AOOSTAR GEM12+ PRO
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The AOOSTAR GEM12+ PRO is a barebone mini PC for buyers who want to pick their own memory and SSD, connect an external graphics card over OCuLink, and see the machine’s temperatures and load at a glance. Its top panel carries a 2.68-inch color screen and a fingerprint sensor for Windows sign-in, and AOOSTAR’s GEM12 MAX has neither. Inside is AMD’s Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS, a 2024 Hawk Point chip with Radeon 780M graphics and a 16 TOPS NPU.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Dedicated OCuLink port for an external GPU dock | Barebone: RAM and SSD are extra purchases |
| Two USB4 ports plus HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 for four displays | OCuLink is not hot-swappable; power off before plugging in |
| Dual Intel 2.5GbE ports | WiFi 6 rather than WiFi 6E or WiFi 7 |
| Top-panel status screen and fingerprint sign-in | Screen control software drew complaints from an owner |
| Two DDR5-5600 SODIMM slots, up to 128GB | 2024 chip; Ryzen AI 300 machines have much faster NPUs |
| Three BIOS power modes up to a 70W performance setting | One Amazon buyer received a unit that had been opened before |
AOOSTAR GEM12+ PRO Comparison Chart
 AOOSTAR GEM12+ PRO | AOOSTAR GEM12+ PRO | |
| Price | List Price: $359.00 Amazon Prices: Loading prices... | List Price: $649.00 Amazon Prices: |
| Version | Barebone/AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS | 24GB/1TB/AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS |
| Performance Rating | 5.2 | 5.5 |
| Operating System | -- | -- |
| Processor | Octa-core 3.80 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS | Octa-core 3.80 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS |
| GPU | Integrated AMD Radeon 780M | Integrated AMD Radeon 780M |
| RAM | 0 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2-channel (No RAM or SSD included) | 24 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2-channel |
| Internal Storage | 0 GB NVMe SSD | 1 TB NVMe SSD |
| Dimensions width x length x thickness | 5.12 x 5.12 x 2.36 inches (130.05 x 130.05 x 59.94 mm) | 5.12 x 5.12 x 2.36 inches (130.05 x 130.05 x 59.94 mm) |
| Weight | 1.23 lbs (0.56 kg) | 1.23 lbs (0.56 kg) |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ethernet | 2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps | 2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps |
| HDMI | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port |
| DisplayPort | 1 DisplayPort (DP 1.4) | 1 DisplayPort (DP 1.4) |
| VGA | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports |
| USB Ports | 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (2 USB4) Front: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB4. Rear: 1x USB4, 2x USB-A 2.0 | 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (2 USB4) Front: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB4. Rear: 1x USB4, 2x USB-A 2.0 |
| Thunderbolt Ports | No | No |
| OCuLink | Front port, no hot-swap | Front port, no hot-swap |
| Internal SATA Ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports |
| Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader |
| Headphone Jack | combo | combo |
| Fanless | No | No |
| VESA Mount | Yes | Yes |
| In the Box | Mini PC, 120W power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount and screw, SSD cooling pad | Mini PC, 120W power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount and screw, SSD cooling pad |
| Expandability | 2x DDR5-5600 SODIMM (up to 128GB), 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0, OCuLink for eGPU | 2x DDR5-5600 SODIMM (up to 128GB), 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0, OCuLink for eGPU |
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Front OCuLink, two USB4 ports, and four display outputs
The GEM12+ PRO measures about 5.1 x 5.1 x 2.4 inches and weighs about 1.2 pounds. The top is a perforated mesh grille with a glossy strip along the front edge that holds the screen and the fingerprint reader, which signs you in to Windows without a password. A CPU fan and a vapor chamber cool the chip, and the BIOS offers three power modes: Silent at 45 to 54W, Balance at 54 to 65W, and Performance at 65 to 70W.
The front panel has the power button, a 3.5mm headset jack, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a USB4 Type-C port, and the OCuLink connector. The rear adds a second USB4 port, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, two 2.5GbE jacks on Intel I226-V controllers, and a DC input for the 120W (19V, 6.32A) adapter. With the dedicated barrel jack, both USB4 ports stay free for docks, drives, and displays, and AOOSTAR rates the box for four 4K screens at once. Wireless is WiFi 6 with Bluetooth 5.2.
The OCuLink port runs on its own PCIe 4.0 x4 link, so it does not take one of the two M.2 slots. AOOSTAR says the port is not hot-swappable. Shut the machine down before you connect or disconnect a dock, because the warranty does not cover damage from a live plug.
Up to 128GB of DDR5, 8TB of storage, and an 8-core 2024 chip
The RAM sits in two DDR5-5600 SODIMM slots rather than soldered to the board. Storage goes into two M.2 2280 NVMe slots at PCIe 4.0 x4, which is the limit of the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS.
The Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS has 8 cores and 16 threads, runs from 3.8GHz to 5.1GHz, and scores about 28,600 on PassMark’s multi-thread test. The PRO version adds AMD’s business management and security features to the same silicon as the regular Ryzen 7 8845HS. The Radeon 780M handles 1080p gaming at medium settings in most titles; demanding games at higher settings need a GPU dock on the OCuLink port.
This chip arrived in 2024, and it is no longer AMD’s newest mobile part. The Ryzen AI 300 series that followed carries NPUs rated at 50 TOPS or more, against 16 TOPS here, and the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 adds faster Radeon 890M graphics. Dual-channel DDR5-5600 gives about 90GB/s of memory bandwidth, enough for small local AI models.
Customer Reviews
On Amazon, the GEM12+ PRO averages 4.1 stars. Verified buyer John Hallyburton fitted 96GB of memory and a 1TB SSD and found the cooling quiet: “In my experience the fans don’t normally run, or else they are exceptionally quiet.” His verdict was “this is one heck of a system.” Geeks Speaks LLC, also a verified buyer, said “the OCULINK support is awesome for connecting an external GPU for gaming and other video demanding work loads.” Federico Fulquet, who gave four stars, found the unit easy to open and well finished, and said Windows activated on its own after he installed it, with no key to enter.
Fulquet wrote that the screen control program “deja mucho que desear” (leaves much to be desired), and that the drivers come as a single disorganized compressed file with no installer. Raquel Espinosa, a verified buyer, had a black screen from the graphics driver until she turned off driver installs through Windows Update (“me dejaba la pantalla en negro”). Aaron gave three stars and wrote that his “NEW” unit “had been opened and returned,” with the rubber feet removed, though it ran stable once he installed his 64GB of DDR5-5600 and two SSDs. Read more owner reviews on Amazon.
Upgrades
Accessories that fit the AOOSTAR GEM12+ PRO's OCuLink and USB4 or Thunderbolt ports.
DEG1 eGPU Dock
A plain OCuLink dock with a PCIe 4.0 x4 link for a desktop graphics card; it takes an ATX or SFX power supply that you supply.
EG02 eGPU Dock
Connects over OCuLink for the full PCIe 4.0 x4 link and has Thunderbolt 5 as a second input; the graphics card and power supply are sold separately.
Core X V2
A Thunderbolt 5 enclosure that Razer lists as working with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hosts; it fits a four-slot card and needs an ATX power supply.
DEG2 eGPU Dock
Connects over USB4 or Thunderbolt 5, with an OCuLink input behind a switch, and adds an M.2 slot; it needs an ATX or SFX power supply.
Breakaway Box 850 T5
Has an 850W power supply built in, so only the graphics card is extra, and works with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Windows PCs.
TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
An 18-port dock that CalDigit lists for Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hosts, with 2.5GbE and a DisplayPort 1.4 output.
TBT4-UD5 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Two HDMI ports drive two 4K60 monitors from one Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 port on a Windows PC.
Revodok Max 208 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Adds three Thunderbolt 4 ports for dual 4K60 displays plus gigabit Ethernet; it has no HDMI port, so monitors connect over USB-C or an adapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the screen on the AOOSTAR GEM12+ PRO do?
Once AOOSTAR’s screen control software is installed in Windows, the 2.68-inch panel shows live CPU, GPU, and RAM data. You can replace the default layout with your own background images.
Does the GEM12+ PRO come with RAM and an SSD?
No. The barebone model ships without RAM, an SSD, or an installed operating system. The unit sold on AOOSTAR’s store includes a Windows 11 Pro key. AOOSTAR also lists a configuration with 24GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, which ships from its EU warehouse.
How is the GEM12+ PRO different from the GEM12 MAX?
The GEM12 MAX uses the Ryzen 7 8745HS, which has no NPU, and it has no top-panel screen or fingerprint sensor. Its barebone model lists at $299, against $359 for the GEM12+ PRO. Both have OCuLink, two USB4 ports, and dual 2.5GbE.
Can I connect an external GPU to the GEM12+ PRO?
Yes, through a dock on either OCuLink or USB4. OCuLink’s PCIe 4.0 x4 link carries about 64Gbps, against 40Gbps for USB4, so OCuLink gives a desktop graphics card more bandwidth.
What ports does the AOOSTAR GEM12+ PRO have?
It has six USB ports (two USB4, two USB 3.2 Gen 2, two USB 2.0), one OCuLink port, two 2.5GbE jacks, and a headset jack. Between HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and the two USB4 ports, it drives up to four 4K displays.