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BOSGAME E2Air Mini PC Ryzen 5 3501U vs GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against mini PCs at a similar price

The GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC scores 7.0/10 overall, ahead of the BOSGAME E2Air Mini PC Ryzen 5 3501U at 5.3/10.

The BOSGAME E2Air Mini PC Ryzen 5 3501U leads on efficiency and noise.

The GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC leads on CPU performance, upgradeability and networking.

They score the same on ports and expansion and build and support.

The biggest difference is networking, where the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC scores 8/10 to the BOSGAME E2Air Mini PC Ryzen 5 3501U's 4/10.

BOSGAME E2Air Mini PC, AMD Ryzen 5 3501U up to 3.7GHz, 8GB RAM 256GB SSD

BOSGAME E2Air Mini PC Ryzen 5 3501U

5.3/10verdict: good, not the best

The BOSGAME E2Air suits people who want a small, low-cost desktop for everyday programs, browsing and media. It also suits anyone who wants a basic second machine with several video outputs. It is not aimed at heavy virtualisation, fast networking or large local storage.

Typically about £179.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC

GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC

7.0/10verdict: buy

The NucBox M5 Ultra suits homelabbers who want an 8-core Ryzen 7 in a small box with two 2.5GbE ports. It also suits buyers who plan to add RAM and storage over time. It is a weaker fit for anyone who needs quiet running, fast external ports or high-settings gaming.

Typically about £289.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightBOSGAME E2Air Mini PC Ryzen 5 3501UGMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC
CPU performance25%6/108/10
Upgradeability20%6/109/10
Networking20%4/108/10
Efficiency and noise15%5/104/10
Ports and expansion10%5/105/10
Build and support10%5/105/10
Overall5.3/107.0/10

Specifications

SpecBOSGAME E2Air Mini PC Ryzen 5 3501UGMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC
CPUAMD Ryzen 5 3501U, 4 cores/8 threads, up to 3.7GHz boost, Radeon Vega 8 graphics at up to 1200MHzAMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 8 cores / 16 threads, base 2.0GHz, boost up to 4.5GHz, 4MB L2 / 16MB L3 cache
Memory8GB DDR4-2400, one SODIMM module preloaded2 x SO-DIMM slots, DDR4 3200 MT/s, dual-channel, 16GB or 32GB pre-installed depending on configuration
Storage256GB M.2 2280 SSD (SATA per manufacturer)PCIe 3.0 M.2 2280 SSD, 512GB pre-installed in the 16GB configuration; 1TB in the 32GB configuration
NetworkingGigabit Ethernet (one RJ45 port), Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0Dual 2.5G Ethernet (2 x RJ45, Realtek RTL8125); Wi-Fi 6E (RZ616, up to 2.4Gbps); Bluetooth 5.2
Maximum memory32GB64GB (2 x 32GB)
Storage slotsnot listed2 x M.2 slots; slot 1 supports SATA and PCIe, slot 2 supports PCIe only; max 8TB per slot, 16TB total
PortsTwo HDMI 2.0 ports (4K@60Hz), USB-C video output, Gigabit Ethernet, abundant USB ports (count not given)2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (front), 2 x USB 2.0 (rear), 1 x USB-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 with DP/PD (front), 1 x HDMI 2.0 (4K@60Hz), 1 x DisplayPort (up to 8K@60Hz), 3.5mm audio jack, DC power input, 2 x 2.5G Ethernet
Power draw15W typical TDP (design figure, not a measured draw)Manufacturer TDP modes: Silent 10W, Balanced 15W, Performance 35W (peak 35W); DC 19V / 3.42A adapter

Strengths and weaknesses

BOSGAME E2Air Mini PC Ryzen 5 3501U

  • + Four cores and eight threads with Vega 8 graphics
  • + Two HDMI 2.0 ports plus USB-C video output
  • + RAM can grow to 32GB through the SODIMM slot
  • − Single Gigabit Ethernet port is the only wired option listed
  • − No USB4, Thunderbolt or OCuLink listed
  • − Warranty length conflicts between manufacturer and retailer

Skip it if:

  • Homelabbers who need 2.5GbE, 10GbE or multiple network ports
  • Buyers who want to run several virtual machines or need lots of local storage
  • Anyone who needs USB4, Thunderbolt or OCuLink for fast external devices
Read the full BOSGAME E2Air Mini PC Ryzen 5 3501U review ›

GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC

  • + Dual 2.5GbE suits Proxmox and NAS use
  • + Two SO-DIMM slots, 64GB maximum
  • + Two M.2 slots, 16TB total
  • − Owners report fan noise in Performance mode
  • − 85–90°C reported under sustained load
  • − No USB4, Thunderbolt or OCuLink

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need a quiet machine running at full load
  • Anyone wanting USB4, Thunderbolt or OCuLink for fast external devices
  • Gamers who want high-settings AAA titles
Read the full GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U Mini PC review ›

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