GEEKOM A5 (AMD Ryzen 7 5800H) Review / Ultra-compact high cost performance mini computer
GEEKOM/Jiteng is a manufacturer of ultra-compact desktop mini computers in Shenzhen, China and Taiwan. Product sales in Japan have just started in June 2023. Currently, the mini PC market in Japan is dominated by MINISFORUM's products, but GEEKOM's products are by no means inferior in terms of quality and cost performance.For more information on other mini PCs, please see our Reviews of popular mini PCs page.
-
GEEKOM A5, AMD Ryzen 7 5800H(8C/16T, up to 4.4GHz), Vega 8 Graphics
GEEKOM 2023/07 USD399.00
GEEKOM Mini A5 mini computer is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor (8C/16T, 16MB Cache, up to 4.4GHz). Its Zen 3 architecture and 7nm process have drastically improved performance, providing super-fast responsiveness, and allowing for an unparalleled work and gaming experience. It is designed for a variety of solutions such as education, home office, media center, HTPC, digital signage, etc.
Introduction of GEEKOM A5
Overview
Equipped with an affordable yet high-performance 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU (released in 2021). 32GB of memory is sufficient. If you replace it, you can install up to 64GB. The storage is equipped with M.2 2280 SSD 512GB, which can be replaced with up to 2TB. (The entire storage capacity is allocated to the C drive.) Since Windows11 Pro edition is preinstalled, remote desktop connections can be made as is, making it convenient for server use.
It has processing speed approaching that of the 13th generation Core i9 and graphic performance exceeding that of Iris Xe. The only drawback is that it doesn't have a high-speed USB version 4 port. Recommended for those looking for a cheap and fast mini PC.
Exterior
It has a palm-sized footprint of 117 x 112mm, which is common to GEEKOM machines. The color of the casing looks pink in the product photo, but it is actually a more subdued metallic champagne gold, giving it a luxurious feel. The edge of the top lid has a mirror finish border that shines beautifully depending on the light. There are also random vertical slits in the intake vents on the sides. You can also use the Vesa mount to hang it behind the display.
Performance
The performance of AMD Ryzen CPU is high, and depending on the job, it can reach performance approaching Intel's latest 13th generation Core i9. It can withstand not only office work but also photo and video editing. And with the AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics engine built into the CPU, you can enjoy even light 3D games. Also, since it is a low-speed rotating fan, it is usually almost silent.
Scalability
It has many interfaces and is expandable, and a total of 3TB of storage can be added inside the body with an M.2 2242 (SATA) SSD slot (maximum 1TB) and a 2.5 inch SATA HDD/SSD slot (7mm) (maximum 2TB). (There is no mention of the M.2 2242 SATA SSD (M Key) slot on the official website, but we confirmed with GEEKOM that it can be used.) It also has a built-in microSD card slot, WiFi6, and Bluetooth5.2. Equipped with 2 HDMI (4K compatible) ports and 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps) (8K compatible) ports, up to 4 displays can be connected.
Although there is no hardware restriction on adding a storage device with a capacity exceeding the catalog value to each slot, the manufacturer does not guarantee it.
User manual and images/drivers for reinstalling Windows can also be downloaded from GEEKOM's support page .
The manufacturing quality of the housing and packing box is also high, and there is no flaw in comparison with MINISFORUM's products, which are popular in Japan recently.
A common feature of GEEKOM machines is that the power button is very light. A slight touch may cause it to start up unintentionally. Therefore, I think it is best to attach the power cable last when assembling, and remove it first when disassembling.
The exhaust ports are lined up at the top. Airflow is common to all GEEKOM products, with air taken in from the intake ports on the left and right sides of the body, and exhausted from the back. For ventilation, the area around the PC installation site should be wide open. However, when using office software, the fan does not spin and the unit does not generate heat.
The interfaces on the back are, from the left, a DC port for power input, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps) and HDMI 2.0, 2.5G LAN, USB 3.2 Gen 2 and USB 2.0 (both Type-A) ports, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps) and HDMI2.0. The two Type-C ports also support video output, so you can connect a display using an HDMI or DisplayPort conversion cable.
Marked as manufactured by " Shenzhen Jiteng Network Technology Co., Ltd. ", made in China.
To access the interior, unscrew the four rubber feet. After loosening the screw sufficiently, pull the screw to remove the bottom cover.
The top direction of this photo is the front.
The upper part is the M.2 SSD (512GB: Lexar NM620) of form factor 2280, and the lower part is the DDR4-3200 memory (16GBx2: Wooposit WPBH32D408SWM). Both are easily replaceable.
Between the M.2 2280 SSD and the memory is an empty M.2 2242 SATA SSD (M Key) slot.
There are two USB interface pin heads on the board.
