HP EliteDesk 8 G1i Jack Black

The 64GB of DDR5 RAM is the headline here, landing in the 96th percentile and making this a multitasking monster. CPU performance is well above average for business and dev work, but the integrated graphics are a real letdown for anything beyond spreadsheets. Prices vary by over a thousand bucks, so hunt for a deal.

The 20-core Ultra 7 265T chews through productivity workloads without breaking a sweat. In our benchmarks, it's a standout for business and developer tasks, scoring 79.4 and 82.2 out of 100 respectively. That's more than enough horsepower for heavy Excel models, large code compiles, or running a few local servers. The real star here is the 64GB of 5600 MHz DDR5. It's one of the best memory configs we've seen in a mini PC, letting you keep a frankly irresponsible number of Chrome tabs open without a hiccup.

Integrated graphics are the bottleneck. The GPU score of 16.1 out of 100 for gaming tells you everything you need to know. This machine will handle 4K video playback and light photo editing just fine, but it falls behind most systems for anything 3D. The 1TB SSD delivers quick boot times and app loads, though its capacity is middle of the pack. You do get two empty PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, so expanding storage down the line is a breeze.

Stacked against the Dell Tower Plus EBT2250, the HP trades blows on CPU but absolutely demolishes it on RAM capacity. The Dell typically ships with half the memory. The ASUS ROG GM700TZ and Lenovo Legion 34IAS10 are in a different universe for graphics performance, but they're full-sized towers that can't match the EliteDesk's portability. The MSI EdgeXpert 11SUS is a closer form-factor rival, but its memory configs usually top out lower. If you need a tiny box with a ton of RAM and don't care about gaming, the HP is the clear winner here.

Pricing on this thing is all over the map. We're seeing a spread from $2300 to $3348 depending on the vendor, which is a massive $1048 gap. At the low end, you're getting a very capable, RAM-heavy workstation for a reasonable price. At the high end, you're creeping into territory where a machine with a discrete GPU starts making a lot more sense. Shop around and don't pay a premium for the same spec sheet.

The HP EliteDesk 8 G1i packs a surprising punch for a 1.35kg box. With 64GB of DDR5 RAM, it lands in the 96th percentile for memory in our database, which is frankly overkill for most office tasks and a real treat for developers running multiple containers. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T is a solid performer, sitting well above average in the 79th percentile for CPU grunt. You're getting a lot of compute in a chassis you can hide behind a monitor.

But this is a business machine through and through, and the integrated Intel Graphics are a clear reminder of that. GPU performance is a middling 46th percentile, so don't even think about gaming. The 1TB NVMe SSD is snappy and about average for capacity, but HP left two extra M.2 slots open, which is a nice bit of future-proofing. Connectivity is a strong point with Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4, putting it in the 80th percentile for ports.

Gamers and creative pros should look elsewhere. The integrated Intel Graphics score a dismal 16.1 out of 100 for gaming, making this one of the worst mini PCs for anything 3D. If you need to render video, run CAD software, or play anything more demanding than Solitaire, you'll want a machine with a discrete GPU. The 90W power supply also means there's no headroom for adding a graphics card later.

The EliteDesk 8 G1i is a niche machine that nails its niche. If you're a developer, data analyst, or IT manager who needs a compact, vPro-manageable workstation with an absurd amount of RAM, this is one of the best options on the market. Just don't expect it to do anything graphically demanding, and definitely shop around to avoid overpaying by a grand.