Ready to ditch your Windows PC? I found a powerful mini PC that’s optimized for Linux

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• This highly effective PC is offered now, beginning at $1230
• The NX Gen3 PC was in a position to run the gpt-oss:20b LLM with out a hiccup
• This Kubuntu-powered PC is more than likely extra highly effective than your present PC.

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Any probability I can get to overview a Linux-powered PC, I am thrilled to take action. It is not solely as a result of I get to expertise how a 3rd celebration approaches the OS, but additionally as a result of it means there are extra avenues for customers to buy Linux methods.

In case you’ve ever heard of Kubuntu, you understand it is a spin on Ubuntu that focuses on the KDE Plasma desktop — a superb desktop UI. Kubuntu Focus, however, is an organization devoted to promoting laptops and desktops powered by the Kubuntu OS.

Additionally: The best Linux laptops

After receiving the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3, unboxing, and setting it up, I hit the facility and watched as Kubuntu loaded. In seconds, I used to be greeted with the onboarding wizard. In stark distinction to any Home windows PC I’ve reviewed, it took me lower than two minutes to have the NX Gen3 up and working.

My expertise

Reviewing a Linux-powered laptop computer or PC is at all times a breath of recent air to me, as a result of I do know the OS very nicely (so I do know precisely what to anticipate) and it is nearly at all times a optimistic expertise from begin to end.

The NX Gen3 was no exception.

The mannequin I acquired housed an Intel Extremely 7 255H, Arc T140 8 Xe CPU/GPU, with 32 GB of RAM and Mesa Intel graphics, which runs round $1,230. You possibly can spec a system as much as 96 GB of RAM, a 4TB drive, which bumps the value as much as $2,075.  

In fact, it is KDE Plasma, so the desktop is wonderful. And, sure, it defaults to a darkish theme, which I instantly personalized. As quickly as I had that taken care of, I ran the obtainable updates (which took all of three minutes) and got down to do the one factor I at all times do when testing a brand new PC: pushing it to its limits.

How? Today, that is fairly simple. I put in Ollama, pulled the llama3.2 LLM, and ran a question. I’ve change into accustomed to sluggish responses to Ollama queries on overview machines, and at first I believed the NX Gen3 was going to offer me the identical outcomes. After a couple of seconds, nevertheless, Ollama spit out the reply to “What’s Linux?” far quicker than I believed. Actually, I have not seen a small form factor PC reply this rapidly to a neighborhood AI question.

Spectacular.

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I then determined to obtain a bigger LLM (gpt-oss:12b, which is 65GB). In fact, the pull took eternally (due to its dimension, which isn’t any reflection on the NX Gen3. As soon as it was full, I ran the identical question (“What’s Linux?”), which was considerably quicker than the llama3.2 LLM. Whereas gpt-oss:20 was answering the question, I went about utilizing different apps and, to my shock, nothing was hampered by Ollama pummeling the CPU. The NX Gen3 did not bat an eye fixed.

Past the AI portion of my take a look at, I went about doing precise on a regular basis duties (putting in apps, opening and utilizing apps, transferring home windows round, working upgrades, looking… you understand the drill) and was not in in the least stunned that the NX Gen3’s efficiency was completely stellar. I’d put this tiny machine almost on par with my System76 Thelio (which is essentially the most highly effective desktop PC I’ve ever used).

I’d go as far as to say that the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 PC is highly effective sufficient for absolutely anything you want for common use. No, you are not going to mine large knowledge or launch a ship to Mars with this pc, however for the common human, the NX Gen3 affords method above common efficiency.

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Even with a number of KDE Plasma window results working (corresponding to Wobbly Home windows), I noticed zero lag, tearing, or pixelation. 

It doesn’t matter what I did with the NX Gen3 PC, I got here away impressed. This tiny machine is a powerhouse and would serve anybody nicely. And, sure, KDE Plasma is a desktop surroundings appropriate for these new to Linux. So, whether or not you are new to the open-source working system or have been utilizing it for years, you may guess the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 PC is as much as no matter activity you wish to throw at it. 

I didn’t trouble working benchmarking checks on this machine as a result of I are likely to want my evaluations to be of worth to those that would really buy such a machine to make use of day-after-day. Benchmarking is nice, however these numbers do not are likely to imply a lot to the common person.

ZDNT shopping for recommendation

In case you’re available in the market to buy a brand new PC and also you wish to lastly bounce on board the Linux bandwagon, the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 is not only an impressive place to begin, however an awesome place to remain. This small-footprint pc critically impressed me. It is highly effective, silent, simple to setup, and a deal with to make use of.

Additionally: How to install Steam on any Ubuntu-based Linux distro so you can play a world of games

In case you’re wanting on the finish of life in your Home windows 10 PC, and available in the market for one thing higher than what’s on the cabinets of the massive field shops, head over to the official Kubuntu Focus site and buy an NX Gen3 PC. You will not remorse it. 

Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 tech specs

I will record out the baseline specs right here:

• CPU/GPU – Intel Extremely 5 225H CPU/Arch T130 Xe GPU
• RAM – 16 GB
• Storage – 500 GB PCIe 4
• Disk encryption – non-compulsory
• Guarantee – 1 12 months restricted
• Delivery – 3-6 day floor at no cost