GMK, a popular manufacturer of mini PCs, has recently unveiled two new mini PCs powered by AMD Ryzen 7 CPUs: the NucBox K1 and NucBox K2. Both devices share the same chassis and are similar in every other aspect, except for the CPU. The NucBox K1 is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, while the NucBox K2 has the newer AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS. In this article, we will discuss the specifications of these mini PCs, their potential applications, and how they compare to other similar devices in the market.
Specifications
Both the NucBox K1 and NucBox K2 are compact devices, measuring about 122 x 112 x 43 mm (~4.8 x 4.4 x 1.7 inches). They feature AMD's 680M integrated GPU and support up to 64 GB of DDR5-4800 RAM and up to 2TB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage. The devices have the same I/O as well, with two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), a USB4 Type-C port (40 Gbps), and a headset jack on the front. On the back, there is another USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, a USB-A 2.0 port, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet jack, two HDMI 2.0 ports (4K, 60 Hz), and the DC input. The devices come with an AMD RZ608 chip that supports WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity.
GMK is offering the NucBox K1 and NucBox K2 as barebones kits, which means that RAM and storage are not included. The NucBox K1 is priced at US$499, while the NucBox K2 is priced at $539. Customers can order the NucBox K1 with either 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($599.89) or 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB PCIe 3.0 drive ($699.89). The NucBox K2 comes with either 16 GB ($659) or 32 GB of RAM ($719), both with a 1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD. At the time of writing, GMK is offering a coupon for $90 off the NucBox K1 and $50 off the NucBox K2 at checkout.
Applications
The NucBox K1 and NucBox K2 are powerful devices that can be used for a wide range of applications. Their compact size makes them ideal for use in small spaces, such as home offices, living rooms, or classrooms. They can be used as media centers for streaming high-quality video content, or as mini workstations for everyday tasks such as browsing the web, checking emails, and creating documents.
The devices' powerful CPUs and GPUs make them suitable for more demanding applications as well, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming. The NucBox K2, in particular, with its newer and more powerful CPU, is better suited for these applications. However, it's important to note that these devices are not designed for heavy-duty workloads, and users who require more processing power may need to consider other options.
Comparison with other mini PCs
The NucBox K1 and NucBox K2 are not the only mini PCs available in the market. There are many other options available, ranging from affordable devices for basic tasks to high-end devices for demanding applications. Let's compare the NucBox K1 and NucBox K2 with some of the most popular mini PCs in the market to see how they stack up.
One of the most popular mini PCs in the market is the Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) series. These small form factor PCs are designed to provide a balance between performance and size. The latest iteration of Intel NUC, the NUC 11, is powered by Intel's Tiger Lake CPUs and comes with Intel's Xe graphics. The NUC 11 also supports up to 64 GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and up to 2 TB of NVMe SSD storage. In terms of connectivity, the NUC 11 features Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. The Intel NUC 11 is available for around $600, which is slightly more expensive than the NucBox K2.
Another popular mini PC is the Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi is a low-cost, credit card-sized computer that has gained a cult following among makers, hobbyists, and students. The latest Raspberry Pi, the Raspberry Pi 4, is powered by a Broadcom BCM2711 chip with a quad-core Cortex-A72 CPU and up to 8 GB of RAM. The Raspberry Pi 4 supports 4K video playback, has dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, and Gigabit Ethernet. The Raspberry Pi 4 is priced at around $60, making it a very affordable option compared to the NucBox K1 and K2.
Another mini PC worth mentioning is the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n. The ThinkCentre M90n is powered by Intel's Whiskey Lake CPUs and can be configured with up to 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and up to 1 TB of NVMe SSD storage. The M90n has a small footprint and can be mounted on the back of a monitor using a VESA mount. The M90n also features a wide range of ports, including USB Type-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, and Ethernet. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n is priced at around $700, making it more expensive than both the NucBox K1 and K2.
When compared to these popular mini PCs, the NucBox K1 and K2 stand out for their powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPUs, fast DDR5-4800 RAM support, and large storage capacity of up to 2 TB of PCIe NVMe SSD. The NucBox K1 and K2 also come with a wide range of ports, including USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB4 Type-C, HDMI 2.0, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. The NucBox K2 also comes with WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 support, which are the latest wireless technologies available. In terms of price, the NucBox K1 and K2 are priced competitively, with the K1 starting at $499 and the K2 starting at $539.
In conclusion, the GMK NucBox K1 and K2 are excellent choices for anyone looking for a powerful mini PC that can handle demanding applications. The AMD Ryzen 7 CPUs, DDR5-4800 RAM support, and NVMe SSD storage make these mini PCs a great option for content creation, gaming, and other resource-intensive tasks. The NucBox K1 and K2 also come with a wide range of ports, making them easy to connect to external devices. At their price point, the NucBox K1 and K2 offer great value for money and are a worthy alternative to other popular mini PCs in the market.
