GMKtec EVO-X3 vs MINISFORUM MS-A2
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GMKtec EVO-X3
Ryzen AI Max+ 395, 128GB LPDDR5X, 2TB SSD, US plug
MINISFORUM MS-A2
Ryzen 9 9955HX barebone, US adapter
Amazon results may include other models. Verify the processor, memory, storage, and seller before buying.
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Storage |
1Is it fast for normal work?
GMKtec EVO-X3
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Cinebench 2024 single-core 114 points
ETA PRIME's 128GB review unit scored 114 in Cinebench 2024 single-core while the system was in Performance mode.
Cinebench 2024 single-core · Performance mode; Ryzen AI Max+ 395; 128GB LPDDR5X; 4TB SSD review configuration
ETA PRIME · 7:23 -
Geekbench 6 single-core 3081 points
The same review unit scored 3,081 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
Geekbench 6 single-core · Performance mode; Ryzen AI Max+ 395; 128GB LPDDR5X; 4TB SSD review configuration
ETA PRIME · 7:52 -
Desktop and operating-system support Not available
MINISFORUM MS-A2
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Cinebench 2024 single-core Not available
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Geekbench 6 single-core Not available
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Desktop and operating-system support Windows and Ubuntu tested
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
Robtech · 2:59
2Can it handle sustained work?
GMKtec EVO-X3
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Cinebench 2024 multi-core 1893 points
ETA PRIME's review unit scored 1,893 in Cinebench 2024 multi-core in Performance mode.
Cinebench 2024 multi-core · Performance mode; Ryzen AI Max+ 395; 128GB LPDDR5X; 4TB SSD review configuration
ETA PRIME · 7:23 -
Geekbench 6 multi-core 22314 points
The same review unit scored 22,314 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.
Geekbench 6 multi-core · Performance mode; Ryzen AI Max+ 395; 128GB LPDDR5X; 4TB SSD review configuration
ETA PRIME · 7:52 -
AIDA64 memory bandwidth 118 GB/s
Level1Techs measured 118 GB/s of memory bandwidth on the exact 128GB/2TB configuration.
AIDA64 memory benchmark · 128GB LPDDR5X-8000; 2TB Crucial P310 SSD review unit
Level1Techs · 7:26 -
AIDA64 memory latency 143.8 ns
The same Level1Techs test measured 143.8 ns of memory latency.
AIDA64 memory benchmark · 128GB LPDDR5X-8000; 2TB Crucial P310 SSD review unit
Level1Techs · 7:26 -
CPU performance mode Not available
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Video encoding behavior Not available
MINISFORUM MS-A2
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Cinebench 2024 multi-core Not available
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Geekbench 6 multi-core Not available
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AIDA64 memory bandwidth Not available
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AIDA64 memory latency Not available
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CPU performance mode Fast CPU, cooling-limited
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 · 3:25 -
Video encoding behavior No AV1 hardware encoding
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
Robtech · 4:07
3Can it game?
GMKtec EVO-X3
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3DMark Time Spy 11388 points
ETA PRIME measured a 3DMark Time Spy score of 11,388 from the integrated Radeon 8060S.
3DMark Time Spy · Performance mode; Radeon 8060S; 128GB/4TB review unit
ETA PRIME · 9:13 -
Cyberpunk 2077 74 fps
The review showed about 74 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p high with FSR 2.1 set to Quality.
Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay · 1440p high; FSR 2.1 Quality; Performance mode; 128GB/4TB review unit
ETA PRIME · 10:54 -
Black Myth: Wukong 83 fps
ETA PRIME reported about 83 FPS in Black Myth: Wukong at 1440p high with FSR set to 90 percent.
Black Myth: Wukong gameplay · 1440p high; FSR 90%; Performance mode; 128GB/4TB review unit
ETA PRIME · 11:35 -
Integrated-graphics capability Not available
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Add-in GPU limits Not available
MINISFORUM MS-A2
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3DMark Time Spy Not available
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Cyberpunk 2077 Not available
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Black Myth: Wukong Not available
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Integrated-graphics capability Basic Radeon 610M
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
Robtech · 4:25 -
Add-in GPU limits Single-slot, bus-powered 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
Robtech · 2:05
4Is it loud or hot?
GMKtec EVO-X3
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Average APU gaming temperature 66 C
ETA PRIME reported an average APU temperature of 66 C during gaming in Performance mode.
AAA gaming · Performance mode; automatic fan control; 128GB/4TB review unit
ETA PRIME · 12:41 -
Maximum observed APU temperature 83 C
The same reviewer reported an 83 C maximum across the tests shown in the review.
Review benchmark and gaming suite · Performance mode; automatic fan control; 128GB/4TB review unit
ETA PRIME · 12:41 -
High-load fan character Audible above about 100 W
Level1Techs described the exact 128GB/2TB unit as effectively inaudible in lighter use. Above roughly 100 W, its fans became audible but had a smooth whooshing character without high-pitched whine.
