Geekom AS6: Packing a Ryzen 9 Punch in a Pint-Sized Mini PC

The world of mini PCs continues to reach impressive new heights. Each year, manufacturers manage to cram more power and connectivity into amazingly compact spaces – no easy feat when it comes to balancing thermals and noise.

The Geekom AS6 stands poised to push benchmarks even further with the absolute latest AMD has to offer, all while retaining a footprint no larger than a small book. I‘ve put this petite powerhouse through its paces to see if it truly earns the "master of work and play" mantle. Read on for the full scoop.

Overview

Released mid-2023, the AS6 marks Geekom‘s newest salvo into the hotly-contested mini PC arena. Long popular for its Mini IT8 system in years prior, Geekom enjoys an established reputation for quality, compact builds to rival veteran Intel NUC models.

The AS6 shrinks things down even further, measuring just 6.1 x 6.1 x 2.36 inches yet packing serious processing muscle:

Geekom AS6 Technical Specifications

Prices range from $899 (Ryzen 9/32GB/1TB) to roughly $650 (Ryzen 7/16GB/512GB), positioning the AS6 squarely between budget desktops and boutique builders. But mini PCs have always commanded a premium thanks to their diminutive dimensions. Does the AS6 justify its price tag? Let‘s dig in…

Design – Understated Yet Capable

Clad in simple black plastic with a touch of diamond plate pattern, the AS6 wastes no effort on flashy aesthetics. Two ridges run laterally across the chassis, vaguely reminiscent of the original Xbox One‘s design cues.athom

Geekom AS6 (left) next to an Xbox One S (right) for scale.

A single subtle RGB "G" logo beneath the power button provides the only real flair. But for a PC meant to hide behind monitors or TVs, flashy looks hardly matter. The AS6 simply gets the job done, minimalism and all.

The Good:

• Sturdy construction that feels durable
• VESA mounting bracket for placement behind screens
• RGB lighting can be disabled entirely

The Bad:

• Lacking panache for those wanting to show off
• Plastic materials attract fingerprints

Ultimately, the AS6 passes aesthetic muster given its intent as a backdrop device. Just don‘t expect your friends to ooh and aah upon first sight.

Ports and Connectivity – Abundant Options

Many mini PCs sacrifice connectivity at the altar of compactness. Not so with the AS6 – its port selection impresses across the board.

Up front you‘ll find a smattering of everyday essentials:

• 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2
• 1x USB-C 3.2
• Headphone/mic combo jack
• Power button

Rotate around back and your options expand further still:

• 1x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4
• 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2
• 2x HDMI 2.1
• 1x DisplayPort 1.4
• 2.5GbE LAN

You‘ll be hard-pressed to find a device without an appropriate hookup here. The Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port enables speedy access for external SSDs. Gamers will appreciate the multitude of displays supported through HDMI and DP.

And for those wanting the lowest latency possible, the 2.5Gbps wired LAN beats Wi-Fi hands down. Even better, the AS6 bundles Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 as well, leaving no stone unturned on the wireless front either.

The Good:

• HDMI, DP, and Thunderbolt 4 ensure monitor compatibility
• 2.5GbE LAN for lag-free multiplayer gaming
• Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 onboard

The Bad:

• Rear port labeling hard to read

If connectivity tops your mini PC priorities, the well-appointed AS6 checks all the boxes and then some.

Performance Benchmarks – Punching Above Its Weight

Don‘t let the AS6‘s diminutive chassis fool you – it packs quite the punch, rivaling and even exceeding full-size desktops. Credit goes to AMD‘s impressively efficient Ryzen 6000 mobile processors, enabling workstation-like performance in pint-sized proportions.

I put the AS6 through a battery of synthetic and real-world tests to quantify its capabilities across CPU, GPU, storage, and more.

