Full-on desktops can take up a lot of room, so it's no wonder that some people prefer to go with mini PCs, which are far more compact.
We've tested quite a few different mini PCs here at Windows Central, but one mini PC brand we've been really impressed with is Geekom. As such, I was interested in checking out one of their latest devices.
For the last two weeks, I've been using the Geekom GT1 Mega, a powerful PC with a small form factor, as my main work computer. Over the last 14 days, I've used it to work in Adobe Photoshop, multitask between multiple programs, write up articles, and stream shows. It's a very impressive device that is hard not to recommend.
Geekom GT1 Mega: Pricing and availability
Price & specifications highlights
- This mini PC is packed with excellent processors, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD.
- It is an AI PC because it features an Intel Core Ultra processor with an AI-boosted NPU.
- While the Geekom GT1 Mega is pricier than some other mini PCs, it also offers some powerful specs and is well-priced.
- Price rating: 5/5
I'll be the first to say that you should always be careful when buying a mini PC. There are dozens of options on Amazon that are cheap but can come loaded with malware. As such, it's always best to stick with trusted mini PC companies like Lenovo, ASUS, Dell, Beelink, and Geekom.
Price MSRP: $1,299.00 at Amazon
OS: Windows 11 Pro
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | Ultra 7 155H | Ultra 9 185H (reviewed at)
GPU: Intel Arc
NPU: Intel AI Boost
RAM: 32GB DDR5-5600 (dual-channel up to 64GB)
Storage: 2TB PCIe SSD NVMe Gen 4
Network: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
Ports: 2x USB-C 4.0, 2x HDMI 2.0, 5x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 2.0, 2x RJ45, 1x SD card reader, 1x headphone jack
VESA Mount: Compatible, mount included
Size: 135 x 132 x 41.3mm (5.32 x 5.2 x 1.63inches)
Weight: 677g (1.5lbs)
As far as mini PCs go, Geekom produces some of the most impressive and reliable devices we've ever seen, and the GT1 Mega is no exception. It comes loaded with an Intel Core Ultra 100S AI CPU (central processing unit) paired with Intel Arc Graphics to create a solid PC. It's also an AI PC because the processor has an AI-boosted NPU (neural processing unit).
Meanwhile, it boasts 32GB DDR5 RAM and up to 2TB PCIe SSD. Due to its small form factor, upgradeability is limited, but you can have up to 64GB RAM. Since it comes with Windows 11 Pro, the latest Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, you can connect the latest devices and accessories very easily.
Now, some mini PCs are budget options, while others are more premium. The GT1 Mega is the latter and makes for an ideal work or home computer. It has an MSRP of $1,299.00, but I've seen it on sale for $989.00 at Amazon. All in all, it's somewhat pricey but at a good price point for its specs and size.
Despite its great specs and a healthy amount of ports, the mini PC is very small and can easily sit below your monitor. If desired, you could even put this small device in a bag and take it with you on trips.
Geekom GT1 Mega — What's in the box?
In addition to the mini PC itself, the Geekom GT1 Mega comes with a VESA mount, VESA mount screws, an HDMI cable, a power adapter/cable, and a manual. With all of this, you'll have everything you need to connect it to a monitor and get started.
Recommended configuration
Geekom GT1 Mega: Design
Build quality and design highlights
- Thanks to its small form factor, the GT1 Mega easily fits under monitors.
- The included VESA mount also allows it to be mounted behind monitors or under desks.
- It has an aluminum metal casing that looks good and feels durable, too.
- Design rating: 5/5
The three words that best describe the Geekom GT1 Mega are "durable," "pragmatic," and "efficient." This little computer might not take up a bunch of room, but it can handle a wide range of tasks and looks good while doing it.
There are some other mini PCs out there that look a bit more flashy or are covered in RGB, but Geekom's devices are more elegant and refined-looking. It's surrounded by a classy metal casing that isn't meant to draw attention to itself, which allows it to look good in work, school, or home settings.
