The compact GEEKOM IT13 Max combines powerful performance and expansive connectivity in a 0.9-litre chassis, offering a compelling option for creative professionals and small office users despite thermal challenges.
GEEKOM’s IT13 Max is a compact Intel Core Ultra 9 185H mini PC that aims to deliver desktop-class performance in a 0.9-litre chassis. In testing on Windows 11 Pro, it proved capable of handling the sort of mixed workload that matters most for small office use, home labs and light creative work: multiple displays, fast storage, wired and wireless networking and sustained media playback. The review also highlights a familiar trade-off in small systems: the machine is quick, but it still runs hot and can become audible under load.
Windows identified the system as an IT13_Max with 24GB of LPDDR5 memory and a roughly 500GB Kingston NVMe SSD, while hardware tools confirmed Intel Arc integrated graphics and an Intel AI Boost NPU. The unit includes dual 2.5GbE ports, an Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 module, Bluetooth support and two USB4 ports alongside four USB-A ports. GEEKOM also says the model supports up to 64GB of DDR5 memory, dual M.2 storage and a 2.5-inch SATA drive, though the review sample shipped with a more modest memory and storage configuration. According to GEEKOM’s product pages, the design is aimed at users who want a small workstation for video editing, development, 3D work and general multitasking.
Day-to-day responsiveness was strong. PCMark 10 returned 7,040 points, Cinebench R23 produced 1,792 in single-core and 14,895 in multi-core testing, and 3DMark Fire Strike reached 7,906. The SSD was also respectable, with CrystalDiskMark showing read speeds above 5,400MB/s and write speeds above 3,200MB/s. AI testing with Geekbench AI using OpenVINO showed the GPU ahead of the CPU and NPU, which is consistent with the higher graphics throughput of the integrated Intel Arc hardware. The review notes that software support for the NPU appears to have improved since earlier Meteor Lake systems were tested.
Media and connectivity results were equally solid. Firefox handled YouTube playback at 4K and 8K with very few or no dropped frames in most tests, including 8K at 60fps. Both 2.5GbE ports delivered about 2.37Gbps in each direction in iperf testing, while Wi-Fi 6 performance on a Xiaomi AX6000 router reached 1.78Gbps down and 1.74Gbps up. The USB layout also performed as specified, with the USB4 ports reaching about 3.15GB/s read speeds and the USB 3.2 ports delivering roughly 1.03GB/s. The machine also drove four displays at once through its HDMI and USB4 outputs.
The main weakness is thermals. Under combined CPU and GPU stress, the processor climbed to 103C and HWiNFO reported throttling on several P cores. Fan noise remained modest at idle but rose into the low-to-mid 50dBA range under sustained benchmark loads. Power draw was also in line with a high-performance mini PC, peaking at just over 80W at the wall during the first moments of heavy CPU work before settling lower. Even so, the review’s conclusion is that most users are unlikely to notice the modest benchmark gap versus GEEKOM’s earlier GT1 Mega, and may instead value the improvements in driver support and NPU detection. GEEKOM lists the IT13 Max at $735 in the reviewed configuration, with a second 16GB DDR5 and 1TB SSD version priced similarly.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
