS is an eight-core, sixteen-thread APU based on AMD’s Zen 4 architecture, built on a 4 nm process node under the “Hawk Point” codename. Originally designed for the Chinese market and never formally launched through AMD’s global press channels, the 8745HS has nonetheless found widespread adoption in compact desktop systems due to its strong combination of single-core performance, multi-core throughput, and power efficiency. The chip operates between 35W (sustained PL1) and 60W (short burst PL2), and in independent testing across multiple reviews, the A8 Max maintains stable clocks near 4.7 GHz under sustained multi-threaded load — a result that demonstrates effective thermal management despite the chassis size. In PCMark 10, the system achieves a total score of 6,470 points, with particularly strong results in the Essentials category (9,912 points) and Productivity (9,129 points). In the ITPro Handbrake 4K multimedia benchmark, the A8 Max scored 363 points — ahead of competing systems running the 8845HS, the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, and several other mini PCs in its price range. For everyday office work, web browsing, video conferencing, and content creation at 1080p or light 4K, the 8745HS provides more performance than the vast majority of users will ever fully saturate.

• 8 cores / 16 threads (Zen 4 — Hawk Point)
• Base 3.8 GHz — Boost up to 4.9 GHz
• L2 Cache: 8 MB | L3 Cache: 16 MB
• 4 nm TSMC process node
• TDP: 35W sustained (PL1) / 60W short burst (PL2)
• No NPU — not a Copilot+ PC

AMD Radeon™ 780M — 12 RDNA 3 CUs, Capable Integrated Graphics

The integrated Radeon 780M GPU features 12 RDNA 3 compute units running at up to 2.7 GHz, making it one of the strongest integrated graphics solutions available in a standard-TDP APU at the A8 Max’s launch. Based on the same RDNA 3 architecture found in AMD’s dedicated RX 7000 series cards, the 780M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan, AV1 hardware encode and decode, and AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) upscaling framework. In gaming at 1080p with low to medium settings, the 780M delivers playable frame rates in eSports titles such as Fortnite, Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, and Apex Legends at 80–110 FPS. More demanding AAA titles require reduced settings to maintain smooth gameplay. For creative workflows, the 780M accelerates video encoding and decoding in DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, and Handbrake through AMD’s media engine, reducing render times substantially compared to CPU-only processing. The iGPU is also capable of driving up to four external displays simultaneously at 4K resolution through its combination of HDMI 2.0 and USB4 DisplayPort Alt Mode outputs. Users who need substantially more graphics performance can connect an external GPU via the USB4 port, which delivers bandwidth comparable to OCuLink for eGPU enclosures.

No NPU — Not a Copilot+ PC

The Ryzen 7 8745HS does not include a neural processing unit of any kind, delivering 0 TOPS of dedicated AI acceleration. This distinguishes it clearly from the GEEKOM A9 Max (80 TOPS, XDNA 2 NPU, Copilot+ certified) and from competing Strix Point products across all manufacturers. In practical terms for most current users this is a minor limitation — the NPU-dependent features in Windows 11 Copilot+ (Recall, live caption translation, AI image generation) are the primary affected functions, and alternatives exist for many of these. For professional AI inference workloads, data science pipelines, or local language model deployment, the absence of an NPU is more significant, and the A8 Max is not the appropriate product for those use cases. For office productivity, content creation, video editing, and light gaming, the lack of an NPU has no practical impact on day-to-day performance.

32 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM — Fully User-Upgradeable to 64 GB

The A8 Max ships with 32 GB of DDR5-5600 memory in a dual-channel 2×16 GB configuration across two standard SO-DIMM slots. Both slots are user-accessible after removing the bottom panel — an upgrade path that makes moving to 64 GB straightforward for users who need additional capacity for virtual machines, large datasets, or memory-intensive creative applications. The SO-DIMM format is a meaningful advantage over soldered-memory competing systems, and GEEKOM’s decision to include 32 GB as standard — rather than the 16 GB that some competing products ship with — means the A8 Max is ready for demanding workloads out of the box without an immediate upgrade requirement. Memory speed of DDR5-5600 provides the Radeon 780M GPU with adequate bandwidth for iGPU workloads at this class of integrated graphics.

