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Industry observers note that however, the ecosystem is showing its age: When it comes to graphics and AI performance, the most recent Core Ultra and Ryzen AI models are clearly ahead. The GMKtec M3 Pro is a solid office computer with decent multithreaded performance, a generous range of ports, and a high-quality chassis.
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Industry observers note that they are replacing traditional desktop computers, operate quietly, and consume little power. With the NucBox M3 Pro, GMKtec is launching a model that relies on tried-and-tested technology: a 12-core 13th-generation Intel Core processor, a wide range of connectivity options and flexible storage options. We’ve tested the device extensively and show what it’s capable of — and where it reaches its limits. Mini PCs are increasingly finding their way onto desks and into living rooms.
In a fresh development, the whole unit feels thoroughly sturdy and is neatly finished. A visual highlight is the tempered glass lid with a laser-engraved logo, which lends the simple cube a slightly more sophisticated design. The downside of the glass lid is that dust and fingerprints are quickly noticeable. For the M3 Pro, GMKtec has opted for a CNC-milled and sandblasted aluminium casing.
Industry observers note that its volume is around 0.83 litres, which is standard for this class of device. It takes up hardly any space on the desk, and if you wish, you can tuck it almost completely away behind the monitor. Measuring 5 × 5 × 2 inches and weighing around 17 ounces, the mini PC is pleasantly compact.
In a fresh development, the principle is that air is drawn in at the sides and expelled at the rear. The cooling system inside consists of a copper heat pipe and a turbine fan.
Industry observers note that there are actually plenty of ports: On the front are two USB-A ports and the green-illuminated power button.
In a fresh development, the rear panel houses the power socket, a headphone jack, two HDMI outputs, the LAN port, two further USB-A sockets, and a USB-C port with video output.
As part of the ongoing story, as it is, you have to reach round the back of the PC every time you want to connect a modern USB-C device. One criticism in everyday use: For frequently swapped-in devices such as USB-C sticks, external SSDs, or a smartphone, an additional USB-C port on the front would have been much more convenient.
As part of the ongoing story, it’s used in the base model with the Core i5-12450H, as well as in the M3 Plus (i9-12900HK) and M3 Ultra (i7-12700H). With the fresh M3 Pro, the manufacturer is now switching to a 13th-generation processor for the first time, while retaining the familiar chassis exactly as it is. Interesting: GMKtec uses this case for the entire M3 range.
Industry observers note that the rubber feet on the underside ensure a non-slip grip while also dampening slight vibrations from the fan. GMKtec has paid close attention to detail too: The edges where the top and bottom shells meet are neatly sanded, and the side ventilation slots show no burrs.
According to the latest update, this processor from the Raptor Lake H generation functions four performance cores and eight efficiency cores. That adds up to 12 cores and 16 threads, with a maximum clock speed of up to 4.7GHz. With a base power consumption of 45 watts, the CPU places considerable demands on the compact cooling system. At the heart of the M3 Pro is the Intel Core i5-13500H.
The report highlights that as it does not have its own dedicated graphics memory, it dynamically utilizes the standard system memory. Graphics processing is handled by the integrated Intel Iris Xe with 80 execution units and a clock speed of up to 1.45GHz.
The report highlights that although GMKtec also offers a cheaper 16GB variant, anyone requiring more capacity will save on future upgrade costs by opting for the 32GB version. The system supports up to 64GB. Our test unit was equipped with 32GB of DDR4 RAM in dual-channel mode, split across two 16GB modules.
The report highlights that handy: A second M.2 slot in the more compact 2242 format accommodates a further SATA or NVMe SSD. For storage, a 1TB NVMe SSD is installed, connected via PCIe 3.0 with four lanes.
The report highlights that the M3 Pro is well equipped in terms of connectivity: Wired connections are provided by fast 2.5Gbit LAN via an Intel controller, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 are available wirelessly via an on-board RealTek module.
Industry observers note that this allows up to three 4K screens to be used simultaneously. Monitors can be connected via two HDMI sockets and the USB-C port (with DisplayPort support).
As part of the ongoing story, windows 11 Pro is pre-installed as the operating system (version 25H2, Build 26200.8875 in our test) — the system was therefore up to date and ready for immediate use.
As part of the ongoing story, buyers should enable the capability in the UEFI and then check whether Windows has installed the most recent Secure Boot certificates. It is puzzling that Secure Boot was disabled by default.
As part of the ongoing story, via a so-called ‘Model Hub,’ language models such as Gemma or Qwen can be downloaded directly to the PC. An integrated chat assistant answers questions or helps with research. The whole process runs entirely locally — however, as the processor lacks its own NPU (neural processing unit), performance remains noticeably limited here, as the next section shows. In addition, GMKtec includes its own AI programs.
As part of the ongoing story, compared to the most recent Core Ultra 200H and Ryzen AI services, the Core i5-13500H is notably lacking an NPU and significantly faster integrated graphics. You can tell the Core i5-13500H is getting on a bit: The chip was unveiled in early 2023.
