The Cubi NUC is the perfect solution for confined spaces, adeptly handling a wide range of tasks from basic computing to multimedia streaming and multitasking, all while maintaining a compact size. The Cubi NUC Series seamlessly blends business-centric design with environmental responsibility, reflecting MSI's dedication to sustainability. By using green materials, such as PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) plastic, these products not only ensure durability but also contribute to a greener world.The Cubi NUC Series represents sustainable value and enhanced productivity.
Q: Is this computer Wi-Fi enabled
A: Hello Michael - yes, this system comes with WiFI 6E
Q: Will this support a dual monitor setup?
A: Yes. It has dual HDMI and dual Thunderbolt so it could actually support 4 (I don't have 4 monitors so I have not tried it myself though)
Q: What software comes preloaded?
A: Hello Wanderer - this system comes with Windows 11 Home installed.
Q: what is the operating system
A: Hello Bruce - this system comes with Windows 11 Home installed.
Q: Does this run games like fortnite or call of duty on low settings?
A: Hello Nightmarejay - you will need to validate the minimum system requirements from the game or software developers to ensure support. That said, this system does meet the min requirements for Fortnite.
Q: Has any one run rhel on this machine?
A: undefined
Q: Is it possible to upgrade the memory and SSD?
A: Hello Oscar - this system does support upgrades to the system memory (RAM) and storage.
A: Hello Multistreaming - you will need to validate the hardware requirements for the streaming software you utilize to ensure this system will support your needs.

The Cubi NUC is the perfect solution for confined spaces, adeptly handling a wide range of tasks from basic computing to multimedia streaming and multitasking, all while maintaining a compact size. The Cubi NUC Series seamlessly blends business-centric design with environmental responsibility, reflecting MSI's dedication to sustainability. By using green materials, such as PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) plastic, these products not only ensure durability but also contribute to a greener world.The Cubi NUC Series represents sustainable value and enhanced productivity.

A slim, easy-to-use desktop for everyday tasks. This desktop is your solution for managing daily tasks effortlessly, from organizing family photos to streaming shows and managing budgets. This slim, reliable, and sustainably designed desktop PC features an Intel processor, ample memory, easy- access ports, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4.

The far mightier, way tinier Mac mini is 5 by 5 inches of pure power. Built for Apple Intelligence.Redesigned around Apple silicon to unleash the full speed and capabilities of the spectacular M4 chip. With ports at your convenience, on the front and back.

The ASUS NUC 15 Pro Full System Mini-PC delivers powerful computing in a compact form, designed for versatility across applications – from business to creative and high-performance AI applications. Equipped with the latest gen Intel mobile processor, integrated graphics, and high-speed DDR5 memory support, this mini-PC delivers outstanding speed and efficiency.
| Pros for MSI - Cubi NUC 1MG Mini Desktop - Intel Core 3-100U - 16GB Memory - Intel Graphics - 500GB SSD - Black | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| There were no pros for this product— | |||
| Cons for MSI - Cubi NUC 1MG Mini Desktop - Intel Core 3-100U - 16GB Memory - Intel Graphics - 500GB SSD - Black | |||
| There were no cons for this product— |
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
TLDR: An excellent option and worthy successor to Intel's original NUC formula KEY SPECS Intel Core 3-100U Processor 6C/8T (4E & 2P Cores) 16GB DDR5-5200MT RAM (Upgradable) 512GB nVME SSD (Upgradable) (1 x 2280, 1 x 2230 , 1 x 2.5") 2 x 2.5GBe LAN Ports Wi-Fi 6E & Bluetooth 5.4 PORTS 2 x HMDI 2.1 (1 x Powerlink) 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (1 x 100W PD) 2 x 2.5Gbe LAN 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 1 x 3.5mm Mic / Headphone 1 x MicroSD Reader PROS Excellent Form Factor Usually Very Quiet User Upgradable RAM & SSD CONS SLOW Gen 4x4 nVME Drive MSI Telemetry Software Norton 360 Installed by Default High CPU Utilization Out of the Box INTIAL SET-UP & ISSUES I won't go into nauseating details about setting up a new PC. Anyone that has bought a new PC or installed a new hard drive knows the process. Instead, I am going to concentrate on the issues during initial boot-up, initial configuration, and first Windows Update. My little Cubi NUC was plagued with issues from the initial boot-up. Issues began immediately after Windows did its first ever boot. CPU utilization spiked and maintained 100%. Granted it was the very first boot and there was a bunch of stuff going on in the background. Windows Updates, Store Updates, software configuring itself and booting. There is always a bunch of stuff going on for the first little bit. Unfortunately, the first little bit never seemed to end. CPU usage pegged 100% and never backed down. Over 30 minutes had went by and utilization never dipped below 97%. The poor Cubi had ground itself to a halt. The cooling fan was spun up making a considerable amount of noise, files would not open and mouse clicks were ignored as every single bit of CPU power had been consumed. Applications and processes were waiting in constant queue. I guess the Core 3-100u was a bust. This MSI Cubi NUC was going to be the replacement for an old Intel NUC Skull Canyon I've been using as my daily driver for years. This new Core 3-100u was supposed to be more powerful than its Core i7-6770HQ predecessor, but the Cubi didn't show it. The exact opposite. It behaved worse than an old Intel Celeron chip. UGH. I let the Cubi sit and stew for a while, thinking it would take a bit to get settled down and then act right. 