At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Compact, high-quality aluminium casing Good system performance for office and multimedia Very fast SSD Modern connections including USB4 Moderate operating noise during normal use Cons Integrated graphics too weak for demanding games No dedicated NPU for local AI applications Our Verdict The Geekom A8 impresses with its high-quality workmanship and attractive design. The AMD Ryzen 7 delivers more than enough performance for everyday tasks and offers long-term reserves. Despite its compact design, the device has a wide range of connectivity options. Quiet, fast and reliable, it can replace a classic desktop PC for the office. The integrated graphics reach their hardware limits not only in gaming, but also in demanding local AI image generation, 4K video editing or 3D applications. Price when reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Geekom A8 Retailer Price $611.10 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Technical specs Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (8 cores, 16 threads) Memory: Micron 16 GB DDR5-5600, expandable to 64 GB Hard drive: 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4×4 SSD (Wodposit WPBSN4M8-1TGP) Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics 780M (integrated) Front ports: 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 × 3.5 mm audio Rear ports: 1 × USB 4 (Type-C), 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C), 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), 1 × USB 2.0 (Type-A), 2 × HDMI 2.0, 1 × 2.5G LAN Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 Operating system: Windows 11 Pro pre-installed Dimensions: 112.4 × 112.4 × 37 mm (W × D × H) Accessories: VESA mount, HDMI cable, external power supply The market for compact desktop solutions is developing rapidly. With the Geekom A8, we have a new device that claims to replace classic tower PCs in terms of office performance. Here we are testing the A8 in a configuration with an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, 16 GB DDR5 RAM and a 1 TB SSD. Let’s find out if it can live up to that claim. In testing, the Geekom A8 proved to be an extremely versatile work computer for private use and the modern home office. Geekom A8: Design The chassis of the Geekom A8 is made of aluminum alloy. The silver surface looks elegant and is resistant to fingerprints. In direct comparison to the larger A9 Max models, the case appears significantly more compact – it measures just 112 x 112 x 37 millimeters (W × D × H). Christoph Hoffmann This makes the A8 flatter than competitors such as the Peladn WO4 or the Alliwava GH8. The rounded corners give the device a modern look reminiscent of Apple products. Despite its small size, the mini PC appears robust. The gaps are precisely crafted. The manufacturer’s logo is emblazoned on the top. The side panels are perforated for air circulation. There are rubberized feet on the underside to prevent it from slipping on the desk. They also cover the screws used to open the case. The workmanship is good, and everything looks as if it were made from a single mold. Christoph Hoffmann The cooling system is exceptionally quiet under normal load. The fan is usually inaudible during simple office work. Under full load, it revs up audibly without producing an annoying whistling noise. Heat dissipation via the metal surface works well. The included external power supply is still compact. Geekom A8: Features The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS belongs to the Hawk Point generation and is classified as a powerful upper mid-range mobile processor designed specifically for efficient multitasking, office workflows and productive applications. The CPU was introduced in early 2024 and offers eight cores and 16 threads, but unlike the top models, it deliberately does without a dedicated NPU for AI acceleration. The AMD Radeon 780M is a modern integrated graphics solution based on the RDNA 3 architecture, which is found in CPUs such as the Ryzen 7 8745HS and is suitable for mainstream graphics tasks and games with low hardware requirements; It delivers significantly more performance than older iGPUs, but still lags behind dedicated graphics cards and is only truly suitable for e-sports titles, which are usually played at reduced resolution and low 3D settings. Christoph Hoffmann Given its compact design, the Geekom A8 surprises with its variety of ports. On the front, there are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and a 3.5 mm jack for headphones and headsets. The flush-mounted power button has a defined pressure point. Christoph Hoffmann The rear panel is densely populated: here, users will find a USB4 port with up to 40 Gbit/s. It also supports image output and power supply for external devices. In addition, there are two HDMI 2.0 ports and another USB-C port. The fast 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connection (Realtek RTL8125) ensures stable network connections. Christoph