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GMKtec M3 Ultra: 30-second review
It’s nice to get a product that just does what it’s meant to do, and whilst the M6 Ultra doesn’t jump out through design or the latest hardware, it does offer exceptional performance for an extremely balanced price.
The AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS processor with integrated AMD 760M graphics has been around for a while, and when coupled with the decent specification of RAM and SSD, you have a machine which, whilst not cutting edge, will enable you to get on with office work, media content creation, and a little gaming to a relatively high standard.
For me, what really stands out is the price. At just over $300/£300 for a relatively decent spec machine, there really is a lot to like here. Windows 11 Pro runs smoothly, as do Microsoft Office apps, and when it comes to media creation, as long as you haven’t got huge aspirations for producing a feature film, even 4K video edits run relatively smoothly.
The only time there is a slight hiccup is when it comes to gaming, but even then, lower down the settings, and you’re going to get decent performance from even the latest video games.
Ultimately, whilst there’s nothing cutting edge about this machine compared to some of the best mini PCs, it has been finely tuned to do what it does: offer you a machine for day-to-day work with a little bit bit extra energy than we’d’ve seen only a yr in the past, multi function comparatively small field that may positively compete together with your common desktop workplace machine for an excellent worth.
GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra: Price and availability
- How much does it cost? From £399 / $4199
- When is it out? Available now
- Where can you get it? Directly from GMKtec or Amazon
The GMKtec M6 Ultra is extensively accessible, with costs within the US beginning at $259 for the barebones model, as much as $419 for a 32GB model with a 1 TB SSD, as reviewed right here. The laptop is on the market straight by the GMKtec web site by clicking here.
I’ve additionally seen a couple of configurations on Amazon right here:
Amazon.com
M6 Ultra 32GB / 512GB
M6 Ultra 16GB / 512GB
M6 Ultra 32GB / 1TB
Amazon.ca
M6 Ultra 16GB / 1TB
M6 Ultra 32GB / 1TB
Amazon.co.uk
M6 Ultra 16GB / 512GB
M6 Ultra 32GB / 512GB
M6 Ultra 32GB / 1TB
GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra: Specs
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS
Graphics: Integrated Radeon 760M
RAM: 16GB or 32GB DDR5 (or barebone)
Storage: 512GB or 1TB NVMe SSD (or barebone)
Front Ports: 1x USB-A 3.2, 1x USB-C
Rear Ports: 1x USB-A 3.2
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5GbE LAN
Audio: 3.5mm combo jack
Camera: None
Size: 4.6 x 4.4 x 1.7 inches (117.5 x 112 x 44 mm)
OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro
GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra: Design
If you are on the lookout for a smooth, minimalistic mini PC that simply blends in with the remainder of your workplace gear, then the GMKtec M6 Ultra is a perfect choice. The form, design and options are all comparatively non-descript, with the one little bit of aptitude being the inexperienced signature energy button on the entrance and the plain GMKtec emblem printed throughout the highest.
Otherwise, the machine could be very fundamental, with air vents on the facet and ports back and front with the intention to rapidly plug in peripherals, community, and screens.
When it involves the dimensions and weight, while it’s small, it’s completely of the usual mini PC dimension, measuring 128.8 x 127 x 47.8 mm and weighing in, for the barebones unit, at 528g. Obviously, when you add in RAM and an SSD or two, that weight will improve. It’s additionally price noting that it has an exterior energy adapter, and that in itself is sort of giant, boosting the general weight of every little thing that you just want with the machine to 1386g.
While the general design won’t be notably inspiring, this can be very well-made and feels sturdy, so if you’re on the lookout for a mini PC that it is advisable take with you to places, then this might be an important choice.
Likewise, whereas there are smaller mini PCs on the market, the extra dimension simply permits much better airflow, so if you’re a content material creator on the lookout for a machine in your van, then this might be a perfect choice.
The small dimension clearly implies that it’s going to take up loads much less area, and like many mini PCs, there is a VESA mount on the again so you possibly can mount it behind your monitor or on a specialist mount if it is advisable.
One of the nice issues about this machine is that it is easy to improve. Access into the unit is actually made by pulling off the highest plate, which supplies you entry to the higher fan, which, to be trustworthy, is comparatively small. This is held in place by 4 screws, and as soon as undone, you possibly can merely flip over the fan plate to disclose the entire upgradable electronics inside.
On the small motherboard are the two-channel RAM slots, and it is nice to see right here that they’re SO-DIMM DDR5 4800MT/s, with 32GB pre-installed in my assessment pattern and the choice to improve these to an enormous 128GB, superb if you’re trying to make use of this machine for media creation.
On to the interior storage, once more, my assessment pattern has a 1TB M.2 2280 SSD. This is PCIe 4.0, so quick SSD, with the choice to pop in one other if you would like. There are twin slots, so you possibly can set up as much as 8TB of inner storage, 4TB in every of these 2280-sized slots.