30 minutes turned into an hour. Windows Update still failed to download the latest round of updates properly. So, time to reboot, hoping it would solve me problems. Did it? Nope. Not at all. Windows would not reboot. I had to force a shutdown. After restart, CPU utilization pegged 100% again. Windows Update still failed to properly download all the updates. 30 more minutes of waiting for nothing. Another forced restart. Still the same thing. 100% CPU usage, still failing to successfully download updates. Forced restart again. No change. Still a hot mess. Getting frustrated, I killed as many processes as I could and grabbed a trusty thumb drive. Off to get the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft. After downloading the installer and using the Cubi to create its own installation media, I was on a mission to rectify the issues plaguing this box. Going into BIOS and forcing a boot from an external thumb drive, I was on my way. I wiped all the partitions on the factory SSD. EVERY single one of them, leaving no trace of any pre-configured or recovery images. A Windows 11 clean install, directly from Microsoft. Did it work? Yes, very well. I kept a close eye on the Resource Monitor from the moment I reinstalled Windows to getting ALL Windows updates installed successfully, and ALL Microsoft apps updated. Why did I capitalize the ALL's? Because before a clean Windows install, the Cubi would not complete its Windows Updates, let alone restart as it should. This isn't the case after a clean Windows 11 installation. CPU usage spiked once to 83% momentarily, but averaged around 55% the rest of the time. As I sit here typing this review, CPU utilization is averaging about 5%. Eliminating all the MSI telemetry software and the Norton 360 bloatware that came preinstalled decreased utilization by 90+%. The Cubi is so much happier and responsive now. It feels like a proper, new computer should feel. CONS / DISLIKES The first, and most obvious, dislike is all the issues I experienced when I first booted the machine up. Luckily, with a little effort, I corrected the issues that were plaguing the machine. This is definitely an MSI-related issue specific to this machine. I've tested other MSI products and have not had this experience before. The Cubi isn't the first computer I've received with bloatware hampering its abilities and I have no doubt it won't be the last. Second. The included nVME SSD is one of the slowest Gen4 drives I've used to date. Speeds barely break the Gen3 barrier. I ran the benchmarking test a couple of different times hoping for better numbers. The results never improved. I have 419 of 467GB free and the drive has been optimized by Windows. Still nothing has improved the throughput. Is this a deal breaker? No. Most people may not notice the speed difference with day-to-day tasks, but if you were to compare this drive back-to-back with a quality Gen4 drive, the differences are noticeable, especially when working with large files. Good Gen4 drives are nearly 2x faster in throughput. Update - While photographing the internals and expansions slots for this review, I decided to go ahead and swap out the laboring MSI supplied drive with a newish Samsung 980 Pro (Gen 4x4). Again, prior to install, I went to Microsoft and downloaded the Windows Media Creation tool and made another bootable USB. With the new drive fitted, the speed at which Windows 11 installed was immediately noticeable. Synthetic benchmarks confirmed my observations with all throughput test speeds nearly doubling. The most notable was random read speeds that increased from approximate 3200MB/s to 6900MB/s. It is a considerable difference in overall speed and performance. Would the average user notice a difference? I can't say. But, I notice a difference. USE AFTER REINSTALLTION The MSI Cubi NUC is exactly what I was looking for to replace my aging, long-in-the-tooth Intel NUC. I've always loved the NUC concept from the very first Intel release back in the day. Excellent processing power in a perfectly sized package. This Cubi NUC adds everything I've been missing with its ancestor. MSI has given the NUC the latest and greatest tech. Dual Intel 2.5Gbe Ethernet Ports, Wi-Fi 6E & Bluetooth 5.4 via a genuine Intel AX-211 wireless card, 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports and 2 HDMI ports (the Cubi NUC can drive up to 4 monitors). Even the old school USB-A ports are USB 3.2 Gen 2 sporting speeds up to 10Gb/s. This little Cubi packs a lot of tech into a compact, efficient package. FINAL THOUGHTS After experiencing all the teething problems I had with this new computer, I probably shouldn't give it the rating I'm giving it. But, I like this NUC. MSI has taken what Intel started when they developed the NUC line and improved upon it in every single way. If I were a content creator that needed a photo editing powerhouse or hard-core gamer, this wouldn't be my first choice, at least not in this configuration. This NUC is made to do day-to-day tasks with little to no fanfare. Being not much bigger than the brick that powers it, it is surprising how much performance can be had from such a small package. The Cubi sits unobtrusively under my monitor. I don't have to make room for a huge desktop or deal with a flimsy laptop for daily use. If you are in the market for a PC that packs all the latest tech into a tiny, nearly silent, box that can be placed almost anywhere (even mounted to the back of monitor) this should be on your shopping list. I needed a small, efficient computer to replace my aging NUC. MSI's NUC is a great addition to the ecosystem. I've used NUCs for many years. I've always loved the form factor. They keep my office neat and tidy and keeps my desk open for work. Whoever has enough desk space? If I were shopping for a PC and didn't need or want a gaming rig or laptop and already had a good monitor, I would shop the NUC over any other form factor any day. RECOMMENDED
