GMK NucBox M7 Pro mini PC review: Older Ryzen 9 processor still holds up quite well

GMK is able to offer mini PCs for noticeably less than the competition by carefully selecting older processors instead of the latest and greatest. In this case, the AMD Ryzen 9 Pro 6950H may be a few generations behind, but its performance is nonetheless more than sufficient for the majority of office workloads with speeds that are comparable to the pricier Intel NUC 13 Pro. Users who intend to exploit the integrated OcuLink port will find even more value out of the NucBox M7 Pro as such an option is a rarity on mini PCs regardless of price point.

Two aspects that could use some improvement include the glossy top panel and fan RPM behavior. The shiny top will attract unsightly fingerprints more easily than competitors while the fans seem to be more active than necessary even when idling on desktop. An integrated fingerprint reader could have also improved security especially in an office environment. The NucBox M7 Pro may not be the sleekest or quietest option even if it is one of the least expensive.

Amazon is now shipping the GMKtec NucBox M7 Pro as reviewed for $620. Alternatively, users can purchase directly from the manufacturer for significantly at just $440 with 32 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD.

The NucBox M7 Pro is an affordable mini PC aimed at professional users. True to its name, it carries the Ryzen 9 Pro 6950H and so it targets users who require vPro-like features. Nonetheless, the inexpensive starting price makes the GMK mini PC appealing to home office users as well.

Our test unit comes equipped with the Ryzen 9 Pro 6950H CPU, 32 GB of RAM, and 1 TB SSD for approximately $440. A barebones option is also available for only $320. The regular M7 non-Pro model is visually identical albeit it ships with the slower Ryzen 7 Pro 6850H instead.

Alternatives include other professional mini PCs like the Intel NUC 13 Pro or MSI Cubi NUC M1.

More GMK reviews:

• NucBox K9
• NucBox M6
• NucBox M5

The semitransparent plastic top cover helps to visually distinguish the NucBox M7 Pro from most other mini PCs. The smooth glossy top adds some visual flair to an otherwise dull matte gray chassis. However, note that the removable glossy top is very susceptible to scratches and fingerprints much like the removable glossy plastic cover on the Playstation 4.

Size and weight are slightly larger and heavier than the NucBox K9. This can be attributed to the larger cooling solution and greater variety of ports.

There are more port options available than on many pricier competitors including the Intel NUC 13 Pro or NucBox K9. Most notable is the OcuLink port for connecting to supported desktop GPUs and the dual USB4 ports that can also double as AC adapter ports should you have any compatible USB-C AC adapters.

GMKtec advertises "sustainably made" without going into detail about sources or percentages of recycled materials. The packaging is cardboard and foam with no plastic inside the box.

The retail box includes an HDMI cable and VESA mount with screws in addition to the usual barrel AC adapter and paperwork. The standard one-year limited manufacturer warranty applies if purchased in the US.

We set Windows to Performance mode prior to running the benchmarks below.

Our Ryzen 9 Pro 6950H outperforms the Ryzen 9 Pro 6950HS in the HP EliteBook 845 G9 by about 10 to 15 percent in multi-threaded loads. Alternatives with newer CPUs like the Core i7-13700H or Ryzen 9 8945HS can handily outperform our Zen 3+ Ryzen 9, but such mini PCs also tend to be more expensive and they may lack desirable vPro or AMD Pro features.