The NucBox M4 is the newest mini PC from GMK carrying an eleventh gen Core i9 Tiger Lake-H CPU. It’s notable for being some of the least pricey mini PCs with this type of processor possibility.
Our evaluation configuration can also be discovered on-line for $450 to $500 USD with the Core i9-11900H, 16 GB DDR4 RAM, 512 TB M.2 SSD, and Home windows 11 Professional preinstalled. Competition to the NucBox M4 come with different reasonably priced mini PCs just like the Beelink SER6 Professional, Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini, or Minisforum Neptune Collection HX77G.
Extra GMKtec critiques:
Not like maximum different mini PCs on this worth vary, the NucBox M4 is the majority steel on either side for an business or skilled glance. Alternatively, it is usually each better and heavier by way of noticeable margins particularly when in comparison to your standard Intel NUC.
Be aware that whilst GMK advertises the NucBox m4 in each horizontal and vertical orientations, the style is at risk of tipping if situated vertically. There’s no specialised stand to safe the unit within the vertical place.
There’s no scarcity of ports as customers are getting a complete of 7 USB ports, 3 video-out ports, and twin 2.5 Gbit Ethernet. Alternatively, there’s no Thunderbolt or eGPU give a boost to which might have boosted the flexibility of the style.
Wi-Fi 6E does now not come same old as a way to stay prices low. Switch charges are nevertheless secure and dependable when paired to our Wi-Fi 6 community.
The highest duvet slides off after eliminating two screws from the rear to expose two garage bays (2.5-inch SATA III + M.2 2280) and two SODIMM slots. Upgrades are reasonably painless and require just a screwdriver.
The retail field contains an HDMI cable and VESA mounting screws along the facility adapter and guide. A one-year restricted producer guaranty applies if bought in the USA.
We set Home windows to Efficiency mode previous to working the benchmarks beneath.
As a three-year previous Core i9 CPU, the i9-11900H has hassle maintaining with more recent Core i7 and Ryzen 7 choices just like the Core i7-13700H, Core i7-1360P, or Ryzen 7 7735HS. It’s nevertheless sooner than the Core i5-12450H within the NucBox M3 and maximum Core U CPUs together with the thirteenth gen Core i7-1365U.
PCMark effects are not up to many mini PCs working on more recent twelfth gen, thirteenth gen, or Zen 3+ CPUs due in large part to the sluggish built-in GPU in our NucBox M4.
LatencyMon finds no DPC problems when opening a couple of browser tabs of our homepage. 4K video playback at 60 FPS may be absolute best and not using a dropped frames recorded to make this a very good mini PC for streaming functions.
Our unit ships with a 512 GB Lexar NM620 PCIe3 x4 NVMe SSD providing sequential learn and write charges of as much as 3500 MB/s and 2400 MB/s, respectively. The force would showcase no throttling problems keeping up its most functionality charges over lengthy classes.
The built-in UHD Graphics Xe 32 EUs is likely one of the slowest GPUs within the Intel Xe circle of relatives. The NucBox M4 is subsequently now not designed for any type of local gaming. Recreation streaming, then again, runs excellently at the device.
Fan noise when working undemanding so much like browsers or video streams is quieter than on maximum different smaller mini PCs. When working 3DMark 06 to constitute medium so much, as an example, fan noise can be secure at simply 28 dB(A) in comparison to 37 dB(A) at the NucBox M3. Pulsing may be at a minimal.
Operating extraordinarily not easy so much like Prime95 may cause the inner fan to be as loud as 45 dB(A) which is louder than on maximum different mini PCs. Thus, the NucBox M4 is a noisy device simplest when the workload calls for it as it’s differently slightly quiet.
Floor temperatures are by no means uncomfortably heat because of the reasonably huge footprint and steel chassis. Recent air enters from the highest and waste warmth exists from the rear. Thus, striking pieces like books or paper on best of the unit isn’t really helpful.
The CPU would spice up to a few.4 GHz and 47 W for simplest the primary few seconds of Prime95 pressure prior to ultimately falling and stabilizing at 2.7 GHz, 45 W, and 76 C. Core temperature would stay reasonably low at simply 57 C when working extra sensible so much like video games most probably owing to the massive chassis dimension. Repeating this identical take a look at at the smaller NucBox K3 Professional, as an example, would lead to a miles hotter core temperature of 80 C.
Total intake is reasonably prime when idling on desktop whilst being reasonably low when working not easy so much. That is to be anticipated because the older eleventh gen Intel CPUs are normally much less environment friendly. Be aware that the AMD-powered Beelink SER6 Professional provides each sooner functionality and decrease intake for awesome performance-per-watt.
The USB-C port does now not give a boost to power-in and so the proprietary AC persistent brick will have to be used.
The NucBox M4 will have simply introduced, however its Core i9 CPU from 2021 hasn’t elderly really well. Maximum in particular, mini PCs with the Ryzen 7 6800H or Ryzen 7 7735HS just like the Beelink SER6 Professional or NucBox K2 be offering identical processor functionality and considerably sooner graphics functionality for round the similar worth. The largest causes for opting for the NucBox M4 are subsequently for its normally quieter fan noise and Core i9 badge.
The NucBox M4 is rapid, quiet, and reasonably priced. Alternatively, its getting old CPU is outperformed by way of in a similar way priced fashionable choices just like the Ryzen 7 6800H.
The remainder of the style is differently very good starting from the robust steel chassis, simple serviceability, and broad number of built-in ports. The reasonably huge dimension lends itself to each cooler working temperatures and a quieter fan. Even so, the vulnerable GPU and loss of Thunderbolt give a boost to do not give the NucBox M4 very lengthy legs.
The NucBox M4 is recently in inventory on Amazon for $470 USD with double the RAM and garage as our evaluation configuration.
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