Hoffmann While cheaper models such as the Acemagic M1 often skimp on USB speed, the A8 offers consistently fast ports. For wireless connectivity, the mini PC relies on a MediaTek MT7922 (IEEE 802.11ax) Wi-Fi 6E module, which supports the 6 GHz band in addition to the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. This enables higher data rates, lower latencies and a more stable connection in heavily utilized networks. Bluetooth 5.2 is also included in the wireless equipment. This allows input devices, headsets and other accessories to be connected wirelessly. The 16GB of RAM comes from Micron and is located in a DDR5 SO-DIMM slot. According to the manufacturer, the RAM can be expanded to up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM. This provides sufficient reserves for demanding multitasking scenarios, productive applications and long-term use. Christoph Hoffmann A 2280-format M.2 SSD with PCIe 4.0 x4 connection from Wodposit (model WPBSN4M8-1TGP) is used for data storage. It enables very high sequential transfer rates and short access times, which has a positive effect on both system starts and the loading of large amounts of data, noticeably speeding up the mini PC as a whole. Christoph Hoffmann Geekom A8: Operating system The Geekom A8 comes with a hardware-bound Windows 11 license pre-installed, so no additional activation is necessary. When you switch on the mini PC for the first time, the Windows setup wizard starts automatically. During this setup, the first system and security updates are downloaded. Nevertheless, it’s advisable to check for further updates manually after the installation is complete. Christoph Hoffmann Although Windows 11 is basically ready to use as soon as it is delivered, the user must still install drivers for stable and performance-optimised operation. In particular, the latest AMD drivers for the Radeon graphics unit and the chipset should be installed as soon as possible. Both have a decisive influence on system stability, energy efficiency and graphics performance. Christoph Hoffmann In addition, you can check whether the feature update to Windows 11 version 25H2 is already available and can be installed. This was the case for us. Among other things, the update contains security-related adjustments as well as changes to system functions and operating system management. An update ensures that the system complies with the current support and update status from Microsoft. Geekom A8: Performance At the heart of the A8 is the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor. The eight cores clock at high speed and handle multitasking tasks with ease. The benchmarks clearly show the strength of this CPU: in PCMark 10, for example, the system achieves a total score of 6,470 points. The tiny device is particularly impressive in the Essentials category with 9,912 points and in Productivity with 9,129 points. Office applications, surfing the web with dozens of tabs and video conferencing are no problem at all. Christoph Hoffmann The A8 achieves a solid 8,125 points in digital content creation. The A8 is ideally equipped for image editing in Adobe Photoshop or simple video editing. The 16 GB DDR5 RAM ensures smooth system operation. For comparison: the Alliwava GH8 with AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS achieves almost the same result in this benchmark. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS in the Geekom A7 Max is only slightly faster. In the CPU-specific tests of 3DMark, the processor scores 7,359 points at maximum thread count. This underlines its suitability for computationally intensive tasks. The differences to the two mini PCs mentioned above are similar to those in PCMark 10. Christoph Hoffmann When it comes to graphics performance, the Geekom A8’s integrated Radeon unit reaches its limits. It scores 1,877 points in the Time Spy benchmark, which is only ten points less than the Geekom A7 Max. The Steel Nomad Light test delivers a clear signal with 12.41 FPS: this mini PC is not a gaming machine. Even current blockbuster titles can only be played with greatly reduced details and low resolution. The estimated gaming performance usually remains below 30 FPS. Older e-sports titles such as League of Legends, on the other hand, run smoothly. Compared to the Sapphire Edge AI 370 or the Minisforum AI-X1 Pro, the A8 ranks in the upper mid-range. The lack of an NPU is noticeable in the Geekbench AI scores: the system achieves 3,646 points in the single precision score. The more expensive Max models are better suited for specialized AI workflows. Christoph Hoffmann With read speeds of over 7,160 MB/s and write speeds of 6,129 MB/s, the SSD delivers high transfer rates. Programs start without any noticeable delay. The system feels responsive and stable. Christoph Hoffmann Stress tests show that the compact case reaches its physical limits under prolonged full load. Although the Ryzen 7 8745HS briefly achieves very high boost clock speeds, after a few minutes of intensive