GEEKOM A9 Max Mini-PC, AMD Ryzen AI Halo Developer Platform, RX 9070 GRE GPU, and more
Reviewers tested the updated GEEKOM A9 Max Mini-PC powered by AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor, though single-channel RAM still throttles the integrated Radeon 890M graphics. AMD also introduced the Strix Halo developer platform featuring the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip, positioning it as a direct rival to NVIDIA's DGX Spark and Apple's Mac Mini. AIO liquid coolers from CPS PCCOOLER and Xastra bring high-resolution LCD panels and retro ARGB matrix lighting to the thermal market, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE continues to draw attention in 1440p gaming benchmarks. The roundup also covers the Epomaker TH80 V2 mechanical keyboard and a GIGABYTE X870E board featuring genuine wood accents, rounding out a week of desktop and workstation hardware testing. Computers: GEEKOM A9 Max (2026 Update) Review, Ryzen AI Halo Review: AMD's DGX Spark And Mac Mini Challenger Tested, AMD Ryzen AI Halo review: AMD builds a DGX Spark of its own
Cooling: CPS PCCOOLER GT360 ARGB & DT360 ARGB High Performance AIO CPU Coolers Review, Xastra ASTRA LZ360 ARGB BK Liquid CPU Cooler Review
Graphics Cards: AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE Video Card Review
Input: Epomaker TH80 V2 Review
Motherboards: GIGABYTE X870E Aero X3D Dark Wood Review - A woody goody
GEEKOM A9 Max Mini-PC, AMD Ryzen AI Halo Developer Platform, RX 9070 GRE GPU, and more
The GEEKOM A9 Max Mini-PC has been updated with AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor, but its performance is limited by single-channel RAM affecting the Radeon 890M graphics. AMD has also introduced the Ryzen AI Halo developer platform, featuring the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip, which competes with NVIDIA's DGX Spark and Apple's Mac Mini. Additionally, new AIO liquid coolers with high-resolution LCD screens and retro ARGB lighting have emerged in the cooling market, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE continues to perform well in 1440p gaming benchmarks. The roundup also includes reviews of various peripherals, including the Epomaker TH80 V2 mechanical keyboard and the GIGABYTE X870E motherboard with wooden accents