• 2× DDR5 SO-DIMM slots — fully user-accessible
• Standard config: 32 GB DDR5-5600 (2×16 GB dual-channel)
• Maximum supported: 64 GB (2×32 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM)

1× M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 — Fast SSD, No Second Slot

Storage is handled by a single M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 ×4 NVMe slot pre-populated with a 1 TB SSD. In ITPro’s independent testing, the drive returned sequential read speeds of 5,669 MB/s and write speeds of 5,335 MB/s — strong figures that confirm PCIe 4.0 operation and contribute to the near-instant application launch times observed across all reviews. The slot supports drives up to 2 TB for straightforward capacity expansion, though replacing the included drive is the only storage upgrade path — there is no second M.2 slot available. This single-slot design is the A8 Max’s most notable hardware limitation, shared by competing products such as the MSI Cubi Z AI 8M. Users who require more than 2 TB of internal storage should factor this constraint into their buying decision, or consider external storage via the USB4 port.

Dual 2.5 GbE + Wi-Fi 6E — Strong Wired and Wireless Networking

The A8 Max provides two independent 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports — an unusually generous networking specification for a mini PC at this price point that enables simultaneous connection to two separate wired networks. This is particularly useful for home server configurations, NAS direct-attach setups, network isolation between a main router and a management network, or link aggregation on compatible switches. Wireless connectivity is managed by a MediaTek MT7922 Wi-Fi 6E module with Bluetooth 5.2, supporting tri-band operation across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and the uncongested 6 GHz band for lower latency and higher throughput in Wi-Fi 6E environments. In independent throughput testing, the MT7922 achieved average transfer rates of 1,357 Mbps transmitting and 1,253 Mbps receiving on the 6 GHz band — solid real-world figures for a module of this class.

IceBlast 2.0 Cooling — Below 36 dB, No Thermal Throttling

GEEKOM’s IceBlast 2.0 thermal system uses dual copper heat pipes transferring heat from the CPU die to a copper fin stack exhausted by a large-diameter blower fan, with a dedicated secondary heatsink element covering the SSD. The system maintains CPU temperatures well within safe operating limits during sustained multi-threaded workloads, with no thermal throttling observed in normal operating mode during independent benchmark testing. Fan noise under full load remains below 36 dB — quieter than a typical office environment — making the A8 Max genuinely suitable for open-plan workspaces, recording studios, and living room media setups where fan noise is a practical concern. During light workloads and idle operation, the system is nearly inaudible. A performance mode accessible through the BIOS increases fan speed for additional thermal headroom during extended heavy workloads, at the cost of higher noise levels.

Port Layout — Comprehensive for the Chassis Size

Despite measuring just 135 × 132 × 45.9 mm, the A8 Max provides a comprehensive port selection that covers the needs of most professional desktop users without requiring adapters or hubs for common peripherals.

Front: 2× USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps) · 1× 3.5mm combo audio jack · Power button

Side: 1× SD UHS-II card reader

Rear:

• 1× USB4 (40 Gbps, DP Alt Mode / Data / eGPU)
• 1× USB-C 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps, DP Alt Mode)
• 2× USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps)
• 1× USB-A 2.0 (480 Mbps)
• 2× HDMI 2.0 (4K@60Hz)
• 2× RJ45 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
• 1× DC power input (120W)

Build Quality — Aluminium Chassis, VESA Mount, 3-Year Warranty

The A8 Max chassis is constructed from aluminium alloy with a matte silver finish that resists fingerprints and conveys a premium desk presence well above its price point. The build is solid throughout — vent grilles on both sides show no flex under pressure, and the overall fit and finish compares favourably with products at significantly higher price points. A Kensington lock slot provides physical security for shared environments and public deployments. A VESA 75×75 mount adapter is included in the box, enabling rear-of-monitor or under-desk installation for clean desk setups. GEEKOM backs the A8 Max with a three-year warranty covering hardware defects and manufacturing faults — an unusually generous coverage period for this product category that reflects the company’s confidence in its manufacturing quality.

Windows 11 Pro — Ready from First Boot

The A8 Max ships with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed and activated. All standard Windows 11 features are available from first boot, though Copilot+ AI features (Recall, live captions, AI image generation) are not available due to the absence of an NPU in the 8745HS. Linux distributions including Ubuntu are fully supported through standard AMD driver packages. A barebone version without RAM, SSD, or OS is available for users who prefer to configure their own hardware stack.