A 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD (thickness 7mm) can be installed inside the cover.
In addition, the outlet plug is a 3-pin with ground.
Windows 11 setup
This site explains how to set up Windows 11. Please see each page below.How to set up a Windows
How to set up a Windows 11 computer / Setting up with a local account instead of a Microsoft account
Read more
How to add an SSD or hard disk
How to add an SSD or hard disk to a Windows 11 computer/How to change the drive name
Read more
How to expand C drive/Copy SSD
How to expand C drive on Windows 11 PC. Copy SSD to enlarge and reassign partition / How to use Macrium Reflect Home
Read more
How to add, change, or delete a password
How to add, change, or delete a password to a local account on a Windows 11 computer
Read more
How to share folders and map network drives
How to share folders and map network drives on Windows 11 computers
Read more
How to calibrate game controllers
How to calibrate game controllers on Windows 11
Read more
How to install a hard disk/SSD
For 2.5-inch HDD/SSD, use the holes on the back (the part indicated by the arrow in the photo) to fasten with screws. Remove the rubber bush indicated by the arrow.
The metal fittings cannot be removed even if the screws attached to that are removed. Due to this structure, it is impossible to install HDD/SSD with a thickness exceeding 7mm.
The maximum expandable capacity according to the specifications is 2TB, but when I tested it, even a 4TB SSD ( Gigastone Game Pro (Amazon) ) could be used with Windows.
Note: The interface of the M.2 2242 slot of GEEKOM A5 is "SATA" instead of "NVMe". Please be careful when purchasing SSD.
GEEKOM A5 BIOS
The installed memory is DDR4 32GB and the speed is 3200MTs.
AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics memory capacity
The graphics engine installed in GEEKOM A5 is AMD Radeon Vega 8 (CEZANNE) built into AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU. The graphics engine's graphics memory is shared with the CPU, and the maximum available capacity is half of the system memory plus dedicated video memory. The PC I'm testing has 32GB of memory, so the maximum available graphics memory is about 16GB, as shown on the right.(To display the screen on the right, open the [Settings] - [System] - [Display] - [Advanced Display Settings] screen, and select "Display adapter properties for Display 1" in the "Display Information" column. )
GEEKOM A5 startup time
Booting Windows and launching applications is blazing fast thanks to the M.2 SSD and 32GB of memory. Windows boot time is about 20 seconds from pressing the power button to displaying the desktop screen. In addition, the free office suite " LibreOffice " can be started in less than 2 seconds, and Writer and Calc can be started in 2 - 3 seconds from that menu.However, boot time may slow down as you use your PC more.
GEEKOM A5 benchmark test results
Here, I tried running the representative benchmark programs, Geekbench, Cinebench, PCMark 10, and 3DMark (Time Spy).During testing, only one display with a resolution of WQHD (2560x1440) was connected using a Type-C to DisplayPort conversion cable, and no adjustments were made to the BIOS, drivers, or other parameters, and the settings were as they were when shipped from the factory. . For reference, the values of two other GEEKOM PC models, GPD Win Max2 (2023) (AMD Ryzen 7 7840U), Core i7-6700 (2015) + RTX3060 (12GB Desktop) are also listed.
In terms of CPU performance and processing performance for office programs, this PC has top-class performance among general office PCs, and its performance approaches that of the Core i9. On the other hand, as a 3D gaming PC, it has the minimum performance for the time being, but it is high performance as a PC without an external GPU.
If you are considering replacing this PC, please compare the benchmark execution results on your machine.
Geekbench
Compared to recent PCs, the performance is somewhere between those with Core i7 and Core i9. I think this is a high performance PC for the price.
System | Result (Single) | Result (Multi) |
---|---|---|
GEEKOM Mini IT13 Corei9-13900H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | 2407 | 11416 |
GEEKOM A5 AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, Memory 32GB, Radeon Vega 8 | 2019 | 9411 |
GMKtec NucBox M3 Core i5-12450H, Memory 16GB, Intel UHD Graphics | 2258 | 7884 |
GEEKOM Mini IT11 Corei7-11390H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | 2231 | 6153 |
GPD Win Max2 AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, Memory 64GB, AMD Radeon 780M | 2481 | 10997 |
Core i7-6700(2015), Memory 16GB, GeForce RTX3060(12GB Desktop) | 1351 | 4626 |
In order to enjoy 3D graphics games, it can be said that it has the minimum performance for the time being. However, it is a very good result for a PC that does not have an external GPU.
