GMKTec NucBox K4 review

GMKTec NucBox K4: 30-second review

The GMKTec NucBox K4 offers a blend of power and design in a compact Mini PC form factor. This powerful machine is aimed at anyone who wants a machine for gaming as well as creative work and is able to offer impressive high-end performance due to its AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU and Radeon 780M GPU. This new generation of combined AMD CPU and GPU offers something different, and so far the results that we've seeing are incredibly impressive. Through the test and despite the small size, the machine was more than capable of handling high demand tasks such as 4K video editing in Premiere Pro as well as being able to run many of the latest games.

The design of the NucBox K4 is a refreshing departure from the typical gamer-centric aesthetics that we've seen from the likes of the Acemagic Tank 03 mini PC, favouring a more professional and sleek look that would be better suited to a creative workspace. This design choice keeps things simple, ensuring that it will apply to  gamers and professionals in creative and other fields. 

However, the NucBox K4 is not without its issues. The initial setup requires a bit more technical knowhow than usual, particularly with the need to install AMD software to unlock the full potential of the hardware. This might be a minor issue if you're a tech-savvy user, but for many, this will be an issue.

Having tested plenty of the best mini PCs, performance here impresses with strong benchmark results across various tests, demonstrating its capability to handle different types of workloads well. 

One area where the NucBox K4 could see improvement is in its storage capacity, although the design does enable you to do this easily. The 1TB SSD that it ships with, while more than enough for office based tasks, will be limiting for gaming and creative applications, for example, the best video editing software, as the app and video files can require more space. If you are dealing with large files or extensive video content, you will need to consider additional storage solutions, either M.2 SSD upgrades or an external SSD.

The GMKTec NucBox K4 is an excellent choice for those looking for a compact yet powerful mini PC. Its balance of power, portability, and minimalist professional aesthetics make it a versatile device suitable for a wide range of applications. While the initial setup and storage capacity might be points to consider, they can be resolved and don't significantly detract from the overall value and performance that this mini PC offers.

GMKTec NucBox K4: Price & availability

The GMKTec NucBox K4 is available for purchase from various retailers. You can it on both Amazon US and Amazon UK, for example. Additionally, the mini PC is available directly from GMKTec through their official website. 

• Score: 4/5

GMKTec NucBox K4: Design & build

The GMKTec NucBox K4 features a design that's both minimalist and functional, which it has in common with many other mini PCs we've tried. It features a sleek, compact chassis, measuring just 123 x 112 x 43 mm and weighing in at a mere 422 g, again reflecting the form factor of many mini PCs and making the format ideal if you're looking to save desktop space. Given its somewhat small size, the K4 is a great alternative to a desktop if space is restricted space. It is also a fantastic gadget for use in vans or as part of the Van life movement.

Though compact and light, the NucBox K4 boasts good build quality and is beautifully crafted. If you do need to take the machine with you on occasion, the chassis feels strong and well-made; it should be great if necessary for daily use. The minimalist design emphasises a straightforward yet elegant exterior that avoids the flamboyant lights and forceful style sometimes found in PCs with gaming orientation.

On the front and back there's a decent array of ports, with multiple USB ports, HDMI connections, and an Ethernet port, so it should meet all your connectivity needs. The inclusion of a VESA mount option is a great touch and, again, an increasingly common feature for this style of machine. The VESA mount essentially enables you to attach the PC behind compatible monitors or TVs, further saving desk space.

• Design: 4/5

GMKTec NucBox K4: Features

At the heart of the K4 is an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor, with 8 cores; this is essentially very similar to what you would find in a desktop PC. This processor is partnered with the integrated AMD Radeon 780M graphics; this is something quite new for Mini PCs and gives a graphic processing boost that makes the NucBox K4 a decent choice for mid-range gaming as well as professional creative work. It might not be the gaming laptop-killer, but it's certainly an ideal alternative to the best laptops for photo editing.

