GMKtec Nucbox G5

Updated on January 26, 2026

The GMKtec NucBox G5 is a palm-sized budget mini PC built on Intel’s quad-core N97, with 12GB of LPDDR5, a 256GB or 512GB M.2 SATA SSD, and Windows 11 Pro. At a 2.83-inch cube it is one of the smallest x86 boxes around, and it sells for roughly $150 to $200. Five reviewers tested this exact N97 unit, and they agree on what it is: a quiet, cheap machine for web, office, streaming, and retro emulation, but not for modern gaming.

The port set is generous for the size: two HDMI 2.0 outputs (4K at 60Hz), three USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a microSD reader, and Gigabit Ethernet, all confirmed across the reviews. The trade-offs are a USB-C port that is power-only (no data or video), dated Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2, and M.2 SATA rather than faster NVMe storage. The grounded notes below come from those five reviews and the page’s own Amazon owner reviews.

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GMKtec Nucbox G5 Comparison Chart

	GMKtec Nucbox G5	GMKtec Nucbox G5	GMKtec Nucbox G5	GMKtec Nucbox G5
Price	List Price: $179.99 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon	List Price: $169.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...	List Price: $199.99 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon	List Price: $199.99 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon
Version	12GB/256GB/Intel N97/Blue	12GB/256GB/Intel N97	12GB/512GB/Intel N97	12GB/512GB/Intel N97/Blue
Performance Rating	4.5	4.5	4.5	4.5
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro
Processor	Quad-core 3.60 Ghz (max 3.60 Ghz) Intel Processor N97	Quad-core 3.60 Ghz (max 3.60 Ghz) Intel Processor N97	Quad-core 3.60 Ghz (max 3.60 Ghz) Intel Processor N97	Quad-core 3.60 Ghz (max 3.60 Ghz) Intel Processor N97
GPU	Integrated Intel UHD Graphics	Integrated Intel UHD Graphics	Integrated Intel UHD Graphics	Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	12 GB	12 GB	12 GB	12 GB
Internal Storage	256 GB	256 GB	512 GB	512 GB
Dimensions width x length x thickness	2.83 x 2.83 x 1.75 inches (71.88 x 71.88 x 44.45 mm)	2.83 x 2.83 x 1.75 inches (71.88 x 71.88 x 44.45 mm)	2.83 x 2.83 x 1.75 inches (71.88 x 71.88 x 44.45 mm)	2.83 x 2.83 x 1.75 inches (71.88 x 71.88 x 44.45 mm)
Weight	0.454 lbs (0.21 kg)	0.454 lbs (0.21 kg)	0.454 lbs (0.21 kg)	0.454 lbs (0.21 kg)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.2	Bluetooth 4.2	Bluetooth 4.2	Bluetooth 4.2
Ethernet	1 Ethernet port at 1 Gbps	1 Ethernet port at 1 Gbps	1 Ethernet port at 1 Gbps	1 Ethernet port at 1 Gbps
HDMI	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports
DisplayPort	No DisplayPort	No DisplayPort	No DisplayPort	No DisplayPort
VGA	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports
USB Ports	3 USB 3, 1 USB-C USB-C port is for power only, does not support data.	3 USB 3, 1 USB-C USB-C port is for power only, does not support data.	3 USB 3, 1 USB-C USB-C port is for power only, does not support data.	3 USB 3, 1 USB-C USB-C port is for power only, does not support data.
Thunderbolt Ports	No	No	No	No
OCuLink	No	No	No	No
Internal SATA Ports	No SATA ports	No SATA ports	No SATA ports	No SATA ports
Card Reader	microSD Card Reader	microSD Card Reader	microSD Card Reader	microSD Card Reader
Headphone Jack	combo	combo	combo	combo
Fanless	No	No	No	No
VESA Mount	No	No	No	No
In the Box	Nucbox G5 Mini PC, Type-C Power Supply, User Manual	Nucbox G5 Mini PC, Type-C Power Supply, User Manual	Nucbox G5 Mini PC, Type-C Power Supply, User Manual	Nucbox G5 Mini PC, Type-C Power Supply, User Manual
Expandability	Upgradable M.2 SSD and WiFi module.	Upgradable M.2 SSD and WiFi module.	Upgradable M.2 SSD and WiFi module.	Upgradable M.2 SSD and WiFi module.