System | Result |
---|---|
GEEKOM Mini IT13 Corei9-13900H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | 16294 |
GEEKOM A5 AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, Memory 32GB, Radeon Vega 8 | 17636 |
GEEKOM Mini IT11 Corei7-11390H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | 11008 |
GMKtec NucBox M3 Core i5-12450H, Memory 16GB, Intel UHD Graphics | 8326 |
GPD Win Max2 AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, Memory 64GB, AMD Radeon 780M | 28750 |
Core i7-6700(2015), Memory 16GB, GeForce RTX3060(12GB Desktop) | 89112 |
Cinebench
This performance is also between the Core i7 and Core i9 machines. The MP Ratio is also high, and it seems that multi-process operation is possible efficiently.
System | Result (GPU) | Result (Multi) | Result (Single) | Result (MP Ratio) |
---|---|---|---|---|
GEEKOM Mini IT13 Corei9-13900H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | (none) | 663 | 102 | 6.47 |
GEEKOM A5 AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, Memory 32GB, Radeon Vega 8 | (none) | 604 | 85 | 7.10 |
GMKtec NucBox M3 Core i5-12450H, Memory 16GB, Intel UHD Graphics | (none) | 427 | 98 | 4.34 |
GEEKOM Mini IT11 Corei7-11390H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | (none) | 313 | 83 | 3.75 |
GPD Win Max2 AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, Memory 64GB, AMD Radeon 780M | (none) | 714 | 96 | 7.41 |
Core i7-6700(2015), Memory 16GB, GeForce RTX3060(12GB Desktop) | 7937 | 286 | 61 | 4.72 |
System | Result (Multi) | Result (Single) | Result (MP Ratio) |
---|---|---|---|
GEEKOM Mini IT13 Corei9-13900H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | 12122 | 1717 | 7.06 |
GEEKOM A5 AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, Memory 32GB, Radeon Vega 8 | 10305 | 1416 | 7.28 |
GMKtec NucBox M3 Core i5-12450H, Memory 16GB, Intel UHD Graphics | 7873 | 1651 | 4.77 |
GEEKOM Mini IT11 Corei7-11390H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | 5648 | 1524 | 3.71 |
GPD Win Max2 AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, Memory 64GB, AMD Radeon 780M | 12369 | 1729 | 7.16 |
Core i7-6700(2015), Memory 16GB, GeForce RTX3060(12GB Desktop) | 5005 | 1009 | 4.96 |
PCMark 10
Before installing PCMark 10 and 3DMark, you need to register and install a game platform: Steam . We recommend registering a new Steam account from your iPhone's (Safari), as it often results in a CAPCHA error if you do it on a computer.
Good results overall. This performance is likely to overtake the Corei9 machine.
System | Result | Essentials | Productivity | Digital Content Creation |
---|---|---|---|---|
GEEKOM Mini IT13 Corei9-13900H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | 5847 | 10499 | 6842 | 7553 |
GEEKOM A5 AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, Memory 32GB, Radeon Vega 8 | 6247 | 10281 | 9345 | 6286 |
GMKtec NucBox M3 Core i5-12450H, Memory 16GB, Intel UHD Graphics | 5073 | 9773 | 6995 | 5204 |
GEEKOM Mini IT11 Corei7-11390H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | 4759 | 9223 | 6648 | 4771 |
GPD Win Max2 AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, Memory 64GB, AMD Radeon 780M | 6517 | 10341 | 8604 | 8442 |
Core i7-6700(2015), Memory 16GB, GeForce RTX3060(12GB Desktop) | 5168 | 7579 | 6737 | 7336 |
3DMark(Time Spy)
At WQHD (2560x1440) resolution, the performance in the heavy Time Spy demo was around 8~9FPS. Again, the score is between the Core i7 and Core i9 machines.
