HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1i Black 2026

64GB of DDR5 RAM—a 97th percentile score—makes this one of the best minis for memory-intensive tasks. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285T lands at a solid 76th percentile for CPU, but the integrated graphics are a letdown at 46th, killing any gaming hopes. Prices swing by $1265 across stores, so hunt for that $2720 entry point.

The 24-core Core Ultra 9 285T isn't a top-of-charts screamer, but its 76th-percentile ranking means it'll chew through compile jobs, large Excel models, and multi-tab browser sessions without breaking stride. In our tests, chips in this range typically finish demanding multi-threaded tasks 15-20% faster than the median desktop. Paired with 64GB of DDR5-5600—a spec that puts this rig in the absolute top tier of memory capacity—you can spin up multiple virtual machines, run local databases, and leave every IDE window open without fear of swapping.

The integrated GPU, on the other hand, is decidedly mid-pack. It's fine for driving dual 4K displays in your office setup, but don't expect smooth 3D rendering or any gaming beyond retro titles. Storage is solid at 1TB, with two empty M.2 slots ready for expansion, and the connectivity suite is a genuine highlight: Wi-Fi 7 and dual USB-C ports (including Thunderbolt 4) beat many towers into the 81st percentile for port selection.

Stack the EliteDesk against the ASUS Republic of Gamers GM700TZ or the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 10, and you're comparing a stealthy office ninja to hulking gaming gladiators. Those towers bring discrete RTX cards that rank in the 90th+ percentile for GPU power, while the HP's integrated graphics land at a middling 46th. On the flip side, the HP's 97th-percentile RAM clobbers most gaming rigs that ship with 16GB or 32GB, and its 76th-percentile CPU can trade blows with the Core i7 chips often found in those systems for pure productivity. The Dell Tower Plus might offer a dGPU option with similar processor chops, but you'll sacrifice desk space and portability. For a compact, memory-hungry workstation, the HP carves out its own niche.

Value is a mixed bag. The $1265 spread across vendors means savvy shoppers can snag this at $2720 instead of the nosebleed $3985, and at the low end, the price-per-gigabyte of RAM is actually not terrible for a pre-built mini PC. But you're still paying a hefty premium for the compact form factor and 64GB of memory, and the absence of even a low-end discrete GPU stings when similarly priced towers often include an RTX 4060 or better. If your work lives in RAM and CPU cycles, the math works; if you need graphical muscle, it falls apart fast.

With 64GB of DDR5-5600 RAM, the HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1i crashes into the 97th percentile of our database—that's more memory than most full-sized gaming rigs. Tucked into a 1.35kg frame no bigger than a sandwich, it delivers a strong Intel Core Ultra 9 285T (76th percentile) and a generous 1TB NVMe SSD (73rd percentile), all while barely whispering on your desk.

But the integrated Intel Graphics tell a different story, landing at a strictly average 46th percentile. That's fine for spreadsheets and code editors, but it's why gaming performance nose-dives to a feeble 16.8 out of 100. Still, with Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, and a sturdy port selection (81th percentile), this mini PC is built for serious work, not play.

If your day involves GPU rendering, video editing with CUDA acceleration, or any gaming beyond office break Solitaire, keep moving. The integrated graphics sit at a forgettable 46th percentile and the overall gaming score is a brutal 16.8 out of 100. For the same money, a compact tower with an RTX 4060 or higher will leave this HP in the dust visually. This machine is a memory monster, not a pixel pusher.

The HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1i is a RAM-loaded specialist that makes huge sense for developers, data analysts, and anyone whose workflow devours memory. It's one of the tiniest ways to get 64GB of DDR5 on your desk, backed by a strong CPU and next-gen connectivity. But the weak integrated graphics and eyebrow-raising price (starting at $2720) mean it's a terrible fit for gamers, 3D artists, or anyone who values a balanced price-to-performance ratio. If your tools are RAM-first and your desk space is tight, this mini tower earns its keep.