The MSI Cubi NUC 1M doesn’t like being in the spotlight. The small, stylish but unobtrusive box is easy to hide. From its hidden position, the mini PC offers you very solid performance, comparable to that of a laptop with higher productivity.

The MSI Cubi NUC 1M (872 euros excl. VAT) looks like the Cubi N ADL, but appearances are deceptive. While the ADL is lightweight and perfect for controlling screens as a thin client, the 1M is a full-fledged computer tailored to the office worker.

The Cubi NUC 1M is a mini PC in the NUC form factor. In other words, the thing looks like a square box. The computer measures 13.56 cm x 13.25 cm x 5.10 cm and has a volume of just over 0.8 liters.

Inside the box you’ll find a VESA mount, which immediately shows the kind of space MSI has in mind for the Cubi. You can mount the NUC on the back of your monitor to turn it into an all-in-one computer. Thanks to its small size, you can easily hide the Cubi NUC 1M elsewhere, even out of reach. For such cases, MSI offers a power button on an extension cable.

Processor problems

Inside the MSI Cubi NUC 1M we find an Intel Core 7 150U, supported by 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD. Intel doesn’t make it easy for the layman to tell what kind of meat it is from the processor name, so this requires an explanation.

The manufacturer is gradually dropping the “i” in its name (Core i5, Core i7) and last year launched a new product line called Core Ultra (Core Ultra 7, Core Ultra 9). These chips are based on Intel’s latest production node and represent a significant technological advancement compared to previous generations.

This non-Ultra Intel Core 7 is not part of this new generation of chips and is actually a thirteenth generation Raptor Lake processor with a new guise. That’s not a problem, but keep in mind that you’re working with a CPU that’s one generation behind the latest on the market.

The Intel Core 7 150U on board this MSI Cubi NUC 1M has ten processing cores on board, including two performance cores and eight efficient E-cores. The base frequency of the P-cores is 1.8 GHz with a theoretical peak frequency of 5.4 GHz.

Performance test

We compare the performance of this Cubi with that of the Cubi NUC ADL as a reference, as well as with a laptop with a powerful modern Core Ultra 7 on board and a lighter machine with an Intel Core i3-1315U, which technically isn’t that different from the Core 7. We also note that the Samsung laptop has 16GB of RAM, the NUC ADL has 4GB of RAM, and the Lenovo ThinkPad has 8GB of RAM.

The CPU in this MSI Cubi NUC 1M performs spectacularly better than the one in the lightweight Cubi ADL, but that’s not surprising. The new Core Ultra 7 in the Samsung Galaxy Book is a new generation and delivers noticeably more performance, especially in multi-threaded workloads.

Lenovo’s older ThinkPad seems to be somewhere in between with its Core i3. Note in particular that the P-cores in the Core 7 processor in this NUC are quite powerful, which benefits single-threaded workloads. When all cores are working simultaneously, this advantage disappears somewhat.

This has implications in everyday use. We measure the performance of this NUC with the PCMark 10 test, which simulates all kinds of office-related workloads.

You’ll see the Essentials Score, which relates to light tasks like browsing, launching apps, and making video calls. Such tasks don’t require the full processing power of a super-powerful chip, but benefit most from a fast core. As mentioned, the MSI Cubi NUC 1M only has two of the P-cores, but they are more powerful than the other chips in our comparison. This NUC is the champion for light work.

This advantage is lost with more complex workloads. In the extended score, we summarize more diverse workloads and see that the NUC has to admit defeat to the Samsung laptop. When doing heavy work, the computer also starts to hum audibly, but the noise never reaches too disturbing proportions.

Ideal for office work

A similar story emerges when we look at the score more closely. Productivity means working with office suites, which in turn represent a slightly lower workload. Content creation is more involved and uses many powerful cores instead of a few.

We see that the Cubi NUC 1M delivers top performance for productivity, but starts to falter under heavier workloads. The numbers clearly show what MSI built this small machine for: office work.

The tests confirm that the hardware of the MSI Cubi NUC 1M is ideally suited to support not only video calls and applications or websites in the browser, but also classic office work where Word, PowerPoint and Excel are important. MSI offers the performance of a very solid productivity laptop in a compact housing and at an attractive price.

Why this mini PC?

Why should you choose this NUC over a real laptop? Price is certainly a factor: you’re not paying for a keyboard and screen, just the computer. If you only want to work on an external screen with its own keyboard, that’s enough. Plus, you’re doing the planet a favor by not buying a more complex device with more raw materials than necessary.

Because the Cubi is easy to hide, it’s ideal for environments where customers walk by. For example, the MSI Cubi NUC 1M can support the reception of a company or hotel without cluttering up the desk. The same goes for home workers who want a nice screen and don’t want to park a laptop next to it. Of course, you sacrifice mobility, but that’s not a problem for those who work in the same place all the time.

In addition, the NUC offers more ports than a laptop. You get four USB-A ports (USB 3.1) and two USB-C ports. Two RJ-45 Ethernet ports (2.5 Gbps) are also present, as well as two HDMI ports and an SD card reader. This allows you to connect this device stably to the network and control two screens, while still leaving room for peripherals.

A mini PC like the MSI Cubi NUC 1M isn’t the perfect solution for everyone: a laptop often offers a little more freedom. However, if you have a fixed workstation with one or more decent screens, MSI gives you enough power to get your work done without having to accommodate a laptop or a large desktop. Do you like that? Then the MSI Cubi NUC 1M is a solid and safe choice.

Tested configuration: MSI Cubi NUC 1M-07SUS-B7150U, Intel Core 7, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Windows 11 Pro – 872 euros plus VAT.