Subjective fan-noise assessment · Exact 128GB/2TB review configuration; measurement distance and room floor not reported
Level1Techs · 20:18 -
Maximum observed CPU temperature Not available
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Idle sound level Not available
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Load sound level Not available
MINISFORUM MS-A2
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Average APU gaming temperature Not available
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Maximum observed APU temperature Not available
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High-load fan character Not available
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Maximum observed CPU temperature 90 C
Robtech observed about 90 C under load and reported thermal throttling, describing the 9955HX as difficult to cool in this chassis.
Full-load benchmark suite · Configured Ryzen 9 9955HX review sample
Robtech · 6:18 -
Idle sound level 39 dBA
ServeTheHome measured roughly 38 to 39 dBA at idle in its 34 dBA studio after the system had warmed up.
Warm system idle · Approximately 34 dBA room floor; configured Ryzen 9 9955HX review sample
ServeTheHome · 16:24 -
Load sound level 50 dBA
ServeTheHome measured sound levels reaching roughly 50 dBA under load and said the system was clearly audible.
Sustained system load · Approximately 34 dBA room floor; configured Ryzen 9 9955HX review sample
ServeTheHome · 16:24
5How much electricity does it use?
GMKtec EVO-X3
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Idle wall power 11 W
ETA PRIME measured 11 W at the wall while the EVO-X3 was idle.
Windows idle · Performance mode; 128GB/4TB review unit; wall measurement
ETA PRIME · 12:41 -
4K video wall power 18 W
The same review measured 18 W at the wall during 4K video playback.
4K video playback · Performance mode; 128GB/4TB review unit; wall measurement
ETA PRIME · 12:41 -
AAA gaming wall power 147 W
ETA PRIME reported an average of 147 W at the wall while playing AAA games.
AAA gaming · Performance mode; 128GB/4TB review unit; wall measurement
ETA PRIME · 12:41 -
Low-end idle wall power Not available
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Maximum observed wall power Not available
MINISFORUM MS-A2
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Idle wall power Not available
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4K video wall power Not available
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AAA gaming wall power Not available
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Low-end idle wall power 25 W
ServeTheHome observed roughly 24 to 25 W at the low end of its idle configurations, with more populated configurations reaching about 35 to 45 W.
System idle · Ryzen 9 9955HX review system; measured values varied with installed memory, storage, and expansion
ServeTheHome · 15:31 -
Maximum observed wall power 160 W
Robtech measured 148 W from the wall at full load in the standard mode and 160 W after enabling Performance mode.
Full system load · Performance mode; configured Ryzen 9 9955HX review sample
Robtech · 5:54
6Can I upgrade and connect everything?
GMKtec EVO-X3
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Memory is upgradeable No
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Storage is upgradeable Yes
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Thunderbolt is present No
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Expansion paths 2x M.2 plus OCuLink
GMKtec provides two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 2280 storage slots and a PCIe 4.0 x4 OCuLink port. The company warns that OCuLink is not hot-pluggable.
Manufacturer expansion check · EVO-X3 chassis
GMKtec -
Wireless adapter Wi-Fi 7, 160 MHz maximum
Level1Techs identified the MediaTek RZ717 Wi-Fi 7 adapter and noted that it is limited to 160 MHz channels rather than 320 MHz.
Hardware identification · Exact 128GB/2TB review configuration
Level1Techs · 6:20 -
Memory compatibility Not available
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Network interfaces Not available
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Storage expansion Not available
MINISFORUM MS-A2
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Memory is upgradeable Yes
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Storage is upgradeable Yes
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Thunderbolt is present No
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Expansion paths Not available
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Wireless adapter Not available
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Memory compatibility 96GB official; 128GB tested
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
ServeTheHome · 7:12 -
Network interfaces 2x 10GbE plus 2x 2.5GbE
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
ServeTheHome · 2:56 -
Storage expansion 3x NVMe, including U.2
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
ServeTheHome · 11:02
7Is it good value?
GMKtec EVO-X3
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Manufacturer price $3,799.99
GMKtec listed the exact US 128GB/2TB configuration for $3,799.99 when checked, against a $4,100 compare-at price.
Manufacturer retail-price check · EVO-X3-2-75S: Ryzen AI Max+ 395, 128GB RAM, 2TB SSD, US plug
GMKtec -
Verified Amazon configuration Not available
MINISFORUM MS-A2
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Manufacturer price $799
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
MINISFORUM -
Verified Amazon configuration B0F8JG2SHN
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
MINISFORUM
8Will it be dependable?
GMKtec EVO-X3
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Hardware warranty 1 year
GMKtec lists a one-year warranty for the EVO-X3 and a seven-day return window on the product page.
