Key Takeaways
1. The GMK NucBox M8 is priced starting at $360, featuring 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD.
2. It uses a Ryzen 5 Pro 6650H CPU, which helps keep costs lower compared to other mini PCs.
3. The design is modern and sleek, similar to the GMK EVO-X1 series, despite the CPU being nearly four years old.
4. The M8 performs well in multi-thread tasks, making it suitable for typical office or retail uses.
5. Limitations exist in watt performance and graphics capabilities, making it unsuitable for 3D rendering or AI tasks.
The GMK NucBox M8 is now available for purchase, with prices starting at $360 for the configuration that includes 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Its Ryzen 5 Pro 6650H CPU helps keep costs down, in stark contrast to many other mini PCs which are seeing their prices soar toward four-digit figures.
Design Choices
Even though the CPU is close to four years old, the M8 still presents a sleek and modern appearance, thanks to its chassis design that matches the newer GMK EVO-X1 series. Basically, the company replaced the costly Ryzen AI 9 Zen 5 CPU found in the EVO-X1 with the more budget-friendly Zen 3+ Ryzen 5 CPU to attract a broader audience that might not require such high performance. In our assessment of the M8, we found that this mini PC actually outshines the MSI Cubi NUC AI+, which uses the newer Lunar Lake-V CPU, when it comes to multi-thread performance. Therefore, for typical office or retail uses, the M8 is “fast enough,” particularly at this price point.
Performance Limitations
However, there are some limitations with this system due to the older CPU. Both watt performance and graphics capabilities lag behind more recent processors, meaning the M8 lacks efficiency compared to some other mini PCs, even if its multi-thread performance is quite good. If you’re looking to use the device for any sort of 3D rendering or AI tasks, the M8 might not meet your requirements.