Posted by NAMO
In my professional life, I work as a Network/Systems Administrator, and these types of mini computers are my favorite to deploy to the field. This particular PC is one I'm rather impressed with, but there's room for improvement as well. To put it plainly - this device has everything I like to see in a small and modern form-factor, but I believe a different processor should've been utilized for this product. FORM FACTOR This device shines in it's ease of deployment. Included in the box is a VESA mounting bracket, which can be used to mount the PC behind a monitor if it is VESA compatible. This is HUGE for keeping a small footprint in any office or room and allowing for clean cable management. Couple that with the ability to easily add/remove RAM, NVMe drives, or an M.2 wireless LAN card, and you have a serviceable and discrete machine. PORTS AND EXPANSION I am rather blown away by the input/output capability of this system. There is a micro SD card slot, 4x 10Gbps USB-A ports, AND a whopping 2x 2.5GbE ethernet ports (NICs) and 2x Thunderbolt 4.0 USB-C ports. Don't forget the classic 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack. As a side note - you will also find an adapter included in the box to plug in a SATA SSD by using a connector on the motherboard. There is also an unoccupied M.2 slot for plugging in additional storage or system expansions. This is everything that a computer enthusiast or casual user could ask for. I would expect this type of configuration only in professional-grade computers. PERFORMANCE While this computer will sip on power due to the Intel Core 3-100U processor, it's a little bit... Underwhelming. When you have so many expansion ports that are capable of extremely fast connectivity, you'll want a processor that can keep up. Let me state plainly - The processor in this computer will be overwhelmed if you saturate the 2.5GbE ethernet ports while reading/writing data from the NVMe drives or USB connections. It's the equivalent of being given a high-end sports car, but it's the base trim, and it only has a 4 cylinder engine. The processor cannot keep up with what this computer is capable of doing. Couple that with the basic level graphical performance that the Intel integrated graphics can handle and you'll see that this PC is wonderful for an office or casual use... But once you venture beyond basic web browsing and productivity applications, this system will chug because the Intel Core 3 processor is holding it back. 16GB of memory/RAM certainly helps with keeping a lot of Chrome/Edge tabs open, or other applications, but RAM won't save the PC from its slow processing speeds. FINAL THOUGHTS In a professional setting, I fully recommend this PC. Anyone who needs a PC that is small, portable, serviceable, and has a lot of FAST connectivity options - they should take a look at this mini desktop. For those who are seeking performance beyond the day-to-day of casual office work and multitasking with a few basic applications? You'll want to set your sights on an Intel Core 5 or higher computer and ensure that you know whether or not you need a graphics card for your specific computer needs. I'm a big fan of this PC. There's a lot of good about it, but the processor is going to hold back this impressive little system.
Posted by Curtis
This is the first mini desktop pc I have gotten as for years I have used full size desktop PC's or gaming laptops but when I saw it was MSI I definitely had high hopes and for what you get I would say it delivers. This is great for an office or school environment where you just need people to have access to some basic computer aplications or web access. It boots up fast, chorme/firefox/edge all load super fast and just about any other application I installed loaded quick. I streamed videos from Yout Tube without any issues and MS Office for Excel and Word open lightening quick and were very responsive. This is by no means a gaming PC but you can run some older games such as Quake or Quake 2 or Unreal Tournament from 20 years ago but it isn't going to run Cyberpunk and will struggle to run Fortnite, not to mention Fortnite requiring at least 1/3 of the available memory. It did play some older games well for me and I actually might end up using this with a dual boot to run some retro games via emulators or other programs as I have done in the past with some RaspberryPi's. When downloading apps and games I was consistently getting 600 Mbps or faster and WiFi 6 is also very fast if you have that network in your home or office. Pros: - Small form factor makes it ideal for offices or locations where space is limited - Comes with a mounting bracket to mount to the wall - Can be expanded up to 64Gb of RAM and also has the ability to add a 2.5" SSD - WiFi 6 is super fast along with the hardwired 2.5 GB ports on the back - Built in MicroSD slot as well as mutliple Thunderbolt 4 ports Cons - Limited memory with a 500 GB NVME - No accessories like a mouse or keyboard - Won't support newer games but an handle older games with ease Overall this PC has a very specific target audience and for what it is expected to do it does very well. This is a great productivity desktop to use MS Office or work on the web or just browse the web. It is small enough also to be used in tight spots and with the minimal moving components inside there is less to break and it also runs fairly cool and is still barely warm to the touch after being on the last 3 days straight in my office.
Posted by ShaunOrlando