If you’re looking for a small yet powerful gaming PC, the GMKtec EVO X1 might be the perfect solution. With the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX370 at its core, this mini PC delivers impressive CPU and iGPU performance, making it a compelling choice for gamers, content creators, and tech enthusiasts.
In this review, you’ll get an in-depth look at its design, performance, features, benchmarks, and gaming capabilities, so you can determine whether this compact powerhouse is the right fit for your setup.
Unboxing & First Impressions
When you open the box, you’ll find:
- GMKtec EVO X1 Mini PC
- 120W Power Supply
- HDMI Cable
- Vertical Stand (for upright or horizontal placement)
- VESA Mount
The EVO X1 sports a sleek, compact design with a sturdy build, making it ideal for small workspaces. It even includes subtle RGB lighting, though it’s not overly visible. If you’re a fan of clean aesthetics, you’ll appreciate the minimalist yet modern look.
One of the standout features is its cooling system, optimized for heat dissipation. When placed vertically, airflow is unobstructed, ensuring maximum cooling efficiency—something that’s crucial when pushing performance limits.
Hardware & Specifications
At the heart of the GMKtec EVO X1 is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX370, featuring:
- 12 Cores / 24 Threads (Zen 5 Architecture)
- Radeon 890M iGPU (16 Compute Units, up to 2900 MHz)
- 32GB or 64GB LPDDR5X RAM (7500 MHz)
- Dual M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD Slots (Supports up to 8TB storage)
- Wi-Fi 6 & Bluetooth 5.2
The IO selection is also impressive, offering high-speed connectivity:
- USB 4.0 (40Gbps, supports external GPUs)
- Oculink (64Gbps, another external GPU option)
- 2 x USB 3.2 Ports (Front)
- 2 x USB 2.0 Ports (Rear)
- HDMI & DisplayPort (Supports 3 simultaneous displays)
- Dual 2.5Gb Ethernet Ports
With both USB 4.0 and Oculink, you get the flexibility to connect an external GPU, boosting graphical performance for more demanding tasks.
Performance & Benchmarks
Before diving into real-world gaming, let’s look at some synthetic benchmarks:
- Geekbench 6:
- Single-Core Score: 2,929
- Multi-Core Score: 13,330
- 3DMark Time Spy:
- Total Score: 4,438
- Graphics Score: 3,649
These numbers place the HX370 firmly among high-performance mini PCs, offering strong multi-threading and graphical power for gaming, streaming, and light video editing.
Additionally, the BIOS settings let you switch between different power modes:
- Balanced Mode (54W TDP)
- Performance Mode (65W TDP)
Enabling Performance Mode slightly increases fan noise but provides a significant boost in processing power, making it worthwhile for heavy workloads or gaming sessions.
Gaming Performance – Can It Handle Modern Titles?
The Radeon 890M iGPU is one of the most powerful integrated graphics solutions available today, but how does it handle actual gaming? Here’s a breakdown of some tested games at 1080p settings:
| Game | Settings | Average FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Marvel Rivals | Medium + FSR Balanced | 68 FPS |
| Hogwarts Legacy | Low + FSR Balanced | 60 FPS |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | Low + FSR Frame Gen | 66 FPS |
| Fallout 4 | Medium | 70+ FPS |
| Borderlands 3 | Medium + 75% Res Scale | 80+ FPS |
| Spider-Man 2 | High + FSR Frame Gen | 60+ FPS |
Key Takeaways from Gaming Tests:
- FSR (AMD’s AI Upscaling) is essential – Using FSR Balanced or Frame Generation improves frame rates significantly.
- Medium settings are ideal for demanding games, while older titles or optimized ones can handle higher settings.
- External GPU support via Oculink/USB4 – If you want even more performance, pairing it with an eGPU like the Radeon 7600M XT can take things to another level.
Thermals & Power Consumption
Keeping the HX370 cool is crucial, and GMKtec has done a solid job with its cooling system.
- Idle Power Consumption: ~9W
- Gaming Power Consumption: ~78W
- Cinebench Load (Max Power): ~92W
- Peak CPU Temperature: 82°C (Under full load, no thermal throttling)
- Average Gaming Temperature: 66°C
The cooling fan does ramp up in Performance Mode, but it remains relatively quiet compared to other mini PCs at similar wattages.
Final Thoughts – Is the GMKtec EVO X1 Worth It?
The GMKtec EVO X1 Mini PC is an exceptionally well-rounded compact gaming PC that offers:
✔ Strong CPU & iGPU Performance (AMD Ryzen HX370 + Radeon 890M)
✔ High-speed RAM & Storage (7500MHz LPDDR5X, PCIe 4.0 SSDs)
✔ Excellent Connectivity (USB4, Oculink, Dual 2.5GbE)
✔ Efficient Cooling & Compact Design
However, if you’re looking for ultra-high-end gaming, you might need an external GPU for demanding AAA games at higher resolutions/settings.
If you’re in the market for a small yet powerful gaming PC that fits into tight spaces without sacrificing performance, the GMKtec EVO X1 is one of the best options available today.