Taking a glance across the physique, it is really very well specced out, and if you wish to use this small machine for one thing greater than your common workplace, creator, or gaming use, then it is good to see a reset jack on the entrance. This allows you to reset the machine BIOS if there is a matter.
For most customers, you will by no means have to make use of it.
Alongside the reset jack, there’s the signature inexperienced energy swap, 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB4 port, and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports on the entrance.
Going spherical to the again, you may have a safety lock, a USB 2.0, a USB 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0, Ethernet 2.5Gbps, and the power-in socket. There’s additionally one other set of vents under the ports, enabling loads of airflow by this mini PC.
GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra: Features
Looking by the options and specs of this mini PC, it’s totally apparent it is a machine aimed on the mass market, those that simply want a very first rate Windows machine that may run productiveness apps similar to Word and Excel, browse the web, watch media again, and do a little bit of content material creation and gaming.
The specs are all decidedly mid-range, with a Ryzen 5 7640HS CPU with built-in Radeon 760M graphics. It additionally options some upgrades over different mini PCs, together with DDR5 reminiscence, which is coupled with a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. It’s nice to see that each the RAM and the SSD are upgradeable, with each slots accessible, giving that further degree of pace and adaptability.
Helping to maintain every little thing cool is a fairly first rate cooling system, and even when the machine was put beneath load in DaVinci Resolve in addition to throughout gaming, the followers, while they kicked in, had been comparatively low quantity. You might nonetheless hear them, however they weren’t overbearing.
This new system incorporates a copper cooling fan, one thing that we’re seeing throughout the GMKtec vary, and this presents turbo cooling with typical vents and copper parts to assist dissipate the warmth from the interior electronics, thus stopping thermal throttling.
When it involves connectivity, it is also nicely specified for the workplace atmosphere with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and twin 2.5Gb LAN sockets, providing you with loads of choices for networking. I additionally actually like the truth that it features a USB4 port, so if you’re a content material creator, you possibly can plug in far bigger SSDs for video enhancing and different content material creation, backed up by quick DDR5 RAM.
One of the hidden options is the three efficiency modes: 35W, 45W, and 50W. The benchmarks for this assessment had been all achieved utilizing the 50W efficiency choice, nevertheless it does imply that if you wish to maintain energy consumption to a minimal, particularly in case you’re out within the area or utilizing this by turbines, you possibly can swap it all the way down to Silent Mode, which runs at 35W and reduces energy use. This mode can also be good in case you’re utilizing it as a part of a house or workplace networking hub and simply need the machine to sit down there 24/7 as quietly as potential.
When it involves show connection choices, it is also nicely catered for with HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, and that USB4 port. This allows you to plug in as much as three shows at 4K 60Hz, or a single show by the USB port at as much as 8K.
GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra: Performance
Benchmark scores
Crystal Disk Mark Read: 3555.7
Crystal Disk Mark Write: 2605.34
Geekbench CPU Multi: 10652
Geekbench CPU Single: 2580
Geekbench GPU: 23532
PC Mark Overall: 6432
Cinebench CPU Multi: 11690
Cinebench CPU Single: 1706
Fire Strike Overall: 6195
Fire Strike Graphics: 6592
Fire Strike Physics: 22318
Fire Strike Combined: 2444
Time Spy Overall: 2564
Time Spy Graphics: 2294
Time Spy CPU: 7752
Wild Life Overall: 14947
Steel Nomad Overall: 397
Windows Experience Overall: 8.2
This is the second GMKtec M Ultra sequence mini PC that I’ve checked out in as many weeks, and as soon as once more, just like the fantastically compact GMKtec NucBox M3 Ultra, the M6 Ultra has a quick boot-up time into Windows 11 Pro.
Once you get into the purposes, working Word, Excel, shopping the web, and watching media, this small PC runs exceptionally easily. In reality, each the M3 and the M6 now run in addition to mini PCs and desktop machines, many timestheir worth.
It’s primarily an enormous change available in the market; if you would like a good Windows machine for the workplace, you not should spend above $500/£500. These far cheaper machines are actually greater than highly effective sufficient to run the essential OS, on this case Windows 11 Pro and common workplace purposes.
In real-world use, this small machine’s barely bigger kind issue than its sibling presents that further degree of cooling, and with the upgraded CPU and GPU, it simply manages to outperform the smaller mannequin, particularly with regards to inventive purposes.
Having the AMD Radeon built-in GPU actually does give it the sting, particularly with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, video purposes, and gaming.
I began off the check scripting this assessment in Microsoft Word, updating Excel spreadsheets with rating outcomes, and finishing a couple of different work commitments. It was apparent that it greater than dealt with the processing required for these comparatively menial duties. After taking the pictures for this assessment, I chosen the pictures shot on a Sony A7 Mark IV by Adobe Bridge, launched into Camera Raw, after which into Photoshop to make a couple of extra tweaks. Adobe Photoshop was greater than able to dealing with the uncooked information from the digital camera, and including a couple of fundamental layers proved that this machine has greater than sufficient processing energy for use for mid-range photograph enhancing.
