GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro
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The GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro is a budget mini PC built around the Intel Core i3-10110U, a 2019-era Comet Lake chip, in a market where most cheap mini PCs use Intel’s Alder Lake-N or Twin Lake processors. It is a palm-sized box at 4.49 x 4.17 x 1.67 inches, with 2x HDMI, 4x USB-A, 2.5GbE Intel i226, and two M.2 slots. Dual SODIMM slots accept up to 64GB of DDR4, the M.2 2280 NVMe slot supports drives up to 8TB, and a second M.2 2242 SATA slot takes a smaller secondary drive.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Up to 64GB DDR4 across 2x SODIMM slots, well above the N100 cap | 2019-era 14nm Comet Lake chip in a 2026 product |
| Dual M.2 storage: PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe + M.2 2242 SATA | Only 2 cores / 4 threads; multi-thread trails newer N-series |
| Stronger single-core performance than Intel N150 / Twin Lake | 15W TDP is less efficient than newer 6W chips |
| 2.5GbE Intel i226 plus WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 | No USB-C port at all (front or rear) |
| Dual HDMI 1.4 for two displays | HDMI 1.4 limits 4K output to 24Hz |
| VESA mount kit and user-accessible RAM/SSD upgrades | UHD Graphics trail modern integrated GPUs |
GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro Comparison Chart
 GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro | GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro | GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro | |
| Price | List Price: $239.98 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $289.99 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $189.99 Amazon Prices: |
| Version | 8GB/256GB/Black | 16GB/512GB | Barebone (no RAM, no SSD, no OS) |
| Performance Rating | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro |
| Processor | Dual-core 2.10 Ghz (max 4.10 Ghz) Intel Core i3-10110U Processor | Dual-core 2.10 Ghz (max 4.10 Ghz) Intel Core i3-10110U Processor | Dual-core 2.10 Ghz (max 4.10 Ghz) Intel Core i3-10110U Processor |
| GPU | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2-channel | 16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2-channel | 0 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2-channel |
| Internal Storage | 256 GB SATA SSD | 512 GB SATA SSD | 0 GB |
| Dimensions width x length x thickness | 4.49 x 4.17 x 1.67 inches (114.05 x 105.92 x 42.42 mm) | 4.49 x 4.17 x 1.67 inches (114.05 x 105.92 x 42.42 mm) | 4.49 x 4.17 x 1.67 inches (114.05 x 105.92 x 42.42 mm) |
| Weight | 0.57 lbs (0.26 kg) | 0.57 lbs (0.26 kg) | 0.57 lbs (0.26 kg) |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ethernet | 1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps | 1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps | 1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps |
| HDMI | 2 Full-Size HDMI Ports | 2 Full-Size HDMI Ports | 2 Full-Size HDMI Ports |
| DisplayPort | No DisplayPort | No DisplayPort | No DisplayPort |
| VGA | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports |
| USB Ports | 4 USB 3 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), 2 front and 2 rear | 4 USB 3 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), 2 front and 2 rear | 4 USB 3 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), 2 front and 2 rear |
| Thunderbolt Ports | No | No | No |
| OCuLink | No | No | No |
| Internal SATA Ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports |
| Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader |
| Headphone Jack | combo | combo | combo |
| Fanless | No | No | No |
| VESA Mount | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| In the Box | GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro mini PC, power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount bracket with screws, user manual | GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro mini PC, power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount bracket with screws, user manual | GMKtec NucBox G3 Pro mini PC, power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount bracket with screws, user manual |
| Expandability | RAM up to 64GB DDR4 across 2x SODIMM slots, dual M.2 storage slots (NVMe + SATA) | RAM up to 64GB DDR4 across 2x SODIMM slots, dual M.2 storage slots (NVMe + SATA) | RAM up to 64GB DDR4 across 2x SODIMM slots, dual M.2 storage slots (NVMe + SATA) |
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A 2019 chip on a platform that takes 64GB and two drives
The chassis is close in size to the NucBox G3 (Intel N100) and the NucBox G3S (Intel N95). The rear carries 2x HDMI 1.4 (Type-A), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, the 2.5GbE port, a 3.5mm combo jack, the DC barrel jack, and a Kensington lock slot. The front face carries a power button and the other 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Cooling is active: a small fan paired with a single copper heat pipe, configurable through three TDP modes in BIOS (Silent at 8W, Balanced at 10W, Performance at 15W). GMKtec lists the weight at about 260g (0.57 lbs), with VESA hardware in the box for monitor-mounting.
The Intel Core i3-10110U is a 14nm Comet Lake-U part with 2 cores, 4 threads, a 2.1 GHz base clock, and a 4.1 GHz boost. By core count and process node it is a step behind the quad-core Intel N150 (7nm, 6W) found in similarly priced mini PCs. Its 4.1 GHz boost is higher than the N150’s 3.6 GHz, and Liliputing notes that the i3 scores higher in single-core benchmarks but lags behind in multi-core performance.
