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MagyarGeekom A5 review: A rose-colored mini PC, NUC alternative with an AMD Ryzen 7 APU and 32 GB of RAM
At first glance, the Geekom A5 is reminiscent of the Mini IT11 and Mini IT12 models. Technically and visually, they were very similar to the Intel NUC family of mini PCs. But, contrary to expectations, the A5 is powered by an AMD CPU. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800H found here might not quite be a modern SoC, but, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, it is a chip that can still currently deliver adequate performance. We will find out later whether or not this turns out to be the case. In addition, purchasing the Geekom A5 will get you 32 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. At $399, the A5 stands eye-to-eye with the competition. Meanwhile, alternative specifications or even a barebone option are not available.
We have chosen comparison devices which match the A5 performance-wise and are also in the same price category. We have compiled a summary of these competing devices in the following table.
Possible competitors compared
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81.2 % | 10/2023 | Geekom A5 R7 5800H, Vega 8 | 555 g | 49.2 mm | |
| 83.7 % | 05/2023 | Morefine M600, 6600U R5 6600U, Radeon 660M | 768 g | 40.6 mm | |
| 82.3 % | 05/2023 | Geekom Mini IT12 i7-1260P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 572 g | 45.6 mm | |
| 81.9 % | 05/2023 | Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 i7-12650H, UHD Graphics 64EUs | 616 g | 55 mm | |
| 81.7 % | 05/2023 | Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT R5 5600H, Vega 7 | 652 g | 48 mm | |
| 78 % | 10/2023 | Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 i5-12450H, UHD Graphics 64EUs | 545 g | 54.3 mm | |
| 77.8 % | 09/2023 | Acemagic AD15 i7-11800H, UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) | 765 g | 76 mm | |
| 73.8 % | 08/2023 | Blackview MP200 i5-11400H, UHD Graphics Xe 16EUs (Tiger Lake-H) | 678 g | 75.5 mm |
The Geekom A5 with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H in detail
Case - A familiar face!
If you took a quick look at the Geekom A5, you would immediately think this seems familiar. And, in actual fact, the similarities to the Geekom IT11 and IT12 are there to be seen and this is clearly highlighted in the images. In terms of space requirements, there is also no difference and this underlines the similarities.
There are no changes when it comes to the material choice either: The internal metal cage is enclosed by a plastic casing that gives the device excellent solidity. Design-wise, Geekom has taken a different route and adorned the A5 with a rose-gold color. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but it's certainly different to drab gray or black. Paired with its white peripheral devices, the Geekom A5's rose gold fits in with the overall concept. When it comes to build quality, the A5 is in no way inferior to the IT11 and IT12. Every part fits perfectly and there are no noticeable gaps. The only point of criticism worth mentioning is the material choice since a premium metal case could have taken the haptic feedback to an even higher level.
Incidentally, just like many other mini PCs, it is possible to fix the Geekom A5 directly to a monitor via the supplied VESA mount.
Features - Thunderbolt is absent
When it comes to connectivity, we initially observed a good selection of ports which can be found on the front and rear of the device. There are a total of six USB ports available, of which two are type-C connectors. However, the manufacturer has done without USB 4 Thunderbolt. Nevertheless, one of the two USB-C ports allows you to directly control a monitor. This means the Geekom A5 can handle up to three monitors simultaneously. We also shouldn't forget the 2.5G network connector as well as the speedy, wonderfully performing, UHS II SD card.
SD card reader
Geekom has fitted the A5 with an SD card reader that delivers superb results when paired with our (Angelbird AV Pro V60) reference card. Thanks to the UHS II connectivity, the card reader is also suitable for transferring large amounts of data.
| SD Card Reader | |
| average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Geekom A5 (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Intel Beast Canyon NUC (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Intel Dragon Canyon NUC | |
| Average of class Mini PC (16.9 - 181.8, n=17, last 2 years) | |
| Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN173070C (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Geekom MiniAir 11 Special Edition (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
| Intel Beast Canyon NUC (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Intel Dragon Canyon NUC | |
| Geekom A5 (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Geekom Mini IT11, i7-11390H (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Average of class Mini PC (18.2 - 200, n=17, last 2 years) | |
| Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN173070C (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Geekom MiniAir 11 Special Edition (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
Communication
The radio module found in the Geekom A5 is a Wi-Fi 6 model from Realtek. However, the device lacks modern 6 GHz radio connectivity with the Wi-Fi module operating in either the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency band. Nonetheless, the measured transfer speeds when sending and receiving data are good and this is underlined by the device sitting in pole position in the current comparison. The radio module also supports Bluetooth connections (5.2) meaning either a headset or a mouse can be wirelessly connected. For this test, we used our Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 test router.