Alongside the processor is 32GB of DDR5 RAM, 32GB is actually the max for this machine and the amount that was supplied in our review sample. This amount of RAM should ensure smooth multitasking and quick data processing for all office and creative work and enable it to run many of the latest games without lag. The storage solution, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, enables incredibly quick data access, helping to boost all areas of performance for the machine.

When it comes to connectivity, there's a good range of ports, including USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and Ethernet.

One issue that can occur with this amount of processing in such a small box is heat. Thankfully, the K4 features a decent cooling system. This system ensures stable performance even under heavy loads and manages to keep the noise of the fans reasonable. 

When it comes to the operating system, the K4 comes with Windows 11 Pro Pre-installed; however, the AMD driver software will also need to be downloaded and installed before unlocking this machine's full potential. 

• Features: 4/5

GMKTec NucBox K4: Performance

The GMKTec NucBox K4's performance in both the bench mark and real world tests was impressive, all showing the power of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor coupled with the onboard Radeon 780M GPU.

Used for a touch of gaming, the NucBox K4 handles most modern games at respectable frame rates. While it might not match the performance of a full-sized gaming rig with a dedicated GPU for a mini PC, its gaming capabilities are decent and more than enough to play the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy. Setting the display to 1080p enables a decent gaming experience.

For creative professionals, the NucBox K4 handles demanding applications such as Premiere Pro and Da Vinci Resolve, Photoshop and Lightroom, and even Blender, one of the best 3D modeling software tools around. When it comes to video editing, particularly at 4K resolution, the performance of the small machine is surprisingly good, although the 1TB storage is a little limiting, and an external drive through the USB 4.0 is a good upgrade option if you want to a super-compact alternative to the best video editing laptops. 

The benchmark results really highlighted what this machine was capable of. The high scores in Crystal Disk Read (6985.97) and Write (5451.54) showed the speed of the internal storage and by any standards this is fast. The GeekBench (CPU Single: 12584, Multi: 2640, Compute: 33486) score were reflected when using Office applications which ran quickly and without issue, likewise creative applications were relatively fast to load and responsive even with larger images and video files loaded. The CineBench (CPU Multi: 15385, CPU Single: 1822) reflect its the machines performance in processing speed, multitasking, and graphical tasks especially for video and gaming.

In everyday use, the NucBox K4 offers an experience for office work as well as simply browsing the internet. 

Through testing the machine, the cooling system did its job and maintained a stable performance without significant thermal throttling; the sound levels also seemed to be kept in check as the cooling system worked hard to keep things cool.

In summary, the GMKTec NucBox K4 stands as a versatile performer, balancing the demands of gaming, creative work, and everyday computing within a compact and efficient package. Its ability to deliver such performance in various tasks and applications makes it a compelling choice for a wide array of users, from gamers and creatives to general users seeking a powerful yet space-efficient desktop solution.

• Performance: 4.5/5

Should you buy the GMKTec NucBox K4?

Considering the size of the GMKTec NucBox K4, it can't fail to impress, and the power of the combined processor and onboard GPU will be more than enough for most moderate gaming enthusiasts and creative professionals. The Mini PC's ability to handle demanding applications such as 4K video editing and gaming at respectable frame rates makes it a great all-around choice and one of the most powerful Mini PCs out there.

Design-wise, the NucBox K4's minimalist aesthetic sets it apart from the more obvious gaming-focused PCs, which makes it an easier option for professional environments. Despite the small size and plastic exterior, the actual build quality is solid, and it should survive being moved around a studio or workshop without issue. The variety of ports and the inclusion of a VESA mount also give you plenty of mounting as well as connection options, making it a decent option for the home, studio, workshop, or even office. 

However, the NucBox K4 does require a bit more technical know-how during the initial setup, primarily due to the necessity of installing additional AMD software, which you would have thought would have come pre-installed. The need to install the AMD software during the setup process might be a minor issue for some, however, it shouldn't put you off; the process is a simple download, install, and restart, and you're done. Additionally, the 1TB SSD, while sufficient for many tasks, may fall short for users with extensive storage needs, particularly in creative fields such as video editing.

When it comes to value for money, the NucBox K4 is a slightly pricey option, but its performance and features really do justify the cost. 

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