GMKtec K12 “AMD Ryzen 7 H 255” Mini PC Review – Strong Specs & IO For Just $409 US

GMKtec has been making Mini PCs for years now. They are based out of the technology hub of Shenzen, China, and have maintained strategic partnerships with AMD, Intel & Microsoft, and currently offer a wide array of solutions, all the way from entry-level to enthusiast-grade designs based on mobility chips from AMD & Intel.

While we have looked at several of GMKtec Mini PC options in the past, ranging from AMD & Intel CPUs, the company has introduced a new AMD model recently, the K12 NucBox, which features an AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 CPU along with solid IO interfaces, all for a price of just $409 US.

GMKtec K12 Mini PC - Specifications At A Glance

The GMKtec K12 Mini PC is equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 CPU.  Our unit was decked out with the Ryzen 7 H 255, DDR5-5600 32 GB (16 GB x2) SO-DIMM memory, and a 1 TB PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 M.2 drive. There are three M.2 slots, so you can get up to 24 TB (8 TB each) capacity for your storage needs.

Coming to the specifications, the GMKtec K12 Mini PC features the AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 CPU, which features 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 4 core architecture, 16 MB of L3 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and a boost clock of up to 4.90 GHz. The CPU has a base TDP of 45W and can be adjusted to 35 or 54W. The interesting thing about this chip is that it's China-specific and is part of the Hawk Point "Ryzen 200" family. It is based on the same TSMC 4nm process technology and is designed to be a mainstream solution.

For the GPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 is packing a Radeon 780M chip, which features a total of 12 CUs and clocks up to 2.6 GHz. The Radeon 780M iGPU supports all the latest APIs and AI Frameworks. Plus, RDNA 3 also supports the latest upscaling and frame generation features, such as FSR 2, FSR 3, FSR 3 Frame-Gen, and AFMF2, while adding advanced latency reduction technologies such as Anti-Lag 2. No NPU support is offered on the APU.

Other specs for the GMKtec K12 Mini PC include 32 GB DDR5-5600 (Dual-Channel) memory. The Mini PC also comes with a 64 GB memory option and can be upgraded to 128 GB. Storage comes in the form of three M.2 2280 (1 x Gen4x4 & 2 x Gen4x2) slots that support up to 8 TB capacities (each). One of these slots is populated by a 1 TB SSD (Gen4x4).

I/O on the GMKtec K12 Mini PC includes a 3.5mm combo jack, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, 1x USB 2.0 port, the power button, and the Clear CMOS button on the front. The backside features the DC port, another 3.5mm combo jack, HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4 display outputs, an Oculink port, 1x USB4 port, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 port, 1x USB 2.0 port, and dual 2.5GbE LAN ports. The following are the main features of the Mini PC:

• Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 H255 processor: 8 cores, 16 threads, Zen 4 architecture
• AMD Radeon 780M: RDNA 3 graphics architecture
• 2 x DDR5 5600 MT/S SO-DIMMs
• Maximum memory support: 128GB
• Maximum storage capacity: 24TB
• 2 x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x 2 SSDs
• 1 x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x 4 SSD
• OcuLink port (PCIe Gen4 x4): Connect an external RTX 4060 graphics card for a seamless AAA gaming experience
• Quad-display support, up to 8K 120Hz refresh rate
• HDMI 2.1 + DP1.4 + USB4 + Type-C
• Quiet and noiseless VC vapor chamber with dilute conductive heat dissipation
• Arctic Ocean dual fan cooling, unleashing 70W of performance, icy coolness without any noise
• Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, dual 2.5G Ethernet ports

GMKtec K12 Mini PC - Unboxing & A Closer Look

The GMKtec K12 Mini PC comes in a silver colored cardboard package, which has a simplistic look with a "GMKtec" logo on the front.

The back of the box has some basic specifications that list the specific configuration for this model. We got the AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 variant with 32 GB of memory and 1 TB of storage capacity.

Within the box, you get a guide and a warranty holder alongside two separate boxes, which contain the power cord, an HDMI cable, and the adapter.

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The adapter is a 120W brick, which is more than enough to power the K12.

GMKtec's Mini PCs really do stand out from the rest of the market offerings, with a stylish dual-tone design. The front cover is all metallic with a silver hue, while the chassis is a mix of an outer plastic shell with an internal aluminum frame.

There are three exhaust vents/ports on the EVO X2. One under the top frame, one around the rear IO, and one on the sides. These ensure that the PC receives adequate airflow and remains cool with higher heat dissipation through the vents.

The front I/O on the GMKtec K12 Mini PC comes with a single 3.5mm audio jack, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, 1 x USB 2.0 port, a power button with LED, and a Clear CMOS switch.

The back I/O of the GMKtec K12 features HDMI 2.1 + DP 1.4 for display, a 3.5mm combo jack, the power "DC" port, 1 x USB4 port, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 port, 1 x USB 2.0 port, and dual 2.5GbE LAN ports.

The back side has large vents that push air out of the chassis. The side also features rubber feet so that the PC can sit vertically.

The interiors of the Mini PC can be accessed by removing four screws at the bottom. Upon removing the cover, you are met with two fans, one is a standard 92mm design which cools down the backside that holds the SSD and memory, and the other is a blower-type design which cools the Ryzen 7 H 255 CPU. GMKtec has equipped the K12 with a vapor chamber heatsink, providing better heat dissipation & better cooling.

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The two upgradable parts of the K12 include the memory, which includes two SO-DIMM slots that can hold up to 128 GB capacities. And there are three M.2 slots, which can hold 8 TB capacities each for up to 24 TB of storage capacity.

GMKtec K12 Mini PC - CPU Performance

For performance testing, we used the 65W power profile for the AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 when testing the GMKtec K12 Mini PC.

GMKtec K12 Mini PC - 1080p Integrated GPU Performance

For gaming, we tested a couple of the latest and most played esports titles, along with a mix of AAA titles at 1080p resolution. The performance was measured between the AMD Radeon 890M, Radeon 780, Radeon 680M, AMD Vega 8, Vega 7, Vega 6, Intel Iris Xe, and Intel Iris Xe-LP integrated graphics.

GMKtec K12 Mini PC - Thermals & Power Consumption

The following are the power and thermal numbers of the GMKtec K12 Mini PC using its 65W (Performance profile).

Conclusion - Perfect Mini PC Experience For Just $400

GMKtec's K12 Mini PC is a powerhouse at its respective price point. Featuring 8 Zen 4 cores, a Radeon 780M iGPU, and support for high memory and storage capacities, this Mini PC is priced right and performs really well throughout the tests we ran on it.

IO such as USB4, dual 2.5GbE LAN, and even support for Oculink is great. Plus, the triple M.2 config will ensure that users will never run out of storage space on this compact Mini PC. The dual-fan cooling setup also works great, with the CPU staying below 70 °C across all of the tests we ran. As for gaming performance, the 780M iGPU still offers decent performance, and with features such as AFMF2, Anti-Lag 2, and FSR3, it makes for a perfect table-top experience.

The GMKtec K12 Mini PC is currently available at a starting price of $409.99 US with the base config priced at $549.99 US. You can purchase the Mini PC at the following links:

Global Website:

• K12 Barebones
• K12 32GB+1TB
• K12 64+1TB

Amazon (US):

• K12 Barebones
• K12 32GB+1TB
• K12 64+1TB

Amazon (CA):

• K12 32+1TB
• K12 64+1TB

Amazon (UK):

• K12 32+1T
• K12 64+1T

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