Accessories
A varied selection of accessories are included and all the necessary items are there to help get the device up and running. In addition to the device itself, there is a 120-watt PSU, as well as a mounting plate for the VESA installation. An HDMI cable, a quick guide and a thank you card are also part of the box contents.
Maintenance
The Geekom A5 is very easy to open. The base is fixed by four screws and is also used to dissipate heat from the SSD. A second M.2 slot is available but a thermal pad is missing on the rear side. A total of three mass storage devices can be installed, as was the case with the Geekom Mini IT11 or the Geekom Mini IT12. In order to gain access to the CPU fan, the device has to be disassembled further. Unfortunately, quick cleaning is not possible.
Performance - AMD's Ryzen 7 5800H with 8 Zen 3 cores and 16 threads
With the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, the Geekom A5 has a good SoC, even though it's no longer one of the most up-to-date models. With the eight Zen-3 cores, the A5 has no reason to hide because our tests revealed good multi-core performance. The Geekom A5 also copes easily with memory-intensive applications thanks to its 32 GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD.
Test conditions
We carried out all of the performance tests using the balanced
energy profile. We did not alter the SoC's performance and left the BIOS configurations in accordance with the factory settings.
Processor
The Geekom A5 is equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H. The SoC offers 8 cores and 16 threads which both help to achieve good multi-thread performance. The direct performance comparison shows that the Geekom A5 is on par with the Geekom Mini IT12. However, in the individual disciplines, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H has some disadvantages when it comes to single-core performance. Nevertheless, in terms of the performance rating, this is still enough to secure third place, but, the Geekom A5 is left in its tracks by the Minisforum Venus Series NAB6. With the Intel Core i7-12650H-based mini PC, you can expect roughly 10 percent more performance.
For additional comparisons and benchmarks, take a look at our CPU comparison table.
| Performance Rating - Percent | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Blender - v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| R Benchmark 2.5 - Overall mean | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| LibreOffice - 20 Documents To PDF | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
* ... smaller is better
AIDA64: FP32 Ray-Trace | FPU Julia | CPU SHA3 | CPU Queen | FPU SinJulia | FPU Mandel | CPU AES | CPU ZLib | FP64 Ray-Trace | CPU PhotoWorxx
| Performance Rating | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Average of class Mini PC | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| AIDA64 / FP32 Ray-Trace | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Average of class Mini PC (561 - 27538, n=98, last 2 years) | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| AIDA64 / FP64 Ray-Trace | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Average of class Mini PC (308 - 14722, n=98, last 2 years) | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| AIDA64 / CPU PhotoWorxx | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Average of class Mini PC (4408 - 44347, n=98, last 2 years) | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
Geekom A5 vs. Cinebench R15 multi-loop
With the Cinebench R15 continuous loop, we got our first glimpse into the installed cooling system's efficiency and how it interacts with the processor's power consumption. Initially, we observed the best result which was also accompanied by the highest power consumption. In terms of temperatures, we only recorded 100 °C at the start of the second run. That means that the performance had to be reduced somewhat. This fate affects almost all devices which operate under continuous load. The Geekom A5's reduction in performance is significantly smaller, and, in comparison, our review sample delivered the best result over 50 runs (1,715 points). In the same test, the Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 only managed an average of 1,627 points.
