GEEKOM A8 Max
The GEEKOM A8 Max is a compact powerhouse designed for users who need more than just raw processing power. While it shares the same excellent AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor and Radeon 780M graphics as many competing mini PCs, the A8 Max distinguishes itself with dual 2.5G Ethernet ports and dual USB4 connections. This makes it particularly appealing for home lab enthusiasts, network administrators, or anyone who needs reliable high-speed wired connectivity for NAS setups, soft routing, or bandwidth aggregation. The premium aluminum chassis measures just 5.3 x 5.2 x 1.85 inches yet packs serious performance potential with support for up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM.
Pros and Cons of the GEEKOM A8 Max
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Dual 2.5G Ethernet ports enable NAS and routing use cases | Only one M.2 SSD slot limits storage expansion |
| Dual USB4 ports with 40 Gbps bandwidth each | Performance Mode in BIOS adds noise with minimal gains |
| 8 USB ports total provide excellent connectivity | Premium pricing compared to single-Ethernet alternatives |
| Premium aluminum unibody construction | Fan can become audible under sustained heavy loads |
| 3-year warranty for peace of mind | Limited BIOS customization options |
| UHS-II SD card reader for fast media transfers | No OCuLink port for external GPU |
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GEEKOM A8 Max Comparison Chart
 GEEKOM A8 Max | |
| Price | List Price: $679.00 Amazon Prices: Loading prices... |
| Version | 32GB/1TB/Ryzen 7 8745HS |
| Perfomance Rating | 9.1 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Processor | Octa-core 3.80 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS |
| GPU | Integrated AMD Radeon 780M |
| RAM | 32 GB |
| Internal Storage | 1 TB |
| Dimensions width x length x thickness | 5.31 x 5.2 x 1.85 inches (134.87 x 132.08 x 46.99 mm) |
| Weight | unknown |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ethernet | 2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps |
| HDMI | 2 Full-Size HDMI Ports |
| DisplayPort | DisplayPort Alt Mode via USB-C/USB4 ports. |
| VGA | No VGA Ports |
| USB Ports | 1 USB 2.0, 5 USB 3, 2 USB 4, 2 USB-C |
| Thunderbolt Ports | No |
| Internal SATA Ports | No SATA ports |
| Card Reader | SD Card Reader |
| Headphone Jack | combo |
| Fanless | No |
| VESA Mount | Yes |
| In the Box | Mini PC, 120W power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mounting bracket with screws, user manual. |
| Expandability | RAM upgradable to 64GB via 2x DDR5 SO-DIMM slots. Storage expandable via M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slot. |
Detailed Insights into the GEEKOM A8 Max
The GEEKOM A8 Max arrives in a compact aluminum chassis that feels genuinely premium in hand. The brushed metal finish and clean lines give it a professional appearance that would complement any desk setup or home office. Despite its small footprint, GEEKOM has managed to pack in an impressive array of ports: eight USB connections in total, including dual USB4 ports on the rear that support 40 Gbps data transfer and DisplayPort Alt Mode. The dual 2.5G Ethernet ports use Realtek controllers and can be configured for bandwidth aggregation, making this an interesting choice for home server applications.
Under the hood, the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS delivers eight Zen 4 cores and 16 threads, with boost clocks reaching up to 5.1 GHz. This chip pairs with the integrated Radeon 780M graphics featuring 12 compute units, which handles 1080p gaming surprisingly well when using FSR. In benchmarks, the 8745HS variant achieves around 12,660 in Geekbench multi-core and 15,518 in Cinebench R23 multi-threaded tests. The system comes configured with 32GB of DDR5-5600 RAM across two SO-DIMM slots, with support for upgrading to 64GB if your workloads demand it.
Connectivity options are comprehensive for a mini PC of this size. Beyond the dual Ethernet ports, you get WiFi 6E via MediaTek MT7922 and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless peripherals. The full-size SD card slot supports UHS-II speeds, which is a thoughtful inclusion for content creators. Storage is handled by a single M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slot, and while having only one slot is a limitation, the included NVMe drive delivers excellent read speeds approaching 6,700 MB/s. The IceBlast 2.0 cooling system keeps temperatures in check, though the fan does become noticeable during sustained workloads, reaching around 50 dBA under full load compared to a near-silent 29 dBA at idle.
Reviewer Insights on the GEEKOM A8 Max
TechNotice’s Perspective
TechNotice provides a comprehensive look at the GEEKOM A8 Max, calling it a “connectivity beast with eight USB ports.” He particularly emphasizes the dual 2.5 gigabit LAN ports, noting they use different controllers (Realtek and Altek) for reliable operation. The reviewer praises the 3-year warranty as “industry-leading” for the mini PC category and appreciates the excellent wireless range demonstrated through testing. However, he acknowledges it’s “one of the more expensive mini PCs” he’s reviewed and notes that the Performance Mode in the BIOS primarily increases fan noise without delivering substantial real-world speed improvements. His overall verdict positions the A8 Max as an excellent choice for professional users who need premium connectivity and build quality, provided they have the budget for it.
