The versatility of a mini PC, given above all by its compactness, transportability and ease of installation within home or office environments, in many cases clashes with hardware that is distant from the desktop alternative. In recent years, however, thanks to the possibility of producing processors and electronic components at a much smaller lithography, companies like GEEKOM are marketing very small computers with excellent performance.
GEEKOM Mini IT12 i7-12650H 32GB+1TB Review
In this review we will analyze the potential of the GEEKOM Mini IT12 model in its configuration with i7-12650H processor , 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage space . We recommend that you also read our guide on the best mini PCs to get a broader picture of this type of product.
Index
- GEEKOM Mini IT12 i7 12th generation for your Business
- Design and construction material
- Hardware and storage options
- Connections and speed
- Performance and user experience
- Temperatures and energy consumption
- Technical specifications
- Final considerations and price
- More reviews on GEEKOM Mini PCs
GEEKOM Mini IT12 i7 12th generation for your Business
Before starting our guide on the GEEKOM compact computer , we underline that the tested model is equipped with an Intel Core i7-12650H processor and not an Intel Core i5-12450H; you can read our review on the Mini IT12 i5 model if you need an economical and slightly less performing product.
Design and construction material
Aesthetically, GEEKOM Mini IT12 features a square-shaped chassis which, with its dark gray color, allows you to place the product wherever you want without looking out of place. The edges have been made with a slightly curved design and externally you will find a polished aluminum structure .
The entire top part of the mini PC is closed, while GEEKOM has decided to create a very useful mesh side frame to allow air to move from the inside to the outside of the case.
By positioning the Mini PC frontally, you will immediately notice the power button , particularly large compared to models from other brands and from GEEKOM itself, the input for the 3.5 mm jack for the microphone and two USB-A 3.2 ports .
The back gives a perfect idea of how this product was developed for those looking for something more than the classic Mini PC for multimedia; in fact, in addition to the power input, there are : 1 2.5GbE LAN port , 1 USB-A 2.0 port , 1 USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port , 2 HDMI 2.0 outputs and 2 USB4 type C ports .
As in most GEEKOM Mini PCs, the SD card reader and the Kensington lock have been installed on the side , both inside the mesh grille.
Hardware and storage options
We anticipated that the Mini IT12 version tested is equipped with an Intel Core i7-12650H processor , a component that allows you to achieve significantly higher performance in multitasking compared to the version with Intel i5-12450H.
Specifically, the 12th generation processor produced by Intel has 10 total cores , of which 6 performance cores and 4 efficient cores , to which 16 threads are added . The maximum frequency reached by the performance cores is 4.70 GHz , while the efficient cores stop at 3.50 GHz . A very respectable CPU considering a result of 23,300 points on CPU Mark .
In addition to a high-end processor, the Mini IT12 also has 32 GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200MHz , in dual channel expandable up to 64 GB , a 1TB Lexar NM7A1 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 SSD expandable up to 2TB and a network compatible with Bluetooth v5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E technology .
The storage options may change depending on the version you choose, in fact, in addition to purchasing the model with Intel Core i7 or i5, you can opt for a fast 512GB or 1TB storage disk . We would like to point out that you can subsequently add both an M.2 SATA 2242 SSD up to 1TB and a 2.5 inch SATA HDD up to 2TB , given that there are two free slots to use according to your needs. You can, therefore, save a little on the purchase price with the 512GB version if you already own a memory disk or intend to buy it in the future.
Connections and speed
If you have read the technical data sheet of this mini PC you will surely have noticed the presence of a network card with Wi-Fi 6E , potentially capable of reaching 9.6 Gbps . Unlike the medium-low range models produced by GEEKOM , the Mini IT12 model with i7 has nothing to envy of a desktop solution.
In addition to a network card compatible with the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies , the GEEKOM home mini PC also has excellent hardware equipment for wired connection. In fact, the RJ45 connector reaches 2.5 GbE speed, allowing you to take advantage of ultra- fast fiber if it is available in your city.
The number of USB-A , USB4 and HDMI ports allow you to connect up to 4 monitors, with which you can take advantage of DisplayPort mode to avoid additional power. Although Bluetooth v5.2 does not reach the performance of BT v5.3 , it performs very well over both short and long distances.
