GMKtec NucBox M5S
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The GMKtec NucBox M5S is a small desktop for office work, browsing, video calls, and light home-server jobs. It uses the four-core AMD Ryzen 3 5400U, a 2021 laptop chip, inside the same chassis GMKtec uses for the eight-core NucBox M5 Ultra. The M5S keeps that box’s dual 2.5GbE ports, Wi-Fi 6E, two memory slots, and two M.2 slots, so the network and upgrade path match the M5 Ultra while the processor has half the cores. The same chip also ships in the cheaper BOSGAME E5 Plus, which has half the memory, a SATA boot drive, and Wi-Fi 5.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Dual 2.5GbE ports on Realtek RTL8125 controllers | Four-core Ryzen 3 5400U is a 2021 entry-level chip |
| Two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, up to 64GB | Plastic case |
| Two M.2 2280 slots; the first also takes SATA drives | Storage runs at PCIe 3.0, not 4.0 |
| Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 | Two of the four USB-A ports are USB 2.0 |
| Three displays over HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB-C | One USB-C port, with no USB4 or Thunderbolt |
| Barebone version available for your own RAM and SSD | The same chip costs less in the BOSGAME E5 Plus |
GMKtec NucBox M5S Comparison Chart
 GMKtec NucBox M5S | GMKtec NucBox M5S | GMKtec NucBox M5S | GMKtec NucBox M5S | |
| Price | List Price: $379.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices... | List Price: Amazon Prices: Loading prices... | List Price: $429.99 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $269.99 Amazon Prices: |
| Version | 16GB/512GB/Ryzen 3 5400U | 16GB/256GB/Ryzen 3 5400U | 16GB/1TB/Ryzen 3 5400U | Barebone (no RAM, SSD, or OS) |
| Performance Rating | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | No OS |
| Processor | Quad-core 2.60 Ghz (max 4.00 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 3 5400U | Quad-core 2.60 Ghz (max 4.00 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 3 5400U | Quad-core 2.60 Ghz (max 4.00 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 3 5400U | Quad-core 2.60 Ghz (max 4.00 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 3 5400U |
| GPU | Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics | Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics | Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics | Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM (DDR4-3200) | 16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM (DDR4-3200) | 16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM (DDR4-3200) | 0 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM |
| Internal Storage | 512 GB NVMe SSD | 256 GB NVMe SSD | 1 TB NVMe SSD | 0 GB |
| Dimensions width x length x thickness | 5.07 x 5 x 1.88 inches (128.78 x 127 x 47.75 mm) | 5.07 x 5 x 1.88 inches (128.78 x 127 x 47.75 mm) | 5.07 x 5 x 1.88 inches (128.78 x 127 x 47.75 mm) | 5.07 x 5 x 1.88 inches (128.78 x 127 x 47.75 mm) |
| Weight | 1.16 lbs (0.53 kg) | 1.16 lbs (0.53 kg) | 1.16 lbs (0.53 kg) | 1.16 lbs (0.53 kg) |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | 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 | 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 | 2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps |
| HDMI | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port |
| DisplayPort | 1 DisplayPort (DP 1.4 up to 8K@60Hz; USB-C 4K@60Hz) | 1 DisplayPort (DP 1.4 up to 8K@60Hz; USB-C 4K@60Hz) | 1 DisplayPort (DP 1.4 up to 8K@60Hz; USB-C 4K@60Hz) | 1 DisplayPort (DP 1.4 up to 8K@60Hz; USB-C 4K@60Hz) |
| VGA | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports |
| USB Ports | 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB-C Front: USB-C (10Gbps, DP, PD in), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2. Rear: 2x USB 2.0 | 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB-C Front: USB-C (10Gbps, DP, PD in), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2. Rear: 2x USB 2.0 | 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB-C Front: USB-C (10Gbps, DP, PD in), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2. Rear: 2x USB 2.0 | 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB-C Front: USB-C (10Gbps, DP, PD in), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2. Rear: 2x USB 2.0 |
| 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 | No Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader |
| Headphone Jack | combo | combo | combo | combo |
| Fanless | No | No | No | No |
| VESA Mount | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| In the Box | Mini PC, power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA bracket, manual, warranty card. | Mini PC, power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA bracket, manual, warranty card. | Mini PC, power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA bracket, manual, warranty card. | Mini PC, power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA bracket, manual, warranty card. |
| Expandability | Two DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM slots, up to 64GB. Two M.2 2280 slots, up to 8TB each. | Two DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM slots, up to 64GB. Two M.2 2280 slots, up to 8TB each. | Two DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM slots, up to 64GB. Two M.2 2280 slots, up to 8TB each. | Two DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM slots, up to 64GB. Two M.2 2280 slots, up to 8TB each. |
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Ports, networking, and upgrades
The M5S measures about 5.1 by 5 by 1.9 inches and weighs about 1.2 pounds. The case is plastic, with mesh vents on the sides, and a VESA bracket ships in the box. The front panel holds the power button, a combo headphone and microphone jack, one USB-C port, and two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports at 10Gbps. The USB-C port carries 10Gbps data, DisplayPort video at up to 4K 60Hz, and 100W Power Delivery input. The back has two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, two 2.5GbE jacks, a Kensington lock slot, and the 19V barrel power input.
