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Mini PC maker GMK has added two new models to its line of compact computers… although really the new GMK NucBox K1and NucBox K2 are nearly identical.
The former is a small desktop computer with an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor and list prices that start at $499 (although there’s a coupon that will save you $90), while the latter has the same physical design but features a newer Ryzen 7 7735HS processor and a $539 starting price (before you apply a $50 coupon). But the thing is these two processors are so similar that you’re unlikely to see much difference in real-world performance.
Both chips pair 8 Zen 3+ CPU cores with Radeon 680M integrated graphics featuring 12 RDNA 2 compute units. The only real differences are that the Ryzen 7 7735HS has a max boost speed of 4.75 Hz while the 6800H tops out at 4.7 Hz and the new chip has a default TDP range between 35W and 54W while the default for the older model is 35W.
Benchmark results suggest that there’s not much reason to spend the extra money on the NucBox K2 with a Ryzen 7 7735HS chip.
Both of GMK’s little computers measure 4.8″ x 4.4″ x 1.7″ and support up to 64GB of DDR5-4800 memory and up to 2TB of PCIe NVMe solid state storage.
GMK offers customers a choice of buying a barebones model (with no memory, storage, or operating system) or paying extra for pre-configured systems with Windows 11 Pro and at least 16GB of RAM plus a 512GB or larger SSD. One thing to keep in mind is that while the computers support PCIe storage, if you buy a pre-configured system from GMK you’ll only get a PCIe 3.0 SSD
Here are list prices for all of the available options:
| GMK NucBox K1 | GMK NucBox K2 | |
| Barebones | $499 | $539 |
| 16GB / 512GB | $600 | N/A |
| 16GB / 1TB | N/A | $659 |
| 32GB / 1TB | $700 | $719 |
While the computers are currently only available from the GMK website, you should also be able to order one from Amazon soon. There are already product pages for the NucBox 1 with 16GB/512GB and 32GB/1TB, but you won’t be able to order one from Amazon for another few weeks.
Ports on both models include:
- 2 x HDMI 2.0 ports
- 1 x USB4 port (40 Gbps w/DisplayPort Alt mode)
- 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports
- 1 x USB 2.0 port
- 1 x 2.5 GbE Ethernet port
- 1 x 3.5mm audio jack
The computers also feature an AMD RZ608 wireless module with support for WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
The AMD mobile 7000-series (if you can call it a series) has such an annoying naming scheme. They switched from using the 1st digit being the indicator of architecture-generation, to now being the 3rd digit (presumably to confuse customers into thinking that recycled products are actually new).
In the case of the 7000-series Mendocino line (7x2x), there’s at least an interesting addition of value by mixing the Zen2 CPU microarchitecture (from the 3000/4000-series), with the RDNA2 GPU (from the 6000-series). However, I would have preferred it if they used another product line name, like Athlon, or something.
However, in the case of the 7735HS used in this mini-PC, there’s nothing really new. It’s a Zen3 chip using the same RDNA2 GPU they were already using in that generation. It’s almost a relabelled 6800HS.
Such a dishonest marketing move. The fact that they only did this on their mobile chips, and not their desktop chips is very telling of exactly who they thought they could fool. Their customer base for desktop chips would have seen through this, and they would have lost a significant amount of PC gaming customers.
The issue with Mendocino that Rdna2 is just 2CU, so its a scam too to trick people, even Intel doesnt have weak gpu like Mendocino one, 48EU slowest Gpu in Pentium 8505 is still faster than Mendocino GPU.
Even if you compare with HD 620 from Kabylake era stil Mendocino lose in Graphics.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-610M-GPU-Benchmarks-and-Specs.654293.0.html
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-HD-Graphics-620.172256.0.html
“However, I would have preferred it if they used another product line name, like Athlon, or something.”
Unfortunately Athlon does still exist in this naming convention, but it’s used independently from the architecture, in the second digit 1 denotes Athlon Silver and 2 denotes Athlon Gold
https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-athlon-silver-7120u
https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-athlon-gold-7220u