System performance
In the system performance-related synthetic benchmarks, the Geekom A5 showed a relatively good PCMark 10 result. In the Crossmark test, our review device could no longer keep up meaning the Geekom A5 could only secure a mid-table placing. Likewise, the review sample completed the RAM tests very successfully even though this was only good enough to manage fourth place. In this area, the Morefine M600 finds itself at the top of the pack due to its DDR5. In everyday use, we observed no limitations. Smooth and fast work is possible with all of the comparison devices and the Geekom A5 is no exception to this rule.
| AIDA64 / Memory Latency | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Average of class Mini PC (44.9 - 154.6, n=98, last 2 years) | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
* ... smaller is better
DPC latencies
The Geekom A5's measured latencies were unconvincing and not the best in class. The review system already achieved those latencies when opening multiple Edge browser tabs. However, we wouldn't view these values as critical and would we still recommend using the Geekom A5 as a streaming client since 4K video playback didn't result in an increase in latency. During this, the iGPU was utilized to just over 30 percent. Prime95 also didn't result in any worse latencies.
| DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
* ... smaller is better
Mass storage
Geekom has treated the A5 to a Lexar 512 GB NVMe SSD. The installed model makes perfect use of the NVMe interface and consequently offers excellent transfer speeds. The Minisfourm UN1245 and the Miniforum NAB6's superb SSD performance is not matched by the model found in our review device. However, the solid third place achieved in our comparison gives no cause for concern since the difference in performance is not perceptible in everyday use. What is more important is the continuous performance and that is something the Geekom A5 copes with confidently. The read performance remains stable over longer periods of time. The Minisfourm UN1245 falters slightly in this area which we see as an advantage for the Geekom A5.
The Geekom A5 can be equipped with two M.2 SSDs. In addition to the M.2 slots, the device offers a 2.5-inch slot meaning up to three mass storage devices can be installed. Nonetheless, attention should be paid to the maximum height of 7 millimeters.
Additional comparisons and benchmarks can be found in our comparison table.
* ... smaller is better
Continuous Performance Read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Graphics card
The Geekom A5 relies on the AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 as its integrated graphics unit and can be found in the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H. Contrary to all expectations, the Geekom A5 delivers adequate performance that helps it secure first place. Compared to Intel, AMD has always had an easy ride with its Vega series iGPUs. But, the internal duel with the Morefine M600 is very interesting and tilts in favor of Geekom's A5. In the synthetic benchmarks, the AMD Radeon 660M is unable to deliver the AMD Radeon RX Vega 8's performance.
Additional comparisons and benchmarks can be found in our GPU comparison table.
| 3DMark Performance Rating - Percent | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| 3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Performance Rating - Percent | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Unigine Valley 1.0 | |
| 1920x1080 Extreme HD DirectX AA:x8 | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| 1920x1080 Extreme HD Preset OpenGL AA:x8 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| 3DMark 05 Standard | 46183 points | |
| 3DMark 06 Standard Score | 29357 points | |
| 3DMark Vantage P Result | 23176 points | |
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 7471 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 135264 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 27089 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 4104 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score | 1852 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 1620 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming performance
Despite the good 3D performance in the synthetic benchmarks, you shouldn't expect too much from the AMD Radeon RX Vega 8. At its core, we are still dealing with a simple iGPU. However, once again, the Geekom machine managed to assert itself against the competition, in the comparison. Since most of the comparison devices are equipped with Intel processors, the first three places are exclusively occupied by mini PCs possessing AMD processors. In this area, Intel's integrated graphics solution is simply not competitive. However, although the Geekom A5 cannot be considered a gaming PC, our review sample can handle simple and older titles. You get noticeably more gaming performance with the HX99G as well as the NUCXi7 both of which come from Minisforum. They deliver superb gaming performance due to their dedicated graphics card.
