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Head-to-head · Best AI Mini PCs for Local LLM

GMKtec EVO-X2 vs Mac mini M4 Pro 64 GB

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Mac mini M4 Pro 64 GB comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about Best for Mac users — highest bandwidth in 64 GB tier — read the strengths below before deciding.

GMKtec EVO-X2
Ranked #3 in Best AI Mini PCs for Local LLM
GMKtec EVO-X2
4 sources$1,999.99as of Aug 1

If the requirement is fitting a 120B-parameter model locally, the GMKtec EVO-X2 is the 128 GB-class mini PC to buy. PCWorld praised its 'excellent combination of CPU, GPU, and NPU performance at desktop workstation level' and scored it 4.5/5. The XDNA 2 NPU contributes 50 TOPS toward a 126 TOPS platform total once the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and the Radeon 8060S iGPU are counted. With 128 GB of LPDDR5X at 256 GB/s it loads GPT-OSS 120B Q4 with room to spare and runs 70B-class models at 6-8 tokens/sec for a single user. Memory is soldered, and a single 2.5G Ethernet port limits clustering.

Strengths
  • — 128 GB LPDDR5X unified memory at 256 GB/s — fits 120B-class models locally
  • — AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with 50 TOPS XDNA 2 NPU (126 TOPS platform total CPU+GPU+NPU)
  • — Supports multiple open-source AI models and popular development frameworks (Ollama, llama.cpp, MLC)
Watch-outs
  • — Memory is soldered — no future RAM upgrades
  • — Single 2.5G Ethernet port limits AI clustering compared to the Beelink GTR9 Pro
  • — Possibly oversized for users who don't need 120B-class model headroom
$1,999.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Mac mini M4 Pro 64 GB
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best AI Mini PCs for Local LLM
Mac mini M4 Pro 64 GB
4 sources$799as of Aug 1

The Mac mini M4 Pro is a five-inch-square box with a 12-core CPU, a 16-core GPU and 64 GB of unified memory, and it runs near-silently on very little power. PCMag rated it 4.5 out of 5 and Macworld 4 out of 5, landing on the same split verdict: the machine is excellent and the configuration pricing is not. For local-LLM work the 273 GB/s of memory bandwidth is the number that matters, and 64 GB is the hard ceiling that comes with it. Nothing inside is upgradable, so the configuration you buy is the one you keep.

Strengths
  • — Super fast and efficient M4 Pro SoC with 12 CPU cores and 16-core GPU
  • — Silent operation under average load with efficient cooling system
  • — Support for up to three external displays with Thunderbolt 5 and Wi-Fi 6E
Watch-outs
  • — No maintenance options due to permanently soldered unified memory
  • — High surcharges for RAM and SSD upgrades, especially with proprietary modules
  • — Only 1-year warranty compared to industry standards
$799 · Buy at apple.comFull review →

How they stack up

GMKtec EVO-X2

The GMKtec EVO-X2 is the best-value 128 GB box for local-LLM users whose models outgrow 64 GB. Its 128GB of unified memory at 256 GB/s fits 120B Q4 models the Mac mini M4 Pro cannot, far cheaper than the Mac Studio M4 Max. It shares the same Strix Halo silicon as the Beelink GTR9 Pro and Framework Desktop, so all three deliver effectively identical throughput; the EVO-X2 wins on price and fan-control buttons but loses dual 10GbE to the Beelink GTR9 Pro and the open, repairable chassis to the Framework Desktop. Pick it for the cheapest path to 128 GB of model headroom.

Mac mini M4 Pro 64 GB

The Mac mini M4 Pro is the value Apple pick: at 273 GB/s it has higher bandwidth than the 256 GB/s Strix Halo boxes (GMKtec EVO-X2, Beelink GTR9 Pro, Framework Desktop) for single-user 70B inference, but it is capped at 64 GB, so it cannot hold the 120B-class models those 128 GB machines fit. The Mac Studio M4 Max doubles both its bandwidth and memory ceiling for roughly the price increase. Pick the Mac mini M4 Pro if your models top out near 70B and you want Mac polish and silence at a lower price than the Mac Studio M4 Max; step up to a 128 GB box if you need more headroom.

Specs side-by-side

SpecGMKtec EVO-X2Mac mini M4 Pro 64 GB
CPUAMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16 cores, 32 threads)Apple M4 Pro 12-Core
GPURadeon 8060S (RDNA 3.5, 40 cores)Apple M4 Pro 16-Core GPU
RAM128 GB LPDDR5X 8,000 MHz64 GB Unified Memory
Storage2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD2 TB SSD
NPUXDNA 2, 50 TOPS (126 TOPS platform total)16-core Neural Engine
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 6E
Neural Engine50 TOPS16-core
Dimensions7.6 x 7.31 x 3.03 in5 x 5 x 2 in
Memory Bandwidth—273 GB/s
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