What’s in a $1k+ mini PC? Watch us tear down the Geekom IT15

Mini PCs. They’re like common PCs, solely much less so. They usually’re getting very, very talked-about as a result of they mix laptop computer parts and low-cost upgradeable choices in a teeny, tiny, usually reasonably priced package deal. Right this moment, Adam is within the PCWorld Labs to get a top-tier Geekom mini PC field, tear the field open, then tear the mini PC open proper after that.

The Geekom IT15 mini PC is an incredibly highly effective choice that retails for round $1,199.99. Utilizing the newest “Arrow Lake” Intel Core Extremely 9 cell CPUs and a few speedy RAM, with as much as 64GB of reminiscence and 2TB of storage proper from the manufacturing unit. Regardless of the tiny dimension, it has tons of port choices—round again are two every of USB-C 4.0 (each with DisplayPort over video, one with energy supply), USB-A, and HDMI ports, plus 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. On the entrance are one other two USB-A ports with as much as 3.2 Gen 2 speeds. And on the facet, marvel of wonders, is a full-sized SD card slot. (I do know some photographers who simply squealed in delight.)

However what in regards to the guts? In the event you unscrew the ft on the underside (which additionally features a VESA mount for sticking it on a monitor), you get entry to 3 M.2 slots, one 80mm-long one for SSDs, a 42mm slot for extra storage, and a 30mm slot for a laptop computer wi-fi card (which is included). There’s an extra SATA connection proper on the board if you wish to slide a 2.5-inch drive into the mix slot and M.2 cooler constructed into the case, a really cool contact. There are two SO-DIMM slots, crammed with 16GB modules on our instance.

In the event you pop off the plastic high, you may check out the inner cooler and fan, which is fairly tightly spaced in there. In the event you’re courageous sufficient to proceed, you’ll must take the case retention screws out of the underside to slip the plastic portion off and unplug the wi-fi antenna. There’s actually no level in going any additional, because it’s a laptop computer chip beneath there and nothing user-upgradeable… however Adam stored going, after all.

It’s fairly cool to see each purposeful a part of the Geekom IT15 mini PC sitting on a board barely greater than a Raspberry Pi. For extra deep dives into the newest {hardware}, you’ll want to subscribe to PCWorld on YouTube and take a look at our weekly podcast The Full Nerd.