GMK NucBox2 Mini PC review: Impressive desktop performance in a small package

GMK NucBox2 Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

GMK rose through the pandemic with its launch of the NucBox Mini PC. Information technology's surprisingly capable for such a compact size, only there's but then much the quad-core Intel Celeron can handle, which is where the GMK NucBox2 comes into play.

Similar the NucBox, this mini PC is compact and will easily mount to the rear of your monitor for a make clean workstation, just that'southward nearly where the similarities end as this is a whole unlike animal. Instead of a mere Celeron CPU, GMK opted for a laptop-grade Intel Core i5-8259U, which not simply has hyperthreading for eight cores but can besides heave to 3.80GHz.

We're taking a look at the NucBox2 today to meet if it's worth considering for work (and play).

Meaty workhorse

GMK NucBox2

GMK NucBox2 Mini PC

Bottom line: GMK took the NucBox, enlarged it slightly, and installed a more than powerful processor. The end event is a desktop workstation you lot can work and game on, but to carry around with you.

Pros

Meaty design
Good-performing eighth Gen Intel CPU
Strong port selection
Upgradable internals

Cons

Desktop functioning isn't the best
No Wi-Fi six or Bluetooth 5

GMK NucBox2 Mini PC: Price and availability

GMK NucBox2 Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

The GMK NucBox2 Mini PC is available at Amazon for $430. GMK offers a $xxx coupon through the retailer, which brings down the price to $400. Those who are not located in the U.S. can buy the PC through GMK'south online store direct. Compared to other pre-built and mini PCs, the price is pretty good with the specifications offered.

GMK NucBox2 Mini PC: Specifications

GMK NucBox2 Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

Category	GMK NucBox2	GMK NucBox
Type	Pocket-size form gene	Pocket-sized form factor
CPU	eighth Intel Core i5-8259U Quad-core 2.30GHz to 3.80GHz	Intel Celeron J4125 Quad-core 2.00GHz to two.70GHz
Bone	Windows 10 Home	Windows ten Habitation
RAM	8GB DDR4	8GB DDR4
GPU	Intel UHD 655	Intel UHD 600
Storage	256GB SATA Thou.2 SSD	128GB SATA M.ii SSD 256GB SATA M.two SSD 512GB SATA K.ii SSD
LAN	Intel Air-conditioning-7265 Wi-Fi 5 (Bluetooth 4.2)	Intel Air conditioning-9461 Wi-Fi 5 (Bluetooth 5.1)
Ports	4x USB-A 3.0 1x USB-C 2x HDMI 2.0 1x Gigabit Ethernet microSD reader 3.5mm audio jack	2x USB-A 3.0 ports 1x USB-C (DC input) 1x HDMI microSD reader 3.5mm sound jack
Dimensions	4.33 x 4.92 ten ane.96 inches (110mm ten 125mm x 50mm)	2.4 ten two.4 x 1.6 inches (62mm x 62mm x 42mm)

GMK NucBox2 Mini PC: What I like

GMK didn't switch things upward massively with the NucBox2. It's a compact PC with a like design to other mini PCs on the market, including the smaller GMK NucBox. Upwardly top is a plastic hat with a sleeky black stop, which doubles up every bit a fingerprint magnet. The master plastic chassis wraps around and is a dual-tone grey. It looks premium.

GMK'southward NucBox2 is perfectly priced and specced for a home function.

And this is a compact PC, coming in at 110mm x 125mm x 50mm and weighs in at 426 grams. You can easily carry this PC effectually in a handbag, which allows yous to mount the NucBox2 on the rear of a monitor using VESA support — GMK includes all the necessary VESA brackets as well. To help cool everything, there's a single fan that sucks in cool air from underneath the PC.

For ports, there'southward enough of connectivity nowadays to hook up all your accessories. On the rear are a power connector, two HDMI two.0 ports, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a single 1Gb LAN port. The front panel is where yous'll find the power button, USB-C port, 2 further USB-A 3.0 ports, and a iii.5mm audio jack.

The internals include the Intel Core i5-8259U processor, which is a quad-core CPU that can boost up to iii.80GHz and has integrated Plus Graphics 655 for graphics back up. It's not the best, but is expert enough for almost desktop tasks. For RAM, GMK pre-installs a single 8GB DDR4-2666 module. The memory is operating in unmarried-channel manner, and a second 8GB stick is highly recommended for a 16GB chapters.

