The Geekom MiniAir 12 follows its predecessor, the Geekom MiniAir 11, as an inexpensive place of job mini PC. Now, the producer has long gone for an Intel N100, providing higher efficiency than the predecessor’s older Intel Celeron N5095. Even so, the MiniAir 11 already did smartly once we examined it and it confirmed itself to be a frugal streaming shopper. We can write a bit of extra on how smartly the Geekom MiniAir 12 achieves this in a while. With the usage of DDR5 RAM, Geekom does not artificially gradual the Intel N100, because it ceaselessly in truth nonetheless depends upon the older DDR4 same old. Its 16 GB RAM is enough, and so is its 512-GB SSD. You’ll be able to these days acquire the Geekom MiniAir 12 immediately from the producer for US$249. This can be a honest value, which Geekom has aligned with its predecessor in addition to with competitor fashions that includes equivalent specifications. An outline can also be discovered within the following desk:
The Geekom MiniAir 12 appears to be like very similar to the Intel NUC methods, and their bodily builds in truth display a large number of similarities too when you’re taking a more in-depth glance. The similar as at the Geekom MiniAir 11, the producer has depended on a mixture of fabrics consisting of plastic and steel. The latter is used for the inner construct, giving the instrument a very good quantity of balance. Which means maximum of Geekom’s units cannot be classed as light-weight, as this fashion weighs about 453 grams, making it the second one heaviest throughout the comparability box. Its footprint of eleven x 11 cm is rather small, even if there are a lot more compact units to be had. Its construct top is spectacular, measuring in at simplest 3.5 cm. As is understood from Geekom, the PC’s construct high quality is flawless.
There may be not anything flawed with Geekom MiniAir 12’s connectivity choices. There are sufficient USB ports, two of which can be Sort-C, and they’re additionally sensibly dispensed. The Mini PC can keep watch over a complete of 3 monitors concurrently. It must be famous that simplest the USB-C port at the rear additionally helps symbol output. An SD card reader is more and more being overlooked on units — however no longer at the Geekom MiniAir 12.
As already discussed, the Geekom MiniAir 12 options an built-in SD card reader. In comparison to its predecessor, its efficiency has been advanced relatively. Even so, its switch charges are not the best possible on account of its USB-2.0 connection. We carried out the take a look at the use of our reference card (Angelbird AV Professional V60).
A Realtek module looks after the Geekom MiniAir 12’s wi-fi conversation. In our take a look at, the pattern did smartly and left the contest within the mud. The efficiency checks had been performed with our take a look at router, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000. By the use of its RJ45 port, the Geekom MiniAir 12 provides an additional community connection possibility. The usage of this, switch charges of as much as 1 GBit/s are imaginable.
The Geekom MiniAir 12’s scope of supply features a 45-watt energy provide (19V, 2.36A), an HDMI cable and a VESA mount to glue the mini PC to a track.
The Geekom MiniAir 12 can also be simply opened from the ground. The RAM and SSD elements can also be swapped out. So as to get admission to the CPU cooler, the instrument needs to be additional taken aside. You simply need to be sure you no longer injury the WLAN antennas. The instrument itself can simplest accommodate one SSD and one RAM module.
The Intel N100 provides 4 local computing cores which can be in keeping with Intel’s Alder Lake structure. In comparison to the Intel Celeron N5095 discovered within the Geekom MiniAir 11, the more moderen SoC must be capable of ship much more efficiency and along with its DDR5 RAM, it must (in principle) be capable of get admission to this efficiency smartly. Sadly, the MiniAir 12 simplest options one SO-DIMM slot, that means the RAM simplest runs in single-channel mode. The Geekom MiniAir 12 has sufficient energy to edit place of job paperwork or surf the internet.
We performed all efficiency checks the use of the calories profile “most efficiency”. Deviating energy-saving modes had been simplest used for the ability intake measurements and the noise emission measurements. Additional main points on our take a look at standards can also be discovered right here.
The Intel N100 put in into the Geekom MiniAir 12 is a frugal SoC with 4 computing cores. Because of its fashionable Alder Lake structure, the CPU’s efficiency has been noticeably advanced in comparison to the predecessor fashion. On moderate, the Geekom MiniAir 12 delivers 19 in step with cent extra efficiency. When compared, on the other hand, this wasn’t sufficient for the instrument to safe itself first position. The Trigkey G4 could also be provided with an Intel N100. We’re subsequently not able to decide the intended efficiency benefit of the quicker RAM, because the Trigkey G4 is simplest to be had with DDR4 RAM. So as to illustrate the way it compares to a present top-of-the-range mini PC, we now have integrated the Intel NUC 13 Professional with the Intel Core i7-1360P in our comparability desk.
You’ll be able to to find additional processor benchmarks right here.
The Cinebench R15 steady loop offers us our first perception into the put in cooling unit’s efficiency. Its outlined energy limits of 15 and 25 watts are by no means even as regards to being reached. It kind of feels that the producer has set rather a conservative temperature restrict, as at 67 °C at maximum, the SoC by no means will get specifically sizzling. In consequence, the Geekom MiniAir 12 is in a position to ship constant efficiency. In our comparability, the Geekom MiniAir 12 got here in first position. On moderate, our take a look at instrument accomplished 472 issues. Those are round 100 issues greater than the Geekom MiniAir 11 controlled.
