GMKtec Gaming Mini PC K8 Plus Review | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS 32GB DDR5 RAM

If you want desktop-class performance without the bulky tower, the GMKtec K8 Plus is a compact monster aimed at gamers, creators, coders, and power users who need speed, connectivity, and silence in a tiny footprint. Packing AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (8 cores/16 threads, up to 5.1 GHz), 32 GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1 TB PCIe NVMe SSD, it handles everything from 1080p/1440p gaming to 4K media and heavy multitasking — all while sipping power compared to traditional desktops.

Add Dual 2.5G Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, and USB4 (40 Gbps with DisplayPort Alt Mode), and you’ve got a mini rig that’s equally at home on a battlestation, in a creator studio, or racked beside a NAS.

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Design & Build Quality

The K8 Plus looks sharp and professional: a compact metal chassis with precision vents, soft edges, and a minimalist badge that keeps it “office-friendly” while still feeling premium on a gaming desk. At roughly the size of a small paperback, it sits cleanly under a monitor, hides behind a TV, or mounts to a VESA bracket.

Inside, GMKtec uses a copper heat-pipe + dual-fan layout to move heat quietly and efficiently. The bottom cover opens with a few screws for easy access to memory and storage, so you can expand or service the unit in minutes. Build quality feels robust — no creaks, no cheap plastics — just a dense, well-engineered mini.

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CPU & Real-World Performance (Ryzen 7 8845HS)

AMD’s Ryzen 7 8845HS is the star here: 8 Zen-4 cores and 16 threads with boosts up to 5.1 GHz deliver desktop-like snappiness in a 35–54 W envelope. In daily use it’s instant — apps pop open, big spreadsheets scroll smoothly, and compiles or encodes complete far quicker than on ultrabooks.

With 32 GB DDR5 you can keep dozens of browser tabs, Slack/Teams, Lightroom, and a code editor open while rendering or exporting in the background. The 1 TB PCIe SSD launches projects in seconds and moves large files rapidly; there’s ample headroom for Steam libraries or 4K footage.

Whether you’re running photo/video workflows, virtual machines, or Docker containers, the K8 Plus feels like a scaled-down workstation — minus the noise and power bill.

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Graphics, Gaming & Media

The 8845HS includes RDNA-based Radeon 780M-class integrated graphics (naming varies by batch, but performance is consistently strong for an iGPU). Expect:

• Esports shooters (Valorant/CS2/Fortnite/Apex): 90–140 FPS at 1080p on optimized settings.
• AAA titles (Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon, RDR2): Playable at 1080p Medium with upscaling (FSR) and tuned presets; many games hover 45–60 FPS.
• Creative workloads: GPU acceleration for timelines, effects, and AI filters in modern editors.
• HTPC duties: Smooth 4K HDR playback plus hardware decode of modern codecs.

Want more? The USB4 port supports eGPU enclosures. Plug in a desktop GPU and jump to high-refresh 1440p or 4K gaming when you need it — while keeping the footprint tiny the rest of the time.

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Triple-Display & High-Refresh Outputs

For productivity or sim setups, the K8 Plus drives triple displays with ease:

• HDMI 2.1: 4K up to 120–144 Hz (panel-dependent) for buttery-smooth desktop and gaming.
• USB4 (DP Alt Mode): 4K high-refresh or 6K/8K creative monitors (bandwidth permitting).
• (Model-dependent DisplayPort or second HDMI on some configs.)

Designers get expansive canvas space; traders and developers can keep dashboards, IDEs, and docs all visible; gamers enjoy high-refresh 1080p/1440p on the main screen plus side displays for chat, OBS, or stats.

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Dual 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi & I/O for Power Users

One of the K8 Plus’s killer features is Dual 2.5G Ethernet. Use cases include:

• Link aggregation to a multi-gig switch/NAS for faster LAN transfers.
• Soft-router/firewall roles (pfSense/OPNsense) with WAN/LAN separation.
• Direct-to-NAS editing for creators moving big 4K assets.
• Segmented networks for work/home lab isolation.