computing, the system begins to slightly throttle performance (thermal throttling) in order to keep CPU temperatures within a non-critical range. Although the IceBlast cooling system is well optimized for short performance peaks, you can expect a performance drop of about 5 to 10 percent compared to a cold start during hours of continuous use. Geekom A8: Energy consumption & operating noise The Geekom A8 is quite efficient overall, but it takes its toll under load. When idle, the system consumes a modest 5 to 11 watts. However, as soon as full computing power and Radeon graphics are required, consumption rises to an average of 35 to 50 watts, with peaks of up to 90 watts. The included 120-watt power supply is therefore generously dimensioned and offers sufficient reserves to reliably power connected USB 4 peripherals. Under full load, however, consumption is higher than that of simple office mini PCs. The noise level of the A8 is a compromise between size and performance. While the PC runs almost silently when performing simple tasks such as surfing the Internet, the fan curve spikes quickly under changing loads. This can lead to audible fluctuations when background processes briefly demand CPU power. Under full load, the fan reaches levels of up to 45 to 55 dB(A). The noise is more of a constant hum without high-frequency whistling. In a quiet working environment, the mini PC is clearly noticeable under load. Is the Geekom A8 worth it? In testing, the Geekom A8 proved to be an extremely versatile work computer for private use and the modern home office. It handles typical everyday tasks such as office applications, web research, video conferencing, image editing and multimedia playback with ease and without any noticeable delays. Thanks to its high system performance, the mini PC is also suitable for more demanding multitasking and productive workflows that are otherwise reserved for larger desktop systems. Naturally, limitations become apparent with graphics-intensive applications. Users who regularly render professional 3D models, work on complex CAD projects or want to play the latest games in 4K resolution with high detail levels are better off getting a system with a dedicated graphics card. For the vast majority of users, however, the A8 is a compelling solution. This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German. Read...

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Two months after teasing us with the prospect of skinny bundles, YouTube TV is spilling the beans on its upcoming—and marginally cheaper—genre-specific plans, with a sports-focused bundle among the first on the runway.  Among other details, we’re finally pricing for a quartet of the new “YouTube TV Plans,” with rates ranging from $71.99 a month to $54.99/month for existing YouTube TV subscribers, while new subscribers will get limited-time discounts.  Overall, we can expect more than 10 of these skinnier YouTube TV Plans, which are slated to roll out over the “next several weeks,” YouTube says.  The main offering is the YouTube TV Sports plan, which will include sports networks such as FS1, NBC Sports Network, and all the ESPN networks for $64.99 a month, with new subscribers paying $54.99/month for the first year.  The YouTube TV Sports plan will include local TV affiliates such as ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, while ESPN Unlimited access will be added this fall.  Also coming soon is a pricier Sports + News Plan, which includes everything in the sports bundle while adding news networks such as CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, CSPAN, Bloomberg, and Fox Business. The bundle will cost $71.99 a month, while new subscribers will get a discounted $56.99/month rate for the first three months.  Then there’s the Entertainment Plan, which offers Comedy Central, Bravo, Paramount, Food Network, HGTV, and “many more” entertainment-focused networks for $54.99 a month, or $44.99/month for new subscribers for their first three months. Local TV affiliates will also be included in the package.  Finally, the News + Entertainment + Family plan serves up news and entertainment channels while also adding family-oriented content to the mix, including the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, National Geographic, Cartoon Network, and PBS Kids. The package will run you $69.99 a month, or $59.99/month.  Meanwhile, the YouTube TV Base plan—now known simply as the “main YouTube TV plan”—will remain $82.99 a month.  All the new YouTube TV skinny bundles will offer unlimited DVR access, as well as multi-view and other standard YouTube TV features. You’ll also be able to opt for add-ons such as NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone, HBO Max, and 4K Plus.  YouTube TV first announced it was getting into the skinny-bundle business back in December, and it’s joining a crowded field that includes DirecTV, Fubo, and Sling.  This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best live TV streaming services. Read...

