MSI Cubi NUC 1M Review: A Powerful Mini PC with Pros & Cons

I’ve been using compact desktop computers for quite a while, and I love how these small form-factor devices continue to evolve. One of my newest finds is the MSI Cubi NUC 1M equipped with an Intel Core 7 150U processor.

Despite its ultra-small footprint, it delivers strong performance for both business users and enthusiasts who need a power-efficient Mini PC. In this post, I’ll walk you through the specifications, design, everyday performance, pros and cons, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this little powerhouse.

Specifications Table

Below is a quick rundown of the main specs that the MSI Cubi NUC 1M (Intel Core 7 150U version) offers. I’ve compiled this to give you a clear snapshot right at the start:

MSI Cubi NUC 1M (Intel Core 7 150U) – Key Specifications

Fresh Design and Build Quality

From the moment I unboxed the Cubi NUC 1M, the new design stood out. It has a sleeker, more modern business look compared to earlier mini PCs I’ve seen, yet it remains lightweight and space-saving.

According to MSI’s statements, the chassis uses recycled plastic and a sturdier frame compared to some previous models from the company. When I picked it up, there were no odd creaks or flex, and that gave me confidence about its build quality right off the bat.

The unit sits on four rubber feet and can be opened with just a few screws. This access is great if you plan to add a 2.5″ drive, or if you want to make any upgrades to memory or an additional M.2 SSD. I personally like that it strikes a balance between easy accessibility and a compact, neatly designed shell.

Improved Ports and External Power Button

I’m a fan of the well-labeled ports, especially the two Thunderbolt 4 connections on the back. You can drive up to four displays using two HDMI ports and two Thunderbolt 4 ports at 4K 60 Hz each.

The dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports come in handy if you have a high-speed local network or need link aggregation. I also appreciate the addition of a Micro SD card slot on the front for quick data transfers.

Another small but nifty feature is the external power button header. This is especially useful if you plan to mount the Cubi NUC 1M behind a monitor or in another inaccessible location. Simply connect the included remote power button cable, route it through the case opening, and you’re all set.

Performance Highlights

The Cubi NUC 1M leverages Intel’s Core 7 150U processor: a 10-core CPU with 2 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores, for a total of 12 threads. It runs at a base frequency of 1.80 GHz and can boost up to 5.40 GHz. MSI pairs this with dual-channel DDR5 memory (up to 5200 MHz), which helps overall system responsiveness, web browsing, and heavier tasks like media creation.

If you’re wondering about day-to-day usage, the single-core performance in many benchmarks is surprisingly high for a chip that is designed to be energy-efficient.

Multicore performance is more modest, but still solid—particularly for tasks like multitasking, 4K media playback, or running multiple spreadsheets. For the average or even advanced office or home user, it definitely meets the needs for productivity and more.

DDR5 Memory and Faster IGP

Because it uses DDR5 at 5200 MHz in dual-channel, the built-in Intel Graphics processor (with 96 execution units) benefits significantly from that extra memory bandwidth. Compared to previous generations, you may see a big jump in tasks like light gaming or hardware-accelerated video editing. You’re not going to get the same performance as a high-powered, 45 W–65 W mobile chip, but for a 15 W–20 W class CPU, it’s an excellent balance.

Storage Flexibility

One highlight for me is that you can have up to three separate storage devices in this compact PC. There are two M.2 slots (one 2280 size, one 2242 size), both supporting up to PCIe Gen4 x4 speeds. Additionally, you can mount one 2.5” SATA drive on the bottom plate. If you need high-capacity data storage or want a dual-SSD configuration, the Cubi NUC 1M has you covered.

I tested read and write speeds on an included M.2 Gen4 drive. Reads reached quite high speeds, while writes seemed closer to Gen3 performance, but that’s mostly the nature of the specific SSD. With a bare-bones model, you can choose a faster drive if you prefer.

Real-world Tests and Benchmarks

I always like to put mini PCs through some standard benchmarks. In single-core tests, the new Intel Core 7 150U displayed impressive scores, sometimes beating out higher-power chips in that particular metric. Multicore results are a bit lower, owing to fewer performance cores and tighter power limits, but still enough for big productivity gains over older generations.

In GPU benchmarks, it performed far better than earlier low-wattage integrated chips, thanks to a higher EU count, improved architecture, and DDR5 memory. It won’t match up to an H-series chip or a dedicated GPU, but it can handle a surprising range of lighter games, older titles, or 3D design tasks at reduced settings.

