Modular, upgradeable, and super compact — HP's new mini PC impressed me with its versatile hardware and capable cooling

Mini PCs are a great alternative to both laptops and full-size desktops, and plenty of users have recognized them for their competitive pricing, strong performance, and compact footprint.

I now have HP's new EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) in front of me, and I've lately changed my workflow to run entirely off of the device. I've been having a blast so far on a Copilot+ system that's reliable, stable, and plenty snappy. Here's what you need to know before buying.

Why you can trust me

Why you can trust me

Cale Hunt

I've been testing and reviewing laptops and PCs since 2016, and I have a clear idea of what works and what doesn't. If you want to know if a PC is worth buying, I can certainly help.

A compact 1L chassis with extensive upgrade and replacement options

I'm always amazed at how much performance hardware and cooling can fit into the best mini PCs, and HP's EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) is a great example.

It measures just 1.35 inches (3.43cm) thin and is roughly 7 inches (~18cm) in width and depth. Weighing in at 3.13 pounds, it's no heavier than many laptops, and you shouldn't really notice it if you slip it into a bag to take with you. The chassis is a mix of plastic and aluminum, but it's as sturdy as can be.

The top panel is perforated to help feed the cooling fans with enough air, while the bottom panel has non-slip feet and pre-drilled holes for VESA mounting. I've been using the PC horizontally, but you can always add a vertical stand for an extra $2 at checkout.

The PC's front I/O — embedded in a stylized plastic faceplate —includes one USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), dual USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), and a 3.5mm audio combo jack for headsets. Here you'll also find a standard power button.

The back of the PC is where you'll find the bulk of the ports, including HDMI 2.1, dual DisplayPort 2.1, a single USB4 with 100W power delivery, dual USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), and RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet. A lock slot can help keep the PC in place.

Here's where things get interesting. The back of the EliteDesk 8 Mini has a couple of modular sections, allowing you to customise some of the ports. My review model is equipped with an extra Thunderbolt 4 port — something you don't often see on AMD PCs due to Intel's licensing — and two Mini DisplayPort connections.

Not the ports you need? HP has a generous selection of alternatives, from video to 2.5GbE to USB. The highest any of these configs costs is $81 (for the dual Mini DP), but the next priciest is only $17. In the same vein, you have a bunch of choices for the WLAN card, ranging from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 7.

The top panel of the PC is easily removable with just a thumb screw holding it in place. The internal hardware is packed in tightly, but HP made some smart decisions here to alleviate the upgrade process.

Image 1 of 3

The main system fan is seated on channels that allow it to be lifted up and away from the rest of the PC. This reveals the dual SODIMM RAM slots for upgrades. The "loose" fan has dampeners on the sides to prevent rattling, and indeed, there was none during my time with the PC.

Unfortunately, the SSD isn't as easy to swap; it's located below the second fan that is screwed into place. Certainly not a dealbreaker. HP is focusing a lot on repairability for this mini PC, and just about every part that goes into it can be ordered from HP's PartSurfer market. That's a bigger deal now than ever as PC prices continue to rise due to a global RAM and storage shortage.

Steady Ryzen performance and impressive cooling abilities

At the time of writing this review, HP is offering a wide selection of pre-configured EliteDesk 8 Mini models starting at a discounted $759. All models run on AMD, and HP gives you the choice of Ryzen PRO or standard chips. On the table are several RAM options ranging from 8GB to 64GB, as well as storage options from 256GB "Value" SSDs up to 2TB TLC SSDs.

Although my review unit doesn't have it, HP's Wolf Pro Security comes with all pre-configured options, and it's available to add through the detailed customizer if you're building your own system. Its suite of security tools is certainly a boon for pros dealing in sensitive data, but anyone can take advantage of its added protection.

Let's dig into performance. My review unit has an AMD Ryzen 7 AI PRO 350 CPU — the top option — with 32GB of dual-channel DDR5-5600 RAM and a 1TB TLC M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

With 50 TOPS of AI power from the Ryzen Neural Processing Unit (NPU), the PC easily makes the cut for Copilot+. This gives you access to all of the latest AI tools baked into Windows 11, including Cocreator, Recall, Live Captions, and much more.

Even if you don't want to use the AI tools in Windows 11, HP's EliteDesk 8 Mini is a stellar performer for everyday work. I experienced no hiccups during daily work, and it took on sustained stress tests like a champ.

I ran a 20-minute full system stress test with the CPU maxed out at 4.3GHz and sitting at about 97°C. The loudest I measured the PC was 56dB right at the rear exhaust. From about a foot away from the PC, noise falls to about 49dB. You'll hear the fans kick on under load, but they never scream, whine, or get loud enough to remain noticeable. The case doesn't get overly hot, either.

This isn't a mini PC that you want to buy for gaming, yet the integrated Radeon 860M graphics have enough juice to handle lighter and well-optimized titles.

HP EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a compact mini PC with Copilot+ tools on board.
• You're a professional who needs extra security via HP's Wolf Pro.
• You don't have a lot of space on your desk and don't want a laptop.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You're a gamer who wants a full-time gaming PC.
• You have no interest in using AI on your PC.
• You'd rather use a system with an Intel or Qualcomm chip inside.

HP created the EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) for professional use, and I can see it working quite well for a lot of enterprise customers. The configuration options are plentiful, it comes with additional security, and it has AI capabilities.

But that doesn't mean more casual PC users can't take advantage. This is especially true when HP's configurable setup allows you to skip extra costs like Ryzen PRO chips and TLC SSDs.

I love the modular rear port setup and the quiet, capable cooling system, two features that you won't find in a lot of the competition. Performance is great for my workflow involving heavy web browsing, occasional Copilot use, Photoshop, Office, and more. However, I do have one suggestion.

If you're looking for the utmost local AI performance, I recommend you check out the HP Z2 Mini (G1a) we reviewed favorably. It has AMD's Ryzen AI MAX+ PRO 395 chip that can "steal" up to 96GB of system RAM to be used as VRAM for its integrated Radeon 8060S GPU, making it a killer system for more demanding AI work.

Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!