Geekom Mini IT12 review

Geekom Mini IT12: 30-second review

Considering the size and price, the Geekom Mini IT12 is a high-performing, compact mini PC designed for a range of applications, from office tasks to moderate gaming, with a real focus on creatives using processor-intensive applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Da Vinci Resolve. There are several variants of the machine, but in this test, we're looking at the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12650H.

The processor ensures that this mini PC packs power. At the same time, the RAM allocation is impressive, with 32GB of dual-channel DDR4-3200 SODIMM, which is expandable up to 64GB, catering well to heavy workloads. Storage is also versatile and generous, featuring a mix of M.2 and SATA SSD slots and a 2.5" HDD slot, expandable up to 2TB. 

We've tested many of the best mini PCs, and in our experience, the Mini IT12 also offers a decent volume of connectivity and expansion options. It has a range of ports, including USB 3.2, USB4, HDMI 2.0, and a 2.5GbE LAN port, making it adaptable for various peripherals and network setups. Intel's Wi-Fi 6E AX211 and Bluetooth 5.2 ensure a fast wireless connection. 

While the IT12 lacks a dedicated GPU, the integrated Intel UHD Graphics are good enough for everyday tasks and some gaming; it will also handle light image and video editing up to 4K as long as the edits aren't to complex.

When it comes to physical size, it measures in at 117 x 112 x 45.6 mm, which makes it easy to position when desk space is tight or if you need it to be portable in say a studio environment. The system arrives pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro, which provides excellent reliability and speed and is ideally suited to professional users.

The Geekom Mini IT12 is a decent all-round mini PC that balances performance, size, and connectivity, which will make it suitable for a wide range of users, from professional office workers to casual gamers and creatives. What makes this small machine stand out, especially for creatives, is the good selection of ports that enable the connection of external control desks and hard drives. There's the fact that it has a built-in SD card reader so you can directly download images and video to the internal or connected external drives.

Considering the size and price, this is an incredibly powerful machine that will suit creatives looking for a compact computing solution that also offers portability.

Geekom Mini IT12: Price & availability

The Geekom Mini IT12 12th Gen Intel Cor i7 model is currently priced at $639 MSRP. However, there's a promotion available where a $30 discount can be applied using the coupon code IT12GEEK30 during checkout, effectively bringing the price down to $609. Availability is widespread, including through the official Geekom website and Amazon. Right now, you can save with these exclusive TechRadar offers. 

• Official link (USA): $30 off with code techradar30
• Official link (UK): £30 off with code techradar30
• Amazon (USA): $30 off with code TPIT126OFF
• Amazon (UK): £30 off with code TPIT1205

• Score: 4/5

Geekom Mini IT12: Design & build

The Geekom Mini IT12 Mini PC is housed in a stunning metallic green casing made of high-quality plastic that looks and feels as though it should be metal. This gives the machine a feel that is solid and well made, although not quite premium. Measuring in at 117 x 112 x 45.6 mm means that the IT12 will fit almost any work surface, and if there's no space, then there's always the VESA mount. The small size and quality build also mean that it's highly portability, making it a great choice for a variety of settings, from studio work to mobile offices.

The build quality, while not premium, is well made, and the layout of ports and power buttons is easily accessible, all adding to a generally user-friendly design. One of the nice features about the machine is that the internal components, including RAM slots, M.2 slot, and a 2.5" HDD drive slot, are easily accessible after removing the base, which is secured with cross-head screws.

As the base is removed, the cooling and ventilation system can be seen, and this has been well integrated into the design. Vents and fans are compactly arranged, helping to ensure that heat is drawn away from the components while keeping noise levels low. Side grills offer additional airflow, further helping to keep the inner workings cool even when the machine is running under load.

Port placement is pretty standard, with two USB Type-A ports on the front and a variety of connections on the back, including two HDMI ports and a USB Type-C port, which will support up to four displays. The inclusion of an SD card slot on the side is a superb additional touch, especially for creative professionals and photographers.
The Mini IT12 is designed with the needs of creatives in mind. It features a powerful 12th Gen processor, 32GB of RAM (expandable to 64GB), and extensive storage options, including an ultra-fast M.2 slot and a 2.5" HDD slot, allowing for the expansion of up to 5TB of internal storage. These features make it well-suited for demanding applications like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.

