GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus

Updated on June 21, 2026

The GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus is a compact Mini PC powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor, offering enhanced performance and energy efficiency. Equipped with Radeon Graphics, the Nucbox M5 Plus excels in handling a variety of tasks, from everyday computing to more demanding gaming and content creation. The device supports up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM and includes a 1TB NVMe SSD, expandable to 2TB. Despite its tiny footprint, it boasts robust connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, multiple USB ports, dual Ethernet, and the capability to power triple displays up to 4K resolution. Pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro, the Nucbox M5 Plus is ready for immediate use right out of the box.

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GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus Comparison Chart

	GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus	GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus	GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus
Price	List Price: $399.98 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon	List Price: $399.98 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon	List Price: $349.99 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon
Version	32GB/1TB/Ryzen 7 5825U	32GB/1TB/Ryzen 7 5825U (Blue)	16GB/512GB/Ryzen 7 5825U
Performance Rating	7.7	7.7	7.1
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro
Processor	Octa-core 2.00 Ghz (max 4.50 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 5825U	Octa-core 2.00 Ghz (max 4.50 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 5825U	Octa-core 2.00 Ghz (max 4.50 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 5825U
GPU	Integrated Radeon RX Vega8 Graphics	Integrated Radeon RX Vega8 Graphics	Integrated Radeon RX Vega8 Graphics
RAM	32 GB	32 GB	16 GB
Internal Storage	1 TB	1 TB	512 GB
Dimensions width x length x thickness	4.5 x 4.8 x 1.8 inches (114.3 x 121.92 x 45.72 mm)	4.5 x 4.8 x 1.8 inches (114.3 x 121.92 x 45.72 mm)	4.5 x 4.8 x 1.8 inches (114.3 x 121.92 x 45.72 mm)
Weight	1 lbs (0.45 kg)	1 lbs (0.45 kg)	1 lbs (0.45 kg)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2
Ethernet	2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps	2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps	2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps
HDMI	1 Full-Size HDMI Port	1 Full-Size HDMI Port	1 Full-Size HDMI Port
DisplayPort	1 DisplayPort	1 DisplayPort	1 DisplayPort
VGA	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports
USB Ports	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB-C Includes USB-C with PD/DP/DATA capabilities	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB-C Includes USB-C with PD/DP/DATA capabilities	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB-C Includes USB-C with PD/DP/DATA capabilities
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 M5 Mini PC, Power Adapter, VESA Mount with Screws, HDMI Cable, User Manual	GMKtec Nucbox M5 Mini PC, Power Adapter, VESA Mount with Screws, HDMI Cable, User Manual	GMKtec Nucbox M5 Mini PC, Power Adapter, VESA Mount with Screws, HDMI Cable, User Manual
Expandability	RAM expandable up to 64GB, SSD expandable up to 2TB	RAM expandable up to 64GB, SSD expandable up to 2TB	RAM expandable up to 64GB, SSD expandable up to 2TB

Detailed Features of the GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus

The GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus shines with its AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor, featuring eight cores and 16 threads capable of reaching up to 4.5GHz. This positions it as an ideal solution for users needing a Mini PC that can efficiently multitask and handle demanding applications. The integrated Radeon Vega GPU shares DDR4 memory with the CPU, delivering solid graphics performance suitable for casual gaming, video streaming, and productivity tasks.

The design of the Nucbox M5 Plus includes a sturdy plastic case with enhanced ventilation, addressing previous thermal feedback. It also sports a BIOS reset pinhole, power switch, audio jack, USB Type-C, USB 3.2 ports, DisplayPort, HDMI, dual Ethernet ports, and a DC power input. Its VESA mount compatibility and elevated feet design improve its placement options and cooling capabilities.

The Nucbox M5 Plus offers a barebones version for those who prefer to add their own DDR4 memory and storage and install their operating system. The pre-installed Lexar NVMe drive and accessible Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip underscore its upgradeability. Power consumption is noteworthy, with the Nucbox M5 Plus drawing under 8 watts at idle and under 30 watts during gaming, featuring adjustable TDP settings in the BIOS for power management.

Reviewer Insights on the GMKtec NucBox M5

The most detailed independent coverage of this little machine splits across two chip generations, so it is worth naming which one each reviewer tested. Team Pandory and TechDweeb both reviewed the original NucBox M5 built on AMD’s Ryzen 7 5700U, while Grumpy Wolf tested the Ryzen 7 5825U that the configuration on this page ships. The 5825U is a Zen3 refresh of the same eight-core, sixteen-thread design in the same chassis and cooling, so the power, acoustic, and thermal behavior carries across closely; the 5825U mainly adds a little clock and per-core headroom. The figures below are reported as each reviewer measured them, on the exact unit they had in hand.