The USB-A 3.2 ports are particularly fast for exchanging data, while we recommend using the USB-A 2.0 port only to connect a keyboard, mouse or peripherals that do not require a very large data bandwidth.
Performance and user experience
High-performance hardware without software that best manages the components may not offer the desired results. In this case the Mini IT12 is marketed with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed and active, unlike some lower-end models which are sold with Windows 10/11 Home.
From a purely performance point of view, the Intel Core i7-12650H processor performs very well, both in the most common activities, such as web browsing, the Office package and viewing multimedia content, and in multitasking . In this case, in addition to a significant number of cores, you can count on 32 GB of RAM , more than enough to manage multiple software at the same time. We would have preferred two DDR5 banks as in the Mini Air12 and not DDR4, but the 12th generation Intel also uses DDR4 memories very well , also because here we have a frequency of 3200 MHz .
The integrated 12th generation Intel UHD graphics card reaches 1.40 GHz and is compatible with DirectX 12.1 and OpelGL 4.6 . We tested some games and found mixed performance in 1080p. For triple A, forget about 60 fps, while for lighter games , such as retro gaming, you won’t have too many problems increasing the graphic details even in FullHD . However, it is not a machine developed for those who love video games.
The user experience is, therefore, extremely good for multitasking and good for video editing , even if it is not the ideal product for playing video games or for creating professional video editing. However, it is the best solution among GEEKOM products if you want to connect multiple monitors simultaneously to a single central hub .
Temperatures and energy consumption
Mini PCs in many cases don’t have a particularly large heat sink, and when they do have one it’s often noisy. The model with the i5 processor heats up much less, having a lower TDP than the Intel i7-12650H . Specifically, the CPU of this product has a TDP of 45W which rises to 115W at maximum power. In daily use, excluding stress tests, the average consumption of 45-65W is more than good even if you connect more than two monitors at the same time.
The dissipation fan is not very noisy , but under heavy loads it is audible. The M.2 memory disk has a thermal pad to better dissipate heat , a small addition that keeps temperatures at bay when you need to transfer a large number of files from one disk to another.
Like most mini PCs, power consumption is a non-negligible strong point, even when you use it at maximum power. GEEKOM could further improve the dissipation system, perhaps with a double fan, but the space is really very limited, 117 x 112 x 45.6 mm .
Technical specifications
- Dimension: 117 x 112 x 45.6 mm
- Weight: 652g
- CPU: 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-12650H (10 cores, 16 threads, 24 MB cache, up to 4.70 GHz)
- Graphics Card: Intel UHD
- Memory:Dual-channel DDR4-3200 SODIMM, 16GB/32GB, expandable up to 64GB
- Storage:
- 1 x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD, 512GB or 1TB onboard, expandable up to 2TB
- 1 x M.2 2242 SATA SSD slot, expandable up to 1 TB
- 1 x 2.5″ (7mm) SATA HDD slot, expandable up to 2TB
- Operating system: Windows 11 Pro
- Bluetooth: v5.2
- Ethernet: Intel 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps RJ45
- Wi-Fi: 6E
- Kensington lock: Yes
- Adapter: 19V, 90W power, with region-specific AC cord (IEC C5)
- I/O Ports:
- 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port
- 1 x Porta USB 2.0
- 2 x USB4 port
- 1 x SD Card Reader
- 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack
- 1 x 2.5GbE LAN port
- 2 x Porte HDMI 2.0
- 1 x DC Dam
- 1 x Power Button
Final considerations and price
The GEEKOM mini computer is the ideal solution if you need a multitasking product for office , entertainment and web browsing . It behaves very well with virtual machines and both the memory, with its expansions, and the RAM are more than sufficient for any use.
On Amazon you can purchase Mini IT12 i7-12650H 32GB+1TB at a cost of €509 , to which you can apply a 5% discount coupon by applying the code TA12it12 . On the official GEEKOM website you can purchase it for €569 by applying the €30 discount with code LUIT12 .
For any information or problem with your order you can always rely on GEEKOM assistance , increasingly reliable for the European market. You can contact support at [email protected] .