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

GMKtec EVO-X2 vs Apple Mac Studio M4 Max

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

The short answer

Apple Mac Studio M4 Max comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Apple users who want the fastest local-LLM inference and 100B-class model headroom — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best AI Mini PCs for Local LLM

GMKtec EVO-X2

4.4

$1,999.99as of May 29

The GMKtec EVO-X2 stands out as the best 128 GB-class mini PC for buyers who actually need to fit a 120B-parameter local model. PCWorld praised its 'excellent combination of CPU, GPU, and NPU performance at desktop workstation level,' while TechRadar highlighted that it competes directly with Nvidia's DGX Spark at roughly half the price. The XDNA 2 NPU contributes 50 TOPS to a 126 TOPS platform total when CPU and Radeon 8060S iGPU are factored in. With 128 GB LPDDR5X unified memory at 256 GB/s, it comfortably loads GPT-OSS 120B Q4 (~70 GB) and gives strong single-user inference for 70B-class models in the 6–8 tokens/sec range. It loses to the Mac mini M4 Pro on overall reviewer rating (4.4 vs 4.6) primarily because reviewers weight build polish and ecosystem; for raw RAM headroom on Linux/Windows, the EVO-X2 is the more capable machine.

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 Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best AI Mini PCs for Local LLM

Apple Mac Studio M4 Max

4.5

$3,699

The Mac Studio M4 Max is the highest-performance local-LLM machine in this group, built around the bandwidth that actually governs token speed. At up to 546 GB/s it more than doubles the Mac mini M4 Pro's 273 GB/s and the Strix Halo boxes' 256 GB/s, and community testing puts 70B models at roughly 22-25 tokens/sec, dramatically faster than the others here. Macworld (4.5/5) and AppleInsider (4.5/5) both praised its performance and composure, with AppleInsider noting it is 'faster than the Apple Silicon Mac Pro, for half, and sometimes a quarter, of the price.' Its 128 GB unified memory ceiling fits 100B-class quants while staying cool and quiet. The catch is price: it costs roughly double the 128 GB GMKtec EVO-X2 or Beelink GTR9 Pro, and it is macOS-only, so Linux and CUDA tooling are out.

Strengths

— Highest memory bandwidth here at 546 GB/s, the single most important spec for token generation speed
— Up to 128 GB unified memory runs 70B models at roughly 22-25 tokens/sec and fits 100B-class quants
— Stays cool and near-silent even under sustained inference, with no thermal throttling reported

Watch-outs

— By far the most expensive pick here, roughly double the 128 GB Strix Halo boxes
— Unified memory is soldered and configured at purchase, with steep Apple upgrade pricing
— macOS only, so Linux/CUDA-native AI tooling is off the table

$3,699 · Buy at apple.com Full 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.

Apple Mac Studio M4 Max

The Mac Studio M4 Max posts the highest memory bandwidth in this group at 546 GB/s, roughly double the Mac mini M4 Pro (273 GB/s) and the GMKtec EVO-X2 and Beelink GTR9 Pro (256 GB/s), which is why it generates tokens fastest on 70B models. Its memory ceiling of 128 GB matches the Strix Halo boxes for model size but at far higher bandwidth and price. Choose it over the Mac mini M4 Pro when you need both more than 64 GB and the fastest Apple inference; choose a GMKtec EVO-X2 or Framework Desktop instead if you want 128 GB on Linux or Windows at a fraction of the cost.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	GMKtec EVO-X2	Apple Mac Studio M4 Max
CPU	AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16 cores, 32 threads)	Apple M4 Max (16-core: 12P + 4E)
GPU	Radeon 8060S (RDNA 3.5, 40 cores)	40-core Apple GPU
RAM	128 GB LPDDR5X 8,000 MHz	Up to 128 GB unified memory
Storage	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD	Up to 8 TB SSD
NPU	XDNA 2, 50 TOPS (126 TOPS platform total)	—
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2	Thunderbolt 5, 10Gb Ethernet, HDMI 2.1
Memory Bandwidth	—	546 GB/s
Neural Engine	—	16-core
Dimensions	—	7.7 x 7.7 x 3.7 in

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