CPU Benchmarks

The Ryzen 9 6900HX lays waste to benchmarks, flexing its 8 cores and 16 threads with aplomb:

Cinebench R23

• Multi-Core: 18,215 points
• Single-Core: 1,ett points

Geekbench 5

• Multi-Core: 13,333 points
• Single-Core: 1,868 points

As expected, heavily threaded workloads like video editing and 3D rendering absolutely sing on the 6900HX. But even single-thread reliant tasks seldom slow down, speaking to the chip‘s impressive 4.9GHz peak boost velocity.

Temperatures remained relatively cool as well thanks to the AS6‘s capable cooling design:

Geekom AS6 CPU Temperature Benchmarks

Only punishing stress tests like Prime95 pushed the limits, averaging around 80°C most of the time. Noise levels rose accordingly but remained tolerable. Light tasks kept the fans whisper-quiet.

GPU Benchmarks

With no discrete graphics onboard, the AS6 instead leans on AMD‘s integrated Radeon 680M solution. Based on the 6nm process, it promises up to a 2x perf bump over past integrated offerings.

To quantify its capabilities, I ran the AS6 through UL‘s 3DMark benchmark suite:

Time Spy (DirectX 12): 4,621 points
Fire Strike (DirectX 11): 15,555 points

The AS6 effectively matches a desktop-class Nvidia GTX 1650 or 1060 3GB in capability. Considering its size and price bracket, those numbers seem perfectly adequate for 1080p gaming or visually-intensive productivity work.

I also checked a few real-world titles, with the following takeaways:

• Esports games (Rocket League, Valorant, etc.) easily surpass 144 FPS on high settings
• AAA games (Assassin‘s Creed, Cyberpunk 2077) manage 50-90 FPS on medium
• Demanding simulators (MS Flight Sim) require lower resolutions/settings for smooth gameplay

Of course, the latest blockbusters will require compromises in visual fidelity. But for indie titles and anything released ~3 years back, the AS6 handles 1080p gaming like a champ.

The Good:

• Great 1080p gaming performance for older/indie titles
• Matches GTX 1650/1060 3GB capability
• Excellent for 2D work, photo/video editing

The Bad:

• Won‘t drive AAA games on high settings
• Upgradability limited by form factor

If your needs center around esports, emulation, or visually-intensive productivity rather than cutting-edge AAA spectacle, the integrated Radeon 680M perfectly fits the bill. Those wanting more pixel-pushing muscle may need to look elsewhere, however.

Storage, Memory, and More

The AS6 leaves little room for complaint with its high-speed storage and memory capabilities:

• Sequential Reads: 7,000 MB/s (PCIe 4.0 SSD)
• Memory: 32GB DDR5-4800 in dual channel mode

Paired with the Ryzen 9 processor, the AS6 absolutely demolishes workflow tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, rigorous multitasking, and beyond. You‘ll be hard-pressed to slow this mini monster down.

As configured, my 1TB SK hynix Platinum P41 SSD kept Windows 11 and games happy with tons of room to spare. But two open M.2 slots plus a 2.5" SATA bay allow ample expansion down the road.

Is the AS6 Worth Buying? – It Depends…

The Geekom AS6 crams an astounding amount of performance into a frame no larger than an external DVD drive. If your use case fits its strengths, few machines pack so much punch per cubic inch.

Ideal Buyers:

• Space-constrained gamers wanting 1080p smoothness
• Video editors and content creators needing portability
• Those building compact, capable home theater PCs
• Anyone needing workstation chops in a petite package

However, the quest for small size brings inevitable tradeoffs. Before buying, think carefully about whether the AS6 fits your specific needs and priorities.

Not Ideal For:

• AAA gamers wanting bleeding-edge fidelity
• Tinkerers who value component swapping/upgrading
• Those seeking good looks along with functionality

In the end, if you can live within the constraints of its form factor, the premium craftsmanship and no-compromise AMD power under the AS6‘s hood brings spectacular bang for the buck. For the right buyer, it delivers huge capability in the smallest possible space.