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Mini PCs · Head to head

Geekom A9 Max (HX 470) vs GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB)

Full Mini PCs comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Geekom and GMKtec sites.
2026 verdict
Local AI acceleration versus a homelab budget box: the Geekom A9 Max (HX 470) is the mini PC to reach for when the job calls for an NPU.
Geekom A9 Max (HX 470)
Winner
Geekom A9 Max (HX 470)
$1599.00
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It also rates higher with owners, runs DDR5 instead of DDR4, and ships roughly four times the storage across two Gen 4 NVMe slots against the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB). The GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB) answers with dual 2.5G Ethernet at a meaningfully lower price, which keeps it the more sensible pick for a Proxmox node or a pfSense router that does not need on-device AI. Buyers chasing the NPU, faster memory or more storage and a longer warranty should choose the Geekom A9 Max (HX 470); anyone building a networking or homelab box on a budget should pick the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB).
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FeatureGeekom A9 Max (HX 470)GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB)Winner
Price$1599.00$559.99GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB)
Rating4.44.3Geekom A9 Max (HX 470)
Warranty3 years1 yearGeekom A9 Max (HX 470)
Memory TypeDDR5DDR4Geekom A9 Max (HX 470)
Storage Capacity2 TB512 GBGeekom A9 Max (HX 470)
CPU ModelAMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470AMD Ryzen 7 7730UDifferent strengths
GPU ModelAMD Radeon 890MAMD Radeon Graphics (8 cores, up to 2000 MHz)Different strengths
Memory ConfigurationDual-channelDual-channelTie
Memory Capacity32 GB32 GBTie

What the differences mean

CPU and on-device AI

The Geekom A9 Max (HX 470) runs a twelve-core Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 with a 50 TOPS NPU built for local AI models, while the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB) runs an eight-core Ryzen 7 7730U with no NPU at all, capable but aimed at general desktop and server duty.

Memory type and ceiling

The A9 Max ships DDR5 and can be taken to 128GB. The M5 Ultra ships the older DDR4-3200 and tops out at 64GB, half the room to grow.

Storage

2TB across two Gen 4 NVMe slots on the A9 Max against 512GB across two PCIe 3.0 slots on the M5 Ultra, a large gap in what arrives ready to use.

Warranty

Three years on the Geekom A9 Max (HX 470) against one year on the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB).

Which one to buy if

  • you want to run local AI models or Copilot+ style features on the device
    Geekom A9 Max (HX 470)

    Its 50 TOPS NPU is hardware the M5 Ultra simply does not have.

  • you are building a Proxmox node or a pfSense router on a budget
    GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB)

    Dual 2.5G Ethernet at a meaningfully lower price covers that job without paying for an NPU it would not use.

  • you want memory that can grow well past 64GB later
    Geekom A9 Max (HX 470)

    DDR5 on the A9 Max reaches 128GB, double the M5 Ultra's DDR4 ceiling.

  • a longer warranty matters more than the lowest price
    Geekom A9 Max (HX 470)

    Three years of coverage against the M5 Ultra's one year.

What owners say

Owners of the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB) keep coming back to the same two words: fast and quiet. Several compare its performance per watt favorably to older tower-style Core i7 desktops, and more than one has swapped Windows for a clean Fedora KDE or Linux Mint install without a hitch, which is not always true of budget mini PCs. GMKtec's own support draws unprompted praise from buyers who needed a replacement. On the downside, the integrated graphics get hot once a demanding game keeps them busy for a while, one owner hit a sleep-wake bug that forced a hard reset, and the one-year warranty feels short for a box more than one buyer runs as an always-on home server.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Geekom A9 Max (HX 470)
  • GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB)

Loading price history...

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Geekom A9 Max (HX 470) or GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB)?

The Geekom A9 Max (HX 470), rated higher by owners and ahead on memory type, warranty and storage capacity. The GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB) wins only on price.

What is the biggest difference between the Geekom A9 Max and the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra?

The NPU. The Geekom A9 Max (HX 470) has a 50 TOPS NPU built for local AI work, while the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB) has none and relies on its CPU and integrated graphics instead.

Which one is the better homelab or networking box?

The GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB), thanks to its dual 2.5G Ethernet ports at a lower price, which suits Proxmox and pfSense builds directly out of the box.

Do both have dual 2.5G Ethernet?

Yes. Both the Geekom A9 Max (HX 470) and the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB) carry two 2.5G Ethernet ports, so networking capability is not what separates them.

Who should buy the Geekom A9 Max (HX 470)?

Buyers who want local AI acceleration, DDR5 memory, more storage and the longer three-year warranty, and who can justify the higher cost.

Who should buy the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra (32GB + 512GB)?

Buyers setting up a Proxmox node, a pfSense router or a quiet Linux desktop on a tighter budget, who do not need an NPU.

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