Windows x Home is installed on a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD. Information technology's possible to speedily get inside the NucBox2 past removing a few screws hidden away by the four safe feet. It'south here where RAM or a new SSD tin can be installed. In synthetic tests, the PC performed admirably for the compact size. If the NucBox isn't quite capable enough, the NucBox2 certainly has more guts.

Category	GMK NucBox	GMK NucBox2	Minisforum U850
CrystalDiskMark	441MB/due south read 333MB/s write	ii,190MB/s read 1,297MB/s write	two,542MB/south read ane,271MB/s write
PCMark 10	1,572	4,076	2,819
Geekbench 5	434 (single-core) 1,318 (multi-cadre)	962 (single-core) 3,123 (multi-core)	666 (unmarried-core) 1,884 (multi-core)

Comparing the two NucBox PCs together, it'southward clear to see how much of a difference the NVMe bulldoze and upgraded processor make to the scores. While the NucBox2 costs considerably more than the smaller NucBox, the bump in performance is ideal for heavier workloads and even some light gaming.

GMK NucBox2 Mini PC: What I don't like

GMK NucBox2 Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Cardinal

The only drawback I could detect was the lack of any Wi-Fi 6 or Bluetooth 5. If either of these features is a must-take, you tin can supervene upon the Intel wireless card with one that does support the newer standards, merely this does mean additional cost and having to open up upwardly the mini PC, which non everyone may be comfy doing.

Information technology's a shame since the smaller NucBox has the Intel Air conditioning-9461 with Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.ane.

GMK NucBox2 Mini PC: Competition

ASUS PN51 Mini PC Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Key

The competition in the mini PC and NUC segment is pretty fierce for such a niche category. GMK has a few PCs out, including the excellent and unbelievably small NucBox, which is a good deal less than the NucBox2, but comes with less capable hardware. Other players are in the game as well, including PC manufacturing giant ASUS.

The PN51 from ASUS comes equipped with the choice of an AMD Ryzen 5 5300U, Ryzen 5 5500U, or Ryzen 7 5700U CPU. These aren't Zen 3 processors, but they offer great graphics functioning with integrated AMD Radeon Vega cores. This meaty PC can exist kitted out with plenty of RAM and speedy SSD storage infinite.

One shouldn't discount the Minisforum U850 Mini PC from the recommendation list, which actually comes with a newer Intel laptop processor, the Intel i5-10210U. It as well has Wi-Fi vi, plenty of ports, and upgradable RAM and storage. The toll is a lilliputian steep, however, coming in at $659.

Should you buy the GMK NucBox2 Mini PC?

GMK NucBox2 Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Primal

You should purchase this if ...

You're on a tighter budget
Yous want a modest form factor PC
You need a minor PC for full general productivity
You desire to create your own router

You shouldn't purchase this if ...

Y'all need to do intense tasks
You want to play games at loftier resolutions
You want a high-performance PC

There's and so much to similar nigh the GMK NucBox2. It has a very capable processor that'south ideal for working (and playing) from dwelling house. It has VESA support for mounting the device to the rear of a monitor to clear up desk-bound infinite. Information technology'southward possible to upgrade the RAM and SSD to brand this a compact workhorse for productivity.

GMK even includes the necessary VESA mounting brackets and a SATA cablevision for a two.5-inch SSD, allowing one to expand the capacity of the PC without relying on external storage. It'southward just a shame about the lack of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5, but these are small annoyances that most home PC users probably won't notice.

If you're working from home or are wanting to create a clean role environment, the NucBox2 is a solid Windows 10 PC that won't be awful for completing tasks throughout the workday. It's piece of cake to buy a cheap mini PC that doesn't have enough performance, but that'south non the case with the NucBox2. Information technology left me mightily impressed and is one of the best mini PCs and NUCs.

Compact workhorse

GMK NucBox2

GMK NucBox2 Mini PC

The bigger and much better NucBox

Sporting an Intel Core i5 mobile processor, this mini PC has enough going for it. The RAM is upgradable, so too is the M.2 NVMe SSD, and there'south a SATA cable included for expanding the capacity even farther. Best of all, the NucBox2 can be mounted on the rear of your monitor.

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