GMKtec rates the DisplayPort output for up to 8K at 60Hz and the HDMI port for 4K at 60Hz, and all three video outputs can run at the same time. The two 2.5GbE ports use Realtek RTL8125 controllers. Two network ports let the M5S work as a software router or firewall, or keep a NAS or virtualization network apart from the home LAN. Wireless comes from an AMD RZ616 card with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. There is no SD card reader.
Inside, two SO-DIMM slots take DDR4-3200 up to 64GB (2x32GB). The two M.2 2280 slots both run at PCIe 3.0 x4, GMKtec rates each for drives up to 8TB, and the first slot also accepts an M.2 SATA SSD. The Radeon graphics share system memory, so memory runs best as a matched pair of sticks in dual-channel mode. The barebone version ships with no memory, storage, or operating system.
An older four-core Ryzen 3 chip
The AMD Ryzen 3 5400U has four Zen 3 cores and eight threads, a 2.6GHz base clock, and a 4.0GHz boost. It scores about 10,744 in PassMark’s multi-thread CPU test. The eight-core Ryzen 7 7730U in the NucBox M5 Ultra scores about 17,677 in the same test. The 5400U is an entry-level chip: enough for office suites, many browser tabs, streaming, and video calls, with little headroom for heavy multitasking or large compile jobs.
The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics have six GPU cores at up to 1600MHz. They handle 4K video playback, three desktop displays, older games, and retro emulation, but current 3D games need low settings and a low resolution. GMKtec offers three power modes: silent at 10W, balanced at 15W, and performance at 25W with a 35W peak. A copper heat pipe with two fans cools the chip.
Pick the M5S for ports and drive slots, the M5 Ultra for cores
The M5S makes sense when the network ports and the drive slots matter more than the processor: a small file server, a router or firewall box, a media player, or an office desk machine. Buyers who want the same ports with twice the cores should look at the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra. Buyers who only need this chip and two 2.5GbE ports can spend less on the BOSGAME E5 Plus, which has 8GB of memory, a SATA boot drive, and Wi-Fi 5. To line the M5S up against other models, use the Mini PC Comparison Chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What processor does the GMKtec NucBox M5S use?
The M5S uses the AMD Ryzen 3 5400U, a four-core, eight-thread Zen 3 chip from AMD’s 2021 laptop line. It runs at a 2.6GHz base clock with a 4.0GHz boost and has integrated AMD Radeon Graphics with six GPU cores.
How is the NucBox M5S different from the NucBox M5 Ultra?
The two share a chassis, ports, networking, and upgrade slots. The M5 Ultra uses the eight-core Ryzen 7 7730U with eight GPU cores and a 35W performance mode. The M5S uses the four-core Ryzen 3 5400U with six GPU cores and a 25W performance mode.
Can I upgrade the RAM and storage in the NucBox M5S?
Yes. It has two DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM slots that take up to 64GB, and two M.2 2280 slots at PCIe 3.0 x4 that take drives up to 8TB each. The first M.2 slot also accepts SATA SSDs.
How many displays can the NucBox M5S drive?
Three at once, through HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and the front USB-C port. GMKtec rates the DisplayPort output for up to 8K at 60Hz and the HDMI and USB-C outputs for 4K at 60Hz.
Is the NucBox M5S good for a home server or router?
It has the hardware for light duty: two 2.5GbE ports on Realtek RTL8125 controllers, two M.2 slots, and up to 64GB of memory. Four cores limit how many virtual machines or heavy services it can run at once; the eight-core M5 Ultra in the same chassis has more room.
What comes in the box with the NucBox M5S?
The mini PC, a power adapter, an HDMI cable, a VESA mounting bracket, a user manual, and a warranty card. Configured versions ship with Windows 11 Pro; the barebone version has no memory, storage, or operating system.