Most desktop PCs are big, heavy, and anything but portable. But they don’t have to be. GEEKOM claims that their IT15 mini PC can deliver excellent performance and fluid PC gaming despite its small size. I put it to the test, and these are the results.
If there is one downside to desktop PCs that almost everyone can relate to, it’s their large size and resulting lack of portability. Most people resort to stashing their PC away beneath the table so it’s out of the way. And if you’re ever working on the go, most PC users also own a laptop. But what if the advantages of a desktop PC could be combined with the mobility of a laptop?
That’s what GEEKOM is trying to achieve with the GEEKOM IT15 Mini AI PC. The miniature PC promises excellent performance and even fluid 1080p gaming despite its small size. But can it keep those promises? And are there any downsides you should know about before you buy?
GEEKOM IT15: Compact and Complete
When I first unpacked the tiny computer, I was slightly worried about the available connectors. But as it turns out, the GEEKOM IT15 is not caught out and comes better equipped than the vast majority of laptops currently on the market.
It’s equipped with four Type-A USB ports for connecting accessories, from keyboards to mice, to anything else you may need. It also offers two USB 4 ports, one of which supports Power Delivery. This allows for fast charging speeds when plugging in your tablet, smartphone, or even laptop. Both USB 4 ports allow for fast data transfer and display output.
The GEEKOM IT15 has every port you may need. Image source: nextpit
Since I still use DisplayPort and HDMI religiously, I was relieved to find that the IT15 does come equipped with not just one, but two regular HDMI 2.0 ports on the back. Right next to it, you will find a LAN port and a 3.5 mm audio jack on the front. Surprisingly, it also comes with an SD card reader, which I haven’t seen on laptops or PCs in years.
Build Quality and Compatibility
The GEEKOM IT15 feels very sturdy. Nothing rattles or moves inside the PC, even when picking it up and moving it. I am confident that the computer won’t be damaged during transport when handled with the expected amount of care.
A nifty feature is the ability to mount the PC to the back of your monitor using the provided VESA mount. While this makes the computer considerably less portable, it effectively hides the PC from view.
You can mount your PC to a monitor with the provided bracket. Image source: nextpit
Performance: A Solid Work Companion
At first, I failed to see what the ideal use case for such a tiny computer would be. After all, it is portable, but it still requires a display, a mouse, a keyboard, and a power connection, so working on the train is out. But then I realized that the computer is ideally suited for those working both from home and at the office.
Provided you have a monitor on your desk at work, you can just grab the tiny PC and take it to and from work with ease. Connecting it to a display is as easy as plugging in a single cable and doesn’t require any further setup.
And if that’s how you’re going to be using this computer, as a solid work or browsing device, it will suit your needs perfectly. It’s small, convenient, and offers enough performance to handle every work task I can think of. Unless you’re a professional video editor or need to create complex renders, you won’t notice any limitations.
The SD Card Slot will come in handy for many professionals. Image source: nextpit
In a benchmark, the computer performed as expected given its hardware, and that’s how it feels to use it. The Windows installation is surprisingly light and clean, though setup did take quite a while since the Windows version it shipped with was slightly outdated.
Gaming: 1080p and Ray Tracing?
When I saw the promise of 1080p gaming and even Ray Tracing on the product page, I knew I had to put it to the test. Because my experience as a long-time PC gamer told me this was most likely the one thing the IT15 could not truly deliver on.
And my instincts were spot-on. If you’re a casual gamer who enjoys Stardew Valley and the occasional match of CS2, the mini computer has you covered (given you don’t mind turning down the graphics quite a bit). But anything more complex will stress the integrated GPU to its limits.
I tried playing some Stray on the small computer, and even on low settings, it struggled with dropped frames and less-than-fluid gameplay. I doubt that running Cyberpunk 2077 with Ray Tracing enabled would yield much better results.
While the computer delivers fluid 1080p gameplay in some titles, I certainly wouldn’t recommend buying the IT15 for that purpose. Actual fluid gaming just isn’t really possible at the price and size of this mini computer. Even though integrated graphics have come a long way in recent years, they’re still far too underpowered to deliver a truly enjoyable gaming experience across the board.
System SpecsGEEKOM IT15
Size117 x 112 x 45.5 mm
CPUIntel Core Ultra 9-285H
GPUIntel Arc 140T (Integrated)
MemoryDDR5 5600 MHz (up to 64 GB)
StorageNVMe SSD, up to 2 TB
However, given the recent rise and advances in handheld gaming, I expect small-form-factor gaming PCs to become more widespread and feasible in the years to come. GEEKOM actually offers a tiny gaming PC that supposedly runs titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at 110 FPS, though I wasn’t able to review and verify these numbers.
My Thoughts on the GEEKOM IT15 Mini PC
All in all, the GEEKOM IT15 is a very solid mini PC and will deliver when it comes to regular PC use and work. It’s small, compact, quiet, and offers more connectors than the vast majority of PCs on the market. Unless you’re playing video games on the device, it’s remarkably quiet and doesn’t heat up beyond what’s expected.
So while it may fall short of its gaming promise, that doesn’t make it a bad PC or one I wouldn’t recommend. But suppose you are looking for a small, portable gaming device. In that case, you may want to consider the Xbox ROG Ally X, which comes in at a lower price point and offers a portable gaming solution for those interested in PC gaming without the hassle of a giant desktop PC.
The GEEKOM IT15 AI Mini PC usually costs $1699. Right now, the price has been reduced to $1099 for Black Friday. While its regular price is a bit steep, it is certainly worth checking this mini PC out while it is on sale.
GEEKOM provided the device used in this review. The review itself was not paid for or sponsored by the manufacturer. The editorial contents of this review were not altered or influenced by GEEKOM.
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