TechRadar Verdict
The GMKtec NucBox M6 offers no design thrills but still manages to combine powerful performance, plenty of connectivity options, and a decent price to make it an attractive choice for the office and home.
Pros
- +
Compact design
- +
Powerful performance
- +
Plenty of connection options
Cons
- -
Limited upgrade options
- -
Not for heavy tasks
- -
Single USB-C port for power
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GMKtec NucBox M6: 30-second review
The era of lacklustre mini PCs is over, and the GMKtec NucBox M6 is a testament to this evolution. The compact M6 features an AMD Ryzen 5 6600H CPU and AMD Radeon 660M GPU, and while this might be entry-level in the Ryzen range, it still impresses with a very decent performance, especially at its price point.
Like all the best mini PC units we've tested, the M6 handles all office tasks without issue and even supports light multimedia production, such as image and HD video editing. What really appeals about the M6 is that it has plenty of upgradability options, including expandable RAM and SSD storage, which will enable you to adapt this mini PC to your needs.
Everyday tasks like Microsoft Office applications, internet browsing, and light multimedia work are all well within this machine's abilities, and even some light gaming is handled well by the CPU and GPU combination. The machine's storage and processing power are impressive, but it's the small machine's versatility that really shines through. While the machine can sit in an office plugged into the mains, the dual power option also enables you to connect to PD power; this makes it possible to use in a variety of settings, from office desks to advanced display systems or even as a powerful, lightweight solution for van life. Overall, the GMKtec NucBox M6 offers exceptional value for its compact size, powerful specs, and versatile functionality.
GMKtec NucBox M6: Price and availability
- How much does it cost? From $340 / £265
- When is it out? Available now
- Where can you get it? Directly from GMKtec or Amazon.com
The GMKtec M6 is widely available with three variants: A barebones model with no memory or storage, a 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD model, and a 32GB / 1TB SSD variant.
Prices start at $340 / £265, but at the time of this review, all versions were heavily discounted on both the GMKtec website here and Amazon here.
- Value: 4 / 5
GMKtec NucBox M6: Specs
| Item | Spec |
|---|---|
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 5 6600H 4.50GHz |
| GPU: | AMD Radeon 660M 1900 MHz |
| RAM: | 32GB DDR5 (Max 64GB) |
| Storage: | 1TB PCIE 3.0/4.0 M.2 2280 SSD |
| Expansion | M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3 |
| Front Ports: | 3.5mm CTIA audio port, Type-C, USB3.2 (Gen 2) |
| Rear Ports: | USB2.0, USB3.2, DisplayPort (4k@60Hz), Kensington Lock, HDMI 2.0 (4K@60Hz), Giga LAN(RJ45) 2.5G |
| Connectivity: | WiFi6, 2.5G RJ45*2, BT5.2 |
| OS: | Windows 11 Pro (pre-installed) |
| Dimensions: | 129 x 127 x 52mm |
| Weight: | 530g |
GMKtec NucBox M6: Design
The GMKtec M6 follows the usual design rules for a typical mini PC in terms of size and weight, and there's really nothing remarkable about it from that angle. The PC is housed in an all-plastic matte black casing that, while not premium, still exudes a quality feel and, to be honest, looks great. Its layout is straightforward, featuring a good selection of front ports for occasional accessories and headphones and a more extensive array at the back, including dual network ports for enhanced gaming, dual display options, and various USB Type-A ports. This design consolidates GMKtec's experience in mini PCs, offering everything generally needed in this category of machine.
While the base configuration of the machine is pretty good, accessing the inner components is straightforward, with the top cover clipped in place. Removing the top lid reveals the fan cover, which is secured with four screws. Once removed, the SSD and RAM slots are easily accessible. The design includes dual SSD options, with the primary SSD featuring a heatsink, allowing for an additional SSD if needed. Each slot supports up to 2TB, enabling a total of 4TB of internal storage. The dual-channel RAM can be upgraded from 32GB to 64GB, providing more headroom for creative tasks.
Overall, the M6's design is compact and perfectly suited for desktop use or mounting via the included VESA mount. Despite its small size, the M6 features substantial cooling with a large heatsink on the main SSD, side venting, and an additional fan cover, ensuring decent air circulation that helps keep the machine cool under load when handling large files, demanding tasks, or gaming.
