GMKtec EVO-T1 review: Mini PC with Intel Core Ultra 9 for AI models, LLMs and gaming via OCuLink

With the EVO-T1 GMKtec has a mini PC in its portfolio that offers both high-performance and great features in our review. At the heart of the system is Intel's Core Ultra 9 285H, a modern 16-core processor, which the manufacturer grants a TDP of up to 80 watts. This means that the EVO-T1 can easily hold its own against the Geekom Mini IT15 with the same processor. The mini PC is also equipped with 64 GB DDR5 RAM and a fast PCIe 4.0 SSD. With the GMK-AI-Assistant, GMKtec provides its own locally executable AI instance, which makes excellent use of the powerful basis.

The EVO-T1 has a high-quality appearance, which is underpinned not least by the black and gold color scheme. Nevertheless, GMKtec uses a lot of plastic, which diminishes the overall impression somewhat, although there are no manufacturing defects. The housing is slightly larger than that of most competitors, but this benefits a larger cooling unit. After all, the manufacturer advertises a TDP of up to 80 watts, which we can confirm in the test. In our performance tests, the EVO-T1 shows that it is not only strong on paper. Whether video editing, rendering, software development, or virtualization, the small computer offers a wide range of possible applications. The integrated Intel Arc graphics unit is sufficient for everyday multimedia and graphics tasks, but an external graphics card via the OCuLink connection is recommended for gaming or GPU-intensive workflows. In our practical test, we equipped the mini PC with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 to illustrate the leap in performance with eGPU. The OCuLink connection clearly outperforms USB4 and provides a significant performance boost in 3D applications.

The overall connectivity is extensive, but not perfect. In addition to several USB-A ports, the Mini-PC offers USB4, the aforementioned OCuLink connection, as well as HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort for image output. Two 2.5 GbE LAN ports are also available, as well as a wireless module, although this does not use the latest standard. The WLAN module can be replaced with a newer one if required. The mini PC also has three M.2 slots (e.g., Samsung 990 Pro, currently $295 USD), which enable storage capacities of up to 12 TB.

The biggest plus point is the performance offered in relation to the size of the housing. There is also a wide range of interfaces and the option of eGPU support. However, the cooling system works audibly under full load, which can be disturbing in quiet working environments. The price is also ambitious: with 64 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD, the model is in the four-digit range, depending on the offer. The GMKtec EVO-T1 is primarily aimed at users who are looking for maximum computing power and flexible connectivity options in a compact housing. For developers, creative professionals, and power users, it can replace a fully -fledged desktop - with a significantly smaller footprint. However, if you mainly use office applications or are shopping on a budget, you will also find cheaper alternatives on the market.