Everyday Use and Multi-Display Support

I use multiple monitors for my workflow, and this tiny device can drive up to four. I tested it with two 4K displays over HDMI and two more using Thunderbolt 4 for a total of four monitors at 4K 60 Hz.

The experience was smooth, with no stuttering when moving windows or playing back high-resolution video. If you rely heavily on multiple screens, you’ll find a lot to like here.

Web Browsing and Video Playback

For web browsing, the Cubi NUC 1M is snappy. Even with multiple tabs open, streaming audio, and editing documents, I never felt it struggle. I also tested 4K 60 fps online video playback, and it barely broke a sweat.

The integrated quicksync decoder does an excellent job handling modern codecs, including H.264 and H.265. However, hardware encoding for AV1 is limited on this CPU, so keep that in mind if your workflow relies on that new format.

Media and Light Gaming

I occasionally like to unwind with some lower-intensity games or older classics. The integrated Intel Graphics at 1.3 GHz can manage quite a few indie games and older AAA titles. Depending on the game, you may need to drop the resolution to 900p or lower settings to maintain fluid frame rates. But for anyone wanting occasional gaming, it’s more capable than you might expect from an ultra-compact form factor.

Network and Connectivity

You get dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, which is a major plus if your environment has multi-gig internet or you plan to use link aggregation for higher throughput. There’s also an Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 adapter and Bluetooth 5.3. I noticed strong wireless performance in my tests, with consistent ping in both standard web browsing and real-time applications like online gaming or remote desktop sessions.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Range

In my informal testing, the Wi-Fi signal remained stable even at a longer distance from my router. The speeds matched what I expect from a Wi-Fi 6E card in a small PC, and Bluetooth audio stayed steady without any dropouts. That’s always a good sign for a device you might place in a living room or tucked away on a desk.

MSI Software Features

The Cubi NUC 1M often comes preloaded with Windows 11 Home or Pro. MSI includes their own software suite, which offers features like system monitoring, power consumption tracking, and a few other utilities.

You can also enable something called MSI Power Link to let you power on the mini if you have a compatible MSI monitor using HDMI CEC. This is handy for those who want just one power button controlling both monitor and PC, although you’ll need a monitor that specifically supports this.

For those who prefer a leaner environment, you can remove the utilities. If you purchase a bare-bones model, you can install your operating system of choice—Windows, Linux, or otherwise. From what I tested, Ubuntu booted from a USB drive without issues, so Linux compatibility looks good.

Power Draw and Heat

Power efficiency remains one of the main reasons people pick up a U-series chip in a Mini PC. Idle usage hovered around 6 W to 10 W in my tests, and pushing both CPU and integrated GPU hard raised that to around 40 W–57 W at max load. For a system that can handle four displays, 4K playback, and general productivity, these are excellent numbers.

The trade-off for the boost in performance is slightly higher CPU temperatures than some older ultra-low-power minis. You might see temperatures in the 80 °C–90 °C range under extended heavy workloads.

In typical everyday tasks, the heat never became an issue. The included fan is very quiet and rarely ramps up in normal usage. I only noticed the fan noise when stress-testing both CPU and GPU for a while.

Pros and Cons

After using the MSI Cubi NUC 1M with the Intel Core 7 150U for a bit, here are my personal takeaways:

• Pros

• Compact yet robust design: Feels solid, uses recycled materials, and offers a premium look.
• Good balance of performance and efficiency: Great single-core speeds and respectable multicore output for a U-series chip.
• Flexible storage options: Two M.2 slots (one 2280, one 2242) plus room for a 2.5” SATA drive.
• Four-display output: Two HDMI 2.1 ports plus two Thunderbolt 4 for up to four screens at 4K 60 Hz.
• Dual 2.5Gb Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6E: High-bandwidth networking in a tiny footprint.
• External power button header: Handy for behind-monitor or hidden setups.
• Advanced Replacement warranty (3-year model): Reduces downtime for business users in case of hardware issues.

• Cons

• Higher CPU temps under sustained load: The cooling design could have been bulkier for even cooler operation.
• 120W power supply feels oversized: A smaller power brick would match the form factor better.
• No custom fan profiles in BIOS: Limited advanced tweaks for temperature and noise balance.
• AV1 encode not supported: The hardware decode is powerful, but hardware-based AV1 encoding is missing.
• Pricier than some competitors: You’re also paying for the higher quality build and the advanced warranty service.

