A full-fledged desktop PC that fits in your palm and barely uses any power? That's exactly what the GMKtec NucBox K8 Plus offers. With an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, it delivers performance that doesn't have to shy away from a traditional tower PC — but in a case measuring just 132 x 125 x 58 mm.
What is the NucBox K8 Plus?
The GMKtec NucBox K8 Plus is a mini PC based on the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS, an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 4 architecture with clock speeds up to 5.1 GHz. The integrated AMD Radeon 780M GPU with 12 compute units up to 2700 MHz delivers graphics comparable to an NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti. In other words: enough power for office work, photo editing, video editing and even 1080p gaming.
Technical specifications
| Model | GMKtec NucBox K8 Plus |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (8 cores / 16 threads, Zen 4, 3,8 GHz - 5,1 GHz) |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon 780M (12 cores, 2700 MHz, RDNA 3) |
| Memory | 32GB DDR5-5600 (2x SO-DIMM, uitbreidbaar tot 96GB) |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 NVMe SSD (2 slots, uitbreidbaar tot 8TB) |
| Video outputs | HDMI 2.1 (8K@60Hz), DisplayPort 2.1 (8K@60Hz), 2x USB4 (DP 1.4) — tot 4 beeldschermen |
| Network | Wi-Fi 6 (Intel AX200), Bluetooth 5.2, 2x 2.5G Ethernet (Intel I226V) |
| Front ports | OCuLink PCIe Gen4 x4, USB4, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2, 3,5mm audio, power button |
| Rear ports | 2x USB 2.0, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, 2x RJ45 2.5G LAN, USB4, DC in, Kensington slot |
| NPU | 16 TOPS (Ryzen AI) |
| Power | 120W adapter (DC 19V / 6,32A), TDP 35W-70W |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Pro (voorgeinstalleerd) / Linux |
| Dimensions | 132 x 125 x 58 mm |
| Cooling | Dual fan system |
| Certification | CE / FCC / CCC / RoHS |
| Price | €829.99 (32 GB RAM + 1 TB SSD) or €389.99 without RAM, SSD and Windows, directly from GMKtec |
Click the photo for this model’s official site
GMKtec NucBox K8 Plus
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Prices from 9 November 2026, excluding AliExpress. Clicking a price shows today's current price; use “Prices in other countries” to compare countries.
An impressive port selection
What really sets this mini PC apart is the wealth of ports. On the front you'll find an OCuLink port (PCIe Gen4 x4) for connecting an external GPU, two USB4 ports with 40 Gbps bandwidth, two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the back there are another two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, dual 2.5G Ethernet, another USB4 port and a Kensington lock. In total, the K8 Plus supports up to four displays simultaneously, with resolutions up to 8K@60Hz.
OCuLink: the secret weapon
One of the most striking features is the OCuLink port. Unlike USB4 or Thunderbolt, OCuLink offers a more direct PCIe 4.0 x4 connection with less overhead and lower latency. This means an external GPU (eGPU) performs significantly better than via USB4. Useful if you want to expand your graphics power in the future without buying a completely new PC. Important: the OCuLink port does not support hot-plugging — connect or disconnect the cable only when the device is powered off.
Expandability: future-proof
The NucBox K8 Plus is remarkably user-friendly when it comes to upgrades. The transparent lid twists open easily without tools, giving you direct access to the motherboard. Inside you'll find two SO-DIMM slots for DDR5-5600 memory (standard 2x16GB, expandable to 96GB) and two M.2 2280 slots for PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs (standard 1x1TB, expandable to 8TB). No SATA support, but who needs that with these speeds?
Three performance modes
The K8 Plus offers three performance modes that you can switch depending on your usage. In Quiet mode (35-40W) the CPU stays around 50°C with a noise level of 32-35 dB — ideal for office work. Balanced mode (54-60W) brings the CPU to 65°C at 36-37 dB. In Performance mode (65-70W) you get the maximum out of the processor, with CPU temperatures up to 75°C and 39-40 dB of noise. The dual fan system ensures efficient heat dissipation, even under full load.
What can you do with it?
Thanks to the Ryzen 7 8845HS with 8 cores and 16 threads, the K8 Plus is a true all-rounder. For office work, web development, programming and heavy multitasking, it's more than sufficient. Photo editing in Photoshop or Lightroom runs smoothly, and video editing in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro is perfectly feasible. The integrated Radeon 780M GPU achieves benchmark scores comparable to an NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q, meaning 1080p gaming is achievable with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 (with FSR), Forza Horizon 5, Valorant and CS2.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very powerful CPU: Ryzen 7 8845HS with 8 cores / 16 threads up to 5.1 GHz
- Radeon 780M iGPU comparable to GTX 1650 — 1080p gaming possible
- 32GB DDR5-5600 standard, expandable to 96GB
- Two M.2 2280 slots, expandable to 8TB storage
- OCuLink port for eGPU with minimal performance loss
- 2x USB4 (40 Gbps), 2x 2.5G Ethernet, 4 displays up to 8K
- Compact: 132 x 125 x 58 mm — fits anywhere
- Windows 11 Pro pre-installed
- Very affordable for these specs
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6, no Wi-Fi 6E despite some marketing
- NPU is 16 TOPS — below the 40 TOPS for Copilot+ PC certification
- Only 1 year warranty (competitors often offer 2-3 years)
- Fan audible in Performance mode (39-40 dB)
- No SATA support, only M.2 NVMe
- Rear USB 2.0 ports are slow for external drives
Conclusion
The GMKtec NucBox K8 Plus proves that you don't need a large tower case for powerful performance. With a Ryzen 7 8845HS, 32GB DDR5 and 1TB SSD in a case of barely one liter, you get a full desktop experience. The OCuLink port also makes it future-proof: today a compact office and media PC, tomorrow expandable with an eGPU for heavy gaming. The only real drawbacks are the limited one-year warranty and the absence of Wi-Fi 6E, but given the price, that's easily forgiven.
More information and ordering available on the official GMKtec website.
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