ASRock DeskMate X600 Mini-PC Lineup Offers eGPU Connectivity Through PCIe Extension Cables

ASRock's "DeskMate X600" Mini-PC lineup targets several users and comes with external GPU options with dedicated PCIe slots.

Don't confuse ASRock's DeskMate X600 series with the "DeskMeet" ones, as they are completely different, although the naming scheme sounds quite similar. With the compact Mini PC market, the focus has now been on squeezing maximum performance out of tiny units to ensure a portable and user-friendly product.

However, the trend of eGPUs is starting to rise to boost the graphical performance of these small form factor devices. ASRock has joined the bandwagon with its new DeskMate X600 Mini PC lineup by offering external GPU connectivity through a distinctive method.

ASRock's DeskMate X600 mini-PC has a dedicated cutout at the top that allows a PCIe riser or extension cable to come out of the mini-PC's PCIe slot and connect to an external GPU dock. This is a brilliant idea since it's advantageous in many ways.

The first is that modern-day PCIe connections are much more capable than alternatives such as OCulink and USB 4 standards, and having a dedicated cutout for PCIe riser cable also creates a much neater look. The firm doesn't provide a PCIe extension cable with the mini-PC so consumers would need to opt for "reliable" third-party solutions.

Regarding other specifications, the ASRock DeskMate X600 Mini PC is quite similar to its "DeskMeet" counterpart since it supports the Ryzen 7000 and Ryzen 8000G CPUs plus the upcoming 65W Ryzen 9000 options such as the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X would be perfect for these solutions.

Moreover, the mini-PC features four DDR5 DIMM slots, compatible with 7200 MT/s+ speeds. For storage, the device offers two M.2 slots (supporting PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0, respectively) and a 2.5-inch SATA slot. The mini-PC itself has a 120W power supply, so one must utilize a dedicated PSU for an external GPU connection.

For pricing, here is how it's factored out:

ASRock offers the DeskMate X600 Mini PC series in three different colors: Obsidian Black, Moonlight Silver, and starry gray. The SKUs have been released in Chinese markets, and global availability hasn't been confirmed yet.