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Interest in the mini PC category has skyrocketed in recent years, and it’s pretty easy to see why. A mini PC takes up hardly any room on your desk while still offering the same level of performance as a full-fledged workstation. Geekom is a Chinese manufacturer that does all the right things in this category, and it has three offerings: the budget-focused MiniAir 11, the Mini IT8 and the high-end Mini IT11.
I initially intended to use the Mini IT11 for just a few days and get back to my gaming, but the motherboard (Z490 Aorus Master) conveniently decided to fail. So I ended up using the Mini IT11 for the better part of two months as my primary workstation, relying on it for writing, image editing and even a bit of gaming. What I realized in that time is that this is a wonderful machine for everyday use.
Geekom Mini IT11: Prices and availability
Geekom launched the Mini IT11 in August 2022, and it is available in several variants, with all models featuring 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD as standard. The basic version is powered by an Intel Core i5-1135G7 and is available for $519 on the Geekom website (opens in a new tab) and $499 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)and there is a Core i5-1155G7 variant that costs $549.
Then we have two Core i7 models, with the i7-1165G7 debuting at $599 on Amazon. (opens in a new tab) and the i7-1195G7 retails for $749. There’s a standard one-year warranty with all Mini IT11 models.
Geekom Mini IT11: What I like
Geekom may be a new entrant to this category, but it’s clear that the Chinese manufacturer knows a thing or two about build quality. The Mini IT11 has a small profile with a well-designed chassis that is made of ABS plastic, and the matte finish and dark gray color ensure that it does not call attention to itself.
The build quality is on par with the best mini computers, and with dimensions of 117 x 112 x 45.6 mm, the Mini IT11 fits almost anywhere. It’s ridiculous how small this thing is; I have used several Zotac Zbox products in the past, and the Mini IT11 is clearly smaller. Hell, my router is twice the size of this thing.
You also get a VESA mounting plate in the package if you want to install the Mini IT11 behind a monitor, and the bundled accessories including a carrying case. The unit weighs only 564.9g, making it easy to carry. The sides of the chassis are ventilated and provide good airflow to the insides, and you can easily access the DRAM and M.2 SSD slots located at the bottom by removing four screws in the base. There’s also a SATA slot if you want to install a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, and two SO-DIMM slots that can accommodate 32GB DRAM modules each for a total of 64GB.
There’s a comprehensive list of ports here, including an SD card reader that’s located on the side. On the front, you will find a 3.5mm fan, a USB-A 3.2 port and a USB-C port that uses the latest USB4 standard, delivering the full 40 Gigabit bandwidth. Around the back, you get an HDMI 2.0 port, a Mini DisplayPort 1.4, two USB-A 3.2 ports, a USB-C port that is based on USB4, and an RJ45 port that has Gigabit connectivity. On the wireless front, there is Bluetooth 5.2 along with Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and I had no problems in this area.
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The variant of the Mini IT11 that I use has a Core i7-1165G7 with Iris Xe, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD installed out of the box. Geekom uses Kingston’s white-label DRAM and SSD storage modules, and while there’s no bare-bones version available, the standard model starts at just $499 and comes with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, a great value for the caliber of hardware an offer
On that note, the Mini IT11 is a productivity powerhouse, holding its own in almost every workload I threw at it. I didn’t notice any difference in daily use versus my full-fledged gaming experience, and it handled intensive image editing workloads in Lightroom without breaking a sweat. The Mini IT11 posted 1455 in the Cinebench R23 single-core test and 5488 in the multi-core test, in line with Intel’s own NUC. The Kingston M.2 SSD is fast and reliable, posting read scores of 2458MB/s and writes of 1825MB/s in CrystalDiskMark.
There are no issues with media playback here, with the Mini IT11 making a star at playing 4K content – whether it’s an off-stream service or locally stored media. And thanks to the Iris Xe hardware, the Mini IT11 does a pretty decent job at gaming; it’s obviously not geared towards gaming, but you can play casual titles at Full HD without frame rate issues.
The best part about the Mini IT11 is that it comes with Windows 11 Pro out of the box. There’s also no bloatware installed — you’re getting a clean Windows installation here, and that’s great to see.
Geekom Mini IT11: What needs work
Honestly, the Mini IT 11 doesn’t miss much. The only area where it could do more is gaming, but that’s not possible without a dedicated video card. Although I was able to play a few games, it is not designed for visually demanding titles.
So if you’re more interested in casual games like Stardew Valley, the Mini IT 11 is a great choice – just know that this thing won’t run Assassin’s Creed Valhalla or any recent AAA game.
Geekom Mini IT11: The competition
There’s no shortage of choice if you need a mini PC for everyday use, with the Beelink GTR5 leading the way with its Ryzen hardware. The device has AMD’s octa-core Ryzen 9 5900HX, and comes with 32GB of RAM and a 500GB M.2 SSD as standard.
You also get dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and there’s Wi-Fi 6e along with Bluetooth 5.0. You get four USB-A and two USB-C ports, and the design is sleek. Like the Mini IT11, you can opt out of the memory and storage, and the GTR5 is a good choice at $839.
Geekom Mini IT11: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if:
- You need a machine that doesn’t take up a lot of space
- You want powerful hardware out of the box
- You are looking for memory and storage extensibility
- You want a reliable workhorse for productive tasks
You should not buy this if:
- You want an SFF machine for gaming
Geekom nailed the basics with the Mini IT11. The mini PC does a great job in everyday use, holding its own during browsing, office work and image/video editing workloads. It’s ideally suited for those looking to switch to a small machine that has plenty of power for everyday tasks and casual gaming, and the value on offer here is incredible.
Starting at $499, you get a machine powered by Intel’s 11th Gen hardware, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, a great selection of ports, and Windows 11 Pro out of the box. Honestly, for what you pay here, you get an absolute bargain.
The Mini IT11 is an outstanding mini computer that excels in everyday use. The Intel 11th Gen hardware is more than adequate for productive tasks, you get a small design with a good selection of ports, generous memory and storage, and Windows 11 Pro out of the box. All things considered, this is a fantastic value.
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