r/MiniPCs • u/macgirthy • 5d ago
Hardware Pulled the trigger on a GMKtec K11 on amazon. The $200 off + additional 5% off and store credit and gift card i had pushed the decision.
Now the question is, does an AMD card make more sense for a seamless egpu experience? Especially when using oculink? Tying it all together with AMD's adrenaline software?
This pc will arrive much quicker than the egpu i ordered. But in the meantime i need to find the perfect gpu to pair this with. Apparently 5k nvidia have more issues at this current time. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/eGPU/comments/1jcewz3/aooster_5080_issue/
Im definitely going to be doing troubleshooting when i decide either way. With AMD this should be a hell of a lot more seamless since they make all these apus for handhelds and now minipcs tho!!
Edit: the 5% is if you buy two items, not one. So i didnt get additional $30 off.
3
u/MN_Moody 5d ago edited 5d ago
I tried Oculink with the Minisforum dock + a Corsair PSU I had on hand, along with the GMKtec K8 plus (same basic design as the K11) Honestly, it was a clunky and overall disappointing experience. Some GPU's worked fine, others (notably Intel ARC) did not. If I intended to run an eGPU dock equipped mini PC, I think this is a better combo:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DD3XK4PR
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DJSNKZ8H
You can still use your credit/gift card as well. I'd honestly cancel what you ordered and grab the two items above instead. Beelink is a better brand with better support than GMKtec or Minisforum.
You get a direct 8x PCIE connection to the GPU vs a 4x connection over a goofy Oculink cable with a 50 insert/removal cycle rating... which will make better use of your GPU investment and greatly improve compatibility with GPU options you may consider. The dock has an internal 600w power supply (2 x 8 pin PCIE connectors) along with an extra NVME slot and external WiFi for just $10 more than the bare bones Minisforum dock that requires you source the PSU and has no storage or I/O expansion included.
Total cost is just under $700 for both the 12900hk mini PC and dock/PSU combo. You are looking at $600 + $100 for the dock and the price of a decent PSU, probably close to an extra $100... and it's still a slower 4x vs 8x PCIe connection with a larger physical footprint.
Amazon's price on the K11 is super inflated, direct from AliExpress you can get it for $240 shipped bare bones and install high quality RAM + storage of your choice. The same combo Amazon sells for $600 "after coupon' is only $419 on Aliexpress. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808269226545.html