The setup: bring your own everything
A laptop is a complete package. A mini-PC is a computer with no screen, keyboard, mouse or speakers. Wazir reused what he had: a 27-inch gaming monitor, a 15-inch portable monitor, his usual Logitech mouse and a wireless Logitech keyboard. He says that meant no extra spending. Then he signed into his accounts, copied his data across and started working.
That caveat matters. His "no extra cost" result depends on already owning spare peripherals. Wazir himself notes that a monitor, keyboard and mouse can add to the bill, depending on what you buy.
Daily work: no complaints
Wazir calls the IT13 Max newer and far more powerful than his laptop, even without a high-end graphics card. He noticed little difference in most tasks. The extra memory let him keep more browser tabs open. He says it handled his work software, documents and apps easily, and the dual-monitor layout matched his usual one.
These are personal impressions, not controlled tests. He gives no workload description, no laptop specs and no benchmarks.
Independent testing is consistent with his experience:
- PCWorld measured 7,117 points in PCMark 10 and said Windows responds smoothly throughout.
- PCWorld says the machine has enough performance for Office, software development, image editing and moderate VM or video projects.
- TechRadar calls it a solid office machine that will plough through Microsoft Office applications with ease.
Gaming: fine for older and lighter titles
Wazir played Valorant, Assassin's Creed Origins and Borderlands 2. He reports consistent frame rates. In Assassin's Creed Origins, the most demanding of the three, he saw roughly 30 fps with 99% GPU usage. He gives no resolution, graphics preset or test method, so treat the figure as anecdotal. He also says newer AAA games are beyond the machine's GPU.
Reviewers broadly agree:
- Tom's Hardware says the IT13 Max handles modern games at lowish settings, with upscaling where available, but suits lighter and older titles better.
- PCWorld says anyone wanting the highest gaming performance will find better options on newer AMD and Intel platforms.
The graphics here are integrated Intel Arc, not a discrete card. TechPowerUp describes solid esports and lighter gaming performance.
No battery, no speakers, one screen
Wazir took the mini-PC to coffee shops. He says the packed kit weighed about the same as his laptop setup. That kit was the mini-PC, mouse, keyboard, power adapter, portable monitor and monitor stand. It took a few extra minutes to connect everything. It then worked as well as the laptop, but only with constant mains power.
His main complaints:
- No battery. He calls this the biggest weakness for working away from home. He often plugs his laptop in anyway, so he felt it less than others might.
- One screen instead of two. This bothered him more than the power issue. His laptop plus external monitor gives him two displays outdoors, but the mini-PC could drive only the one portable monitor he carried. A second monitor would not fit in his bag.
- No onboard speakers. He used gaming headphones with a USB dongle. Bluetooth earbuds were an option, but he found them less powerful and sometimes laggy. The Geekom has a 3.5 mm audio jack on the front, which PCWorld confirms. That is a wired option, but you still need something to plug in.
The lesson is that a small computer does not make a small workstation. Once you count the display, input devices, power brick and audio gear, the weight advantage can disappear.
Where the mini-PC wins: ports and a clean Windows install
Wazir praises the connectivity and the lack of bloatware. He lists two HDMI, six USB-A and two USB-C ports plus a card reader. PCWorld's spec list agrees on the port mix: two USB4 ports, six USB-A ports, two HDMI 2.0 outputs and two 2.5Gbit Ethernet ports. It also reports an SD card reader and Wi-Fi 7. CNX Software found that quad-display support through the two HDMI and two USB4 ports worked fine under Windows 11 Pro.
One thing to watch: the USB-C ports are the two USB4 ports on the back. PCWorld lists no USB-C port on the front as a drawback. If you plug in USB-C devices often, that could be annoying.
The upgradeability claim needs a caveat
Wazir's article argues that mini-PCs generally let you swap RAM and storage easily. That is true of many models, but not of the configuration he used. His spec box lists 24GB of memory, a 512GB drive and Intel Arc graphics.
- PCWorld lists the 24GB of LPDDR5 as not upgradeable.
- TechRadar calls the 24GB of soldered RAM non-upgradable and says the 500GB of storage will fill up quickly.
- TechPowerUp says buyers should consider whether the soldered memory and 500GB SSD will be enough over the long term.
Geekom's own page describes two memory options. The 24GB version prioritizes memory bandwidth, while a 16GB DDR5 SO-DIMM version can be upgraded to 96GB. Storage is more flexible. PCWorld notes a spare M.2-2242 slot and says Geekom supports up to 6TB in total.
If upgradeability is your reason for choosing a mini-PC, check which memory variant you are buying. Not every IT13 Max has the same RAM setup.
Price: "cheap" is relative
Wazir calls the machine cheap, but he gives no price. PCWorld lists $799 as the price when reviewed. TechPowerUp also cites $799 as the sale price for its review unit. That is cheap for a Core Ultra 9 machine with this many ports, but it isn't a budget-PC price. Prices change often, so check the current figure before buying.
His claim that a mini-PC costs far less than a similarly specced laptop is plausible. The sources here don't test it like for like, so treat it as his opinion.
Who should buy which?
| Situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Mostly work at a fixed desk, already own monitors and peripherals | Mini-PC |
| You need many ports, wired networking or several displays | Mini-PC |
| You want to replace just the computer if it fails, keeping your monitor and keyboard | Mini-PC |
| You work in cafés, trains or client offices | Laptop |
| You need battery power and an integrated screen and keyboard | Laptop |
| You want to upgrade RAM later | Check the exact model, since this one's 24GB is soldered |
Bottom line
Wazir's verdict is conditional: the mini-PC is a capable desktop replacement, and a laptop remains better for travel. He chose to keep his laptop because he often works on the road. The independent reviews support his view of the hardware as fast for office work and light gaming, with a very good port selection. They also show that his general point about easy upgrades doesn't apply to the 24GB version.
Think of a mini-PC as a good desk computer that can also travel, not as a laptop in a smaller box. If you need to work away from a plug, buy the laptop.