| Performance Rating - Percent | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| The Witcher 3 | |
| 1024x768 Low Graphics & Postprocessing | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off) | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| Borderlands 3 | |
| 1280x720 Very Low Overall Quality (DX11) | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| 1920x1080 High Overall Quality (DX11) | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| GTA V | |
| 1024x768 Lowest Settings possible | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| 1920x1080 High/On (Advanced Graphics Off) AA:2xMSAA + FX AF:8x | |
| Geekom A5 | |
| Morefine M600, 6600U | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT | |
| Geekom Mini IT12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 | |
| Acemagic AD15 | |
| Blackview MP200 | |
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
| GTA V (2015) | 140.1 | 122.2 | 35.1 | 15.5 |
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 85.6 | 54.1 | 26 | 17.6 |
| Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 129.5 | 108.6 | 67.7 | 63.7 |
| Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 45.3 | 22.4 | 15.9 | |
| X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 52.6 | 39.3 | 34.2 | |
| Far Cry 5 (2018) | 62 | 29 | 27 | 25 |
| Strange Brigade (2018) | 100.9 | 38.8 | 32.4 | 27.4 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) | 65.9 | 24.4 | 22.4 | 19.3 |
| Far Cry New Dawn (2019) | 56 | 28 | 27 | 25 |
| Metro Exodus (2019) | 48 | 20.4 | 15.5 | 12.9 |
| Borderlands 3 (2019) | 68 | 27.6 | 16.4 | 12.1 |
| F1 2020 (2020) | 110 | 51.4 | 40.2 | 28.2 |
| F1 2021 (2021) | 113 | 51.6 | 40.4 | 27 |
| Far Cry 6 (2021) | 53.6 | 25.8 | 21.8 | 18.4 |
| God of War (2022) | 22.1 | 18.1 | 14.4 | 10.1 |
| GRID Legends (2022) | 94.8 | 48.3 | 37.1 | 28.6 |
| Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022) | 38 | 28.9 | 18.1 | 13.3 |
| F1 22 (2022) | 48.8 | 42.4 | 22.5 | |
| F1 23 (2023) | 45.1 | 39.8 | 29.1 | 20.4 |
Emissions - Without constraints, it gets loud
Noise emissions
The volume measurements reveal a clear weakness in the Geekom A5. Without any load present, the mini PC runs very quietly, almost silently. But, if the Geekom A5 is taxed, things quickly get loud. At up to 47.8 dB(A), this little computing companion can longer be ignored. In the current comparison, only the Blackview MP200 is even louder, at up to 51.8 dB(A),
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 28.2 / 28.2 / 28.2 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 47.8 / 47.4 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 25 dB(A) | ||
| Geekom A5 R7 5800H, Vega 8 | Morefine M600, 6600U R5 6600U, Radeon 660M | Geekom Mini IT12 i7-1260P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 i7-12650H, UHD Graphics 64EUs | Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT R5 5600H, Vega 7 | Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 i5-12450H, UHD Graphics 64EUs | Acemagic AD15 i7-11800H, UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) | Blackview MP200 i5-11400H, UHD Graphics Xe 16EUs (Tiger Lake-H) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | 8% | 4% | 3% | 3% | -3% | 12% | 4% | |
| off / environment * | 25 | 29.4 -18% | 29.8 -19% | 29.4 -18% | 30 -20% | 25.2 -1% | 25.4 -2% | 25.1 -0% |
| Idle Minimum * | 28.2 | 29.4 -4% | 29.9 -6% | 29.4 -4% | 30.3 -7% | 32 -13% | 26.2 7% | 25.3 10% |
| Idle Average * | 28.2 | 29.4 -4% | 30.1 -7% | 29.5 -5% | 30.5 -8% | 32.1 -14% | 26.5 6% | 25.3 10% |
| Idle Maximum * | 28.2 | 29.5 -5% | 30.2 -7% | 29.7 -5% | 30.6 -9% | 32.2 -14% | 27.3 3% | 25.3 10% |
| Load Average * | 47.8 | 29.6 38% | 32.1 33% | 34.6 28% | 32.5 32% | 39.8 17% | 30.8 36% | 46 4% |
| Load Maximum * | 47.4 | 29.6 38% | 32.5 31% | 36.1 24% | 33.2 30% | 43.3 9% | 37.5 21% | 51.8 -9% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 32.6 |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
As with many other mini PCs, the Geekom A5's case only heats up slightly. Fresh air is sucked in at the sides and directed out of the device at the rear. With the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, under load, we observed relatively high temperatures which would suggest that Geekom is neither limiting the SoC thermally nor in terms of power consumption. The SoC reached just short of 100 °C shortly after the startup. This short-term boost caused the high temperatures which we had also observed when analyzing the Cinebench R15 multi-loop. In the continued course of the stress test, the CPU temperature settled to an uncritical 89 °C. At 35 watts under continuous load, the SoC ran at a stable level.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.7 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 35.6 °C / 96 F, ranging from 26 to 69.5 °C for the class Mini PC.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 34.3 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 37 °C / 99 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.9 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 32.2 °C / 90 F.
