Test GMKtec NucBox K11: the Ryzen 9 mini PC at €600 that rivals machines twice as expensive

The NucBox K11 packs a Ryzen 9 8945HS, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD in a compact form factor for around €600—the same SoC found in ultrabooks priced at €1,200–€1,500.

Technical Specifications

The GMKtec NucBox K11 relies on a straightforward formula: an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor (8 cores, 16 threads, Zen 4 architecture, integrated Radeon 780M iGPU), 32 GB of RAM, and PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage. Price: around €600, according to Frandroid.

Design

Compact mini PC in a classic form factor. Complete connectivity: USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, LAN. Nothing revolutionary in terms of aesthetics—GMKtec targets efficiency, not design awards.

Performance

The Ryzen 9 8945HS is the absolute standout feature of this machine. It’s the exact same SoC found in high-end ultrabooks priced between €1,200 and €1,500. In a chassis without the thermal constraints of a laptop, this processor can fully unleash its performance, delivering multi-core results comparable to machines twice as expensive, according to Frandroid’s testing.

The integrated Radeon 780M iGPU enables light 1080p gaming (esports, indie games, emulation)—an unexpected bonus at this price point in this category.

Verdict

For a fixed workstation, home lab, HTPC, or development machine, the GMKtec NucBox K11 is hard to beat at €600. The main drawback: GMKtec lacks the long-term reliability reputation of Beelink or ASUS. Keep this in mind for critical professional use.