Most of us are familiar with computers being desktops or laptops. Desktops are in one of several tower configurations.
Advances in laptop components have helped pave the way for smaller form factors by using laptop components in small computers that do not have built-in screens.
Today I review one of those tiny PCs, the Geekom Mini IT 11. The 11 in the name stands for CPU, which is the 11th generation Intel i7 processor.
Mini PC reviews will be about tradeoffs between size and performance. Let’s see.
specification
This PC is really small. I’ve owned several Apple Macintosh Mini computers, but the IT 11 is much smaller. It measures 4.6″ x 4.4″ x 1.79″.
I was really surprised that Geekom packed so much technology into such a small case.
Let’s start with the processor. We reviewed the version powered by the Intel 11th Gen Core i7 — 1195G7 with four processing cores. It comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB of solid state storage, retails for $769, and is available now at geekompc.com.
You can also purchase IT 11 configurations with i5 processors starting at $619. The amount of RAM and storage also varies. Look for deals on all configurations on Geekom’s website.
IT 11 uses all four sides of the case. No wasted space.
On the front is the power button, headphone/mic jack, USB 3.2 port and USB 4 Thunderbolt port.
On the back, you’ll find one USB 4 Thunderbolt port, one HDMI 2.0 port, two USB 3.2 ports, one Gigabit Ethernet port, one Mini DisplayPort, and a power input.
Thunderbolt ports are pretty cool stuff. These ports look like USB-C ports and can be used to connect USB peripherals, but you can also use the adapter as a network port or connect another monitor. Many Thunderbolt equipped computers can use that port to power the system, but the IT 11 does not have that capability.
The IT 11’s power supply is an external power supply, so there is a small black brick on the power cable.
An SD card reader is mounted on the right side of the case, and a Kensington lock slot is mounted on the right side.
IT 11 ships with Windows 11 Pro.
My review PC has Intel Iris Xe graphics and can run up to 4 displays, including multiple 8K UHD displays.
With Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, you can wirelessly connect to your home network and peripherals such as Bluetooth keyboards and mice.
The inner frame is metal. It has vents on all sides except the front and the fan is quiet.
The case is small enough to mount to the back of many monitors using the included VESA mounting plate and screws.
Scalable
One of the best things about IT 11 is that users can upgrade RAM or storage.
The bottom has four screws covering two RAM slots and an M.2 SSD. RAM can be upgraded to 64GB and the M.2 SSD can be swapped out (up to 2TB).
The bottom of the case incorporates a 2.5-inch drive slot that can hold an additional 2 terabytes of storage.
All of these upgrades are easy to do, all you need is a screwdriver and can be completed in less than 5 minutes.
As a Mac user who can’t do any of these upgrades, I forget that most of the Windows PC world still has memory and storage upgradeable.
in use
IT 11 was easy to set up and configure. It comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro, but you can also load Linux if you prefer.
I plugged in a wireless keyboard and mouse and used HDMI to connect to the monitor.
Wi-Fi connection was stable and fast. I’ve tested it with two monitors and it works fine. I don’t have an 8K display to test, but 4K YouTube videos played beautifully and smoothly.
Note that the IT 11 does not have speakers, so you will need to add your own speakers to hear the sound.
I’m not much of a gamer, but no one buys a mini form factor PC to play games. Geekom says most games should run smoothly at 1080p, but I wouldn’t recommend this PC for gaming.
I loaded Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop and had no problems doing my daily work.
Browsing the Internet, sending email, launching and editing Office apps was quick and easy.
Editing photos in Photoshop was fine. I’m not a video editor, but for best results he should increase RAM and storage.
The small form factor really disappears on your desk, especially if you can mount it behind your monitor.
The fan never made any noticeable noise.
With an 11th Gen Intel CPU and upgradable RAM and storage, the Geekom IT 11 will make this machine last for a long time.