NotebookCheck’s Analysis
According to NotebookCheck, the A8 Max earns an 82/100 rating with a “Good” verdict. Their review highlights the elegant aluminum design, solid construction, and dual USB4 connections as standout features. They note the system maintains stable performance during extended workloads while remaining energy-efficient during everyday use. The reviewer points out that while the A8 Max competes well against alternatives from Minisforum and Acemagic, it lacks an OCuLink interface that some competitors offer for external GPU connectivity.
TechRadar’s Take
TechRadar’s review of the 8745HS variant gives it 4 out of 5 stars, positioning it as “ideally balanced for the office.” Their benchmark testing confirms competitive performance with Geekbench scores around 12,660 multi-core and solid graphics performance in Fire Strike (7,346) and Time Spy (3,162). The reviewer appreciates the all-metal construction and comprehensive port selection but notes the limited upgrade options and suggests the color scheme mixing old and new design elements feels somewhat dated.
Customer Reviews of the GEEKOM A8 Max
Customer feedback for the GEEKOM A8 Max has been largely positive, with the 4.4-star average rating across 423 reviews reflecting satisfaction with the product. Many buyers specifically purchased the A8 Max for its dual Ethernet capabilities, using it for home lab applications including Proxmox virtualization, pfSense routing, and TrueNAS storage setups. Users consistently praise the build quality, noting the aluminum chassis feels premium and stays cool to the touch during normal operation.
Common themes in customer reviews include appreciation for the quick boot times, quiet operation during everyday tasks, and the VESA mount that allows clean behind-monitor installation. The 32GB DDR5 RAM configuration receives positive mentions for handling multitasking without slowdowns. Some users have noted that WiFi performance, while good, isn’t quite as strong as the wired Ethernet connections. A few reviewers mention initial learning curve with BIOS settings, particularly around performance tuning, but overall the user experience is described as straightforward and reliable.
Conclusion
The GEEKOM A8 Max carves out a specific niche in the mini PC market by prioritizing connectivity over raw expansion options. For users who need dual high-speed Ethernet ports for networking projects, NAS builds, or soft routing applications, the A8 Max delivers exactly that while maintaining the compact form factor and solid performance expected from a modern AMD Ryzen-powered system. The dual USB4 ports add further flexibility for high-bandwidth peripherals and external display connections.
However, this isn’t the right choice for everyone. Users who prioritize storage expansion will find the single M.2 slot limiting, and those focused purely on gaming performance might find better value in alternatives without the networking extras. The premium price point also demands consideration, as you’re paying for features that may go unused in a basic desktop replacement scenario.
For those looking to compare options, Starry Hope’s Mini PC Comparison Chart provides a valuable resource for evaluating the A8 Max against alternatives from GEEKOM and other manufacturers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the GEEKOM A8 Max different from the regular A8?
The A8 Max features dual 2.5G Ethernet ports instead of a single port, dual USB4 connections, and a slightly larger chassis to accommodate these additions. This makes it ideal for networking applications, NAS builds, and soft routing setups that benefit from multiple high-speed wired connections.
Can I use the GEEKOM A8 Max as a home server or NAS?
Yes, the dual 2.5G Ethernet ports make the A8 Max well-suited for home server applications. You can configure bandwidth aggregation between the ports or use them independently for different network segments. Many users run Proxmox, TrueNAS, or pfSense on the A8 Max for home lab purposes.
How much RAM does the GEEKOM A8 Max support?
The A8 Max supports up to 64GB of DDR5-5600 RAM across two SO-DIMM slots. The standard configuration comes with 32GB pre-installed, which is user-upgradeable if you need more memory for demanding workloads or virtualization.
Is the GEEKOM A8 Max good for gaming?
The integrated Radeon 780M GPU handles 1080p gaming reasonably well, particularly when using AMD FSR upscaling. Expect playable frame rates in esports titles and older AAA games at medium settings. For demanding modern games, you may want to consider an external GPU via USB4 or lower your expectations to 720p resolution.
How loud is the GEEKOM A8 Max during operation?
At idle and during light workloads, the A8 Max runs nearly silent at around 29 dBA. Under sustained heavy loads, fan noise can reach approximately 50 dBA, which is noticeable but not disruptive. The BIOS Performance Mode increases fan activity with minimal performance benefit, so most users leave it disabled.
What storage expansion options are available?
The A8 Max includes a single M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe slot for storage. There is no 2.5-inch SATA bay or secondary M.2 slot. For additional storage, you would need to use external USB drives or set up network storage via the dual Ethernet ports.
Does the GEEKOM A8 Max support multiple displays?
Yes, the A8 Max supports up to four displays simultaneously using a combination of the two HDMI 2.0 ports and two USB4 ports with DisplayPort Alt Mode. Maximum resolution support reaches 8K at 60Hz on a single display or 4K at 60Hz across multiple monitors.
What warranty does the GEEKOM A8 Max come with?
GEEKOM provides a 36-month (3-year) warranty on the A8 Max, which is longer than the industry standard for mini PCs. This extended warranty period reflects GEEKOM’s confidence in build quality and provides peace of mind for professional users.