Geekom’s $1.9K mini PC packs AMD’s flagship AI chip into compact design

Geekom has announced the A9 Mega, a compact mini PC powered by AMD’s flagship Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, launching via Kickstarter with pricing starting around $1,899. The system represents the 20th product to feature AMD’s 16-core, 32-thread Strix Halo chip and positions itself as an alternative to traditional workstations and Apple’s Mac Studio for AI workloads and creative applications.

What you should know: The A9 Mega packs serious computing power into a compact CNC-machined aluminum body measuring 171x171x71mm.

• The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor includes Radeon 8060S graphics and an XDNA 2 NPU (neural processing unit) capable of 126 TOPS of AI performance.
• With support for up to 128GB of LPDDR5X 8000MHz memory, the integrated GPU can serve as an accelerator with a large shared memory pool for AI models like Stable Diffusion or LLaMA.
• The system accommodates two M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSDs, providing up to 8TB of storage capacity.

Cooling and performance: Geekom’s IceBlast 5.0 cooling system ensures sustained performance under demanding workloads.

• The cooling solution uses dual fans, copper heat pipes, and thermal controls to manage the 120W TDP (thermal design power).
• Geekom claims the CPU, GPU, and NPU can run at peak performance simultaneously without throttling.
• Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support.

Extensive connectivity: The A9 Mega offers workstation-level port selection across front and rear panels.

• Front ports include two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C for data, an SD card slot, and a power button with integrated fingerprint sensor.
• Rear connectivity features two USB4 Type-C ports supporting 40Gbps with DisplayPort 2.1, two HDMI 2.1 FRL ports, two 2.5Gb Ethernet jacks, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, one USB 2.0, a 3.5mm headset jack, and DC power input.

Pricing and availability: While launching through Kickstarter, Geekom’s track record suggests retail pricing may remain competitive.

• The A9 Max, featuring an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX370, typically retails for $1,299 but is currently available for $999, indicating potential for post-launch discounts.
• The A9 Mega comes preloaded with Windows 11 Pro and supports Linux compatibility.
• Details on broader retail availability beyond the Kickstarter campaign remain unknown.