Vortex Gaming

· The GMKTec G11 Mini PC is equipped with an AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 processor.
· A model with 16GB RAM and Windows 11 Pro is available for around $300.
· The barebone model (without RAM or storage) costs approximately $169.
· This review unit was provided free of charge by GMKTec, but they had no prior review or content editing.

· Front: 3 x 10Gbps USB 3 ports (1 x USB Type-C supporting DisplayPort output)
· Rear: 2 x 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports, 2 x HDMI 2.0 ports (supporting up to 4K 60Hz), 2 x 5Gbps USB-A ports, headphone/mic combo jack, power jack
· Supports simultaneous output to up to 3 x 4K 60Hz displays
· The USB Type-C port supports data transfer and display output but does not support power delivery.

· The 2.5Gbps Ethernet port performs as expected.
· The MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E wireless card delivers excellent performance with download speeds around 600Mbps and upload speeds around 1Gbps.
· Its high network performance suggests potential use as a pfSense router.

· BIOS offers 3 performance modes (Default, Performance).
· The Performance mode (25W TDP) offers improved performance compared to the Default mode (20W TDP).
· Fan noise may increase when using Performance mode.
· RAM and storage are upgradeable.
· Features 2 NVMe SSD slots (supports full-size NVMe, not mSATA).
· Supports DDR4 RAM, expandable up to 32GB.
· Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module is replaceable.

· The GMKTec G11 comes with pre-installed AI-related software such as GMK Tech Claw (estimated to be based on Open Claw) and Herdsman (Chinese interface).
· These applications have deep system access, which might be concerning for users.
· A clean Windows or Linux installation is recommended during initial setup.

· Provides smooth performance for everyday tasks like web browsing and Microsoft Office.
· Web browsing is fluid in a 4K 60Hz environment.
· Some frame drops occur during YouTube 4K 60fps video playback (AMD driver optimization needed).
· Browserbench.org Speedometer score: 12.7 (similar to Intel N300/N150).
· Performance below 30fps when running No Man's Sky at lowest 720p settings.
· PS2 emulation struggles to reach full speed at native resolution.
· 3DMark Time Spy score: 848 (slightly better graphics performance compared to competitors).
· 3DMark stress test: 95.7% pass (approx. 4% performance drop under sustained load, max temperature 60°C).

· Maximum power consumption: approx. 48W (under load).
· Idle power consumption: approx. 11-12W.
· Fan noise: The fan operates in Performance mode but is not overly distracting in typical usage.
· Recommended to use the Default performance mode for a quieter experience.

· All features, including video, audio, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, work correctly after installing and testing the latest Ubuntu version.
· Shows more efficient performance in Linux compared to Windows.
· A suitable platform for users who want to use Linux as their main operating system.

· Due to the AMD processor, Plex Media Server hardware transcoding support is limited.
· Hardware transcoding is not possible in Linux.
· In Windows, 480p down-transcoding with H.264 codec is possible, but CPU usage spikes and buffering occur when transcoding 4K HDR video.
· Intel-based mini PCs offer better performance for Plex server use.

· The GMKTec G11 offers decent value for basic desktop tasks, web browsing, and small Docker server use.
· Can be built for under $200 if you already have RAM and storage.
· However, it has clear limitations for high-end gaming, complex emulation, and high-quality video transcoding.
· It's a viable option to consider among affordable mini PCs in the current market.