Introduction
In the competitive market of compact computers, Geekom has made a significant impact with its mini PC offerings, including the Geekom XT12 Pro (Intel). This review examines the XT12 Pro, which is powered by a Core i9-12900H processor and equipped with 32 GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, operating on Windows 11 Professional. Despite its compact size, the XT12 Pro includes advanced features such as WIFI6E, 2.5 GigE ethernet, and quick USB ports.
The GEEKOM XT12 Pro mini PC showcases significant computing power with its 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor. This 14-core Alder Lake processor operates with a maximum frequency of 5 GHz is equipped to handle high-resolution video outputs up to 8K and can support up to four 4K displays simultaneously. It also features advanced connectivity options including 2.5Gbps Ethernet, and supports WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, enhancing its wireless communication capabilities. In terms of memory and storage, the XT12 Pro is capable of supporting up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM and offers substantial storage configurations with options for a 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD and a secondary 1TB M.2 SATA SSD. This allows for versatile storage solutions that cater to both speed and capacity requirements. The device also includes a range of USB connectivity options with multiple ports: USB4, USB 3.2, and USB 2.0, catering to various peripheral connections. Additionally, it features a 3.5mm stereo audio headset jack and a Kensington lock slot for security. For this review, GEEKOM provided a unit configured with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| SoC | 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H 14-core/20-thread (6P+8E) Alder Lake processor @ up to 5.00 GHz (P-cores) or 3.80 GHz (E-Cores) with Intel Iris Xe Graphics; PBP: 45W |
| System Memory | Up to 64GB dual-channel DDR4-3200MHz SODIMM |
| Storage | M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD Up to 2 TB M.2 2242 SATA SSD socket up to 1 TB |
| Video Output | 2x HDMI 2.0 2x DisplayPort via USB4 ports up to 8K resolution Up to 4x 4K independent displays |
| Audio | 3.5mm audio jack |
| Networking | 2.5GbE RJ45 jack WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 via M.2 module |
| USB | 2x USB 4 “Gen3” Type-C ports with Power Delivery (PD) and DisplayPort Alt. mode supports 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports including one with Power delivery support 1x USB 2.0 Type-A port |
| Misc | Power button Power LED (White) Kensington Lock slot |
| Power Supply | 19V/6.32A via DC jack |
| Dimensions | 117 x 111 x 38.5 cm |
The Intel Core i9-12900H, introduced in early 2022, is a high-performance mobile CPU designed for laptops, based on Intel's Alder Lake architecture. This processor combines 6 performance cores (P-cores) using the Golden Cove architecture and 8 efficiency cores (E-cores) based on the Gracemont architecture. The P-cores are Hyper-Threading enabled, allowing for a total of 20 threads in conjunction with the E-cores. Performance cores in the i9-12900H operate within a clock speed range of 2.5 GHz to 5 GHz, while the efficiency cores have a lower frequency range of 1.8 GHz to 3.8 GHz. The efficiency cores' performance is comparable to Intel's older Skylake cores, for instance, the Core i7-6920HQ. The entire CPU can access up to 24 MB of L3 cache, facilitating improved data retrieval speeds and processing efficiency.
Unlike its counterpart, the 12900HK, the 12900H does not support an open multiplier for overclocking; however, it includes a full set of Enterprise-level vPro features for enhanced remote management capabilities. The integrated memory controller of the i9-12900H supports a variety of memory types, including DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, LPDDR5-5200, and LPDDR4x-4267, allowing for flexible memory solutions based on performance needs and power efficiency. Intel's Thread Director hardware assists the operating system in optimizing thread assignment between the performance and efficiency cores, enhancing overall computational effectiveness, especially in multitasking environments. For artificial intelligence (AI) related tasks, the CPU integrates GNA 3.0 and DL Boost technologies, utilizing AVX2 instructions to boost processing capabilities. Intel Quick Sync Video, now in its 8th iteration as seen in Rocket Lake CPUs, supports a comprehensive range of codecs including MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1, JPEG, VP8, VP9, HEVC, and AV1, facilitating efficient video decoding tasks. Graphically, the i9-12900H includes an integrated GPU based on Intel's Xe architecture, featuring 96 Execution Units (EUs) that can reach up to 1.45 GHz. This integration allows for moderate gaming and multimedia processing capabilities without the need for an additional discrete graphics card.
From a power consumption perspective, the i9-12900H has a minimum assured power draw of 35W, with a typical base power consumption of 45W. Under maximum turbo conditions, recommended by Intel, the CPU can consume up to 115W. This processor is manufactured using Intel's 4th generation 10nm technology, referred to as Intel 7, which aims to optimize power efficiency relative to its performance output.
