Affordable Cezanne Zen 3 at 35W

The introduction of the Intel NUC within the early 2010s kickstarted the ultra-compact form-factor (UCFF) development for desktop programs. Processors with TDPs starting from 6 – 15W fashioned the spine of this phase within the preliminary years. Intel and AMD have been formally permitting configurable TDPs for his or her pocket book phase choices for a couple of years now. This has prompted some distributors to introduce UCFF programs with common 45W TDP processors (albeit, in cTDP-down mode).

GEEKOM, the non-public label model of Shenzhen Jiteng Community Expertise Co., has been on a roll recently with the introduction of a number of UCFF programs within the final yr. The model has grow to be an avenue for the corporate to market extra stock from their OEM / ODM manufacturing runs. Consequently, we’re seeing the introduction of totally configured programs primarily based on older CPU generations, however at extraordinarily engaging value factors. The GEEKOM A5 is one such product.

The system is obtainable in just one configuration – a Ryzen 7 5800H CPU together with a 512 GB SSD and 32 GB of RAM. The corporate despatched that over to place by our analysis routine for small form-factor computing programs. This evaluation explores the efficiency profile and worth proposition of the system, together with a dialogue of things that may tempt customers to go for it regardless of the usage of a processor from early 2021.

Introduction and Product Impressions

Small form-factor (SFF) programs are changing cumbersome desktops for a lot of use-cases. The speedy progress on this phase has led to the rise of many Asian distributors specializing in these programs. GEEKOM is a personal label model of Shenzhen Jiteng Community Expertise Co., Ltd. – an OEM / ODM for small form-factor computing programs. The corporate manufactures each Intel and AMD-based programs. The non-public label began off with a couple of entry-level programs (such because the MiniAir 11) , however has since branched out to introduce machines with modern processors. We not too long ago took a take a look at their Raptor Lake-H-based Mini IT13, however the focus at this time is on the GEEKOM A5. This method is supplied with a comparatively outdated AMD Cezanne SoC from early 2021.

The Ryzen 7 5800H within the GEEKOM A5 has eight cores and sixteen threads, with a Radeon RX Vega 8 built-in GPU. It’s fabricated in TSMC’s 7nm processor. On the time of its introduction within the 2021 CES, the SoC was slotted proper within the center in AMD’s Ryzen 5000 Cellular H-series lineup.

With the intention to make up for the usage of an outdated processor, GEEKOM is being very liberal with DRAM capability (32 GB of DDR4-3200) and has additionally used a comparatively high-performance DRAMless Gen 3 SSD (512GB of SK hynix 176L 3D TLC behind a Maxio SSD controller within the Lexar NM620). All the bundle is being marketed with a sub-$400 value level – basically lower than half of what such an UCFF system would have value, had it been bought in 2021.

GEEKOM’s bundle for the A5 is spartan – the primary unit is accompanied by a welcome card, VESA mount with related screws, an set up information, HDMI cable, and a 120W (19V @ 6.32A) AC adapter with a geo-specific energy wire.

The primary unit clocks in at 117mm x 112mm x 49.2mm. The system is sized to simply accept a 2.5″ drive. The case design is actually the identical because the Mini IT13. The shape-factor is supposed to ship performance much like the full-height mainstream NUCs. The bigger dimensions enable for a greater variety of ports within the programs in comparison with common UCFF programs that forego the two.5″ drive assist.

GEEKOM doesn’t promote barebones variations of the A5. A SSD, DRAM, and a pre-installed copy of Home windows 11 Professional are additionally offered.

Not like the opposite AMD-based GEEKOM system we had reviewed earlier than, the board and chassis design are pretty simple and much like the NUCs.

The DDR4 SODIMM slots and the Gen3 x4 M.2 SSD slots on the motherboard are pre-populated within the GEEKOM configuration. The WLAN / BT module is underneath the NVMe SSD slot (much like the mainstream NUCs). There’s a metallic body that’s constructed across the 2.5″ drive slot, and a thermal pad is affixed to it to offer warmth switch assist from the M.2 2280 NVMe SSD. Our evaluation configuration was geared up with 2x Shenzhen Wodposit Tech. WPBH32D408SWM-16G DDR4-3200 SODIMMs and a Lexar NM620 (2023 mannequin) Gen3 x4 M.2 2280 NVMe SSD. Home windows 11 Skilled got here pre-installed.

The total specs of the evaluation pattern (as examined) are summarized within the desk under. The Ryzen 7 5800H has a TDP of 45W, and a minimal energy (cTDP-down) of 35W. As we will see in our BIOS choices evaluation and detailed investigation into the thermal traits in a later part, the form-factor of the system and the notebook-style thermal resolution restricts the operation of the processor to a 35W cTDP mode.

The following part particulars the the varied BIOS choices and follows it up with an in depth platform evaluation.