GEEKOM A9 Max Review: Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with Upgradeable Memory
The A9 Max puts AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Radeon 890M in GEEKOM’s compact aluminum case, with DDR5 in two slots up to 128GB, two USB4 ports, dual 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 7 and an SD card reader. Independent reviews rate it among GEEKOM’s best mini PCs; its weak points are fan noise under load and the lack of OCuLink.
In short
8.0 / 10
The A9 Max is one of the best-rounded Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 mini PCs: about 21,500 points in Cinebench R23, the strong Radeon 890M, memory you can upgrade to 128GB, Wi-Fi 7, two USB4 and two 2.5GbE ports, and a three-year warranty. Notebookcheck rated it 82% and PCWorld gave it an Editors’ Choice. Both found it clearly audible under load, and it has no OCuLink for an external graphics card.
What changed in this update (Oct 11, 2026)
We rewrote this review from published measurements. The previous version claimed more than 15,000 points in Cinebench R23 (Notebookcheck measured about 21,500), compared it with the Apple M4 Pro and a GTX 1650 without sources, said it handles demanding games at 1440p and 200Hz, and called it whisper-quiet, while both Notebookcheck and PCWorld found it loud under load. Printed prices are gone.
Specifications
Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with Radeon 890M, 32GB of DDR5-5600 in two slots (up to 128GB), a 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD plus a second M.2 2230 slot, two USB4, two HDMI 2.1, dual 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 7 and an SD 4.0 reader.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 · 12 cores / 24 threads (4 Zen 5 + 8 Zen 5c) · up to 5.1 GHz · 50 TOPS NPU |
| Graphics | Radeon 890M · 16 RDNA 3.5 compute units |
| Memory | 32GB DDR5-5600 · 2 SO-DIMM slots · up to 128GB |
| Storage | 2TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD · second M.2 2230 PCIe 4.0 slot · SD 4.0 card reader |
| Network | 2× 2.5GbE · Wi-Fi 7 · Bluetooth 5.4 |
| USB | 2× USB4 40Gbps · 5× USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A · 1× USB 2.0 |
| Displays | 2× HDMI 2.1 + 2× USB4 · up to four screens |
| Power | 120W external adapter · up to about 65W for the processor |
| Size | 135 × 132 × 47 mm · about 0.7 kg · VESA mount |
| Warranty | Three years (GEEKOM, per Notebookcheck) |
HX 370 or HX 470?
Starry Hope also lists a 2026 edition with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, a slightly faster refresh of the same chip. This review covers the HX 370 model; check the processor in the listing title.
Performance
Notebookcheck measured 21,529 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,203 in Cinebench 2024, with only a small loss under sustained load; PCWorld measured 7,976 in PCMark 10.
| Test | Score | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 multi / single | 21,529 / 1,989 | Notebookcheck |
| Cinebench 2024 multi / single | 1,203 / 119 | Notebookcheck |
| Geekbench 6 multi / single | 14,949 / 2,877 | Notebookcheck |
| PCMark 10 | 7,976 | PCWorld |
| 3DMark Time Spy | 3,701 | PCWorld |
| SSD read / write (CrystalDiskMark) | about 6,240 / 5,420 MB/s | PCWorld |
That is roughly 40% more multi-core performance than a Ryzen 7 8745HS machine such as the GEEKOM AX8 Max, which matters for video exports, code compilation and many browser tabs. Notebookcheck saw a maximum of about 86°C during its endurance test, with moderate performance loss, and the Silent mode costs only a few percent of performance.
The Radeon 890M is one of the strongest integrated graphics chips found in mini PCs. It runs esports and older games well at 1080p and many recent games at low to medium settings with upscaling; it does not replace a mid-range graphics card. The 50 TOPS NPU enables Windows Copilot+ features, and 32GB or more of DDR5 lets you run small local AI models; see our local AI guide for realistic speeds.
Design, ports and noise
An elegant, well-built case with plenty of ports and a full-size SD reader; the fans ramp up abruptly and are clearly audible under load, which both Notebookcheck and PCWorld criticized.
Front USB-A ports and the SD 4.0 reader suit photographers; at the back, two USB4 ports and two HDMI 2.1 ports drive up to four screens, and dual 2.5GbE makes it a good small server. PCWorld measured about 278 MB/s when copying to a NAS over Ethernet. Notebookcheck also noted limited BIOS options, no manual fan control and high DPC latency, which matters for real-time audio work. RAM, SSD and Wi-Fi card are replaceable, though opening the case is not very convenient; the second M.2 slot only takes short 2230 drives.
Alternatives
Pick the A9 Max for upgradeable memory, Wi-Fi 7 and the SD reader; a Minisforum AI X1 Pro-370 or Peladn HO5 if you want OCuLink for an external graphics card; a Beelink SER9 Pro for built-in speakers and a microphone.
| Model | Memory | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Minisforum AI X1 Pro-370 | DDR5, up to 128GB | OCuLink, three M.2 slots. Review |
| Peladn HO5 | 32GB soldered LPDDR5X | OCuLink, faster memory, no upgrade. Review |
| Beelink SER9 Pro | 32GB soldered LPDDR5X | Built-in speakers and microphone, Wi-Fi 6. Review |
Pros and cons
- Strong Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Radeon 890M
- DDR5 in two slots, up to 128GB
- 2× USB4, 2× HDMI 2.1, dual 2.5GbE
- Wi-Fi 7 and SD 4.0 reader
- Three-year warranty
- Clearly audible under load
- No OCuLink or USB4 v2
- Second M.2 slot is 2230 only
- Limited BIOS, no fan control
- High DPC latency (Notebookcheck)
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Performance | 9.0 |
| Graphics | 8.0 |
| Connectivity | 8.5 |
| Noise | 6.0 |
| Upgradeability and warranty | 8.5 |
Verdict
A fast, well-equipped HX 370 mini PC whose upgradeable memory and three-year warranty set it apart; buy it if fan noise under load does not bother you and you do not need OCuLink.
The A9 Max suits creators, developers and power users who want a compact machine they can upgrade to 64GB or 128GB later, with Wi-Fi 7 and an SD reader. If you plan to add a desktop graphics card, an OCuLink model such as the Minisforum AI X1 Pro-370 is the better base; if silence matters most, read the noise sections of each review before buying.
FAQ
How fast is the GEEKOM A9 Max?
Notebookcheck measured 21,529 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,203 in Cinebench 2024, with little loss under sustained load. PCWorld measured 7,976 points in PCMark 10.
Can I upgrade the memory?
Yes. The A9 Max uses DDR5-5600 in two SO-DIMM slots, upgradeable to 128GB, unlike HX 370 mini PCs with soldered LPDDR5X such as the Peladn HO5 or Beelink SER9 Pro.
Is the A9 Max good for gaming?
For esports and older games at 1080p, yes, and many recent games run at low to medium settings with upscaling on the Radeon 890M. It has no OCuLink port, so it is not the best base for an external graphics card.
Is it quiet?
It is near-silent at idle, but Notebookcheck and PCWorld both found the fans clearly audible under load and quick to ramp up. The Silent mode reduces noise at the cost of a few percent of performance.
How many monitors does it support?
Up to four, through two HDMI 2.1 ports and two USB4 ports.