The underside of the GT1 Mega has rubber feet to prevent it from sliding around on your desk. If you remove these rubber feet, you'll find screws underneath, and if you remove these, you'll be able to open the mini PC. As with any computer in a compact casing, the GT1 Mega has somewhat limited upgradeability, but it does have dual-channel DDR5 5600MHZ memory slots that can hold up to 64GB RAM. So, if you need more RAM, this can accommodate that.
Geekom GT1 Mega: Ports and connectivity
Ports and connectivity highlights
- Even with its small frame, there are plenty of ports to meet your various accessory or monitor needs.
- Four USB-A ports and a headphone jack are on the front for easy access.
- Since it offers Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, it has fantastic wireless connectivity, too.
- Connectivity rating: 5/5
Something I love about Geekom mini PCs, including the GT1 Mega, is that they always have a lot of helpful ports on them despite being such small devices. Plus, this one comes with a VESA mount, so you can connect it to the backside of compatible monitors for a clean, out-of-sight setup if desired.
The GT1 Mega specifically has a total of two USB-C 4.0 ports, two HDMI 2.0 ports, five USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a USB-A 2.0 port, an SD card reader, two RJ45 ports, and a headphone jack. With all of these options, I didn't have any issues connecting my various accessories, displays, or other devices to this compact computer. Four of the USB-A ports and the headphone jack are located on the front of the min PC for easy access.
You don't need to worry about network connectivity issues either since the GT1 Mega provides the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Whether wired or wireless, you'll be able to connect anything you need with this mini PC.
Geekom GT1 Mega: Performance
Performance & thermals highlights
- While not the most powerful computer on the market, the GT1 Mega offers solid performance for work, school, or home.
- The Intel Arc graphics card is perfect for streaming shows, browsing the internet, editing photos, and even some light gaming.
- Just don't expect this mini PC to handle more graphically demanding creative programs or games.
- Performance rating: 5/5
To get a feel for the Geekom GT1 Mega's capabilities, I worked on a few projects in Adobe Photoshop, used several tabs while browsing the internet, streamed shows, and even did some light gaming. Overall, this compact computer did a fantastic job keeping up with all of the tasks I put to it, to the point that I often forgot I was using a mini PC rather than a full desktop.
Just for fun, I even installed Cyberpunk 2077 on it and ran a few benchmarks. It was able to run the game, but it was very choppy, only reaching an average 13 FPS on low graphics defaults. As such, it can handle some gaming but definitely isn't ideal for more intensive games.
In order to get a clearer read on its performance, I also ran the GT1 Mega through several different benchmark tests. I started things off by analyzing the Intel Core UItra 9 185H CPU with Geekbench 6. It earned a very good 13,610 multi-core score and a 2,412 single-core score, both of which were higher scores than many of the other Ultra 9 devices we tested. I further analyzed the CPU by running Cinebench R24 to check its rendering capabilities. With a multi-core score of 906 and a single-core score of 104, these results weren't the best, but they were respectable overall. In other words, the GT1 Mega offers very good processing power.
Since the Intel Core Ultra is an AI CPU, I also ran a couple of Procyon tests to analyze the processor's AI-boosting NPU (neural processing unit). It got a score of 110 in the Windows ML float 32 test and a score of 282 in the OpenVINO float 16 test. In both instances, these were higher results than average and show that this compact device is capable of handling AI tasks very efficiently.
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Next, I jumped into 3DMark and ran the Time Spy test to check the Intel Arc's graphics performance. It earned a score of 4,060, which is very much in line with where other Intel Arc devices have scored. While it cannot handle intensive gaming and graphically demanding programs, this processor is heartier than the Intel Iris Xe (or the AMD 780M equivalent), and as such, it's perfect for streaming, browsing, photo editing, and even some video editing.
To test the SSD, I ran the CrystalDiskMark sequential read test and found that the SSD measured at a read speed of 5,049 MB/s and a write speed of 4,369 MB/s. These results won't blow you away, but they are very respectable and show that this mini PC can save data or load data files quickly. On a similar note, I had the mini PC transcode a 4K file of Tears of Steal in Handbrake, and it was able to do so within 2.292 seconds, which is relatively quick.