As part of the ongoing story, in everyday use, this translates into pleasantly snappy Windows performance: The mini PC handles Office tasks, video meetings, and extensive browsing with lots of tabs open with ease. For photo and video editing (Digital Content Creation), it scores a solid 6,866 points. This is easily sufficient for simple video editing, but the system struggles with complex 4K projects involving numerous effects. In PCMark 10, the M3 Pro scores a total of 6,427 points (10,220 in Essentials, 10,269 in Productivity).
As part of the ongoing story, the 3DMark CPU Profile highlights the potential of the 12 cores: At maximum thread utilization, the Core i5 achieves 4,678 points, while in the single-core test it scores 959 points.
The report highlights that by comparison, the more affordable Geekom A5 Pro with an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U falls noticeably short here, scoring just 3,977 points (multi-core) and 867 points (single-core).
Industry observers note that when it comes to media processing, however, the M3 Pro clearly outperforms the Ryzen 5, scoring 6,866 to 5,371 points. Interestingly, in the PCMark 10 overall score, both computers are almost neck and neck (6,427 to 6,526 points for the Geekom), as office tasks are weighted more heavily here than the raw core count.
As part of the ongoing story, with 1,650 points in Time Spy and 1,085 points in Steel Nomad Light, it does perform better than the older Vega graphics in the Ryzen 5 7530U (1,181 and 960 points, respectively), but that’s not enough for modern platform releases. In the Steel Nomad Light test, the system manages just 8 frames per second. Don’t expect miracles from the integrated Intel Iris Xe.
Industry observers note that the PC is still suitable for casual gamers, however: Older classics, graphically undemanding titles, emulators, and 4K video playback run without any issues. The performance estimated by 3DMark for Battlefield V remains below 30 fps at 1440p.
According to the latest update, this means it lags significantly behind newer processors. This is because the M3 Pro does not have a separate NPU (neural processing unit), which means that AI applications optimized for such devices cannot utilize this type of accelerator. In the Geekbench AI test, the M3 Pro scored 2,325 points in the single-precision test and 4,768 points in the quantized test.
According to the latest update, by way of comparison: A Geekom A7 Max with a Ryzen 9 7940HS scores 7,365 points in the quantized test, while a more recent Geekom IT15 with a Core Ultra 9 285H even manages 8,005 points.
In a fresh development, while the GMKtec’s processing power is sufficient for initial experiments with small, local language models or simple image filters, the system lacks a dedicated NPU and a more powerful integrated GPU for more demanding local AI applications.
As part of the ongoing story, this is perfectly adequate for quick system boots and smooth everyday use, but the SSD isn’t setting any records. The SSD achieves 3,365MB/s read and 2,631MB/s write speeds, putting it on a par with fast PCIe 3.0 drives.
The report highlights that however, anyone looking to play platform releases or seeking performance for modern AI tools will quickly reach the limits of this ecosystem. As a compact office computer, for running multiple monitors or as an energy-efficient home server, the M3 Pro remains a solid and reliable choice.
In a fresh development, when idle or performing light office tasks, the fan remains virtually inaudible from a distance of 19.6 inches. It is only under sustained full load — such as during video conversion or computationally intensive multitasking — that it revs up significantly. This produces a clearly audible but steady fan noise. For cooling, GMKtec relies on a combination of a copper heat pipe and a turbine fan.
The report highlights that during system startup, power consumption briefly rises to around 33 watts. Under heavy processor load, total power consumption temporarily exceeds 50 watts. When switched on and idling, the GMKtec M3 Pro consumes around 10 watts.
As part of the ongoing story, twelve cores and 16 threads provide noticeable headroom for multitasking, while support for three 4K displays and the fast 2.5Gbit LAN make it an interesting option for home offices and small network services. The GMKtec M3 Pro impresses with a high-quality chassis, a wide range of connectivity options and computing power that is more than sufficient for office use.
According to the latest update, the Core i5-13500H is three years old, and its graphics performance and AI speed lag significantly behind current Core Ultra and Ryzen AI models. For those looking solely at Office applications, streaming, and multi-monitor setups, this offers a well-rounded package at a price starting from around $ for the 32GB configuration tested. Gamers and users with ambitious AI projects would be better off opting for newer services such as the Geekom IT15 or the most recent Ryzen AI systems. The biggest drawback remains the older ecosystem.
In a fresh development, this article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
As part of the ongoing story, as a Windows user from the very beginning, he is still interested in all the most recent news about the operating system from Redmond. And he has also taken the iPhone to his heart since its first edition. Many other gadgets from Apple have now been added. Christoph is also open to anything that can be controlled via an app – lawn mowers, robot mops and fitness equipment. Christoph Hoffmann has been writing as an IT specialist journalist for print and online for more than 25 years.