• Design: 4.5/5

Geekom Mini IT12: Features

The Geekom Mini IT12 Mini PC offers a set of features that will appeal to content creators or anyone looking for a compact machine that offers more power than a simple office machine. At its core is the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12650H processor, which, with its multitasking ability, makes it a great choice for more demanding applications such as Premiere Pro or Photoshop. Complementing the processor is Intel Iris Xe Graphics, which, although not a dedicated card, is still impressively powerful and capable of handling complex graphics and multiple 4K and 8K video streams.

Another feature that will really appeal to creatives or any user who needs plenty of expansion options is the huge selection of ports. These include two ultra fast USB4 ports that enable high-speed data transfer as well as the ability to run multiple high-resolution displays. When it comes to networking and connections, the machine features the latest Intel Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E.

For any machine of this type, especially when it comes to high performance Mini PC's storage and memory are important, and with dual-channel DDR4-3200 SODIMM expandable up to 64GB and a range of SSD options, including an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD, there are plenty of options for internal upgrades and expansion as and when you need. Of course with high powered machines comes heat, and to help ensure that everything stays cool, the machine has an integral cooling system that features a built-in fan that maintains a balance between performance and thankfully low noise levels.

The Mini IT12 also has the ability to support multiple displays, including two 8K displays, making it ideal if you like to split your tool pallets from your workspace or have a separate monitor for admin, web browsing, and email.

Energy efficiency is another key feature, with the machine drawing up to 45W of power, far less than a traditional workstation. Pre-installed comes Windows 11 Pro, which you would expect from a machine pitched at this level, and this also means that you can get up and running in around 10 minutes from the time you unpack and connect the machine to the moment you write your first email.

• Features: 3.5/5

Geekom Mini IT12: Performance

The Geekom Mini IT12 Mini PC puts in a decent all-round performance across a variety of applications, from Photoshop to Microsoft Word, making it a great machine for both professional and home use. When it comes to handling creative applications such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve, the Mini IT12 absolutely excels. Its high GeekBench Compute and CineBench scores reflect its capability to manage intensive processing tasks, while the impressive Crystal Disk Read and Write speeds show just how fast the SSD is and how that speed ensures fast data handling, which is crucial for video editing and image processing.

During the test, the machine's ability to handle creative software smoothly and without crashes or glitching is impressive considering the small size. The Intel Iris Xe Graphics, though not a dedicated GPU still puts in an impressive performance for 3D rendering as well as high-resolution cuts in the top video editing software, is more than sufficient for running any of the best graphic design software and video editing tasks in Premiere Pro. This makes the Mini IT12 a great choice for creative professionals who require a balance of performance and price.

When it comes to using the machine for general office work, the Mini IT12 runs all Microsoft Office applications and Google Docs without issue. The real world use of these applications are reflected in the PC Mark score that indicated that typical office applications such as the Microsoft Office Suite will run smoothly, as the bench marks highlight in use you can quickly switch from one application to another without any issue. Working in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are handled with ease by the machine, and there are no worries about this machine's abilities with any office tasks.

Gaming on the Mini IT12, while not its primary focus, is possible. The test scores from Fire Strike and Time Spy suggest that while it can run graphically demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption II although we did find that the quality settings needed to be reduced in order to have smooth game play. The machine is more suited to less graphics-intensive games or older titles, which is highlight by the Wild Life score. 

The Geekom Mini IT12 is a well-rounded mini PC with an ability to handle a range of tasks, from creative software to everyday office applications, and for the most part you can also get a pretty decent gaming experience. This makes it a great choice for anyone looking for a compact yet powerful computing solution.

• Performance: 3/5

Should you buy the Geekom Mini IT12?

For creative professionals or anyone who needs a PC with a bit of power, the Geekom Mini IT12 is an excellent choice. Its powerful processor, coupled with upgradable and expandable memory and storage options, makes it ideal for applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, and any of the best Adobe Premiere Pro alternatives. However, if you're a hardcore gamer looking for a compact machine to handle the latest high-end games at maximum settings, you might want to look elsewhere and at something with a dedicated graphics card. For general office work, multimedia, and casual gaming, the Mini IT12 offers great value, making it a great purchase for anyone looking for a compact yet capable PC.

Value: Solid performance at a reasonable price. 4/5
Design: Compact, efficient, unobtrusive design. 4/5
Features: Versatile, with comprehensive connectivity and expansion options. 4/5
Performance: Strong in multitasking, moderate in gaming. 4/5
Total: Well-rounded, efficient for professionals and casual users. 4/5

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