GMKtec EVO-T2S brings Intel Panther Lake, Arc B390 and 10GbE to a 1.7-litre box

Nearly every AI mini PC we have looked at recently has been built around the same AMD chip. The GMKtec EVO-T2S takes the other road entirely, and in doing so it delivers something the AMD machines cannot: 10 Gigabit networking, OCuLink and dual USB4, in a chassis barely bigger than a paperback. Full details are on the GMKtec store.

At its heart is Intel’s Core Ultra X7 358H, from the new Panther Lake family built on Intel’s 18A process. It is a 16-core design — four performance cores, eight efficient and four low-power — paired with the full Arc B390 integrated GPU running 12 Xe3 cores. GMKtec quotes up to 172 TOPS of total AI performance, with 122 TOPS coming from the graphics and 50 from the dedicated NPU.

What it means for editing

The Arc B390 is the interesting part for creative work. Intel’s Arc graphics have long punched above their weight in video encoding and decoding, and reviewers report roughly double the 3DMark Speed Way performance of the previous EVO-T1. For Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve that translates into faster exports and smoother playback, and Intel’s hardware media engines remain among the best in the business for handling multiple codecs.

The connectivity is what would sell it to us, though. Dual Ethernet at 10GbE and 2.5GbE means you can edit directly from networked storage — the single biggest practical limitation on almost every AMD-based mini PC we have covered. Add OCuLink for a full external desktop GPU at PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds, two USB4 ports, Wi-Fi 7 and 8K display support, and there is very little missing.

Storage is unusual too. Alongside a conventional 1TB PCIe 5.0 configuration, GMKtec offers an 853GB variant using Phison’s aiDAPTIV+ technology, tuned specifically for running local AI models rather than general storage.

The trade-offs

Two things temper the enthusiasm. Memory is 64GB of LPDDR5X — fast at 8533 MT/s, but soldered and half what the Strix Halo machines offer, which matters if your interest is running very large AI models locally. And the power envelope is modest: 35W in Silent mode, 45W Balanced and 54W in Performance, peaking at 60W. That is a fraction of the 140W the AMD machines draw, which keeps it quiet and cool but caps sustained performance.

At $1,899 it is not cheap, particularly against AMD alternatives offering 128GB. But if your work is video-led, your media lives on a NAS, and you want the option of a real external GPU, this is the more complete machine.

GMKtec EVO-T2S: Specifications

Processor: Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (Panther Lake, Intel 18A) — 16 cores (4 performance, 8 efficient, 4 low-power), up to 5.1GHz, 18MB Smart Cache.
Graphics: Intel Arc B390 with 12 Xe3 cores up to 2.5GHz, ray tracing units and 96 XMX AI cores, XeSS support.
AI: up to 172 TOPS total (122 TOPS graphics, 50 TOPS Intel AI Boost NPU).
Memory: 64GB LPDDR5X at 8533 MT/s.
Storage: 1TB PCIe 5.0 SSD, or an 853GB Phison aiDAPTIV+ AI-tuned variant.
Networking: 10GbE and 2.5GbE dual Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4.
Expansion: OCuLink (PCIe Gen4 x4) for external GPU, dual USB4 40Gbps.
Display: HDMI, DisplayPort, 8K support.
Cooling and power: vapour chamber with dual fans; 35W Silent, 45W Balanced, 54W Performance, 60W peak.
Dimensions: approximately 1.7 litres.
Software: GMKtec Claw for local AI deployment.

GMKtec EVO-T2S: Price and availability

The EVO-T2S is available now, listed at around $1,899 as a launch price against a projected $2,399 retail. Initial stock has been sold through GMKtec’s own store and AliExpress. A higher-end EVO-T2 with the Core Ultra X9 388H is also planned. UK pricing varies — check current pricing before purchase.