Description
The GMKtec EVO-X1 is a compact desktop built on the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX-370, a current generation mobile processor from the Strix Point family using AMD’s Zen 5 architecture. GMKtec configures it with 64GB of soldered LPDDR5X memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and adds two features that are unusual at this size: an Oculink port for an external graphics card, and dual 2.5 gigabit Intel network interfaces.
That specification puts it well above the typical mini PC. Compared with the Beelink SER5 or the HP Elite Mini 800 G9, this is a machine aimed at people who would otherwise buy a tower, and the ACEMAGIC AM08Pro is its nearest comparison in the small gaming machine space.
Processor, NPU And Performance Modes
GMKtec specifies the Ryzen AI 9 HX-370 with a boost of up to 5.1 GHz and a peak power consumption of 65 watts. The specification block gives a processor count of 12, which is the core count rather than a processor count. Zen 5 is AMD’s current architecture and the HX-370 is one of its stronger mobile parts, so this is genuinely current silicon rather than a last generation chip in a small box.
The NPU is the headline marketing feature. GMKtec quotes the XDNA 2 neural processing unit at up to 50 TOPS with 16 bit precision, aimed at image recognition, natural language processing and machine learning inference, and claims up to 30 percent better performance than the 8745HS, 7940HS and 6900HX. Those are manufacturer comparisons without published test conditions. What matters practically is that 50 TOPS clears the threshold Microsoft set for its Copilot Plus PC features, so the hardware is capable of running on device AI workloads that older mini PCs cannot.
Three configurable power modes are exposed through the BIOS: Quiet at 35 watts, Balance at 54 watts and Performance at 65 watts. That is a genuinely useful control, letting the same machine run near silent for office work and open up for heavier tasks. GMKtec quotes 35 dB fan noise in Quiet mode from what it calls a Hyper Ice Chamber 2.0 dual fan cooling design with a copper base.
Graphics, Memory And Storage
Graphics are the integrated AMD Radeon 890M using the RDNA 3.5 architecture, clocked at 2900 MHz. GMKtec claims it outperforms the previous Radeon 780M by up to 57 percent in some games, which is again a manufacturer figure without a named test. An 890M is at the top end of what integrated graphics can currently do and will handle many games at reduced settings, though it is not a substitute for a discrete card.
That is where the Oculink port comes in. Oculink carries PCIe lanes directly over a cable to an external graphics enclosure, which delivers more bandwidth than a Thunderbolt connection typically allows. GMKtec’s own explanation contains an error, stating that Oculink operates at PCIe x4 speeds compared to Thunderbolt’s x3. There is no such thing as PCIe x3, and Thunderbolt also carries four PCIe lanes with protocol overhead. The underlying point that Oculink has an advantage for external graphics is fair, but the comparison as written is not.
Memory is 64GB of LPDDR5X at up to 8000 MT/s, soldered onto the board in a quad channel arrangement. GMKtec claims 1.3 times the speed of DDR5 SODIMMs with specific percentage gains in video conferencing, photo editing, productivity and content workloads. The critical consequence is one GMKtec does not spell out: soldered memory cannot be upgraded or replaced. Storage is more flexible, with a 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 drive fitted and a second slot available, up to a stated maximum of 8TB across both.
Displays And Networking
GMKtec states support for three simultaneous 8K displays, delivered through HDMI 2.1 at 8K and 60 Hz, DisplayPort 2.1 at 8K and 60 Hz, and USB4 at 40 Gbps supporting PD 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4 and data. That is a serious display capability for a machine this size and it is one of the clearer arguments for the product.
Networking is dual Intel i226V 2.5 gigabit ports plus Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. GMKtec correctly identifies the use cases for two network ports: firewall duty, link aggregation, software routing and file server work. Two Intel network interfaces in a mini PC make this genuinely viable as a home lab router or a virtualization host.
Highlights
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX-370 with Zen 5 architecture, up to 5.1 GHz.
- XDNA 2 NPU rated at up to 50 TOPS.
- Radeon 890M RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics at 2900 MHz.
- 64GB LPDDR5X at up to 8000 MT/s, soldered on board.
- 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD in one of two M.2 slots, up to 8TB total.
- Oculink port for an external graphics enclosure.
- Triple 8K display output via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1 and USB4.
- Dual Intel i226V 2.5 gigabit ports, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Three BIOS power modes at 35, 54 and 65 watts.
Things To Consider
The specification block is full of errors that a reader should ignore entirely. Standing screen display size reads 75 Inches and Screen Resolution reads 7680 by 4320, which describe the maximum output rather than any screen on the device. Graphics Card Ram Size reads 64 GB, which is the shared system memory. Hard Drive Rotational Speed reads 7200 RPM on a solid state drive, which has no rotating parts. Hard Drive Interface reads PCIE x 16. Flash Memory Size reads 24 MB, which is a processor cache figure. Wireless Type lists 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, which contradicts the Wi-Fi 6 claim in the bullets. Operating System reads OS Pro, which does not confirm which operating system, if any, is installed. That last one is worth resolving with the seller before buying.
The soldered memory is the most consequential limitation. 64GB is a lot today, but it is fixed for the life of the machine and cannot be increased. There is also no discrete graphics option inside the chassis, so the Oculink route means buying an external enclosure and a card, which changes the footprint and the total cost substantially.
The warranty is one year limited, which is short for a machine at this specification level. Customer feedback is good at 4.5 stars across 161 ratings on a listing first available in January 2025, which is a reasonable early sample. Readers can compare other compact systems in the minis category, or look at full size machines in the towers category where a discrete graphics card fits internally.
Who It Suits
The EVO-X1 suits someone who wants desktop class performance in a very small chassis, runs local AI workloads that benefit from a 50 TOPS NPU, needs multiple high resolution displays, or wants a compact dual network machine for routing, virtualization or a home lab. The three power modes make it flexible between quiet office use and heavier work.
It is the wrong machine for anyone who wants upgradeable memory, for gamers who need a discrete graphics card without an external enclosure, for buyers who want a warranty longer than a year, and for anyone who needs the operating system and licensing confirmed in writing before purchase.