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The 2026 Winter Olympics run from February 6 through February 22, split across Milan and the mountain venues of Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. If you’re watching from the U.S., that means early mornings, long afternoons of competition, and a nightly primetime wrap-up designed for people who didn’t set an alarm for 3 a.m. What’s different this time is how you can watch the Games. For the first time, one streaming service will carry every single event live and on demand—no extra logins, no channel confusion, and no cable box required. This guide is for cord-cutters who want the simplest, cheapest, least annoying way to watch the Winter Olympics. We’ll break down your options, explain what you’ll get with each one, and help you pick the setup that makes sense for how you watch TV now, not how you watched it 10 years ago. The broadcast breakdown NBCUniversal has the U.S. broadcast rights to the Olympics locked up through 2036, and this year they’re spreading coverage across familiar ground: broadcast, cable, and streaming. But how you watch depends on how you’re set up. If you still get local channels–with a TV antenna, a live TV-streaming service such as Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or (ugh) traditional cable TV–NBC will carry major daytime events along with its usual primetime highlight show, this time branded “Primetime in Milan.” It’s where you’ll find the big-ticket stuff: figure-skating finals, marquee hockey matchups, Shaun White–style snowboarding drama, and the like. The cable bundle gets you USA Network, CNBC, and a temporary revival of NBCSN (NBC Sports Network), all running round-the-clock coverage. Expect a steady diet of curling, hockey, and deep dives into Team USA. It’s the traditional way to immerse yourself if you’re paying for a live TV package. Then there’s Peacock. It’s the only place to watch every event live; plus, full-event replays, highlight shows, and oodles extras. If you want the full Olympic firehose without a cable bill, this is where you’ll find it. Option 1: Stream everything on Peacock Peacock Best Prices Today: $7.99 at Peacock If you want all the Olympics, a Peacock subscription is your best choice. There are two plans that include sports coverage (the $7.99-per-month Peacock Select plan does not): Peacock Premium runs $10.99 a month or $109.99 for the year. Peacock Premium Plus is $16.99 a month or $169.99 annually and adds a live feed of your local NBC station; plus, ad-free on-demand viewing. What sets Peacock apart isn’t just the volume of Olympics coverage, it’s how you can watch it. The Gold Zone channel jumps between live medal moments. You might think of it as a Winter Olympics version of NFL RedZone. Multiview lets you stream up to four events at once, whether you’re on your TV or your phone. And the new Rinkside Live cams offer coaching and bench views for figure skating and hockey—angles you won’t get anywhere else. If you’re a cord-cutter who doesn’t care about traditional channels, this is the cleanest, cheapest path to the full Games. Peacock has strategically stopped offering free trials to its service, but there is a sneaky workaround to getting a free trial to Peacock Premium: Sign up for a free trial to Instacart+ and you’ll also qualify for a free Peacock trial. Peacock Premium is also included as a Walmart+ subscriber perk (you can choose between that service and Paramount+, and switch between the two at will for as long as you have a subscription). A Walmart+ subscription costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year, and a 30-day free trial is available. Option 2: A live TV streaming service If you enjoy channel surfing and seeing what’s on “right now,” live TV streaming services—in industry parlance, virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs)—offer a way to watch the Olympics without giving up that familiar channel grid. These services mimic cable, just without the cable box. Here’s a rundown of your best choices, sorted by price: Sling TV (Blue): $45.99/month. The cheapest option, but NBC is only available in select markets. You do get USA Network, so it works if you mainly want the cable coverage. Sign up for Sling TV (Blue). Hulu + Live TV: $82.99/month. Includes NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and the revived NBCSN, along with DVR service in the cloud. Sign up for Hulu + Live TV. YouTube TV: $82.99/month. The same