GEEKOM GT13 Pro Mini PC Review

The GEEKOM GT13 Pro is yet another mini PC powerhouse from a company that has a growing presence in the world of portable computing. On paper the model that I’m testing today, frankly looks outrageous in terms of raw power and I/O. This is made all the more unbelievable by the small size of the case. After testing the GT13 Pro for several weeks, across both professional and gaming applications, I’m ready to provide my thoughts in this review.

Don’t underestimate the GT13 Pro

Diving into the specs first, I have the higher-end model of the GT13 Pro. It comes equipped with an i9-13900H processor, boasting 14 cores and 20 threads, 32 GB of dual-channel DDR4-3200 RAM, and a 2 TB PCIe Gen 4×4 SSD.

If you didn’t already know what this PC looked like from the featured image above, you might think that, with those specs, it was a huge thing. But no, the GT13 Pro is tiny, coming in at 105.75 mm x 102.9 mm x 1.6 mm. This makes it perfect for those who need both power and portability, which can be a tough combination to find. For those with heavy editing and/or rendering workflows, whose workspaces are constantly changing or limited in space, mini PCs like this can be a critical companion.

Though there isn’t much room on the outside of the GT13 Pro due to how small it is, GEEKOM has still managed to cram in a bunch of I/O. Externally, you’ll find a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port and a USB 2.0 Type-A port on the rear. On the front, there is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port that supports Power Delivery, along with another USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port. It also features two USB 4 Gen 3 Type-C ports and a 3.5mm stereo headset jack on the front. On the back panel, there is an RJ45 port, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a DC input, and a power button. Last, but by no means least, is the SD card slot, which is ideal for photographers or videographers.

Internally, there’s one M.2 key-M slot for a PCIe x4 Gen 4 NVMe SSD, one M.2 key-B slot for SATA, and one M.2 2230 slot dedicated for WiFi connectivity.

Big wins for a small device

As you’d expect from the list of specs, the GT13 Pro is a strong performer in CPU-intensive tasks, easily handling my 4K video editing workload and large-format photo edits. You won’t need to worry about closing tabs or other programs, as this mini PC can handle them all being open and operating simultaneously.

Some might say the specs are overkill, but for those shopping for fantastic modern specs that they want to hold up for many years, the headroom on offer with the GT13 Pro – particularly the i9 variant – could well be worth it.

Future-proofing doesn’t just come down to the internal components either, as I/O can often be a weak point of smaller systems. This shouldn’t be an issue for users of this PC. The real highlight is seeing USB 4 Gen3, which will interface at extremely high speeds.

Like other GEEKOM PCs, the small size is one of the main advantages. Portability is an obvious boon, but so is the ability to mount the system under a desk, behind a monitor, or somewhere else out of sight, making for a very clean and minimal setup.

Gaming is perfectly possible if you target Esports titles or lower settings on more demanding games. Intel’s Iris Xe graphics is impressive tech, but don’t expect huge resolutions and/or frame rates.

Hot stuff

During my testing, cooling was the main limitation of the GT13 Pro. During short bursts, temperatures are fine and the CPU speeds remain impressive. However, for sustained loads, temperatures do get high and cause some throttling. This occurred during heavier video renders with multiple effects applied, which I feel is a reasonable benchmark.

GEEKOM does advertise its “IceBlast 1.5” cooling, which “utilizes special thermal conductive materials and larger fan blades for efficient heat dissipation, ensuring optimal performance and longevity…” However, its effectiveness has its limits, especially with the i9 that I’m testing.

The high temperatures don’t cause any crashes or anything like that, just reduced performance over time during a sustained intensity.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by GEEKOM.