GMKtec is offering a surprisingly affordable mini PC that won't break the bank
A $330 mini PC with dual 2.5GbE and M.2 slots might just be the value purchase of 2026 — if you bring your own storage and RAM
by https://www.techradar.com/author/rahim-amir · TechRadarNews By Rahim Amir Published 8 September 2026
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- GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra pairs an eight-core Ryzen 7 7730U with dual 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 6E, and triple-display output while starting at just $330 a pop for a barebones configuration
- The underlying 2023-release CPU is capable, but a rebadge of the 2022-launched Zen 3 Ryzen 7 5825U, which is, in turn, a 2021-launched 5800U with a 100 MHz bump to base and boost clocks
- The price can be reduced to as little as $280 per unit for users buying 5 of the RAM- and SSD-less SKU
GMKtec has put its NucBox M5 Ultra back in the limelight, and the offering is familiar for the Shenzhen mini PC maker's mid-range lineup.
It comes with an eight-core AMD processor, two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, upgradeable memory and storage, and a price starting just over $300.
The catch for any prospective buyer is that you must bring your own DDR4 laptop RAM and SSD to get it going.
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A capable NUC that is hiding its underlying CPU's age
The M5 Ultra runs the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, an eight-core, sixteen-thread part clocked from 2.0 GHz to 4.5 GHz with 16 MB of L3 cache, built on TSMC's 7nm process with a default 15W TDP. Despite the 7000-series badge, it belongs to AMD's Cezanne lineup via the Barcelo-U refresh announced in January 2022.
The CPU it most closely matches in clock speeds, core configuration, and performance is the Ryzen 7 5825U, which is a slightly higher-clocked version of the January 2021-released Ryzen 7 5800U, which runs 100MHz lower on both base and boost clocks.
This is interesting because prospective buyers might feel they are buying a Zen 4-based CPU thanks to its 7000-series badge but would end up getting a CPU that was first available more than half a decade ago, even if it does hold its own in its price and performance segment.
A well-rounded offering with plenty of expansion under the hood
The M5 Ultra offers two DDR4-3200 SODIMM slots supporting up to 64 GB, and two M.2 2280 slots, allowing for a variety of configurations based on the user's needs.
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