Updated November 2026
Data from the official Beelink and Geekom sites.
2026 verdict
A newer platform and a faster, larger drive hand this mini PC comparison to the Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB), which mixes eight Ryzen cores with DDR5-5600, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, USB4 and 2.5G Ethernet.
Radeon 780M graphics and a Ryzen AI NPU add casual gaming and light AI work, and Geekom includes an SD reader, a Kensington lock, a VESA mount and a three-year warranty. The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) wins on price and owner rating, and it is the only one of the two with a built-in 85W power supply, a free second M.2 slot and dual wired ports, though both are Gigabit. Choose the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) for a cheap, quiet home server on Gigabit, and the Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) for faster cores, DDR5, USB4 and a bigger fast drive.
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| Feature | Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) | Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $439.00 | $739.00 | Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.2 | Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) |
| Memory Type | DDR4 | DDR5 | Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) |
| Memory Speed | 3200 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) |
| Storage Capacity | 480 GB | 1 TB | Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) |
| CPU Model | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS | Different strengths |
| GPU Model | AMD Radeon Graphics (7 CUs) | AMD Radeon 780M | Different strengths |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years | Tie |
| Memory Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB | Tie |
What the differences mean
Processor
The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) runs a six-core Ryzen 5 5500U, an older mobile chip suited to light work and servers. The Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) runs an eight-core Ryzen 7 8745HS with a higher boost, which is quicker for browsers full of tabs, photo editing and light content creation.
Memory
The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) uses DDR4-3200 in two SO-DIMM slots up to 64GB. The Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) moves to DDR5-5600 with the same 64GB ceiling, so it carries more bandwidth for integrated graphics and multitasking.
Storage
The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) boots from a 480GB PCIe 3.0 drive and offers a second M.2 slot. The Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) ships 1TB on PCIe 4.0, so it is bigger and faster out of the box, though it has only one M.2 slot, meaning an upgrade replaces the drive.
Networking and ports
The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) leads with two Gigabit Ethernet ports, useful for separated networks in a home lab. The Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) has a single 2.5G port, but adds USB4 and four display outputs with an SD reader, which the EQR5 lacks.
Power design
The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) builds the power supply into the case, so it needs no external brick. The Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) uses an external 120W adapter, one more item on the desk. Both carry a three-year warranty.
Which one to buy if
- you are building a quiet home server or Proxmox host
The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) has dual Ethernet, a free M.2 slot, a 64GB ceiling and low noise, for less.
- you edit photos or run heavier multitasking
The eight cores and Radeon 780M graphics in the Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) outpace the older Ryzen 5 in the EQR5.
- you want USB4 or four display outputs
Only the Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) has USB4 and enough outputs for four screens.
- you prefer no external power brick
The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) runs from a single cable with its built-in 85W supply.
$439.00
- + Price: $439.00
- + Rating: 4.3
- - Memory Type: DDR4 vs DDR5
- - Memory Speed: 3200 MT/s vs 5600 MT/s
Winner
$739.00
- + Memory Type: DDR5
- + Memory Speed: 5600 MT/s
- + Storage Capacity: 1 TB
- - Price: $739.00 vs $439.00
- - Rating: 4.2 vs 4.3
What owners say
Owners of the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) describe it as quiet to silent in daily use, with thermals that hold up even while it runs several virtual machines, and they like that the 85W supply is built in so only a power cable is needed. They use it two ways: as a family or office desktop for email, browsing and 4K video, and headless as a Proxmox host running Docker containers and multiplayer game servers. The free second M.2 slot and the 64GB memory ceiling get frequent mention. Their complaints are Gigabit-only networking, no USB4 or DisplayPort, BIOS files that are hard to find, and a Windows reinstall that may need a product key from Beelink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) or Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB)?
The Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) is the better mini PC on processor, memory and storage, with eight Ryzen cores, DDR5, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 drive and USB4. The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) is the value pick and the quieter, brickless home-server option.
What is the biggest difference between the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) and the Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB)?
Generation and memory. The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) is a six-core Ryzen 5 5500U with DDR4-3200 and a 480GB PCIe 3.0 drive, while the Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) is an eight-core Ryzen 7 8745HS with DDR5-5600 and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 drive.
Which has better networking, the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) or the Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB)?
They differ by role. The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) has two Gigabit ports for a separated home-lab network, while the Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB) has one faster 2.5G port.
Who should buy the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)?
Anyone who wants a quiet, low-cost desktop or home server with dual wired ports, a built-in power supply and room for a second drive.
Who should buy the Geekom A8 (Ryzen 7 16GB + 1TB)?
Buyers who want eight cores, DDR5, a big fast drive, USB4, four display outputs and an SD reader in a compact aluminum desktop.
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