On Sun, Sep 28, 2025 at 12:24 PM D. Hugh Redelmeier via Talk < talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
I think Evan's GMKtec EVO-X2 is very interesting.
It remains interesting. Thanks for the comparisons. I must admit to not keeping abreast of what else is using the architecture. I was also eyeing the Framework PC, but at the time PCs coming from the US were subject to retaliatory tariffs. So getting the PC shipped directly from GMKtec in China was an easy decision. Plus the Framework, configured identically to what I had, was $500 more IIRC. I am generally happy with the GMKtek system. My one concern, cooling issues, has not been a problem yet. Community forums document how to improve cooling by replacing the thermal paste with a square of PTM7950. I have obtained that and will do this if cooling becomes an issue. So far I have only opened up the box once, to install a second SSD drive, which was easy. For connectors I wish there had been a second HDMI or Displayport rather than just one of each, but that's a very minor niggle. All the hardware has been well supported by Linux, though that might be because I started with Fedora (which was quicker to update to the 6.16 kernel than the previous distro I used on other PCs). I am a little disappointed that AMD has been slower in releasing ROCm V7 for this architecture, as support was not provided in its first release. One would think that this would be one of the primary targets, but I guess the high end consumer GPUs sell in greater volumes. We have been promised support Real Soon Now. If I really wanted to tinker I could get it now but I'll wait for the official process. What I had thought would be the real competition to this was the Nvidia DGX Spark, which was announced in early 2025 <https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/6/24337530/nvidia-ces-digits-super-computer-ai> (originally named Project Digits. Not only is there nothing to be released in sight, but the price for those who pre-ordered has jumped by $1000 to now double the price of the EVO-X2. I wonder if it'll be worth the wait. - Evan