Finally, I ran CrossMark to check the GT1 Mega's overall system performance. The mini PC earned a score of 1,996, which is relatively high. As such, this tells us that it is very responsive. All in all, the Geekom GT1 Mega is a fantastic device with an absolutely solid performance that you can rely on regardless of what tasks you put to it.
Thermals and fan noise
While the mini PC was running a CPU stress test for 20 minutes, I pulled out my thermal camera and took some readings. The hottest area, unsurprisingly, is the back vent, which peaked at 103 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (~39 degrees Celsius (C)). Meanwhile, the top and front of the mini PC only got as hot as 73 degrees F (~23 degrees C). This really isn't that hot overall, and it helps the device work efficiently.
It's really not that loud of a device, either. The fans can get going with little provocation, reaching a peak of 57.6 dB during stress testing. From where I was sitting, the sound only measured at 43.9 dB near my ear, which isn't very loud at all. If you tuck the mini PC behind your monitor or under the desk, you might not even notice the fans.
Geekom GT1 Mega: Alternatives
You don't have to look outside of Geekom to find more of the best mini PCs. For starters, you might want to take a look at my colleague, Harish Jonnalagadda's Geekom A8/A7 review. These mini PC models are powerful enough to easily handle creative projects in Photoshop, multitasking between multiple browser tabs, streaming shows, and running everyday programs. The Geekom A8 sells for $849.00 at Amazon.
Outside of Geekom, we also love Beelink mini PCs. You can check out our recent Beelink EQR6 review to learn more about the many AMD Ryzen GPU configurations it's offered in. It offers great performance, has easily upgradable RAM and storage, and features dual LAN ports. This mini PC has a starting price of $395.00 at Amazon.
If you're specifically looking for a mini PC that can handle gaming, then I suggest you take a look at my ASUS ROG NUC 970 review. This relatively compact device manages to house a 14th Gen Intel Core Ultra 9 185H AI CPU, an RTX 4070 L GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB NVMe SSD. It comes with a stand, so you can have it rest under your monitor or prop it upright to save you some desk space. You'll find it selling for $1,800.00 at B&H.
Geekom GT1 Mega: Scorecard
Geekom GT1 Mega: Should you buy it?
✅ You should buy this if..
- You want a compact mini PC that offers powerful and reliable performance.
- You need a computer that is good for multitasking between programs or working in simple creative software.
- You'd prefer a trusted mini PC with plenty of ports.
❌ You shouldn't buy this if..
- You're looking for a computer that can handle graphically intensive programs or intensive gaming.
- You'd prefer something larger that has room to upgrade more internal parts.
Some mini PCs feel limited and slow, but the Geekom GT1 Mega is a powerful little device that can handle just about any everyday work task. The processors offer solid performance that can handle everything from having multiple tabs open for web browsing to photo editing in Adobe Photoshop.
The small form factor means that it doesn't take up a lot of room on your desk. Plus, it comes with a VESA mount, so you could attach it to the back of a compatible monitor or tuck it away under a desk if you want a minimal computer setup. Despite its small shape, it still offers plenty of ports so you can connect the accessories and monitors you need.
The one and only area where it lacks is upgradeability, but this is the case with all mini PCs. That said, there is room to upgrade the RAM to 64GB if desired. All in all, this is a fantastic mini PC that offers reliable performance without requiring a ton of space.
Ultra 9 185H | Intel Arc | 32GB RAM | 2TB SSD
This compact computer is more than capable of handling everyday workloads at home, school, or in the office. There is a healthy range of ports to help you connect it to your various devices and accessories. It also comes with a VESA mount, so you can easily set it up behind a compatible monitor for a minimalist desk area.
6% off coupon code: WINDGT1
Deal duration: Jan. 1 - Jan. 10, 2025
👉See at: Geekom (USA) | Geekom (UK) | Amazon