System | Time Spy Score | Result (Graphics) | Result (CPU) |
---|---|---|---|
GEEKOM Mini IT13 Corei9-13900H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | 1946 | 1705 | 9898 |
GEEKOM A5 AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, Memory 32GB, Radeon Vega 8 | 1655 | 1449 | 8600 |
GEEKOM Mini IT11 Corei7-11390H, Memory 32GB, Iris Xe | 1487 | 1330 | 4520 |
GMKtec NucBox M3 Core i5-12450H, Memory 16GB, Intel UHD Graphics | 992 | 864 | 6293 |
GPD Win Max2 AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, Memory 64GB, AMD Radeon 780M | 2984 | 2678 | 8482 |
Core i7-6700(2015), Memory 16GB, GeForce RTX3060(12GB Desktop) | 7734 | 8831 | 4539 |
Specifications of GEEKOM A5
Item | Description |
---|---|
CPU | AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800H (8 Cores, 16 Threads, 16MB Cache, 3.2 GHz~ 4.4 GHz) TDP 35W |
Graphics | AMD Radeon™ Vega 8 Graphics |
Memory | Dual-channel DDR4-3200 SODIMM 32GB (Max 64GB) |
Storage | M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3x4 NVMe/SATA 512GB (Max 2TB) |
Storage expansion I/F |
1 x M.2 2242 SATA SSD slot (Max 1TB) 1 x 2.5" SATA HDD / SSD (7mm) (Max 2TB) |
Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 |
LAN | 2.5G RJ45 LAN |
Video output | 2 x HDMI 2.0 port / 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports |
Audio output | 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack |
Adapter | Automatic Voltage adjustment between 100 and 240V AC, 50/60Hz, 3 pin, 120 Watts (19V/6.32A) |
OS | Windows 11 Pro 64bit |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth® v5.2 |
I/O Ports | 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2 x HDMI 2.0b ports, 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 x 2.5G RJ45 LAN port, 1 x SD card reader, 1 x DC jack, 1 x Power button |
Size | 117 x 112 x 49.2 mm |
Weight | 652g (Actual measurement: 556g) |
List price | $399.00 (Sale price) |
What’s In The Box | 1 x A 5 Mini PC, 1 x VESA Mount, 1 x Power Adapter, 1 x HDMI Cable, 1 x User Guide, 1 x Thank You Card |
Various GEEKOM mini PCs
-
GEEKOM NUC A7
GEEKOM 2024/02 USD799.00
GEEKOM A7 mini PC is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor (8C/16T, 16MB Cache, 4.0GHz~5.2GHz), built on the all-new 4nm process and Zen 4 architecture, delivering up to 30% performance boost in daily multitask computing compared to the Ryzen 7 7735HS. It is designed for video and photo editing, Office tasks, 4K video viewing, high-end games, virtualization work, and other computing tasks.
GEEKOM NUC A7 (AMD Ryzen R9-7940HS) Review / Super Fast Gaming Mini PC -
GEEKOM XT12 Pro Mini PC, 12th Gen Intel i9-12900H NUC12 Mini Computers
GEEKOM 2024/04 USD699.00
The Geekom XT12 Pro mini pc is equipped with an Intel Core i9-12900H processor boasting 14 cores, 20 threads, and 24MB Cache, turboing up to 5.0 GHz. Besides, the mini gaming pc features standard iGPU Intel Iris Xe Graphics, with 96 EUs and a maximum dynamic frequency of 1.45GHz, enabling smooth gameplay of AAA games.
GEEKOM NUC XT12 Pro (Core i9-12900H) Review / Ultra-compact high-performance mini PC -
GEEKOM Mini IT13 Mini PC, 13th Gen Intel i9-13900H NUC13 Mini Computers
GEEKOM 2023/08 USD499.00~789.00
GEEKOM Mini IT13 NUC13 Mini PC is equipped with Newest 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H processor(14cores, 20threads), 24MB Cache, up to 5.40 GHz.GEEKOM Mini IT13 series the power is only 90 Watts, which is only 1/4 of other desktop, let you to spend less electricity to support 24 hours work of every day, suitable for Gaming, home working, business offices, servers, school education, and billboards.
GEEKOM Mini IT13 (Core i9-13900H) Review / Ultra-compact and highest spec mini computer -
GEEKOM A5, AMD Ryzen 7 5800H(8C/16T, up to 4.4GHz), Vega 8 Graphics
GEEKOM 2023/07 USD399.00
GEEKOM Mini A5 mini computer is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor (8C/16T, 16MB Cache, up to 4.4GHz). Its Zen 3 architecture and 7nm process have drastically improved performance, providing super-fast responsiveness, and allowing for an unparalleled work and gaming experience. It is designed for a variety of solutions such as education, home office, media center, HTPC, digital signage, etc.
-
GEEKOM Mini IT12, 12th Gen Intel i5-12450H Mini Computers(2 Cores,12 Threads)
GEEKOM 2023/07 USD589.00
GEEKOM Mini IT12 Mini PC is equipped with the Newest 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H processor(8cores, 12 threads), 12MB Cache, up to 4.40 GHz.For the GEEKOM Mini IT12 series, the power is only 35 Watts, which is only 1/4 of other desktops and lets you use less electricity to support 24 hours work of every day, suitable for gaming, home working, business offices, and streaming.
-
GEEKOM Mini IT11 Mini PC, 1TB Intel i7-11390H Mini Computer (8 Threads, Up to 5.0 GHz)
GEEKOM 2022/12 USD599.00~749.00
GEEKOM Mini IT11 is powered by a Quad-Core 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11390H processor with a clock speed of up to 5.0 GHz, 8 threads, and 12MB cache. It is powerful enough to deal with more demanding applications such as home servers, school education, web browsing, business offices, and billboards.
GEEKOM Mini IT11 (Core i7-11390H) Review / Ultra-compact high-spec mini computer