GEEKOM AX8 Max Review: a Well-Connected Ryzen 7 Mini PC for the Office
The AX8 Max pairs AMD’s Ryzen 7 8745HS with upgradeable DDR5, two USB4 ports and two 2.5GbE ports in a compact aluminum case. It is a balanced, no-fuss machine for office work, light photo and video editing and casual games, but it has no OCuLink and its fan is audible under load.
In short
7.6 / 10
The AX8 Max is a solid office and home mini PC with unusually complete connectivity for its class: two USB4 ports, two 2.5GbE ports, four displays and DDR5 you can upgrade to 64GB. The Ryzen 7 8745HS and Radeon 780M handle everyday work, light editing and esports games at 1080p. Skip it if you want OCuLink for an external graphics card, or the faster Radeon 890M of a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 machine.
What changed in this update (Oct 11, 2026)
The previous version described the processor as a Ryzen 7 8845HS and quoted memory up to 128GB. The AX8 Max sold on Amazon uses the Ryzen 7 8745HS, and GEEKOM supports up to 64GB. We replaced benchmarks of unclear origin with TechRadar’s published results, removed printed prices and the claim that we tested it ourselves, and corrected the port list.
Specifications
Ryzen 7 8745HS with Radeon 780M, DDR5-5600 in two SO-DIMM slots (up to 64GB), a PCIe 4.0 SSD, two USB4 ports, two HDMI ports, dual 2.5GbE and Wi-Fi 6E.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (Zen 4) · 8 cores / 16 threads · up to 4.9 GHz |
| Graphics | Radeon 780M · 12 RDNA 3 compute units |
| Memory | 16GB or 32GB DDR5-5600 · 2 SO-DIMM slots · up to 64GB |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD · Starry Hope also lists an M.2 SATA slot and a 2.5-inch SATA bay |
| Network | 2× 2.5GbE · Wi-Fi 6E · Bluetooth 5.2 |
| USB | 2× USB4 40Gbps (DisplayPort, 100W power delivery) · 5× USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A · 1× USB 2.0 |
| Displays | 2× HDMI 2.0 + 2× USB4 · up to four screens |
| Power and cooling | 120W external adapter · Quiet, Normal and Performance modes |
| Size | 135 × 132 × 47 mm · about 0.8 kg · VESA mount included |
| Warranty | Three years (GEEKOM) |
AX8 Max, AX8 Pro or A8?
GEEKOM uses similar names for several Ryzen 8000 machines. The AX8 Max has the Ryzen 7 8745HS; the GEEKOM A8 uses the faster Ryzen 7 8845HS or Ryzen 9 8945HS in a thinner case with one 2.5GbE port. Check the processor in the listing title before you buy.
Performance
TechRadar measured about 15,500 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6,741 in PCMark 10: fast for office work, browsing and photo editing, adequate for light 4K editing, with some throttling during long renders.
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 multi / single | 15,518 / 1,703 |
| Geekbench CPU multi / single | 12,660 / 2,440 |
| PCMark 10 | 6,741 |
| 3DMark Time Spy (overall / graphics) | 3,162 / 2,808 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike (overall) | 7,346 |
| CrystalDiskMark read / write | 6,731 / 6,023 MB/s |
The 8745HS is the same chip found in the Beelink SER8 and many 2025 mini PCs: eight Zen 4 cores, comfortably ahead of Intel N-series and older Ryzen 5000 machines. TechRadar found it fast for daily admin and light multimedia work, but saw some thermal throttling during a 30-minute 4K edit and stutter in 4K Premiere Pro playback. For regular 4K editing, a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 machine such as the GEEKOM A9 Max is the better choice.
The Radeon 780M runs esports titles and older games well at 1080p with reduced settings; recent AAA games need low settings and upscaling. There is no OCuLink port, so an external graphics card would have to use USB4, which is slower.
Design, ports and noise
Four front USB-A ports, two USB4 and two 2.5GbE ports at the back, and two HDMI ports make it easy to drive four screens and two networks; the fan is audible during renders and games but not loud.
The aluminum case is solid and VESA-mountable; TechRadar disliked its pale blue color. Dual 2.5GbE is rare at this level and useful for a small home server or a firewall. TechRadar described the fan as audible under heavy work but “by no means the loudest” it has tested; the Quiet mode keeps it calm for office use. Memory and storage are upgradeable after removing the bottom panel.
Alternatives
Choose the AX8 Max for dual 2.5GbE and four displays; a Beelink SER8 for a simpler single-LAN machine with the same chip; a BOSGAME M4 Plus if you want OCuLink; a GEEKOM A9 Max for much stronger graphics.
| Model | Processor | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Beelink SER8 | Ryzen 7 8745HS | Same chip, single 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 6 |
| BOSGAME M4 Plus | Ryzen 9 7940HS | OCuLink for an external GPU, plastic case. Review |
| GEEKOM A8 | Ryzen 7 8845HS or Ryzen 9 8945HS | Faster chip, thinner, one 2.5GbE port |
| GEEKOM A9 Max | Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Radeon 890M, Wi-Fi 7, up to 128GB. Review |
Pros and cons
- Two USB4 and two 2.5GbE ports
- Up to four displays
- DDR5 in two slots, up to 64GB
- Solid aluminum case, VESA mount
- Three-year warranty
- No OCuLink
- Fan audible under heavy load
- Some throttling in long 4K renders
- Radeon 780M is a generation behind the 890M
- Divisive pale blue color
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Office and everyday performance | 8.5 |
| Connectivity | 9.0 |
| Gaming and graphics | 6.5 |
| Noise and cooling | 6.5 |
| Upgradeability and value | 7.5 |
Verdict
A dependable, well-connected Ryzen 7 mini PC for office desks, multi-screen setups and small home servers; not the pick for gaming or heavy video work.
Buy the AX8 Max if you want two networks, four screens and memory you can upgrade, backed by a three-year warranty. If you plan to add a graphics card, choose a model with OCuLink; if you edit 4K video often or play recent games, spend more on a Radeon 890M machine.
FAQ
Which processor does the GEEKOM AX8 Max use?
The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 4 processor with Radeon 780M graphics. The similarly named GEEKOM A8 uses the Ryzen 7 8845HS or Ryzen 9 8945HS.
Can I upgrade the RAM and storage?
Yes. Memory is DDR5-5600 in two SO-DIMM slots, up to 64GB, and the SSD is a standard M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 drive. Both are reached by removing the bottom panel.
Is the AX8 Max good for gaming?
For esports and older games at 1080p, yes. Recent AAA games need low settings and upscaling, and TechRadar saw stutter at high settings. It has no OCuLink port for an external graphics card.
Is it noisy?
It is quiet in office use, especially in Quiet mode. TechRadar found the fan audible during renders and games, but not among the loudest mini PCs it has tested.
How many monitors can it drive?
Up to four: two through HDMI 2.0 and two through the USB4 ports.
Sources
- TechRadar, GEEKOM AX8 Max mini PC review (December 2025)
- Starry Hope, GEEKOM AX8 Max specifications
- GEEKOM, AX8 Max product page and Amazon listing