In my opinion, the competition among domestic mini PCs has been quite intense over the past two years. Various brands are not only competing on design but also on price, giving me a sense of being in a “cutthroat” market. Recently, GMK has launched the GMK G3 mini PC, with an initial system price of 599 (original price 799), which not only makes me feel the competition but also refreshes my understanding of the price of mini PCs.
This article mainly focuses on the review experience of the GMK G3. Let’s take a look at what highlights this domestic mini PC has beyond its low price.
What does “initial system” mean?
Although the “initial system” version of mini PCs has been around for a while, some friends may not fully understand what it means. An initial system means it does not come with a hard drive or memory, and you need to install them yourself.
In addition to the initial system version priced at 599, there are also two versions: 8GB+256GB and 16GB+512GB, with initial prices of 899 and 1199, respectively. Whether considering the initial system price or the 8GB+256GB initial price, they both remain in the “hundred-dollar” price range, so it seems reasonable to refer to the GMK G3 as a “hundred-dollar” mini PC.
How is the performance of GMK G3, and what can it do?
Compared to the design, I believe performance is what most friends are concerned about first. So let’s put the appearance design of GMK G3 aside for now and talk about performance.
The GMK G3 is equipped with an Intel 12th generation low-power N100 processor. The unit I have comes with 16GB of memory (DDR4) and a 512GB solid-state drive (M.2 2280 PCle3.0). In the performance test conducted by the Lu Master, it scored a total of 405877 points, with a processor score of 182095.
This is the actual score of the CPU-Z processor for the GMK G3.
In addition to performance, heat dissipation may also be a concern for many friends. I conducted a high-load stress test on the GMK G3 for about 20 minutes using “Game Plus”. The highest temperature of the GMK G3’s processor reached 79°C, and at the end of the test, it settled at 74°C, with zero frequency drops. At this point, the external casing felt slightly warm, and overall, the heat dissipation effect seems satisfactory.
Under approximately 20 minutes of stress testing, the GMK G3 recorded zero CPU calculation/WHEA/memory errors.
This is the actual read/write speed test of the GMK G3’s hard drive.
So, what can the GMK G3 do? First of all, it’s perfectly fine for office work and simple video editing, or for use as a learning computer for kids to attend online classes and research. The GMK G3 is primarily positioned for office use, and given that large display monitors are now inexpensive, combining them with the GMK G3 won’t cost much.
Additionally, the GMK G3’s fan noise is low, and it can generally be masked by the sound of typing and ambient noise.
Moreover, the GMK G3 has good decoding capabilities. Through DXVA Checker, it supports many formats, indicating that the GMK G3 has decent multimedia playback capabilities.
Thus, using the GMK G3 at home as a multimedia playback device to upgrade an old 4K TV or projector is also a good use case. I personally tested it by connecting the GMK G3 to an old 4K TV that has been discontinued for many years to play a 50GB 4K movie, and it played smoothly without any stuttering, completely stress-free.
Aside from office work and multimedia entertainment, can the GMK G3 play games? I conducted a simple test and found that the GMK G3 can play DNF (single player dungeon run, didn’t test team play due to poor equipment), and it can handle LOL, but don’t expect it to run AAA games; even “Genshin Impact” puts pressure on it. However, from a pricing perspective, the GMK G3 isn’t designed to be a primary gaming mini PC, so it can only meet the demands for casual gaming, like playing a few rounds of LOL to relax after work.
How is the design of GMK G3?
Actually, before receiving the GMK G3, I didn’t have high expectations for its design because I thought it would compromise on design due to its low price. However, once I got it in hand, it exceeded my expectations.
First of all, the top cover of the GMK G3 features a laser-etched design that presents a texture similar to carbon fiber, significantly enhancing the design sense, quality, and aesthetics of the machine. It is available in two colors: Yachuan Green and Yadan Black, and the one in this article is Yachuan Green.
The GMK G3 also adopts a tool-free quick-disassembly design, allowing the top cover to be removed easily by hand.
This design allows users to quickly replace the hard drive and memory themselves, and such a design is relatively rare among mini PCs in the same price range. Additionally, upon removing the top cover, it is revealed that the interior of the GMK G3 features an anti-rolling frame design that effectively protects the internal hardware in the event of accidental drops.
The GMK G3 has one memory slot, one M.2 2280 slot, and one M.2 2242 hard drive slot.
More photos of the GMK G3’s appearance show that the overall workmanship is also quite good.
The GMK G3 features two USB3.2 ports and a power button on the front.
On the back, there are also two USB3.2 ports, two HDMI ports, one 2.5G Ethernet port, and one 3.5mm headphone jack, totaling eight ports. If you count the power port, there are nine ports, which should meet basic daily use.
The GMK G3 also has VESA mount holes and a dual design for VESA mounting, allowing for various installation methods, such as hanging it on the back of a monitor or on the side of a desk, thereby further freeing up desktop space.
More photos of the GMK G3’s appearance show the cooling fan from the bottom.
The GMK G3’s overall weight and dimensions are quite good, with a measured weight of about 265 grams (with hard drive and memory), making it easy to fit into a backpack. If portability is a requirement, I feel the GMK G3 should satisfy you.
A “low-cost but not low-performance” mini PC
I personally feel that the overall experience of the GMK G3 is quite good, as it can meet various daily life needs. Of course, if I had to highlight its focus, the GMK G3 leans more towards office work, educational learning, and multimedia entertainment. While it can play games, only light gaming and some online games are suitable; it is not recommended for primary gaming use.
Moreover, its other design aspects are also commendable, such as the tool-free quick-disassembly design, internal anti-rolling frame design, and laser-etched craftsmanship. However, although the GMK G3’s port design meets daily usage needs, it would be better if an additional Ethernet port and a full-function Type-C port could be added to enrich the GMK G3’s capabilities.