Manufacturer warranty-policy check
GMKtec -
Factory fan curve Full speed at 95 C by default
Level1Techs found that the default BIOS fan curve did not command full fan speed until 95 C and recommended a more aggressive curve for sustained high-power operation.
BIOS fan-curve inspection · Exact 128GB/2TB review configuration
Level1Techs · 19:57 -
Seller warranty Not available
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Sustained-load cooling Not available
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Storage-lane default Not available
MINISFORUM MS-A2
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Hardware warranty Not available
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Factory fan curve Not available
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Seller warranty 2 years
MINISFORUM advertises a two-year seller warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee on the US product page.
Manufacturer warranty-policy check
MINISFORUM -
Sustained-load cooling Throttling observed
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 · 6:18 -
Storage-lane default Gen 3 default
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
Robtech · 2:39
References
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GMKtec. GMKtec EVO-X3 AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 AI Mini PC. Product page. . Accessed .
Configuration: EVO-X3-2-75S: Ryzen AI Max+ 395, Radeon 8060S, 128GB LPDDR5X-8000, 2TB SSD, US plug
Disclosure: Manufacturer product specifications, availability, and pricing.
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GMKtec. GMKtec EVO-X3 warranty and return terms. Product page. Accessed .
Configuration: EVO-X3 product-page warranty and return terms
Disclosure: Manufacturer warranty and return statement.
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ETA PRIME. GMKtec EVO X3 First Look: The Mini PC That Replaces Your Desktop. Video review. . Accessed .
Configuration: Ryzen AI Max+ 395, Radeon 8060S, 128GB LPDDR5X, 4TB SSD, Windows 11 Pro
Disclosure: The description contains Amazon affiliate links and identifies an unrelated URCKeys sponsor; it does not state how the EVO-X3 review unit was obtained.
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Level1Techs. Checking Out The GMKTec X3 Strix Halo: More Strix Halo Shenanigans!. Video review. . Accessed .
Configuration: Ryzen AI Max+ 395, Radeon 8060S, 128GB LPDDR5X-8000, 2TB Crucial P310 SSD
Disclosure: No product-supply, sponsorship, or affiliate disclosure for this unit was found in the video description.
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MINISFORUM. MINISFORUM MS-A2. Product page. . Accessed .
Configuration: MS-A200US: Ryzen 9 9955HX barebone, no RAM, no storage, no OS, US adapter
Disclosure: Manufacturer specifications, current price, availability, warranty, and return terms.
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ServeTheHome. Homelab Perfection Minisforum MS-A2. Video review. . Accessed .
Configuration: Ryzen 9 9955HX sample configured with multiple tested DDR5 capacities and NVMe storage, including 96GB ECC-function testing and 128GB non-ECC testing
Disclosure: The description says the unit was purchased and contains Amazon affiliate links.
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Robtech. Powerful Mini PC Workstation - Minisforum MS-A2 Review. Video review. . Accessed .
Configuration: Ryzen 9 9955HX configured sample with Crucial DDR5-5600, 2TB Crucial SSD, and Windows 11 Pro
Disclosure: The description identifies the unit as a free review sample and contains retailer affiliate links.
Value for money
No value comparison is available. It requires eligible test scores and at least four current price observations in seven days.
Specification differences
Differences supported by the listed manufacturer specifications
Higher listed specifications for GMKtec EVO-X3
- Supports 32 GB more memory
Higher listed specifications for MINISFORUM MS-A2
- Provides 3 storage slots versus 2
- Has a manufacturer list price about $3,101 lower
Verified specifications
Manufacturer-sourced specifications and current testing status
Processor
| Specification | EVO-X3 | MS-A2 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX |
| Cores / threads | 16 / 32 | 16 / 32 |
| Processor default TDP | Not disclosed | 100 W |
| Integrated graphics | AMD Radeon 8060S integrated graphics, 40 compute units | AMD Radeon 610M integrated graphics |
Memory and storage
| Specification | EVO-X3 | MS-A2 |
|---|---|---|
| Memory type | LPDDR5X-8000 onboard | 2x DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM slots |
| Maximum memory | 128 GB | 96 GB |
| Upgradeable memory | No | Yes |
| Storage slots | 2 | 3 |
Connectivity
| Specification | EVO-X3 | MS-A2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ethernet | 2.5GbE | 2x 10GbE SFP+ (Intel X710) plus 2x 2.5GbE RJ45 (Intel I226-V and Realtek RTL8125) |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7 (MediaTek RZ717) + Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E (MediaTek RZ616) + Bluetooth 5.2 |
| USB4 | Yes | No |
| Thunderbolt | No | No |
Size and price
| Specification | EVO-X3 | MS-A2 |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure volume | Not published | 1.78 liters |
| List price | $4,100 | $999 |
| Product class | Large local AI models | Home labs and compact servers |