Beelink SER9 Pro Mini vs GEEKOM A9 Max: H255 vs HX370 — Different CPUs, Different Classes [2026]
By Mini PC Lab Team · March 10, 2026 · Updated March 13, 2026
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Beelink SER9 Pro Mini vs GEEKOM A9 Max: H255 vs HX370 — Different CPUs, Different Classes [2026]
The Short Answer
These are NOT the same CPU class. The SER9 Pro Mini uses Ryzen 7 H255 (38 TOPS, 8 cores) while the A9 Max uses Ryzen AI 9 HX370 (80 TOPS, 12 cores). The $690 gap reflects the significant performance difference. The A9 Max offers upgradeable RAM, dual 2.5GbE, WiFi 7, and 3-year warranty.
Pick Beelink SER9 Pro Mini if: You want H255 for entry-level AI workloads and know 32GB RAM is enough.
Pick GEEKOM A9 Max if: You need HX370 for serious AI workloads, upgradeable RAM, dual 2.5GbE, or the 3-year warranty.
Side-by-Side Specs
| Spec | Beelink SER9 Pro Mini | GEEKOM A9 Max | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Ryzen 7 H 255 (8C/16T, 4.9GHz) | Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12C/24T, 5.1GHz) | A9 Max |
| GPU | Radeon 780M (12 CUs) | Radeon 890M (16 CUs) | A9 Max |
| RAM | 32GB LPDDR5X (SOLDERED) | 32GB DDR5 (UPGRADEABLE to 128GB) | A9 Max |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe SSD | 1TB NVMe SSD (dual M.2) | A9 Max |
| Networking | 2.5GbE + WiFi 6 | Dual 2.5GbE + WiFi 7 | A9 Max |
| USB4 | 1x USB4 | 2x USB4 | A9 Max |
| AI TOPS | 38 (16 NPU + 22 GPU) | 80 (50 NPU + 30 GPU) | A9 Max |
| Warranty | 1 year | 3 years | A9 Max |
| Reviews | Limited stock | 106 (4.4★) | A9 Max |
| Price | ~$999 | ~$1,689 | SER9 Pro Mini |
CPU and GPU Performance
These are different CPU classes. The SER9 Pro Mini uses Ryzen 7 H255 (8 cores, 38 TOPS) while the A9 Max uses Ryzen AI 9 HX370 (12 cores, 80 TOPS).
SER9 Pro Mini (H255): 8 cores / 16 threads at up to 4.9 GHz. Radeon 780M with 12 CUs. Entry-level AI with 38 TOPS.
A9 Max (HX370): 12 cores / 24 threads at up to 5.1 GHz. Radeon 890M with 16 CUs. Full AI with 80 TOPS.
AI compute: The A9 Max delivers more than double the AI performance:
- 7B models: ~30-50 tokens/sec (A9 Max) vs ~30-45 tokens/sec (SER9 Pro Mini)
- 13B models: ~15-30 tokens/sec (A9 Max) vs ~10-20 tokens/sec (SER9 Pro Mini)
- 34B models: ~10-20 tokens/sec (A9 Max) vs limited (SER9 Pro Mini)
- 70B models: ~5-10 tokens/sec with 64GB+ RAM (A9 Max) vs NOT possible (SER9 Pro Mini)
GPU performance: The 890M (16 CUs) in the A9 Max is ~30% faster than the 780M (12 CUs) in the SER9 Pro Mini.
Memory: The Key Differentiator
Beelink SER9 Pro Mini: 32GB LPDDR5X soldered to the motherboard. LPDDR5X is ~10-15% faster than standard DDR5 due to higher bandwidth. But it’s permanent — you cannot upgrade. 32GB is the ceiling forever.
GEEKOM A9 Max: 32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM — upgradeable to 128GB. Standard DDR5 is slightly slower than LPDDR5X, but the upgrade path matters for future workloads. Add 32GB later (~$80-100) when you need to run 70B LLMs or heavier VM workloads.
Why this matters:
- For 7B-13B LLMs: Both are fine with 32GB
- For 34B LLMs: A9 Max handles better with headroom
- For 70B LLMs: A9 Max can upgrade to 64GB+; SER9 Pro Mini cannot
Networking: The $100-150 Difference
Beelink SER9 Pro Mini: Single 2.5GbE (Realtek controller). WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Adequate for general use.
GEEKOM A9 Max: Dual 2.5GbE (Intel controllers). WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The dual Intel NICs are the gold standard for homelab use.
For homelab use: The A9 Max’s dual NICs enable proper firewall/router builds. The SER9 Pro Mini’s single NIC requires USB adapters for multi-NIC setups.
Connectivity and Features
USB4: The A9 Max has dual USB4 ports (40Gbps) vs the SER9 Pro Mini’s single USB4.
