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At the moment, the Geekom Mini IT11 isn’t one of the most powerful devices in terms of power alone. But Geekom has updated their Mini IT11 with an Intel Core i7-11390H processor, which is a bit out of date. The PC used to have an Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor. Along with more up-to-date connectivity options, the Mini IT11 is still a good device. Since the PC is lucky enough to have a Thunderbolt port, we can also use an external GPU to test how well it handles games.
Geekom makes good mini PCs, and the Mini IT11 is their newest hit. This little workhorse is great for most desktop tasks and works well at home or in the office. It gives you a lot of options because you can upgrade the RAM and storage. Even Linux can be put on it, but it comes with Windows 11 Pro. Not only does the simple design of the machine look great, but it also has a tonne of high-end ports.
Given how small this PC is, it gives you a lot of choices. It has two display outputs, USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 4, gigabit Ethernet, and a lot of USB ports. The PC can even have a 2.5-inch SATA drive added to it. Based on the tests, the 11th-generation processor also works very well.
Geekom Mini IT11: Specifications Table
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Price | Starting at $619 |
| CPU | Intel i5-1135G7, i5-1155G7, i7-1165G7, i7-1195G7 |
| GPU | Iris Xe |
| RAM | 16GB, expandable up to 64GB SODIMM |
| Storage | 512GB, expandable up to 2TB NVMe, up to 2TB 2.5-inch SATA |
| Ports | 3 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB-C Gen 4, 1 x HDMI, 1 x mini DisplayPort, 1 x GbE, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack, 1 x SD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Size | 4.6 x 4.4 x 1.8 inches (117 x 112 x 45.6 mm) |
| Weight | 20 ounces (565g) |
Geekom Mini IT11: Design
You can’t ignore how the IT11 is made. This isn’t just another boring desktop tower. The mini PC is very small (1.8 x 4.6 x 4.4in), so it should fit on most desks without much trouble. It also looks good. The charcoal grey metal case is strong and has a clean look that will go with most styles. The VESA mount that comes with it can be used to hide it on the back of a monitor if you don’t want people to see it. What a small computer looks like and how light it is should be made clear by the fact that it can hang on a monitor.
Because there isn’t much space, GEEKOM had to put ports all around the PC. There is at least one port that can be ugly no matter what angle you look at it from. I haven’t needed them yet, but the two USB ports on the front of the IT11 (1x USB4 and 1x USB 3.2) are in an odd spot. When things go wrong, the PC can get a mess of wires sticking out of the front and back. Because of its size, that will stand out a lot more than on a normal desktop.
Geekom Mini IT11: Features
The Mini IT11 has Intel Core i5 or i7 mobile processors and an Iris Xe GPU, which makes it faster for many tasks. There are four cores and eight threads in the Core i7-1195G7 processor. Its base frequency is 2.9GHz and it can go up to 5GHz. It uses Intel’s SuperFin 10nm process and can handle up to 64GB of DDR4-3200 RAM. With a maximum power use of 28W, the cooling system keeps things from getting too hot without making too much fan noise.
The Iris Xe GPU has much better graphics performance than the Intel UHD Graphics that came before it. The Intel 660p NVMe drive that comes with the computer isn’t very fast, but it’s easy to replace. Be careful when you try to get to the inside, especially if the ribbon cable is connected to the SD Card reader.
Geekom Mini IT11: Connectivity
Even though it’s small, the Geekom Mini IT11 has a lot to offer when it comes to connectivity options: All three of its USB Type-A ports are USB 3.0 compatible, so they can be used for a lot of different things. The Mini IT11 is lucky that it also has USB 4. This means that a lot of different external devices can be connected, which means that the small computer can be used for a lot more things. The Geekom Mini IT11 can even connect up to four screens at the same time. We also can’t forget to mention that it has a 2.5G network connection and an SD card reader that works very well thanks to its UHS II speeds.
Geekom Mini IT11: Performance
The Mini IT11 I reviewed had the i7-11995G7 CPU. This 4-core, 8-thread processor runs at 2.9GHz with a 5GHz boost. Impressive specs for a mobile CPU. The Mini IT11 has 16GB of 3200MHz dual-channel DDR4 RAM. I wanted to compare the Mini IT11 to Geekom’s Mini IT8, its smaller cousin. I also used the Mac Mini M1 to compare Apple’s chip to Intel despite its age. Though not a fair comparison, the Mini IT11 outperforms the Mini IT8.
Intel’s mid-range i5 powers the Mini IT8. The difference between 8th- and 11th-gen processors intrigued me. We found that the M1 chip outperformed Intel in every benchmark at two years old. At over 1000 points in Geekbench multicore, playable frame rates in Civilization VI’s 1080p benchmark, and faster Handbrake transcoding, the Mac Mini outperformed. I wonder which option will be best with an M2 Mac Mini rumoured to cost about the same as the Mini IT11. I understand that macOS is unpopular with some Mac Mini users.
Geekom Mini IT11: Pricing
GEEKOM’s Official Website
Since you can run Windows or Linux, the Mini IT11 is more open. The Mini IT11 is great for most desktop tasks despite being less powerful than the Mac Mini M1.
| Region | GEEKOM Official Link | Price | Discount Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Visit Website | $399.00 | compsmag20off |
| UK | Visit Website | £399.00 | compsmag20off |
Buy from Amazon
If intense gaming or video editing are part of your workflow, the Mini IT11 may not be the best mini PC. I think the Mini IT11 is powerful enough for most people since neither of those use cases are typical of mini PCs.
| Region | Amazon Link | Price | Discount Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Visit Website | $499.00 | CPIT114OFF |
| UK | Visit Website | £399.99 | CMAPIT1104 |
Final Words
The Mini IT11 will meet the needs of most people who want a simple desktop PC. For jobs that might need it, it has more power than both the Mini IT8 and the MiniAir 11. Like, I was able to edit a lot of photos in GIMP and RawTherapee without any problems with the Mini IT11. This is more than I can say for some other machines.
The Mini IT11 should be at the top of your list if you’re not interested in a Mac Mini (M1 or the rumoured M2). It has a lot of ports and easy upgrades. Don’t change anything about the mini PC; just stick with Windows 11 Pro or install your favourite Linux distribution. You could also turn it into a small server. The Mini IT11 is also a great deal for the price.
Geekom Mini IT11: The Good and Bad
The Good
- User-upgradeable RAM and storage
- Great performance for the price
- Nice port selection
- Excellent value
The Bad
- Not ideal for gaming
Question and Answer
Despite the fact that it is pre-installed with Windows 11, you also have the option to install Linux or Windows 10.
It is true that the noise level of the fan is less than 45 decibels when it is operating at full load, which means that it is quite quiet while it is being used normally.