GEEKOM A9 Max 2026 Edition: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-17
Summary
The main complaint is fan noise under load on the 2025 unit, and opening the case for upgrades is awkward. RAM and storage are user-upgradeable and there are no recurring subscription costs.
Common problems and fixes
- Limited BIOS options — the BIOS offers no fan-curve control and few tuning options. Use the Silent or Balanced power modes as a workaround. [2]
- Case opening is not user-friendly — bottom screws sit under glued-on rubber feet and the internal Wi-Fi antenna cable connectors are fiddly; ITPro could not reseat theirs. [2][11]
- Second SSD slot is M.2 2230 only — the second drive is limited to the short M.2 2230 form factor, which restricts capacity and availability. [10]
- USB-C power input may not work with every charger — ITPro’s 125 W USB-C charger would not power the unit from the USB4 PD-in port. Use the included 120 W adapter. [11]
- Large price spread between stores — the same configuration costs $999 direct from GEEKOM while Best Buy lists the 32GB/2TB unit at $1,499 and Newegg listed an HX 470 model at $1,799.99. [2][9]
Parts and consumables
- WLAN module — replaceable, but the antenna connectors are fiddly and ITPro could not reseat theirs. [2][11]
Yearly running cost
No recurring subscription or consumable costs are reported; Windows 11 Pro is included and RAM and storage upgrades are user-serviceable [1][2][3][5]. The research gives no electricity or maintenance figure, so a full yearly total is not available.
When it is a good buy
- GEEKOM lists the HX 370 / 32 GB / 2 TB configuration at $999 direct (Notebookcheck, September 2025; Tom’s Guide, June 2026) [2][9].
- The base HX 370 2026 configuration was $1,399 from GEEKOM US with an 18%-off code until June 30 (TechRadar, May 2026), so $999 direct is the threshold worth paying attention to. [14]
- Newegg listed an HX 370 1 TB/32 GB unit at $1,099 (TechRadar, May 2026) for buyers who can live with a smaller drive. [14]
- The Minisforum AI X1 Pro measured about 5-6% faster in CPU benchmarks than this unit but costs more, so this is the better value at $999 direct. [2]