Mini PCs like this one show why your traditional desktop PC is going the way of the Dodo: Geekom’s latest powerhouse packs eight USB ports, can drive four 4K monitors, and has two 2.5GbE LAN ports
Geekom makes some of our favorite mini PCs, including the new Mini Air12 Lite, which features a 9-pin port on the front that could come in handy for DIY projects. At IFA 2024, the Taiwanese tech maker unveiled a selection of new mini PCs, most notably the impressive GT1 Mega. Measuring just 135 x 132 x 47mm with a volume of less than 1 liter, this device packs powerful hardware and extensive connectivity options, making it a genuine alternative to many desktop PCs.
Powered by Intel’s Meteor Lake mobile CPUs, the GT1 Mega comes with either a 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 155H or the more expensive 16-core Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, both of which can handle fairly demanding tasks. The system supports up to 64GB of DDR5-5600 RAM via dual SODIMM slots, and offers storage options of up to 2TB via an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4×4 slot. If that’s not enough, an additional terabyte can be added via the M.2 2242 SATA slot.
The GT1 Mega comes with Intel Arc graphics (8-core) and while the mini PC’s chassis can’t accommodate discrete graphics cards or offer an OCuLink connector, a USB 4 port does offer eGPU support if you need a little more oomph on the graphics front. There’s also an AI Boost NPU for hardware-accelerated AI performance.
USB ports galore
Connectivity is the GT1 Mega’s standout feature. The mini PC features eight USB ports: four USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports on the front, one USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port, one USB 2.0 Type-A port and two USB4 Type-C ports that can handle 40Gbps data transfer and video output. It also includes two HDMI 2.0 ports, dual 2.5GbE Ethernet ports, a 3.5mm audio jack and an SD card reader. Wireless connectivity is provided by Intel’s BE200 module, which supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
The GT1 Mega can drive up to four 4K displays and supports 8K resolution, making it suitable for multi-monitor setups and high-resolution tasks like photo and video editing. This, combined with its compact form factor, makes it an attractive option for users who require extensive display support without the bulk of a traditional desktop.
Pricing starts at $899 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 model with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. The higher-end version with the Core Ultra 9, 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD will cost $999, with shipping expected in October. Geekom is planning a cheaper model with a Core Ultra 5 125H processor, but there’s no word yet on when that’ll join the lineup.
