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| The Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo Ultra mini PC packs an RTX 5060 desktop GPU. |
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| We reviewed an older generation of the ThinkCentre Neo, and were mostly pleased with the system. |
For years, the quest for the perfect small-form-factor (SFF) PC has been a game of compromise. Users have historically had to choose between the raw power of a desktop tower and the sleek, unobtrusive footprint of a mini PC. However, Lenovo is currently blurring those lines with its ThinkCentre Neo Ultra Gen 2, and thanks to a limited-time sale, this desktop-class powerhouse is finally available at a price that makes sense for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Folks on the lookout for a premium high-end mini PC with a discrete GPU will likely be quite pleased with what Lenovo is offering. The ThinkCentre Neo Ultra Gen 2 bucks the trend of using laptop-grade components; instead, it packs a punch with a full-fat desktop processor and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card.
The Specs and The Sale
Currently, the configuration turning heads features a Core Ultra 5 235 CPU, 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. While the storage and memory are easily upgradeable (more on that later), the heart of this system is undeniably powerful.
Courtesy of an ongoing sale over at Lenovo's official online store, the ThinkCentre Neo Ultra mini PC can now be purchased with a notable 29% discount, which drops its price down to just over $1,390. However, interested customers are advised to act fast and utilize the "LENOVOPOWER" and "BUYMORELENOVO" coupons at checkout in order to take full advantage of the deal.
Desktop-Class Hardware in a 3.6L Chassis
There is no doubt that the ThinkCentre Neo Ultra is on the pricier side when it comes to typical mini PCs, but Lenovo's ongoing sale makes the price far more digestible. The "Ultra" in the name is justified by the components inside. The Core Ultra 5 235 is a desktop-class chip, a distinction that sets it apart from the laptop CPUs found in rivals like the Intel NUC or Apple Mac Mini.
In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU is about as powerful as a Ryzen 7 9700X (currently $318.19 on Amazon). For context, that means whether you are compiling code, rendering 4K video, or juggling complex Excel simulations, the vast majority of moderately intensive workloads should not be much of a hassle for this chip.
Graphics Capabilities and the Throttling Caveat
The inclusion of the GeForce RTX 5060 Desktop GPU is what truly transforms this machine from a business PC into a creative workstation or a legitimate 1080p/1440p gaming rig. For a chassis this size, the graphics power is notable; early performance metrics suggest the desktop RTX 5060 is around 5% faster than an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU found in most gaming notebooks.
However, physics and thermodynamics are hard to cheat. We reviewed an older variant of the system, and discovered some unfortunate throttling behavior. During stress tests, after around a dozen loops in Cinebench R15, scores dropped by around 25% as the system tried to manage heat in the compact 3.6-liter space. The good news is that GPU performance is respectable despite the compact size, and sustained performance testing specifically on the graphics side did not reveal any major complaints.
If you are interested in the evolution of the design and how Lenovo has managed thermals in this generation, you can check out the official product page for the Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo Ultra Gen 2 Intel Tiny here .
It is worth noting that while the RTX 5060 brings modern ray-tracing capabilities to the table, the GPU sports only 8 GB of GDDR7 VRAM. While this is faster VRAM than previous generations, the 8 GB capacity might be a limiting factor for future AAA gaming at high textures or demanding AI workloads in the years to come.
Upgradeability and I/O
One area where the ThinkCentre Neo Ultra excels is expansion. Unlike soldered-down components in ultra-slim laptops, this mini PC features dual SODIMM slots for memory upgrades, as well as a whopping three M.2 slots for plenty of storage. You can easily add a secondary drive for media or a third for backups without breaking a sweat.
Our in-depth review of the older variant revealed fan noise to be on the louder side when under load, which is to be expected when cooling a 65W+ desktop CPU and a dGPU in such proximity. However, surface temperatures remained perfectly tolerable, meaning you can safely tuck it away without worrying about it melting your desk.
Connectivity is also a strong suit, with the I/O on offer is as follows:
- USB C (20 Gbps)
- Five USB A (10 Gbps), one USB A (5 Gbps)
- Ethernet (2.5G)
- Thunderbolt 4 (with DP 1.4b, PD)
- DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1
The Verdict
At 3.6 liters, the ThinkCentre Neo Ultra mini PC is definitely on the bulkier side of the "mini" spectrum, which is to be expected considering the desktop-class internals. It isn't the kind of machine you can velcro to the back of a monitor, but it is a fraction of the size of a standard mid-tower.
At its current discounted price, the ThinkCentre Neo Ultra definitely provides a lot of value for folks who require desktop-class hardware in a mini PC. If you need a space-saving workstation for video editing, 3D modeling, or high-end productivity, and you are comfortable with the fact that it will sound like a gaming laptop under full load, this sale is the perfect time to buy.