GMKtec NucBox G5

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. The chassis is a 2.83-inch cube, and the box sells for roughly $150 to $200. Five reviewers tested this exact N97 unit, and their coverage places it at web, office, streaming, and retro emulation, with modern gaming out of reach.

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. 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.

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GMKtec NucBox G5 Comparison Chart

4 configurations

Configuration	Storage	List price	Amazon price	Compare
12GB/256GB/Intel N97/Blue	256 GB	$179.99	Check Amazon	Details Internal Storage 256 GB
12GB/256GB/Intel N97	256 GB	$169.99	Check Amazon	Details Internal Storage 256 GB
12GB/512GB/Intel N97	512 GB	$199.99	Check Amazon	Details Internal Storage 512 GB
12GB/512GB/Intel N97/Blue	512 GB	$199.99	Check Amazon	Details Internal Storage 512 GB

Specs shared by every configuration

Performance Rating	2.8
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro
Processor	Quad-core 3.60 Ghz (max 3.60 Ghz) Intel Processor N97
GPU	Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	12 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)
Weight	0.454 lbs (0.21 kg)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.2
Ethernet	1 Ethernet port at 1 Gbps
HDMI	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports
DisplayPort	No DisplayPort
VGA	No VGA Ports
USB Ports	3 USB 3, 1 USB-C USB-C port is for power only, does not support data.
Thunderbolt Ports	No
OCuLink	No
Internal SATA Ports	No SATA ports
Card Reader	microSD Card Reader
Headphone Jack	combo
Fanless	No
VESA Mount	No
In the Box	NucBox G5 Mini PC, Type-C Power Supply, User Manual
Expandability	Upgradable M.2 SSD and WiFi module.

Soldered single-channel memory and a SATA-only M.2 slot

The N97 is a 12W quad-core Alder Lake-N chip clocked to 3.6 GHz, paired here with 12GB of LPDDR5. That covers browsing, documents, and 4K streaming, though the memory is soldered and runs single-channel, which caps the integrated graphics. Storage is a single M.2 slot on the SATA bus rather than NVMe, upgradable to 2TB, and the Wi-Fi card can be swapped for a newer module. Weighing an N97 box against newer budget silicon is covered in our N97 vs Wildcat Lake buying guide, the soldered-memory tradeoff in our note on soldered vs upgradeable RAM, and the wider ceiling on cheap boxes in our guide to Mini PC limitations and workarounds.

Reviewer Insights

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 from verified Amazon buyers

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.” 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,” and flagged the power-only USB-C port as a minor drawback.

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.

Read more owner reviews on Amazon.

Worth buying for streaming and emulation at $150 to $200

Within that price, the G5 covers a quiet palm-sized desktop for web and office work, 4K streaming, a small Plex or home-server box, and retro emulation up through PS2-era systems. The soldered 12GB sets the memory ceiling for the life of the machine, while the M.2 slot and the Wi-Fi card stay open to a later upgrade.

Modern 3D gaming, 4K video editing, and heavy multitasking sit outside what the N97 and its integrated graphics will handle, and the power-only USB-C, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, and M.2 SATA storage are compromises for the price. For more power and faster I/O like USB4, the GMKtec NucBox K6 steps up to an AMD Ryzen 7, and Starry Hope’s Mini PC Comparison Chart puts both against the rest of the catalog.

Frequently Asked Questions