- Design: 4 / 5
GMKtec NucBox M6: Features
The GMKtec M6 is a powerful mini PC, considering its relatively cheap price. It has a balanced array of ports and features, ideal for office work and light multimedia editing. Its AMD Ryzen 5 6600H CPU and Radeon 660M GPU offer more power than typical mini PCs at this price point, making it suitable for tasks like Photoshop and Davinci Resolve, provided the workload is moderate.
A notable advantage of the M6 is its dual power options—AC mains adapter and PD power—which add flexibility compared to other mini PCs. The M6 supports 5GHz/2.4GHz dual-frequency WiFi 6E and multi-user 2x2 MIMO, ensuring decent wireless connectivity. The dual 2.5G RJ45 ports further boost the networking options, although this is more of an office feature than at home unless you're gaming or using a creative network.
The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H, with its Zen 3+ architecture and 4.5GHz burst frequency, paired with the Radeon 660M GPU in use, does deliver impressive performance. The 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB PCIe SSD provide what you need for most standard apps, and if you are venturing into creative applications, then the ability to upgrade on both accounts is definitely welcome.
- Features: 4 / 5
GMKtec NucBox M6: Performance
| Mini PC | Header Cell - Column 1 | GMKtec M6 |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark | WildLife | 10302 |
| Row 1 - Cell 0 | Fire Strike Overall | 4678 |
| Row 2 - Cell 0 | Fire Strike Graphics | 5032 |
| Row 3 - Cell 0 | Fire Strike Physics | 22127 |
| Row 4 - Cell 0 | Fire Strike Combined | 1726 |
| Row 5 - Cell 0 | Time Spy Overall | 1787 |
| Row 6 - Cell 0 | Time Spy Graphics | 1582 |
| Row 7 - Cell 0 | Time Spy CPU | 6789 |
| CineBench23 | Single | 1420 |
| Row 9 - Cell 0 | Multi | 10365 |
| GeekBench | Single | 2018 |
| Row 11 - Cell 0 | Multi | 9138 |
| Row 12 - Cell 0 | OpenCL | 14815 |
| CrystalDisk | Read MB/s | 2484.82 |
| Row 14 - Cell 0 | Write MB/s | 1888.51 |
| PCMark 10 | Office | 5943 |
| WEI | Row 16 - Cell 1 | 8.2 |
Considering its price, the GMKtec NucBox M6's performance is superb, highlighting the rapid advancements in mini PC capabilities. While its build and design might not match its premium counterparts, its performance and upgradability are impressive. Standard office applications load quickly, and large documents are handled with ease. Image editing in Photoshop is well-managed, though there is a slowdown as layers and effects accumulate. The M6 is more than adequate for Lightroom, with internal storage expandable to 4TB, which is handy if this is your sole machine or you wanted a compact alternative to any of the best laptops for photo editing.
For video editing, the M6 can handle standard HD footage and some 4K editing, provided expectations are realistic - this is hardly the best video editing PC for serious work. Gaming performance is surprisingly good, with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Tekken 8 running smoothly with adjusted settings. Overall, the M6 is an ideal, affordable, and powerful solution for office, workshop, van, and display use.
- Performance: 4 / 5
GMKtec NucBox M6: Final verdict
The GMKtec NucBox M6 impresses with its compact size, price, and ability to handle office tasks and multimedia easily. While it does slow for more demanding applications, it can be used for photo and image editing within reason, making it a versatile and powerful mini PC for everyday use. If you need a budget-friendly business computer for basic computing tasks, the M6 is a great choice. However, if your requirements include heavy multitasking or intensive software such as 3D or advanced video editing and production, you might need to consider more robust options. This mini PC shines in its intended niche, delivering reliable performance in a remarkably small package.
Should I buy a GMKtec NucBox M6?
| Value | Good performance and expandability at a competitive price | 4/5 |
| Design | Compact and sleek, but the plastic build feels cheap | 4/5 |
| Features | Excellent expandability and connectivity options. | 4/5 |
| Performance | Strong CPU performance but limited in high-end gaming. | 4/5 |
| Overalls | A powerful, versatile Mini PC with minor drawbacks. | 4/5 |
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