Ready to ditch your Windows PC? I Found a Powerful Mini PC Optimized for Linux

 

 

 

Key findings from ZDNET

• This powerful PC is available now starting at $1,230
• NX Gen3 PC was able to run gpt-oss:20b LLM without issue
• This PC with Kubuntu is probably more powerful than your current PC.

 

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Whenever I get the chance to test a Linux PC, I’ll be happy to do so. It’s not just because I can experiment with how third parties approach the operating system, but also because it means there are more possibilities for consumers to purchase Linux systems.

If you’ve heard of Kubuntu, you know it’s a version of Ubuntu that focuses on the KDE Plasma desktop – a shiny desktop interface. Kubuntu Focus, on the other hand, is a company dedicated to selling laptops and desktops equipped with the Kubuntu operating system.

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After receiving the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3unpacking and configuring, I turned on the power and watched Kubuntu load. Within seconds, I was greeted by the onboarding wizard. In stark contrast to any Windows PC I’ve tested, it took me less than two minutes to get the NX Gen3 up and running.

My experience

Reviewing a Linux laptop or PC is always a breath of fresh air for me because I know the operating system very well (so I know exactly what to expect) and it’s almost always a positive experience from start to finish.

The NX Gen3 was no exception.

The model I received housed an Intel Ultra 7 255H CPU/GPU, Arc T140 8 Xe, with 32 GB of RAM and Intel Mesa graphics, which costs around $1,230. You can spec a system with up to 96GB of RAM, a 4TB drive, which increases the price to $2,075.

Of course, it’s KDE Plasma, so the desktop is glorious. And yes, the default is a dark theme, which I customized right away. Once I got that out of the way, I ran the available updates (which took three minutes total) and started doing the one thing I always do when testing a new PC: pushing it to the limit.

As? Nowadays, this is very easy. I installed Ollama, pulled LLM llama3.2 and ran a query. I got used to slow responses to Ollama queries on review machines, and at first I thought the NX Gen3 would give me the same results. After a few seconds, however, Ollama spat out the answer to “What is Linux?” much faster than I thought. In fact, I’ve never seen a small form factor PC respond so quickly to a local AI query.

Impressive.

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I then decided to download a larger LLM (gpt-oss:12b, which is 65 GB). Of course, the pull took forever (because of its size, which doesn’t reflect NX Gen3. Once complete, I ran the same query (“What is Linux?”), which was significantly faster than llama3.2 LLM. While gpt-oss:20 responded to the query, I started using other applications, and to my surprise, nothing was harmed by Ollama punching the CPU. The NX Gen3 didn’t even blink.

In addition to the AI ​​portion of my test, I performed real everyday tasks (installing apps, opening and using apps, moving windows, running updates, browsing… you know the drill) and I wasn’t at all surprised as the NX Gen3’s performance was absolutely stellar. I’d put this little machine at about the same level as my System76 Thelio (which is the most powerful desktop PC I’ve ever used).

I would go further and say that the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 PC is powerful enough for pretty much everything you need for average use. No, you’re not going to mine massive data or launch a spacecraft to Mars with this computer, but for the average human, the NX Gen3 offers well-above-average performance.

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Even with various KDE Plasma window effects running (like Wobbly Windows), I didn’t see any lag, tearing, or pixelation.

No matter what I did with the NX Gen3 PC, I was impressed. This little machine is a powerhouse and would serve anyone well. And yes, KDE Plasma is a suitable desktop environment for those new to Linux. So whether you’re new to the open source operating system or have been using it for years, you can bet that the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 PC is up to whatever task you want to tackle.

I didn’t bother running benchmarking tests on this machine because I tend to prefer my reviews to be of value to those who would actually buy such a machine to use every day. Benchmarking is great, but these numbers don’t tend to mean much to the average user.

ZDNT Buying Advice

If you’re in the market for a new PC and want to finally jump on the Linux bandwagon, the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 It’s not only a great place to start, but a great place to stay. This small size computer seriously impressed me. It’s powerful, quiet, easy to set up and easy to use.

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If you’re looking at the end of life for your Windows 10 PC and are looking for something better than what’s on the shelves at big box stores, head over to Kubuntu Focus official website and buy an NX Gen3 PC. You won’t regret it.

Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 technical specifications

I will list the basic specifications here:

• CPU/GPU – Intel Ultra 5 225H CPU/GPU Arch T130 Xe
• RAM – 16GB
• Storage – 500GB PCIe 4
• Disk encryption – optional
• Warranty – 1 year limited
• Shipping – 3-6 days free