Running Services Like Blue Iris and CodeProject.AI

Some readers wonder if a compact PC like the Cubi NUC 1M can handle tasks like security camera monitoring with Blue Iris or AI-driven video analysis. From what I’ve gathered, if you have eight or fewer IP cameras (around 4MP resolution each) and you’re storing streams on external network-attached storage, the CPU can absolutely handle continuous sub-stream recording.

The key advantage is Intel’s Quick Sync Video, which offloads much of the encoding and decoding work from the CPU cores. As one user pointed out in an online forum, the second channel usage can lead to very low overall CPU overhead.

Of course, for more cameras or higher resolutions, you might want to keep an eye on CPU usage and ensure you have enough disk bandwidth. But for typical home or small-business surveillance, the Cubi NUC 1M’s efficiency and stability make it a viable solution.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How many displays can I connect simultaneously?

You can connect up to four displays at 4K 60 Hz. Two through the HDMI 2.1 ports and two via Thunderbolt 4.

2. Can this mini PC handle 4K video editing?

Yes, it can handle 4K video editing in most mainstream software, thanks to Intel Quick Sync. However, if you edit complex projects or use heavy effects, it may not be as fast as a higher-powered H-series chip. Still, for moderate 4K editing, it performs impressively well.

3. Does it support advanced AI tasks or machine learning frameworks?

The Cubi NUC 1M has an efficient CPU and integrated graphics, but it’s not designed for heavy-duty machine learning. For smaller AI models or CPU-based tasks (like running CodeProject.AI for video analytics on a few cameras), it will do fine. For large-scale models, a dedicated GPU or specialized hardware is recommended.

4. Is the RAM upgradable if I buy a lower-capacity model?

Yes, the two SODIMM slots can hold up to 64 GB of DDR5 memory. You can start smaller and upgrade later, provided you have compatible DDR5 SODIMM modules.

5. Can I install Linux on it?

Absolutely. Many users have reported successful Ubuntu installations, and other Linux distros should work fine. You can boot from a USB drive, and the hardware drivers are widely supported in modern Linux kernels.

6. What about the fan noise under load?

In normal everyday usage, the fan is barely audible. Under heavy CPU and GPU loads, you’ll hear it ramp up, but it remains relatively quiet compared to some other mini PCs. There’s no user-configurable fan curve in the BIOS, but the default setting is designed for low noise.

7. Do I really need the dual 2.5Gb Ethernet?

It depends on your network setup. If you have a 2.5Gb router or switch, you can benefit from multi-gig speeds. For advanced users, link aggregation offers faster and more reliable connections, especially if you’re using the Cubi NUC 1M as a small server, NAS gateway, or for professional workflows.

8. How well does it handle older or simpler games?

The integrated Intel Graphics handle games like Hades, Dirt 3, Half-Life 2, and many indie titles with ease. It’s not marketed for AAA gaming, but older or less-demanding games can run well, especially if you reduce settings to 1080p or 900p.

9. Can I use this as a home server or a media server?

Definitely. It’s small, quiet, and has low power consumption. It’s more than capable of serving as a Plex server, small database server, or local file server, especially with the multiple drive options and dual 2.5Gb NICs.

10. Is it good for running Blue Iris with multiple IP cameras?

Yes. The Intel Quick Sync engine makes it efficient for camera-stream handling. With around eight 4MP cameras, sub-stream recording, and additional AI tasks (such as CodeProject.AI), it should comfortably manage those workloads, especially if you’re recording directly to a NAS.

Conclusion

The MSI Cubi NUC 1M, powered by Intel’s Core 7 150U, is a strong contender for anyone in need of an ultra-compact PC that excels in energy-efficient performance. It boasts robust single-core power, a modern design, flexible storage options, dual 2.5Gb Ethernet, and up to four-display support.

Sure, it won’t match the raw performance of higher-wattage processors in big PCs, but that’s not its target goal. Instead, it shines where low power draw, compact size, and reliability matter most.

If you want a capable mini workstation for multi-monitor setups, or if you’re seeking a quiet, power-sipping media hub, the Cubi NUC 1M fits the bill nicely. Add in MSI’s three-year advanced replacement warranty option, and you’ve got a well-rounded package that checks many boxes for both home users and professional environments.

Overall, I recommend the MSI Cubi NUC 1M for individuals and businesses that prioritize energy efficiency, solid single-core performance, and easy expansion in a form factor that won’t clutter your desk.

It’s a refreshingly modern take on a Mini PC that manages to keep noise and temperatures in check while delivering more power than you’d expect from such a compact system.