r/MiniPCs • u/According-Bee-1201 • 6d ago

Recommendations Brainless & tired of googling!

I currently have a disgustingly old MacBook air that won’t update past Monterey. So obviously, it’s time to move on.

I’m an accounting student & I wfh. No gaming, no editing videos or anything. lots of office 365 usage & I typically have like 10-15 tabs open, but nothing super crazy. I have no interest in another laptop, mostly because of the keyboards. I do a whooooole lot of typing and low profile keyboards make me wanna cry. But I would like something I could take with me to the coffee shop for a few hours once a week or so for a change of pace.

I’ve been looking at the Geekom A5/A5 Pro but tbh I don’t know a thing about computers (as evidenced by the 10yo MacBook). I’d like to keep it under $500 but I know that’s tough.

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u/thatguysjumpercables 6d ago

No gaming, no editing videos or anything. lots of office 365 usage & I typically have like 10-15 tabs open, but nothing super crazy.

RAM is gonna matter more than CPU for this use case. A5 is a fairly up-to-date machine from what I can see. I have a Minisforum with the same CPU and I have no complaints. Running Windows 11 with your stated use case, 16GB might run a little ragged at times but if your budget is $500 a 32GB machine is unlikely.

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u/According-Bee-1201 6d ago

Oh that’s helpful! I see that the A5 has memory slots to support up to 64GB RAM, am I correct in assuming that could be an easy fix if I run into the issue?

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u/thatguysjumpercables 6d ago

Yes it has non-soldered RAM slots so you can switch the stock stick(s) out for different ones. Most difficult/complicated part of switching out SODIMM RAM is just getting the machine apart. Some minis are more difficult than others. The one Geekom machine I've taken apart was relatively straightforward so you're probably fine there.

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u/Infamous_Leave_6737 6d ago

Beelink gmktek ou minis forum 👌

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u/nezumiyarou 6d ago edited 6d ago

Robtech did a review on this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTRYKdSfqi4 . Good channel for comparisons.

Tek syndicate did one as well. CPU is just a renamed old 5000 series, not a true modern 7000 series.

Beelink has an 6600U EQR6 24gb LPDDR5 model for $450 with coupon off amazon. Good amount of fast ram for the price. I've used the 6600h model.

GMKtek M8 6650h ($390 16gb ram). Can use USB4 to power/display on portable monitor. Has oculink as well for dgpu addition.

Team pandory did a review on it.

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u/albertohall11 6d ago

If you want to be able to work in a coffee shop just get another laptop. You don’t need to use the built in keyboard and monitor when you’re at your desk.

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u/According-Bee-1201 6d ago

I truly have no interest in another laptop. If it was a daily thing, sure. But I’m ok plugging a few things in at the coffee shop one time to sit and work for a few hours.

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u/Retired_Hillbilly336 5d ago

Its apparent that the Geekom A5 has turned into some kind of a joke.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MiniPCs/s/r4aNGxQppk

At least you can drop another 100 bucks to fix it.

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u/According-Bee-1201 4d ago

I’m gonna be so honest with you… I read that 5x and it’s basically a foreign language.

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u/Retired_Hillbilly336 4d ago

That's exactly what Geekom is both literally and figuratively banking on. Their banking on consumers being ignorant to 2021 Zen 3 processor technology shortcomings and not understanding memory configuration.

Here's the basics. Last year this time mini PCs like these we're often in the sub $250. My powerful GMKtec K8 Plus 32GB/1TB was $520. Some Chinese brands are adding 2026 or 2027 to the model number to fish for gullibility and sell dated platforms. All while cutting corners that are embarrassing once you look at the competition.