Alongside the dual NICs you get USB4 (40 Gbps), multiple USB-A 10 Gbps, HDMI 2.1, an audio combo jack, and modern Wi-Fi with Bluetooth for peripherals and controllers. It’s everything a compact workstation needs — fast, flexible, and ready for serious workflows.

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Thermals, Acoustics & Power Draw

Mini PCs live or die by thermals — and the K8 Plus is impressively well-tuned. Under light use it’s almost silent; fans spin up smoothly under heavy loads without the “whoosh” you hear in thin laptops. In a typical office or living room, it fades into the background.

Power efficiency is a major perk: the K8 Plus idles in the single-digit watts and peaks far below conventional towers. Over a year of daily use, that can translate to meaningful energy savings — especially if you leave machines on for remote access, downloads, or home-lab services.

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Storage & Memory Upgrades

Out of the box you get 32 GB DDR5 and a fast 1 TB NVMe SSD. Need more? The chassis makes upgrades simple:

• RAM: User-accessible SODIMMs (config varies by batch); dual-channel keeps the iGPU fed.
• Storage: Room for an additional NVMe/SATA drive in many configs (check your SKU), ideal for splitting OS/apps and project/media libraries.

For creators, that means a clean OS drive plus a dedicated scratch/project SSD — a best-practice workflow rarely possible on ultra-compact devices.

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Everyday Experience

This is where the GMKtec K8 Plus earns its keep. It boots almost instantly, wakes from sleep like a phone, and shrugs off multitasking. You can:

• Edit photos and short-form videos while syncing cloud files and streaming music.
• Run two or three monitors with VS Code, Docker, a browser with 20+ tabs, and Teams — no stutter.
• Play games after work without swapping machines or dragging a laptop to the TV.
• Host Plex, Home Assistant, or lightweight VMs while still using it as your daily desktop.

It’s versatile in a way that changes habits: you stop compromising and start doing more from a tiny box you barely notice.

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Who It’s For

• PC gamers wanting a compact 1080p performer (with optional eGPU path for 1440p/4K).
• Content creators who value triple-display workflows, USB4 docks, and fast storage.
• Developers/engineers running containers, local LLMs, or multiple services.
• Home-lab and NAS enthusiasts leveraging Dual 2.5G LAN for multi-gig networks.
• Hybrid workers & small studios needing a quiet, low-power desktop replacement.

If your desk space is limited but your expectations aren’t, the K8 Plus hits a uniquely powerful sweet spot.

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Pros & Cons

✔️ Pros

• Ryzen 7 8845HS (8C/16T, up to 5.1 GHz) delivers desktop-grade speed
• 32 GB DDR5 + 1 TB NVMe = instant multitasking and fast project loads
• Dual 2.5G Ethernet for link aggregation, routing, and creator-grade networking
• USB4 (40 Gbps) with DP Alt Mode + HDMI 2.1 for high-refresh 4K and docks/eGPU
• Triple-display support for serious productivity setups
• Quiet, efficient cooling in a durable metal chassis
• Easy access for RAM/SSD upgrades
• Excellent performance-per-watt vs. ATX towers

❌ Cons

• iGPU is strong for its class but not a substitute for a high-end discrete GPU
• Peak fan noise can appear during sustained AAA sessions (manageable)
• Some SKUs vary on extra M.2/SATA bays — check configuration before buying
• No front USB-C on some batches (port layout may differ by region)

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Final Verdict

The GMKtec K8 Plus is a mini PC with big-rig ambition: Ryzen 7 horsepower, modern RDNA graphics, USB4 + HDMI 2.1, and Dual 2.5G LAN — all in a sleek chassis that disappears on your desk. It’s fast enough to be your daily driver, flexible enough to be your studio hub, and efficient enough to run 24/7 services without guilt.

For gamers, coders, and creators who want maximum capability in minimum space, this is one of the most compelling compact desktops of 2025. Pair it with a USB4 dock or an eGPU down the line, and it grows with your ambitions — a future-proof, do-everything micro-workhorse that outperforms its size and price class.

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