【2026】Local AI Mini PC Deep Comparison: GMKtec M8 vs Minisforum UM690L【~¥50K vs ~¥70K】

「I want to start local AI, but which mini PC should I pick?」

The GMKtec M8 and Minisforum UM690L — these two are the most-watched mini PCs as 2026 local AI entry machines.

Both feature AMD Ryzen 6000 series, 16GB memory, and USB4. But the price point and direction differ slightly.

This article compares the two completely from a local AI execution standpoint.

Bottom Line: Which Camp Are You In?

Profile	Recommendation	Reason
Want the lowest-cost AI entry	GMKtec M8 🟢	OCuLink for future eGPU expansion. Start from ~¥50K
CPU performance is the priority	Minisforum UM690L 🔵	Ryzen 9 6900HX (8-core) is a tier above
Scale up with eGPU later	GMKtec M8 🟢	Only the M8 has OCuLink. UM690L doesn't
Want a slim, stylish unit	Minisforum UM690L 🔵	Ultra-thin design, takes little space
Also want a home server	GMKtec M8 🟢	Dual 2.5GbE LAN, ideal for server use

Spec Comparison

Spec	GMKtec M8	Minisforum UM690L
CPU	Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H (6C/12T)	Ryzen 9 6900HX (8C/16T)
Max boost clock	4.5GHz	4.9GHz
Integrated GPU	Radeon 660M (12CU)	Radeon 680M (12CU)
Memory	16GB LPDDR5 6400MT/s	16GB LPDDR5
Storage	512GB NVMe (M.2 x2)	512GB NVMe
OCuLink	✅ Yes (eGPU capable)	❌ No
USB4	✅ 40Gbps	✅ Yes
LAN	2.5GbE x 2	2.5GbE x 1
Video output	HDMI 2.0 / DP 1.4 / USB4 (3 screens 8K)	HDMI 2.1 / DP 1.4 / USB4 (3 screens)
Size	Standard mini PC size	Slim type (thin)
OS	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro

Key Differences Diagram

Local AI Performance Comparison

7B Models (Llama 3.1, DeepSeek V4 Lite, Qwen 2.5)

Item	GMKtec M8	Minisforum UM690L
CPU inference speed	Standard (6 cores)	~20% faster (8 cores)
GPU offload (Radeon)	⭐ Runs on 660M	⭐⭐ Slightly faster on 680M
OCuLink + eGPU	✅ Expandable	❌ Not supported
Usability	⭐ Practical enough	⭐⭐ More comfortable

13B Models (Llama 2, DeepSeek V4)

Item	GMKtec M8	Minisforum UM690L
CPU only	⚠️ Works but slow	⚠️ Better than M8
GPU offload	❌ Not enough memory	❌ Not enough memory
With eGPU	✅ Practical	❌ Not supported

23B+ Models

Both struggle to run directly (16GB memory limit)
M8 can run them with an OCuLink eGPU (RTX 4060+)
UM690L can't do eGPU, so 23B+ is basically out of reach

Recommended Use by Model

GMKtec M8 (~¥50K)

Recommended use:

7B model local AI entry
eGPU upgrade via OCuLink
Home server use (dual LAN)

Pros:

OCuLink support = overwhelming expandability
Low entry price (~¥50K)
Dual 2.5GbE LAN

Cons:

CPU performance below UM690L
Larger body

Minisforum UM690L (~¥70K)