channel lineup as Hulu + Live TV, but with a better cloud DVR service and the option of sports streaming in 4K resolution, which can make events like downhill skiing or speed skating look incredible (albeit at an added cost of $9.99 per month). Sign up for YouTube TV. DirecTV: Starting at $89.99/month. While it has the same channel lineup as Hulu + Live and YouTube TV, this service comes the closest to replicating the traditional cable TV viewing experience. Sign up for DirecTV. Fubo is one live TV streaming service you won’t want to sign up for ahead of the Olympics, as it’s currently embroiled in a carriage dispute with NBC parent Comcast. And that’s doubly unfortunate because unlike YouTube TV, Fubo doesn’t charge extra for streaming sporting events in 4K. Each of those other services costs more than Peacock, but you’re essentially paying for a traditional TV experience in a digital wrapper. But if you want a grid guide, instant rewind, a DVR, and the ability to flip between events like it’s still 2012, live TV streaming services are the way to go. That’s especially true if you want both broadcast and cable channels in one place. We’ve reviewed all the live TV streaming services in depth and can provide you with more details about each of them. Pro tips to maximize your Olympics experience Don’t sleep through the good stuffMilan is six hours ahead of the U.S. East Coast. That means live events can start as early as 2 a.m. ET and wrap up by mid-afternoon. If you’re not the type to wake up before sunrise for luge, Peacock’s full-event replays are your best friend. Your other option would be to avail yourself of the cloud DVR any of the live TV streaming services offers. Upgrade your pictureNBC is streaming the Games in 4K HDR, which makes fast-action sports like speed skating and snowboard cross look razor-sharp. To see it, you’ll need the right combo: A TV or monitor with 4K resolution (or higher) A 4K smart TV or a 4K-capable streaming device (Roku Streaming Stick Plus, Amazon Fire Stick 4K, Apple TV 4K, or the like; read about our top picks in media streamers) A service that supports 4K streaming (Peacock or or YouTube TV with the 4K add-on) Go old-school to save moneyStill have a TV with an onboard tuner? An inexpensive antenna will pull in your local NBC station in HD (read about our favorite TV antennas). You won’t get USA Network or the deep coverage on Peacock, but you’ll still catch prime-time highlights and marquee events for free. It’s a smart fallback, especially if you’re trying to cut monthly costs. Supplement your TV antenna with an over-the-air DVRSince so much of the Olympic action will occur in the early-morning hours, adding an over-the-air digital video recorder to your antenna and TV tuner will let you time-shift your event viewing to a more convenient time, provided you can avoid spoilers carried by news services. Don’t pay full price if you don’t have toPeacock offers significant discounts to verified students, medical professionals and first-responders, and members of the military. And while we haven’t seen standalone free trials, don’t overlook the opportunity to piggyback a free Peacock trial on top of a free trial to Instacart+ or Walmart+ (see links above). Most of the live TV streaming services also offer free trials, some longer than others. Final recommendation: What’s the smartest play? If all you care about is watching the Olympics—every event, live or replayed—Peacock Premium is the move. It’s cheap, simple, and gives you everything without the clutter of channels you don’t need. If you’re someone who still likes flipping through a guide, Sling TV (Blue) is your cheapest option–provided it offers local channels in your area (you can check by entering your zip code on the Sling website). If local channels aren’t available, you’ll at least get the USA Network coverage. If neither of those scenarios works for you, Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV are your best options. Trying to spend as little as possible? Combine an over-the-air antenna with a month of Peacock Premium and call it a win. You’ll get the biggest moments live on NBC, and the rest on-demand whenever you want. Let the Games begin With the right setup, your Olympics experience can be faster, sharper, and far more flexible than the old-school TV schedule ever allowed. Just stream, watch, and get back to rooting for your favorite underdog in the biathlon. Read...

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