HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1a 2025, Ryzen 3 5000, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Black

The HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1a is a tiny office workhorse with great ports and solid multitasking chops. Gaming is basically a non-starter at 13.2 out of 100. If you need a compact Windows 11 Pro machine for productivity and don't care about graphics, it's worth a look, especially at the lower end of the CAD price range.

The Ryzen 5 220 with its six cores handles spreadsheets, browser tabs, and video calls without breaking a sweat. The 16GB of DDR5 is solid for multitasking, though it's only average compared to other desktops in our database. The integrated Radeon 740M graphics are fine for driving displays and light photo work, but gaming is a hard no. Our numbers put gaming performance at 13.2 out of 100, which is about as close to zero as you can get without being a calculator. The 512GB NVMe SSD is quick for boot times and app launches, but it's on the smaller side if you're storing lots of local files. Port selection is a bright spot, landing in the 80th percentile, so connecting multiple screens and accessories is genuinely easy.

Stacked against the Lenovo Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 or the ASUS ROG GM700TZ, this HP gets absolutely smoked on gaming and raw CPU power. Those are gaming towers with dedicated GPUs, so it's not a fair fight. The Apple Mac Studio M4 Max is in another universe entirely for creative work, but it also costs several times more. Where the EliteDesk 8 Mini G1a wins is size and simplicity. The Dell Tower ECT1250 and Acer Nitro N60 are more traditional desktops that take up real desk space. If you need a machine that mounts behind a monitor or tucks into a tiny office, none of those competitors can touch this HP's footprint.

Pricing is all over the place depending on where you shop. In Canada, we're seeing a spread from CAD 1,300 to CAD 1,862 across three listings, which is a huge gap for the same machine. The best deal in our database is at the low end of that range, so shop around before you commit. For a business-focused mini PC with Windows 11 Pro and HP's security suite, the lower end of that CAD range feels reasonable. At the top end, you're paying a premium for the small form factor and you could get more raw performance from a traditional tower for less money.

The HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1a is a tiny 1L box that wants to disappear under your desk and just handle business. It packs an AMD Ryzen 5 220, 16GB of DDR5, and a 512GB NVMe SSD into a chassis you can literally hold in one hand. No screen, no fuss, just Windows 11 Pro and a pile of ports waiting for your monitors and peripherals.

HP is clearly aiming this at offices and cubicles where space is tight and IT departments want something easy to deploy. The port selection is genuinely impressive for this size, and the included keyboard means you can unbox it and get to work. But the CPU and storage sit in the middle of the pack, so don't expect it to punch above its weight class.

Gamers should run far away from this thing. The integrated Radeon 740M scores 13.2 out of 100 for gaming, which means even older titles will struggle at low settings. If you need any kind of GPU horsepower for video editing, 3D work, or even casual gaming, look at a tower with a dedicated graphics card instead. Also skip it if you store tons of local media, since 512GB will feel cramped fast and you'll be shopping for external drives within a month.

This is a purpose-built office machine for people who need a reliable, compact Windows box for everyday productivity. It's perfect for reception desks, cramped cubicles, or anyone running a multi-monitor setup for spreadsheets and email. The port selection is the real star here, and the included keyboard is a nice touch for quick deployments. Just don't buy it expecting to play games or edit 4K video. If your workflow is browser-based and document-heavy, this little HP will quietly get the job done.