Team Pandory: the 5700U at three power limits

Team Pandory’s review covered the NucBox M5 in its Ryzen 7 5700U form, with 32GB of DDR4-3200 and a 1TB Lexar NM620 SSD on Windows 11 Pro. The BIOS exposes three power limits (Quiet at 10W, Balanced at 15W, Performance at 35W), and the gap between them is large. At the 15W balanced limit the unit pulled about 29W from the wall under load and held the CPU near 56.9C; pushed to the 35W performance limit, load draw rose to roughly 48W and the CPU reached 75.8C, with idle sitting under 8W throughout. Their Cinebench R23 multi-core result scaled from 6,430 at 15W to 8,555 at 35W (single-core barely moved, 1,220 to 1,246), and Geekbench 6 multi went 6,325 to 6,671 across the same modes. The Lexar drive measured 3,501 MB/s read and 3,164 MB/s write in CrystalDiskMark.

Gaming was modest and resolution-sensitive on the Vega graphics: Tekken 7 ran about 30 fps at 1440p medium and 60 fps at 720p, Rocket League around 47 fps at 1440p, and League of Legends held 90 to 100 fps at 1440p medium. On heat and noise they were blunt that the top mode is the loud one: the box is silent at 15W and the fan gets loud at 35W, and across their mixed testing they noted “CPU and GPU temps have rarely been above 65 degrees Celsius.” They also leaned on its emulation, pointing out that “the M5 can run every system up to the PS2,” and summed the value up as a machine that “has performance and price that is difficult to match.”

TechDweeb: the 5700U as a ChimeraOS Steam machine

TechDweeb took the same 5700U hardware (again 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD) and turned it into a console-style Steam machine with ChimeraOS in this review. With a performance overlay running, total system draw during gameplay stayed remarkably low: 20.9W in The Gunk, 22.8W in BioShock Infinite, and 24.3W in Doom Eternal, while CPU temperatures sat in the 58 to 65C range and the chip held sustained clocks between roughly 1.9 and 2.8GHz. Frame rates landed where a Vega-class APU would: about 47 fps in The Gunk at 1080p, 61 in BioShock Infinite, 60 in Skyrim, and around 43 in Doom Eternal at low settings.

One caveat the reviewer flagged is that the BIOS TDP slider did not take effect under ChimeraOS, with “the system will run at max TDP regardless of what you choose here.” He framed the chip realistically, calling it a case where “the 5700U processor isn’t a beast, but it’s a very competent budget-friendly APU,” and still landed on a recommendation: “I have no problems recommending this system, especially if you want to turn it into a Steam home console with Chimera OS.”

Grumpy Wolf: the 5825U this page ships, and why it gets loud

For a look at the exact Ryzen 7 5825U configuration this page is built around, Grumpy Wolf’s review is the most critical of the three and the most useful for setting expectations. Testing the 32GB/1TB 5825U unit, he confirmed the same three BIOS power modes (10W, 15W, 35W) and showed why the top mode matters: in Performance mode a multi-core Cinebench 2024 run scored 542 points and pushed the CPU to a peak of 89.0C in HWiNFO, while sustained all-core clocks settled around 3.0 to 3.3GHz and the machine got, in his words, “very loud.” A 3DMark Steel Nomad Light run returned 1,350. Gaming on the Vega graphics was limited: GTA V managed roughly 50 to 60 fps at 1080p High and Counter-Strike 2 about 90 fps at 1080p Low, but Cyberpunk 2077 needed 720p at its lowest settings with FSR just to approach 40 fps.

His verdict was harsh and worth hearing before you buy for the wrong reason: “This thing is really not meant for gaming,” and on the unit as a whole, “It’s loud, it can’t game well, and it costs too much.” Read against the two 5700U reviews above, the takeaway is consistent: the M5 is a capable, quiet little desktop at sensible power limits and a noisy, mid-tier performer the moment you push it.

Where the 5825U lands for a 2026 buyer

The Ryzen 7 5825U is a 2022-era Zen3 mobile chip: eight cores and sixteen threads, with a PassMark multi-thread score around 18,350. That is still plenty for everyday Windows, web and office work, 4K video playback, and the light gaming and emulation these reviewers demonstrated, but it is two to three generations behind current mini-PC silicon, and the integrated Radeon Vega graphics are the real ceiling for anything demanding. Buy the M5 as a quiet, low-power desktop, a media box, or a retro and Steam-streaming machine; do not buy it expecting recent AAA titles above low settings, which is exactly what every reviewer here found.

Conclusion

The GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus is an excellent choice for those searching for a small yet powerful Mini PC. Its AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor and Radeon Vega 8 graphics provide a solid foundation for various tasks, from business applications to casual gaming and media consumption. The ability to support up to three 4K monitors at 60Hz, along with expandable RAM and storage options, adds to its appeal, catering to productivity-focused users and those seeking a home entertainment system.

However, users looking for high-end gaming performance or advanced connectivity options like HDMI 2.1 may need to consider other options. The GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus can handle many modern games but is designed for something different than the most demanding AAA titles at high settings. Users sensitive to noise and heat should also note the potential increase at higher power settings.

For individuals who value performance, affordability, and a compact design, the GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus stands out as an intelligent choice. Its user-friendly features, such as efficient power consumption and a bloatware-free start, make it an attractive option. Users who have positive customer service experiences report they add an extra layer of assurance to the purchase.

To explore more Mini PC options and compare the GMKtec Nucbox M5 Plus with other models, users are encouraged to use Starry Hope’s Mini PC Comparison App, which can aid in making an informed decision tailored to specific needs and preferences.