GMKtec NucBox G5 vs Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 1
Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 1 is both faster and cheaper here - the default pick unless you need something specific from the other.
The verdict
- CPU
- Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 1 has 1.8x the CPU throughput (10,221 vs 5,820 PassMark).
- Plex
- GMKtec NucBox G5 transcodes more 4K HDR streams (~5 vs ~3).
- Idle power
- GMKtec NucBox G5 idles lower (6W vs 10W) - cheaper to run 24/7.
- RAM ceiling
- Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 1 takes more RAM (64GB vs 12GB).
- Local AI
- Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 1 has a PCIe slot for a low-profile GPU - the other needs a DIY build for local LLMs.
Which wins for each job
| Job | GMKtec NucBox G5 | Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Plex / Jellyfin | ~5 streams win | ~3 streams |
| Frigate NVR | ~4 cameras | ~4 cameras |
| Proxmox / VMs | 5,820 PassMark | 10,221 PassMark win |
| Firewall / router | 1 NICs | 1 NICs |
| Local AI / LLM | no slot | PCIe GPU slot win |
Approximate - capacity estimates from curated specs, the same logic as the recommender. Verify against your exact setup. Prices move; check the retailer.
Full specs
| Spec | GMKtec NucBox G5 | Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (list) | $180 | $175 |
| CPU | Intel Processor N97 | Intel Core i5-10500T |
| Cores / threads | 4 | 6 |
| PassMark | 5,820 | 10,221 |
| iGPU | Intel UHD | UHD 630 |
| NICs | 1 | 1 |
| NIC model | Realtek RTL8111 | Intel I219-V |
| RAM max (GB) | 12 | 64 |
| M.2 free | 0 | 1 |
| PCIe slot | none | x8-lp |
| Idle (W) | 6 | 10 |
| TDP (W) | 12 | 35 |