Overview
The GMKTec K8 Plus is a high end miniPC powered by AMD’s Ryzen 8845HS cpu. As of today, the 8845HS sits in the sweet spot for cpus for laptops and miniPCs that is still powerful, but not as wildly expensive as the newer Strix HX370 chips that demand a huge premium.
The 8845HS in particular is known for two features that sets it apart from other cpus: (1) The great 780M igpu for gaming, and (2) an extra AI section of the cpu that provides more TOPS compared to previous Hawk Point models or even the 8745HS.
The K8 Plus in particular is one of my favorite machines in this segment because it is an absolute port monster. Not only does it have dual ethernet ports and 2 USB4 ports, but it also has an Oculink port to attach external gpus for even more power.
Specifications
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 8845HS |
| RAM | 32gb DDR5 5600, crucial memory |
| SSD | 1TB Lexar NM7A1 NVME PCIE 4.0 drive |
| Connectivity | (2) 2.5Gbps ethernet, Wi-fi 6 |
| Ports | Oculink, (2) USB4, (2) USB 3.2, (2) USB 2.0, (1) Displayport 2.1, (1) HDMI 2.1, (1) 3.5mm audi |
The Oculink, dual ethernet, and dual USB4 ports really make this machine stand out from other mini PCs at this price point.
Benchmarks
Cinebench 2024: 104 ST / 914 MT
The Lexar NM7A1 put up respectable SSD speeds
Power, thermals, and noise
On a previous model GMKtec, the M6, I found the fan to be rather noisy and one of the weak points of the machine. I was thrilled to find that GMKtec made massive improvements to this with the K8 plus with use of a new cooling system and dual 120mm top and bottom cooling fans.
- Idle power: 10-11w
- Power under load: 90-95w
- Temperature under heavy load: 90-93c
- Noise: 31-32db @ idle; 37-39db under load at around 1 foot
The dual cooling fans kept this machine under thermal limits for the 8845HS. Noise was great at idle, and very moderate under load. The quietest mini PCs run a few decibels lower under load, but there’s not a big difference once you get 5 feet or more away.
K8 Plus Strengths
- Great improvement to fan noise vs the M6
- Strong benchmark performance for the money
- Incredible chassis and port selection with oculink, USB4, dual 2.5Gbps ethernet
K8 Plus Could be Improved
- Oculink port would be nicer on back of machine for less clutter on a desk
- CPU temperature gets warm under load compared to other models, but still within spec. The Beelink SER8 for example is quieter and only hits 80c, but lacks the oculink port and dual ethernet ports. Much of the heat could probably be offloaded from cpu though if you use the oculink port instead of the igpu.
Overall the K8 Plus is a great machine for the money, and the 8845HS offers a great balance for productivity apps and moderate gaming.
Buy the GMKtec K8 Plus at amazon here.
