GEEKOM IT13 2026 Edition vs MINISFORUM MS-A2

The Core Ultra 7 356H has four performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and four low-power efficiency cores for 16 total cores and threads, with a maximum turbo frequency of 4.7 GHz. This is a processor specification, not measured IT13 performance.

Manufacturer processor specification · Intel Core Ultra 7 356H

Robtech found Windows 11 Pro free of detected malware on its configured sample and reported that Ubuntu recognized every network interface. A barebones retail unit includes neither operating system nor storage.

Operating-system installation and device-detection check · Configured Ryzen 9 9955HX review sample; barebones retail configuration differs

GEEKOM identifies the cooling system as IceBlast 2.0 and describes it as efficient and quiet. No exact-chassis sustained benchmark was available to quantify that claim.

Manufacturer cooling-design check · IT13 2026 Edition

Robtech found that the 9955HX's strongest benchmark gains appeared after enabling Performance mode in BIOS, but also observed thermal throttling under load and said the multi-core uplift over its 7945HX comparison was modest.

Cinebench and Geekbench CPU benchmark suite · Normal and Performance BIOS modes; configured Ryzen 9 9955HX review sample

Robtech reported that Performance mode did not shorten its brief H.264 encode and only shaved seconds from the longer AV1 test. The reviewer also noted that the Radeon 610M lacks AV1 hardware encoding.

H.264 and AV1 encoding benchmarks · Configured Ryzen 9 9955HX review sample

Intel specifies four Xe cores, a 2.45 GHz maximum graphics frequency, and hardware ray tracing for the Core Ultra 7 356H's Intel Graphics. No exact IT13 2026 gaming result was found.

Manufacturer graphics specification · Core Ultra 7 356H integrated graphics

ServeTheHome emphasized that the Radeon 610M is intended for display output and media acceleration rather than high-end gaming. Robtech likewise found its 3D and GPU-AI results far below systems with discrete mobile GPUs.

3DMark and Geekbench AI GPU tests · Ryzen 9 9955HX configured review systems; no add-in GPU

The internal slot provides PCIe 4.0 x8 bandwidth in a physical x16 connector. Robtech says a GPU must be single-slot, shorter than 170 mm, and require no auxiliary power; active blower cooling is preferable in the confined bay.

Chassis and expansion compatibility inspection · MS-A2 chassis

The manufacturer calls the IceBlast 2.0 system quiet but does not publish a sound-pressure level or exact-chassis thermal result for the Ultra 7 configuration. Older 13th-generation IT13 and IT13 Max results are not substituted.

Exact-model evidence check · GMIT13U7356H-321-EU

GEEKOM specifies a 19 V, 6.32 A external adapter, equivalent to approximately 120 W of rated capacity. This is not measured wall-power consumption.

Manufacturer electrical specification · 19 V DC, 6.32 A

The Ultra 7 configuration supports dual-channel DDR5 memory up to 64GB and provides two M.2 storage paths. GEEKOM identifies the primary and secondary paths as PCIe, but conflicting generation labels on the shared product page are omitted here.

Manufacturer expansion check · Core Ultra 7 356H configuration

GEEKOM states that two USB4 ports and two HDMI outputs can drive up to four displays, with up to 8K output supported through the highest-capability connection.

Manufacturer display-support check · Dual USB4 and dual HDMI

MINISFORUM officially supports 96GB across two DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM slots. ServeTheHome also booted and exercised 128GB using two 64GB non-ECC modules, but found that ECC SO-DIMMs operated without ECC protection.

Memory installation and ECC-function check · Ryzen 9 9955HX review unit

The MS-A2 provides two Intel X710 10GbE SFP+ ports, one Intel I226-V 2.5GbE port, and one Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE port. Its two rear USB-C ports are 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 with DisplayPort, not USB4.

Manufacturer and controller inspection · MS-A2 chassis

Three PCIe 4.0 x4 storage positions include two M.2 2280/22110 slots and one position that accepts M.2 2280 or a 7 mm U.2 drive through the included adapter. The two conventional M.2 slots default to PCIe 3.0 x4 and must be changed in BIOS for Gen 4.

Manufacturer specification and hands-on teardown · MS-A2 chassis

GEEKOM Spain listed the exact 32GB/1TB Ultra 7 configuration for €1,299 when checked, reduced from a €1,799 regular price.

Manufacturer retail-price check · GMIT13U7356H-321-EU: Core Ultra 7 356H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD

MINISFORUM listed the exact Ryzen 9 9955HX barebones US configuration for $799 when checked, against a $999 compare-at price.

Manufacturer retail-price check · MS-A200US barebone; no memory, storage, or operating system

Amazon ASIN B0F8JG2SHN matched the exact Ryzen 9 9955HX barebones configuration with no RAM, SSD, or operating system when checked.

Retailer identity check · MS-A2-9955 barebone

GEEKOM provides a three-year limited warranty covering design and workmanship defects, plus a 30-day return period on the regional store.

Manufacturer warranty-policy check · European regional store

GEEKOM says the IT13 line undergoes vibration, drop, temperature, humidity, port-cycle, noise, salt-spray, and system-stability testing. These are manufacturer process claims, not long-term field reliability data.

Manufacturer quality-program check · IT13 product family

MINISFORUM advertises a two-year seller warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee on the US product page.

Manufacturer warranty-policy check

Robtech observed thermal throttling around 90 C and called cooling the system's largest weakness. ServeTheHome independently found load noise near 50 dBA, so the compact form factor has measurable thermal and acoustic tradeoffs.

Sustained benchmark load · Configured Ryzen 9 9955HX review systems

Robtech found the two M.2 2280 slots configured for PCIe 3.0 by default. The BIOS exposes PCIe 4.0, but its warning says higher speed may increase overheating risk.

BIOS and storage configuration inspection · Configured Ryzen 9 9955HX review sample