Power consumption
Basically, mini PCs are very economical when compared to traditional desktop PCs. In comparison to the competing devices in this review, we initially observed low energy requirements when running idle. However, under load, this changes, and at just shy of 90 watts, the Geekom A5 briefly required more power than some of the competition. Under average load, we recorded almost 61 watts, which is also slightly more than the A5's competitors. The supplied 120-watt PSU is suitably sized - even for two additional mass storage devices.
| Off / Standby | 0.6 / 5.6 Watt |
| Idle | 6.9 / 7.9 / 8.9 Watt |
| Load |
60.8 / 89.7 Watt |
   
| |
| Geekom A5 R7 5800H, Vega 8 | Morefine M600, 6600U R5 6600U, Radeon 660M | Geekom Mini IT12 i7-1260P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | Minisforum Venus Series NAB6 i7-12650H, UHD Graphics 64EUs | Minisforum Venus Series UM560 XT R5 5600H, Vega 7 | Minisforum Venus Series UN1245 i5-12450H, UHD Graphics 64EUs | Acemagic AD15 i7-11800H, UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) | Blackview MP200 i5-11400H, UHD Graphics Xe 16EUs (Tiger Lake-H) | Average AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 4000/5000) | Average of class Mini PC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -2% | 9% | -36% | 16% | -1% | -44% | -30% | 16% | -27% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 6.9 | 8 -16% | 5 28% | 10.4 -51% | 6.6 4% | 8.2 -19% | 8.7 -26% | 9 -30% | 5.25 ? 24% | 9.75 ? -41% |
| Idle Average * | 7.9 | 8.7 -10% | 7 11% | 12.3 -56% | 6.8 14% | 8.6 -9% | 14.9 -89% | 10.6 -34% | 7.82 ? 1% | 11.7 ? -48% |
| Idle Maximum * | 8.9 | 8.8 1% | 10.7 -20% | 12.4 -39% | 7.2 19% | 9.6 -8% | 18.9 -112% | 19.9 -124% | 9.25 ? -4% | 14.7 ? -65% |
| Load Average * | 60.8 | 54.6 10% | 50.3 17% | 72.9 -20% | 45.1 26% | 52.1 14% | 49.6 18% | 30.9 49% | 45.3 ? 25% | 51.9 ? 15% |
| Load Maximum * | 89.7 | 83.2 7% | 82 9% | 101.2 -13% | 73.4 18% | 73.6 18% | 97.7 -9% | 97.8 -9% | 60.1 ? 33% | 86 ? 4% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 44.8 |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption with an external monitor
Pros
Cons
Verdict - A stylish mini PC with good performance
With the Geekom A5, you currently get a smart-looking mini PC that is treading pastures new when it comes to color design. It goes without saying, at first glance, the color takes a little getting used to, even though the rose-gold color tone isn't particularly dominant. Possessing a similar construction to the Geekom IT11 and the Geekom IT12, the Geekom A5 has an almost identical case with the same advantages and disadvantages. In order to distinguish itself more from the Intel-powered devices, we would have preferred to have seen a touch more adventure in the area. A completely new case would have been good and, with a fresh design, Geekom could have left behind its now outdated design language.
With its AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, the Geekom A5 has no reason to hide. Its connectivity options are good even though Thunderbolt is not on board.
In terms of the choice of processor, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H is an SoC that delivers adequate performance. Although the processor doesn't belong to the current models of its kind, the 8-core chip can keep up with the more modern processors. With 32 GB of RAM, the Geekom A5 is also equipped with a generous amount of RAM, even if the 512 GB SSD is rather standard-sized. Geekom has basically designed a good mini PC that impresses with its good selection of ports, although, Thunderbolt is unfortunately absent. In this area, the IT11 and IT12 models enjoy a clear advantage and this is also reflected in the higher price.
The distinctly audible background noise under load is worthy of criticism and, in addition to the device's appearance, we would have liked to have seen the use of a more modern Wi-Fi module.
Price and availability
The Geekom A5 can be purchased directly from the manufacturer. With 32 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD, the Geekom A5 currently changes hands for $399. At the moment, Amazon is also selling the Geekom A5 with an asking price of around $449.
Geekom A5
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10/09/2023 v7
Sebastian Bade
Transparency
The present review sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
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