All the device advantages from its just right CPU efficiency, as can also be observed from the device efficiency benchmarks. Alternatively, the variations between the competition are negligible now and then, resulting in no transparent winner rising right here. The Geekom MiniAir 12 did not do the most efficient in our RAM checks, which we performed the use of AIDA64. Bearing in mind Geekom has provided its Mini PC with DDR5 RAM, the effects fell wanting our expectancies.
The Geekom MiniAir 12 accomplished just right leads to our latency take a look at. The LatencyMon device did not document any larger values when opening a number of tabs the use of Edge browser or when enjoying our 4K take a look at video. This makes the Geekom MiniAir 12 ideally suited as a small streaming shopper.
A 512-GB SSD from Lexar is put in into the Geekom MiniAir 12. The put in module uses the M.2 slot and is attached by way of PCIe 3.0 x4. In flip, our take a look at instrument accomplished superb efficiency effects the use of this garage instrument. Alternatively, we did record some steady efficiency problems right through the strain take a look at — the PC struggled to stay its efficiency on a constant degree because of too top temperatures. However, even with those barriers, the Lexar SSD’s efficiency was once nonetheless higher than the comparability units. No competition stood a possibility and needed to make do with significantly worse effects. The MiniAir 12 options no way to set up a 2nd garage instrument. In consequence, you can both need to make do with the put in 512-GB garage or change it out for a distinct SSD with extra garage.
For additional comparisons and benchmarks, check out our comparability desk.
An Intel UHD graphics card with 24 EUs is chargeable for graphics output throughout the Geekom MiniAir 12. As part of the Intel N100 SoC, the iGPU is sadly simplest in a position to restricted 3-D efficiency. Because of our take a look at pattern’s RAM configuration, it delivered a relatively just right end result — about the similar because the Blackview MP80. We famous an enormous development in comparison to the Geekom MiniAir 11. The brand new fashion is round 45 in step with cent quicker.
You’ll be able to to find additional Intel UHD Graphics benchmarks right here.
Because of the Intel UHD graphics card’s restricted 3-D efficiency, the Geekom MiniAir 12 is not fitted to difficult gaming. The mini PC simplest manages to succeed in playable body charges in a couple of choose video games. The Geekom MiniAir 12 is far better fitted to informal or browser video games. The next mini PCs fitted with an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX be offering noticeably extra 3-D efficiency: Geekom AS 6, Morefine M600 or Ace Conjuror AM08 Professional.
The put in cooling unit does a just right activity. In idle mode, the Geekom PC is rather quiet at 28.7 dB(A) — now and then, you’ll be able to’t even pay attention it. Below moderate load, the noise emissions simplest upward thrust by means of a small quantity. Even right through our tension take a look at, we simplest famous 30.2 dB(A). Geekom has controlled to support the MiniAir 11‘s already just right values.
Because of its low energy intake, the cooling device has no issues cooling the Intel N100 reliably. We famous a most of 77 °C right through the strain take a look at once we ran Prime95 and FurMark concurrently. The utmost price was once additionally no longer reached completely. All the way through the strain take a look at, the processor’s temperature stabilized at 73 °C. Those are all non-critical values and the case itself does not get very hot both. The Geekom MiniAir 12’s case in reality advantages on this facet, because the steel construction to begin with absorbs and distributes the warmth smartly. This leads to no important hotspots at the case itself.
Usually and when put next, our take a look at pattern has a low energy intake. After all, there may be nonetheless room for development however within the larger scheme of items, no instrument did extraordinarily on this box. In idle mode, we famous simplest 5.9 to 9.3 watts. Below moderate load, its values rose to 18.9 watts with a most of 30 watts. The 45-watt energy provide by no means had any problems supplying the Geekom MiniAir 12 with energy reliably.
The Geekom MiniAir 12 is a compact mini PC within a recognizable case. Visually, no longer a lot has modified concerning the MiniAir 12 in comparison to the MiniAir 11. Internally, on the other hand, an Intel N100 now works because the processor, and it’s significantly quicker than the predecessor’s Intel Celeron N5095. The Intel N100’s new Alder Lake structure provides higher efficiency without having noticeably extra energy. So as to stay alongside of different mini PCs, Geekom was once compelled to offer the MiniAir 12 a makeover. Alternatively, different producers take it a step additional, giving their units particular options. If you purchase a Geekom MiniAir 12, alternatively, you’re going to obtain a competent instrument in a fine quality and strong case. It does not function highlights akin to a show or lights.
The Geekom MiniAir 12 is a cast paintings instrument for easy place of job duties. The MiniAir 12 additionally works rather smartly as a streaming shopper on your lounge.
The producer’s resolution to put in DDR5 RAM is one we welcome. At the turn aspect, the Geekom MiniAir 12 can not specifically benefit from this. Alternatively, the producer has executed the entirety proper in the case of the PC’s garage instrument, because the put in fashion advantages from larger efficiency charges. We do not need a lot to criticize about its put in WLAN module. Its efficiency may well be advanced so much but it surely nonetheless hasn’t been provided with a Wi-Fi 6E module. It’s not imaginable to change out the soldered-on module after buying the instrument. Even so, the Geekom MiniAir 12 boasts a beneficiant selection of connectivity choices which must be greater than sufficient for many customers. A favorable to notice is how low the PC’s latencies are, that means it’s suited for use as a streaming shopper.
Lately, you’ll be able to get the Geekom MiniAir 12 from Geekom’s on-line retailer for a promotional value of US$249.
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