Specs and Internals

The N97 is a 12W quad-core Alder Lake-N chip clocked to 3.6 GHz, paired here with 12GB of LPDDR5. That is enough for browsing, documents, and 4K streaming, though the memory runs single-channel, which caps the integrated graphics. Storage is a single M.2 SATA slot (the reviewers all flagged SATA rather than faster NVMe) that the page lists as upgradable to 2TB, and the Wi-Fi card can be swapped too, though the 12GB of RAM is soldered. If you are weighing an N97 box now versus newer budget silicon, see our N97 vs Wildcat Lake buying guide and our note on soldered vs upgradeable RAM. For what budget mini PCs can and cannot do generally, see our guide on Mini PC limitations and workarounds.

What Reviewers Found

Five reviewers covered this exact N97 unit, and the consensus is consistent. Team Pandory sized it up as “one rooibos teabag big,” praised its quiet operation, and called it “an emulation beast,” while flagging the slower M.2 SATA storage and some thermal throttling under load. ETA Prime confirmed the ports on camera (two HDMI, three USB-A, a power-only USB-C, microSD, and Gigabit Ethernet), measured power draw from about 4W idle to 19W under load, and ran PSP, GameCube, and PS2 emulation, with the caveat that “it’s not going to do AAA games.”

Hubwood placed it next to an Xbox controller for scale, weighed it at 206g, and called it “literally unhearable” at idle; he hit thermal throttling in benchmarks but improved it by reapplying the thermal paste. Iceberg Tech leaned into classic and indie gaming, running Half-Life 2, Hades, and Hollow Knight smoothly, while noting the lack of HDMI 2.1 and that pushing the TDP to 15W raises temperatures. EVO Tech framed it as a living-room machine “perfect to set up underneath a living room TV,” good for a Plex server and streaming, but held back for 3D gaming by the single-channel memory and low-end iGPU.

Customer Reviews of the GMKtec Nucbox G5

Across 267 ratings on Amazon, the GMKtec Nucbox G5 averages 4.5 stars, with 77 percent of buyers leaving five stars and a smaller 5 percent leaving one star. The recurring theme among satisfied owners is that the unit is small, quiet, and capable for light desktop, media, and Linux work rather than gaming. Bob E, a verified buyer, wrote that “The performance is impressive” and noted the micro SD slot let him expand storage, while verified buyer C S. bought it as an x86 alternative to a Raspberry Pi and reported “With 12Gb ram and a 256Gb SSD (upgradable) it allows the N95 to shine without being hobbled.” Several reviewers single out how quiet it runs; EricS, a verified purchaser, said “If I hold the computer right up to my ear, I can faintly hear the fan. From a foot or two away it is effectively silent.” Multiple owners mention the USB-C port is power-only, not data, which EricS and others flag as a minor drawback.

The reviews are not uniformly positive, and the negative reports are worth naming. Verified buyer jamie left one star after the Bluetooth failed within weeks: “At first it worked perfectly but now bluetooth looses connection and wont re-connect,” and an edit added that the SD card reader stopped working too. Inverse, a verified buyer, gave four stars after hitting slow initial drive write speeds and a failed Windows reinstall from GMKtec’s own image, ultimately working around it with a Microsoft image and Rufus. So while the bulk of owners are happy, a minority report connectivity and storage hardware issues that surfaced after the return window.

Read more owner reviews on Amazon.

Conclusion: Who Should Consider the GMKtec NucBox G5?

At $150 to $200, the NucBox G5 is a strong budget pick for a quiet, palm-sized desktop: web, office, 4K streaming, a small Plex or home-server box, or retro emulation up through PS2-era systems. The reviewers and owners line up on that, and the 4.5-star, 267-review Amazon average reflects it.

It is not the box for modern 3D gaming, 4K video editing, or heavy multitasking, and the power-only USB-C, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, and M.2 SATA storage are real compromises for the price. If you need more power and faster I/O like USB4, the GMKtec NucBox K6 steps up to an AMD Ryzen 7. To compare the G5 against other models, use Starry Hope’s Mini PC Comparison Chart.

Frequently Asked Questions