Quick Summary
Mini PC manufacturer GMKtec has added a powerhouse compact gaming rig to its lineup.
The NEO-X1 comes in two models, with the Pro variant offering RTX 5070 graphics, 64GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD in a liquid cooled metal case.
GMKtec is no stranger to compact and mini PCs offering a lengthy lineup of Intel and AMD-based models for all budgets. It has recently also launched a true powerhouse workstation that packs Strix Halo processing and 128GB of RAM into a super slim case, showing its ambitions at the top end of the spectrum.
However, the latest announcement is arguably more exciting – not least for those humming and hawing over a Steam Machine purchase. The GMKtec NEO-X1 is a compact gaming PC with the sort of power that makes Valve's PC console look like a kids' toy.
And what's more, while the starting price is a bit more than a 2TB Steam Machine, you might be convinced to extend your budget a tad for the extra goodies.
There are two NEO-X1 models that will be available globally from 17 August. Both run on AMD Ryzen 9 CPUs, with the standard version sporting the 9955HX with the Pro edition boosting that to the 9955HX3D chip.
The standard NEO-X1 also comes with the mobile RTX 5060 Ti GPU (8GB), plus 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD preinstalled. The NEO-X1 Pro ups the graphics to Nvidia's mobile version of the RTX 5070 (12GB) and doubles the RAM and storage, to 64GB and 2TB respectively.
GMKtec NEO-X1: highly upgradeable
Both variants can be upgraded manually, with two DDR5 RAM slots capable of expansion up to 96GB, and dual PCIe5.0 slots for up to 16TB.
You get Wi-Fi 7 and 2,5G Ethernet for connectivity, while up to six displays can be served through multiple video outputs – HDMI 2.1b, HDMI 2.1, 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, and DisplayPort 1.4.
There's liquid cooling inside too, plus a three-fan airflow architecture in its 14.6L metal chassis case. This measures 350 x 165mm so is admittedly larger than a Steam Machine, but it's still not full desktop PC sized.
Power comes from an internal 850W power supply.
Naturally, this PC will be capable of pretty much you want to chuck at it – content creation, AI workloads, video and image rendering – but it's primarily designed to be a premium gaming option.
We've not yet had the opportunity to test one ourselves, but are excited by the prospect that, now Steam OS supports Nvidia graphics, it could become a customised Steam Machine V2.0. It's not yet been confirmed, but we're almost certain it comes with Windows 11 preinstalled.
Now down to the price. The GMKtec NEO-X1 will be available for £1,629.99 in the UK, $2,099.99 Stateside. The NEO-X1 Pro will be £2,079.99 / $2,899.99. There's also a £50/$50 early bird discount if you sign up for more information on the company's site.
Considering the 2TB Steam Machine with controller costs £1,208 in the UK, the extra £400 could be a very worthwhile consideration. The power difference is quite pronounced.
It's the difference between playing AAA games in 1440p or 4K with ray tracing, really.