Storage: The A9 Max has dual M.2 slots (2280 + 2230). The SER9 Pro Mini has a single M.2 slot.
Warranty: The A9 Max includes GEEKOM’s industry-leading 3-year warranty. The SER9 Pro Mini has Beelink’s standard 1-year warranty.
Power Consumption
| Metric | SER9 Pro Mini | A9 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Idle (W) | ~8W | ~9W |
| Load (W) | ~78W | ~80W |
| Annual Cost (24/7 idle) | ~$8.41/year | ~$9.46/year |
Annual cost calculated at $0.12/kWh. Sources: ServeTheHome, NotebookCheck.
Both systems are power-efficient. The A9 Max runs slightly warmer under load (~80W vs ~78W), likely due to the dual NICs and additional features.
Reviews and Brand Trust
Beelink SER9 Pro Mini: Limited stock availability and few reviews.
GEEKOM A9 Max: 106 Amazon reviews at 4.4 stars. GEEKOM has established support channels and a track record of honoring warranties.
Price and Value
At $999, the SER9 Pro Mini offers H255 performance at a premium price.
At $1,689, the A9 Max costs $690 more but delivers significantly more:
- HX370 with 80 TOPS vs H255 with 38 TOPS
- 12 cores vs 8 cores
- Upgradeable DDR5 to 128GB vs soldered 32GB
- Dual 2.5GbE vs single 2.5GbE
- WiFi 7 vs WiFi 6
- 3-year warranty vs 1-year warranty
Value ranking:
- For budget buyers: SER9 Pro Mini wins on price only
- For AI workloads: A9 Max wins decisively
- For homelab features: A9 Max wins
- For future-proofing: A9 Max wins
- For warranty: A9 Max wins
Real-World Use Cases
For Local LLMs (Ollama)
A9 Max wins. The HX370’s 80 TOPS and upgradeable RAM make it far superior for AI workloads. The SER9 Pro Mini’s 38 TOPS and soldered 32GB are limiting.
For Homelab (Proxmox, OPNsense)
A9 Max wins decisively. Dual 2.5GbE Intel NICs are essential for proper firewall/router builds. The 12-core HX370 handles more VMs than the 8-core H255.
For Daily Use (Office, Media)
A9 Max wins. The 12-core HX370 provides better multitasking performance. The SER9 Pro Mini’s H255 is adequate but the $999 price is hard to justify vs cheaper H255 options.
For Risk-Averse Buyers
A9 Max wins. The 106 reviews and 3-year warranty provide peace of mind.
Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Beelink SER9 Pro Mini if:
- You want H255 and don’t mind paying $999
- You know 32GB RAM is enough forever
- You don’t need dual NICs for homelab
- WiFi 6 is adequate for your setup
Buy the GEEKOM A9 Max if:
- You need HX370 for serious AI workloads (80 TOPS)
- You need upgradeable RAM for 70B LLMs
- You need dual 2.5GbE for firewall/router use
- You want WiFi 7 for future-proofing
- You value the 3-year warranty
- You want 106 reviews proving reliability
Amazon Product Links
- Beelink SER9 Pro Mini — $999 (H255, soldered 32GB)
- GEEKOM A9 Max — $1,689 (HX370, upgradeable RAM, dual 2.5GbE, 3-year warranty)
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between H255 and HX370?
The H255 has 8 cores and 38 TOPS (16 NPU + 22 GPU). The HX370 has 12 cores and 80 TOPS (50 NPU + 30 GPU). The HX370 is significantly faster for AI workloads and multi-threaded tasks.
Can both systems run 70B LLMs?
The SER9 Pro Mini cannot — its soldered 32GB RAM is insufficient. The A9 Max can after upgrading to 64GB+ RAM (cost: ~$80-100 for extra 32GB), handling 70B Q4 at 5-10 tokens/sec.
Is dual 2.5GbE useful for a mini PC?
Absolutely. Dual NICs enable proper firewall/router builds (OPNsense, pfSense), link aggregation for higher throughput, or separate WAN/LAN networks.
Is the $690 premium justified?
For AI workloads and homelab use, yes — the HX370’s 80 TOPS and 12 cores are significantly better than the H255’s 38 TOPS and 8 cores. For basic office use, the SER9 Pro Mini’s $999 price is hard to justify vs cheaper H255 options.
Which has better Linux support?
The A9 Max’s Intel NICs have excellent out-of-the-box Linux support. The SER9 Pro Mini’s Realtek NIC may require manual driver installation. Both have solid ROCm support for AI workloads.
Does the A9 Max have the S0 Low Power Idle issue?
Some users have reported S0 Low Power Idle sleep/wake issues — a known problem on certain HX370 platforms. GEEKOM has released BIOS/EC updates that improve the situation. For always-on server use, disable S0 sleep in BIOS.