One lineup, three very different compact gaming desktops
GMKtec’s current gaming mini PC lineup compares three compact desktops that share small footprints and powerful components but diverge sharply in price-to-performance balance, graphics capability, and AI features across the NEO X1, NEO X1 Pro, and EVO-X1 Pro models, making each better suited to different gaming, creative, and AI workloads. The headline message is simple: these machines look similar on the desk, but they serve very different buyers. The NEO X1 and NEO X1 Pro squeeze mobile Zen 5 "Fire Range" processors and RTX 50 series GPUs into a 14.6-liter chassis for high frame-rate gaming. In contrast, the EVO-X1 Pro is a Ryzen AI 9 mini PC that trades raw GPU power for 86 TOPS of AI performance, generous 64 GB RAM, and OCulink for external GPUs. Choosing well here is less about chasing the biggest spec and more about matching the box to your workload.
NEO X1: the pragmatic compact gaming desktop
If you care about high settings in modern games but still watch your budget, the standard NEO X1 is the sensible gaming mini PC in this trio. It pairs a 16-core, 32-thread AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX Fire Range processor, boosting up to 5.4 GHz and operating in a 55–75 W window, with an 8 GB GeForce RTX 5060 Ti discrete GPU for ultra settings in current titles. This combo sits in the same 14.6-liter aluminum case with handles as the Pro, backed by an 850 W fully modular PSU and integrated liquid cooling. According to one launch report, “the NEO X1 with Ryzen 9 9955HX and RTX 5060 Ti configuration costs 11,999 Yuan or USD 1,773 (approx. RM8,150).” That makes it notably cheaper than the Pro while still delivering serious desktop-class graphics. The main caveat is uncertainty: early materials don’t spell out RAM or storage, and rear I/O details remain vague.
NEO X1 Pro: RTX 5070 compact brute for no-compromise gaming
The NEO X1 Pro exists for one reason: uncompromised, small-form-factor gaming. Inside the same 14.6-liter chassis, GMKtec swaps in a Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, adding 64 MB of extra L3 cache for higher gaming performance, and pairs it with a 12 GB GeForce RTX 5070—clearly superior to the RTX 5060 Ti, especially when larger VRAM matters. This RTX 5070 compact build keeps the same liquid cooling loop, 13-phase power delivery, and 850 W modular PSU, giving it the electrical headroom of a full-size rig in a much smaller footprint. It’s also priced like a flagship: the NEO X1 Pro with Ryzen 9 9955HX3D and RTX 5070 is listed at 16,499 Yuan or USD 2,438 (approx. RM11,210)." In my view, that premium only makes sense if you routinely push high-refresh 1440p or 4K, or run GPU-heavy creative workloads. Otherwise, you’re paying a steep uplift for performance you may not see.
EVO-X1 Pro: Ryzen AI 9 mini PC for local models and future GPUs
Where the NEOs chase frames, the EVO-X1 Pro is purpose-built for AI-heavy and multitasking workflows. It uses a Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 with 12 cores, 24 threads, and up to 5.2 GHz boost, plus a newer NPU capable of 55 TOPS, for a claimed total of 86 TOPS of AI compute in a compact mini PC. This is the only box in the lineup that arrives as a Ryzen AI 9 mini PC first and a gaming machine second: its Radeon 890M integrated graphics are adequate for many games, while an OCulink port invites you to add an external GPU later. GMKtec starts configurations at 64 GB RAM and 1 TB storage, and "the 64 GB + 1 TB configuration is priced at USD 1,599 (approx. RM7,360), while the one with 2 TB storage will cost USD 1,769 (approx. RM8,140)." If your main priority is local AI agents, creative apps, and connectivity—not maximum in-chassis GPU—it’s the most balanced choice.
Which GMKtec mini PC fits which buyer?
Viewed together, these three compact gaming desktops show GMKtec trying to cover every enthusiast corner with one family. All share small footprints, desktop-class components, and gaming-ready designs, from the Ryzen–RTX 50 series combo in the NEO X1 models to the Zen 5-based Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 in the EVO-X1 Pro. But price-to-performance is not uniform. The NEO X1 offers the most grounded balance of RTX 50-series graphics and cost for mainstream gaming. The NEO X1 Pro is a luxury purchase aimed at people who genuinely benefit from a stronger RTX 5070 and 3D-cache CPU in a compact chassis. The EVO-X1 Pro, meanwhile, is the sleeper pick: cheaper than the NEO X1 Pro at USD 1,599 (approx. RM7,360) for 64 GB RAM and 1 TB storage, yet far better suited to AI, remote work, and external-GPU tinkering. The smart move is to start from your workloads, not the fanciest spec sheet.
