No Thunderbolt, unfortunately, but at this price and fromAMD, that wasn’t likely to happen.
The K6 offers a slightly cheaper option than the K8.
The starting point is a Barebone model, which can currently be sourced for $399.99 (315.23).
Given the high specification of these systems, the prices seem highly competitive.
Maybe Pogo Pins would have been a better idea than an easily damageable connector and ribbon cable combination?
Cloning these drives is much easier with two slots.
And becauseIntelowns the chips for Thunderbolt, that isn’t an option.
Re-running these tests on another day might reverse the winners or reduce the margins dramatically.
The K8’s advantage is in AI processing, and none of our benchmarks currently test that aspect.
Hopefully, we’ll add an AI benchmark once more people use this capability regularly.
Oddly, the K6 is better in one place: the SSD that GMKtec chose to install.
The cheaper K6 comes pre-installed with a lesser-known brand, MasonSemi, and its MC5000 SSD.
This machine might not have the kudos of Lexar branding, but its performance is markedly better.
It achieves over 7,000MB/s reads and 5,000MB/s writes on CrystalDiskMark.
Almost everything about this design is right, except for the awkward internal access and the lack of Thunderbolt.
When GMKtec creates the K10, it should use both USB 4.0 ports, not just one.
Should I buy a GMKtec NucBox K6?
Unless you want to do local AI processing, the K6 is an excellent choice.
If you specifically want Thunderbolt, then you’re gonna wanna look elsewhere.
But it’s another powerful small system to consider.
Check out ourGMKtec NucBox K8 review
