Geekom is new in the competitive Mini PC market, but is sure swinging out of the holds with a pair of capable devices: the Geekom BookFun, a gaming laptop with an 11th Gen Core i7-11800H, Windows 11 Pro, and an RTX3070; and the more affordable Geekom Mini IT8, which is the subject of this review.
Small form factor PCs have increasingly become popular computing units for their seemingly affordable prices and limitless use cases. Whether you’re looking for a small, space-saving desktop or a power-efficient server, mini PCs easily fill that gap. And the Mini IT8 is easily one of the best you can find without emptying your pockets.
While this pint-sized PC features an older 8th Gen Intel Coffee Lake CPU, it still packs enough power for day-to-day tasks. From web browsing to word processing, the Mini IT8 is sufficient enough for what most people need. Also, the Geekom Mini IT8 is VESA-mountable, meaning you can prop it on the back of your monitor – such as the Sceptre E248W-19203R – for a clean look.
And with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, this little guy can easily replace old behemoths on your office desk or serve as an entertainment hub in your living room. Alternatively, you can tweak it to meet your computing needs, and for the geeks, you can install Linux or whatever you want on the Mini IT8.
In this Geekom Mini IT8 Review, we offer a deep dive into this small form factor computer, look at its capabilities and explain what makes it a great choice when compared to other Mini PCs.
Geekom Mini IT8 Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8259U
- Graphics: Iris Plus 655
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB SSD (Kingston OM8PDP3512B-A01)
- Ports: 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Mini DisplayPort, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, SD card reader, audio jack
- Connectivity: Intel AC-7265, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2
- Weight: 565g
- Size: 117 x 112 x 48mm (H x W x D)
Design: It’s a NUC look-alike
The Mini IT8’s design looks like many of the Intel NUC mini PCs we’ve reviewed over the past decade. It measures 117 x 112 x 48mm, which is almost the same size as the Intel NUC 11 Performance Mini PC, so much that you’d mistake it from afar; with that similarity, we’re left wondering if they share some common DNA under the hood.
One thing that sets the Geekom Mini IT8 apart must be its heft; it feels and looks heavy at nearly 600g. The top is crafted from glossy plastic that’s sure to pick greasy fingerprints and hairline marks. The rest of the body is made from solid metal with two grills on the side for better airflow (and cooling the 28W CPU inside).
Even with the compact design, the Mini IT8 packs nearly a dozen ports and connectors: three USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, two USB Type-C connectors, one Gigabit Ethernet port, a headphone jack, an SD card slot, an HDMI connector, and a mini-DisplayPort. The power connector is barrel-type and is powered by a 90W brick-type power supply unit.
Perfomance – Lots of Room to Grow
With an Intel Core i5-8259U processor, the Geekom Mini IT8 isn’t going to deliver class-leading performance to compete with the Intel NUC 11 NUC11PAHi7 (Intel Core i7, Intel Iris Xe), but it stacks up pretty well against the Apple Mac Mini. The 8th gen Coffee Lake processors are still fine to this day, but Intel has moved to 11th and 12th gen chips in its more recent products from its NUC line. Geekom used a U chip that was meant for laptops where power efficiency is key.
The Mini IT8 comes with 16GB Kingston 3200MHz RAM, which is impressive, and 512GB SSD storage. As configured, this Mini PC isn’t a gaming machine but is fine for day-to-day office tasks, however, it struggles with more intensive applications. The closest machine you can compare it with is the Beelink GTI Mini PC with an i5 processor that’s three generations newer, and still performs well.
The Mini IT8 comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, which is excellent to see on a PC at this price. The installation itself comes with a fair share of bloatware, including TikTok, Prime Video, Facebook, and Instagram. You can remove all these if you wish, so you can blame Geekom here, but it would be better not to see this stuff on the Mini IT8.
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Otherwise, the Geekom Mini IT8 has everything you’d need to get started. Select your favorite web browser, install the required programs, and get everything running. This Mini PC handles Windows 11 very well despite its older chipset.
For the geeks, you can install Linux if that’s your kind of poison. Just hit F7 on your keyboard during boot time to enter the BIOS to change the boot order to select your live USB. With Linux, you have the freedom to make this machine into whatever you want – a great low-cost, power-efficient server or even an overpowered router with pfSense.
For the price, though, the Geekom Mini IT8 is an excellent kit. I think adding a second stick of RAM might improve things a bit, but for what you get here, it can’t get any better.
Should I buy the Geekom Mini IT8?
If you want Windows 11 Pro on a budget. Yes. For a very reasonable starting price, the Geekom Mini IT8 delivers excellent performance, making it a great little desktop PC. It’s simple, you can mount it to the back of your monitor or TV, and it offers decent upgrade options. It’s hard to find a better option for this money, especially when the alternative is to spend a lot more cash on a more expensive Mini PC for performance gains you can’t even notice.
Overall, the Geekom Mini IT8 would make a great family PC for daily tasks, an unassuming entertainment hub in the living room, or a low-cost server. With its NVMe drive and 3200MHz RAM (all upgradable), the Mini IT8 offers more value for the buck than any Mini PC at this price range. And, for a business looking for a single computer to power multiple digital displays, the Geekom Mini IT8 would be a real boon.
The Review
Geekom Mini IT8
The Geekom Mini IT8 is a Mini PC that offers decent performance at a very affordable starting price. This wonderful little machine is a worthwhile alternative to Intel’s NUC offerings, making it ideal for the home office or business as it can support up to four displays.
Recommended Configuration
2020 Apple Mac Mini with Apple M1 Chip
3 used from $405.30
PROS
- Very affordable
- Decent performance
- Supports up to four monitors
CONS
- Outdated CPU
- Peripherals not included
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
Last update on 2024-12-23 at 00:17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