Given the way it dealt with pictures, and from utilizing the M3 Ultra for week beforehand, I used to be to see if this machine, with its totally different CPU and GPU, would have the ability to deal with reasonable video enhancing as simply as that smaller machine. Once once more, I used to be impressed as I loaded up Adobe Premiere Pro and imported 4K video. Basic edits and changes had been greater than potential, and as I scrubbed by the timelines, the thumbnail technology appeared clean and quick.
When it got here to exporting and encoding, there was fairly a wait, however the truth that it was nonetheless capable of deal with these tasks was good. Likewise, DaVinci Resolve was capable of do some color grading for brief clips and as soon as once more ploughed by video edits with out too many points. Both of those had been strengthened by the Geekbench scores, 23,532 for the GPU and a CPU multi results of 10,652, highlighting that it is greater than able to dealing with fairly advanced processing purposes.
Again, just like the smaller machine, there was a little bit of fan noise, and I might’ve preferred to have seen a bigger fan on the prime justto assist draw the warmth away from the electronics. However, whereas the fan noise did elevate fairly significantly, the precise processing use of the machine did not appear to decelerate, so not less than it confirmed that the cooling was doing its job.
In the advertising and marketing materials, it was additionally highlighted that this machine was completely satisfactory for AAA video games, whereas it did not spotlight Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Hogwarts Legacy, I used to be eager to offer it a go, together with the opposite titles I exploit to check efficiency.
Starting out with DiRT Rally, as soon as once more, the efficiency was excellent, with advantageous detailing within the graphics and clean gameplay playback on a 4K 60Hz monitor. As I boosted that efficiency and took it to Tekken 8, as soon as once more, I used to be impressed. The load pace (which I usually discover sluggish in Tekken) was a little bit extra snappy, and the battle sequences appeared clean, with wonderful graphic high quality.
Next, I examined Hogwarts Legacy and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Gameplay was greater than playable with the settings decreased to get optimum efficiency. While decision and among the ray tracing options had been decreased or switched off fully, the body charge remained comparatively first rate, and each video games had been greater than playable on this small system.
Once once more, that fan did kick in, however that is highlighted by the benchmark rating for Wild Life of 14,947, exhibiting that it’s advantageous for mid-range gaming. However, if you wish to play video games at full decision and graphic high quality, then you’ll require one thing with a little bit extra graphics energy.
Overall, while this machine won’t be probably the most inspiring to have a look at, with regards to pure efficiency for workplace and common use, it strikes a wonderful stability, with mixture of processor and GPU, quick RAM, and loads of storage that may meet the calls for of most individuals utilizing it for common use.
GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra: Final verdict
If you are on the lookout for a general-use, compact, and intensely dependable mini PC, then the GMKtec M6 Ultra is an ideal choice over the smaller rivals. It simply has that higher airflow and more room for the electronics, which sit a little bit bit higher for me by way of longevity and reliability.
Through the check, it did not miss a beat with any of the purposes that I used, and for common workplace and day-to-day use, this machine completely matches the invoice. In reality, it goes past that, and as quickly as you begin to do some content material creation, you realise simply how nicely balanced the processor and built-in GPU are, enabling you to edit 4K and full HD brief movies with out challenge. Combine that with succesful purposes, and you’ve got a very good, highly effective machine.
One of the problems is that you just do should deal with elevated noise, which you simply would not get from a desktop machine with extra airflow and bigger followers. But nonetheless, contemplating the small footprint, it is under no circumstances unhealthy, and contemplating what it could do for the value, it is exceptionally good worth all spherical.
I do want GMKtec had launched a little bit extra innovation within the design, however it is extremely minimalistic and purposeful over something fashionable, so in an workplace atmosphere, it is completely superb, primarily simply mixing in with all the opposite workplace gear. The incontrovertible fact that it could mount onto the again of a monitor utilizing the VESA mount implies that it may be much more discreet, liberating up much more of your desktop area.
If, nonetheless, you need one thing that’s ready to deal with gaming, then while this is ready to deal with among the extra demanding video games at decrease resolutions and graphic settings, it isn’t particularly designed for it, though it does have spectacular efficiency even on that degree.
If you are on the lookout for an exceptionally well-priced mini PC that gives loads of upgradeability and is ready to deal with just about something you throw at it, then the GMKtec NucBox M6 is an ideal choice.
Should I purchase the GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra?
|
Value |
Really, contemplating the value, it is an distinctive worth and can allow you to do every little thing from workplace work to content material creation and even a spot of gaming. |
5 |
|
Design |
Extremely clear, minimalistic and sturdy design. It lacks inspiration, however on the similar time, it is extremely inoffensive. |
3.5 |
|
Features |
The options have been tuned to the workplace atmosphere, giving loads of connection choices and upgradeability. |
4 |
|
Performance |
Considering the value and dimension, it presents distinctive efficiency. |
4 |
|
Overall |
A mini PC that lacks aesthetic qualities however definitely gives efficiency above its worth vary. |
4 |