GEEKOM Mini IT12 2025 Edition is a mini PC with three 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake CPU options: Core i5-12450H, Core i7-1280P, and Core i9-12900HK. It supports up to 64GB of RAM, up to 2TB NVMe SSD, offers various ports such as HDMI 2.0, USB4, and 2.5GbE, and comes with WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity.
GEEKOM sent us a review sample of the Mini IT12 with an Intel Core i7-1280P processor, 32GB DDR4, and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because we previously reviewed the Mini IT12 with an Intel Core i7-12650H in December 2023/January 2024 with the same name but a different processor, and a few other changes, as we’ll see below.
In the first part of the review, we will look at the specifications of the GEEKOM IT12 2025 Edition mini PC, go through an unboxing, perform a teardown to check out the hardware design in more detail, and boot it to Windows 11 Pro to make sure it’s working as expected. We then plan to test its features and performance with Windows 11 and Ubuntu 24.04 in the next parts of the review.
GEEKOM Mini IT12 2025 Edition specifications
- Alder Lake SoC (one or the other)
- Intel Core i5-12450H 8-core/12-thread processor up to 4.40 GHz with 12MB Cache, 48 EU Intel UHD Graphics @ up to 1.2 GHz; PBP: 45W
- Intel Core i7-1280P 14-core/20-thread processor up to 4.8 GHz with 24 MB cache, 96 EU Intel Iris Xe Graphics @ up to 1.45 GHz, PBP: 28W
- Intel Core i9-12900HK 14-core/20-thread processor up to 5.0 GHz with 24 MB cache, 96 EU Intel Iris Xe Graphics @ up to 1.45 GHz, PBP: 45W
- System Memory – 16GB or 32 GB dual-channel DDR4-3200 via SODIMM sockets, upgradeable up to 64GB
- Storage
- 512GB or 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD, expandable up to 2TB
- M.2 2242 SATA SSD slot up to 1TB
- SATA slot for 2.5-inch drives up to 7mm thick, up to 2TB
- Full-size SD card reader
- Video Output – 2x HDMI 2.0 ports, 2x DisplayPort via USB4 ports
- Audio – 3.5mm audio jack, digital audio output via HDMI and DisplayPort
- Networking
- 2.5GbE RJ45 jack
- WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 via Intel AX211 wireless module (Note: not in our sample)
- USB
- 2x USB4 ports (40 Gbps)
- 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10 Gbps)
- 1x USB 2.0 port
- Misc – Power button, Kensington Lock slot
- Power Supply – 19V/6.32A (120W) via DC jack
- Dimensions – 117 x 112 x 49.2 mm
- Weight – 652 grams
The specifications look exactly the same as the ones for the GEEKOM Mini IT12 (2023) except for the choice of processor. What’s odd here is the mix of 28W and 45W PBP processors in the same enclosure and cooling design
Unboxing
We received the mini PC in a black retail package reading “GEEKOM IT Series”.
The bottom side of the package with basic specifications, including the model number (MINI IT12), the CPU (Intel Core i7-1280P), 32GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. You may want to check those before opening the package to make sure it matches your order. If not, you can return the package.
The package include the Mini IT12 mini PC itself, a 120 W (19V/6.32A) power adapter with power cord for your country, an HDMI cable, a VESA mount wit a few screws, a user guide, and a Thank You card.
The front panel features two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (the one on the left supports Power Delivery), an audio jack, and a power button.
The rear panel features some ventilation holes at the top and a range of ports below. From left to right: 19V power jack, a USB4 (40 Gbps) port, an HDMI 2.0 port, a 2.5GbE jack, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, a USB 2.0 port, another USB4 port, and another HDMI 2.0 video output.
One of the sides comes with a full-size SD card reader, and the other side with a Kensington lock slot.
The external design of the MINI IT12 2025 Edition mini PC looks identical to the MINI IT12 we reviewed in 2023/2024.
GEEKOM MINI IT12 2025 Edition teardown
Let’s start the teardown. The process remains the same: loosing the four screws on the bottom of the case. As a side note, the FCC ID (2AY4C-GM05) is the same as the old model, so the mainboard is probably the same.
The top cover has a 2.5-inch SATA slot connected to the mainboard via an FPC cable. We can also see DDR4 memory sticks and an M.2 SSD installed in the mini PC.
The Mini IT12 (2023) shipped with Lexar memory and SSD, but the 2025 Edition ships with two 16GB Wooposit PC4-32000 memory sticks for a total of 32GB RAM, and a 1TB Crucial P3 Plus M.2 2280 Gen4 x4 SSD instead.
The WiFi 6E module also changed from an Intel AX211 to an AW-XB951NF based on a MediaTek MT7922 chipset. This used to be an issue in Linux, but now any recent Linux distributions will fully support this MediaTek MT7922 WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 module.
We took the occasion to install a 1TB Toshiba SATA hard drive. It was a bit difficult, but we eventually managed to fully insert the drive in its slot.
From the teardown, we could find out a few other differences between the 2023 and 2025 editions of the mini PC: Wooposit memory and Crucial SSD were used instead of Lexar-branded modules, and the Intel AX211 WiFi module gave place to an Azurewave AW-XB591NF, at least in our sample. Note that companies may change memory, storage, or wireless providers at any time based on pricing and supply dynamics, as long as advertised specifications are not impacted.
First boot to Windows 11 Pro
We connected a wireless keyboard and mouse combo, a full HD HDMI monitor, and the power supply to get started. After going through the usual Windows 11 Pro setup wizard, we were able to get to the desktop with a working Internet connection over WiFi 6.
The System->About window confirms we have a Mini IT12 mini PC powered by a 1.8 GHz (base frequency) Intel Core i7-1280P processor and 32GB RAM running Windows 11 Pro 24H2.
That will be all for today. In the second part of the review, we’ll test the MINI IT12 2025 Edition mini PC with Windows 11 Pro in detail and compare it against the previous 2023 model, then do the same with Ubuntu 24.04 to test the system under Linux.
We’d like to thank GEEKOM for sending the MINI IT12 2025 Edition mini PC with an Intel Core i7-1280P SoC, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD for review. The model reviewed here can be purchased for $474 on Amazon or the GEEKOM store after applying the coupon code CNXIT122025.
Continue reading:
- GEEKOM Mini IT12 2025 Edition mini PC review – Part 2: Windows 11 Pro features testing, benchmarks, power consumption
- GEEKOM Mini IT 2025 Review – Part 3: Ubuntu 24.04 tested on an Intel Core i1-1280P CPU (coming soon)
CNXSoft: This article is a translation – with some additional insights – of the original review on CNX Software Thailand by Suthinee Kerdkaew.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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