Wireless is WiFi 6 (802.11ax) with Bluetooth 5.2, wired networking is a 2.5 Gbps Intel i226 controller, and the two HDMI 1.4 outputs drive two displays. GMKtec rates them at up to 4K at 24Hz, which suits movie playback but not a 4K desktop at 60Hz. The memory ceiling is the expansion advantage. The N100-based NucBox G3 takes 16GB in a single SODIMM slot, and the Intel N150 supports up to 32GB of single-channel memory. The i3-10110U supports up to 64GB across the two SODIMM slots in dual-channel DDR4. Storage is more flexible than typical at this tier, with one M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot rated up to 8TB and a second M.2 2242 SATA slot for an additional 1TB drive. There is, however, no USB-C port anywhere on the chassis, which rules out single-cable docks and limits the device to legacy USB-A and HDMI peripherals.
Reviewer Insights
Brad Linder at Liliputing contrasted the G3 Pro with other cheap mini PCs. “Most of the cheap, low-power mini PCs that we’ve seen in the last few years with sub-$200 starting prices have been powered by Intel’s low-cost, low-power Alder Lake-N or Twin Lake processors. The GMK NucBox G3 Pro takes a different approach.” He noted that the i3-10110U beats newer Twin Lake chips on single-core benchmarks and supports more memory than they do, but loses on multi-core performance and energy efficiency. His verdict: “Despite its age, this chip actually has a few advantages over newer Twin Lake chips… but there are also some down sides.”
TechRadar took a dimmer view in its launch news piece. It described a “seven-year-old dual-core Comet Lake i3 processor” whose integrated UHD 620 graphics “lag behind modern iGPUs,” while noting that the G3 Pro supports up to 64GB of DDR4 across two SO-DIMM slots. It said buyers who need a mini PC for video editing, gaming, or workstation use “should avoid this model.” Its price verdict was that the G3 Pro “feels overpriced compared to competing models that offer better out-of-the-box hardware,” and it named the GMKtec G3 Plus (Intel N150) and the Kamrui GK3 Plus (Intel N95) as examples.
Gizmochina covered the China launch as a specs piece. It said the G3 Pro “blends modest performance with impressive expandability in a palm-sized chassis,” described the dual M.2 slots and the “tool-free, quick-release design,” and listed the weight as 260 grams. It did not test the machine.
The 64GB ceiling is the reason to pick this one
The i3-10110U is suited to browsing, document editing, and media playback. If you need 32GB or 64GB of RAM in a budget mini PC and you do not want to step up to a Ryzen-based unit, this box gets you there. The dual M.2 layout helps for a small NAS or a backup target.
The NucBox G3 (Intel N100) has a lower list price and a quad-core chip, but takes only 16GB of RAM in one slot. The NucBox G3S (Intel N95) is also limited to 16GB, with WiFi 5 and gigabit Ethernet. The 64GB ceiling is the reason to pick this one over an N100 or N150 box; an N150 is the better choice for energy efficiency and multi-core work. All three GMKtec boxes appear in Starry Hope’s Mini PC Comparison Chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What processor does the NucBox G3 Pro use?
It uses the Intel Core i3-10110U, a 14nm Comet Lake-U processor with 2 cores and 4 threads, a 2.1 GHz base clock, and a 4.1 GHz boost. The chip launched in 2019 and pairs Intel UHD Graphics with a TDP envelope you can set in BIOS between 8W and 15W.
How much RAM can the NucBox G3 Pro hold?
Up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR4 across two SO-DIMM slots, a higher ceiling than the Intel N100 or N150 chips found in similarly priced mini PCs. Both slots sit under the bottom panel, which comes off without tools.
What storage options does the G3 Pro support?
Two M.2 slots, one M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4 rated up to 8TB and one M.2 2242 SATA rated up to 1TB. Pre-built configurations ship with a 256GB or 512GB SATA SSD, leaving the faster NVMe slot open for a drive you add.
Does the NucBox G3 Pro have a USB-C port?
No. All four USB ports are USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), two on the front and two on the rear, and video output goes over the two HDMI 1.4 Type-A ports (4K at up to 24Hz). There is no Thunderbolt, no USB4, and no DisplayPort over USB-C.
How does the G3 Pro compare to the NucBox G3 and G3S?
All three are small GMKtec boxes with two HDMI ports and an M.2 2280 NVMe slot plus an M.2 2242 SATA slot. The NucBox G3 uses the quad-core Intel N100 and the NucBox G3S uses the quad-core N95; both take up to 16GB of RAM in one slot. The G3 Pro uses the dual-core i3-10110U, which is stronger in single-thread work, and takes up to 64GB across two slots. The G3S has WiFi 5 and gigabit Ethernet, while the G3 and G3 Pro have WiFi 6 and 2.5GbE.
What is in the box?
The box holds the mini PC unit, an external power adapter, an HDMI cable, a VESA mounting bracket with screws, and a printed user manual. The barebone SKU comes without RAM, storage, or an operating system; the 8GB/256GB and 16GB/512GB SKUs arrive with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed.