Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 (Intel) 2 2024

The 20-core Intel 265 CPU is a standout, landing in the 89th percentile and making this one of the fastest tiny workstations we've tested. The RTX 2000 Ada and 32GB of RAM are solid, but the 170W PSU and disappointing port selection hold it back from perfection. It's a specialized beast for developers and CAD pros who value desk space above all else.

The star of the show is that 20-core Intel 265, clocking up to 4.6GHz. It's a genuine standout, putting this tiny tower well above average for raw compute. You'll notice it in compile times, data crunching, and any multi-threaded task you throw at it. The 32GB of DDR5 RAM sits in the 82nd percentile, which is plenty of headroom for most professional workflows, though power users might eventually want more. The NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Generation with 16GB of VRAM is a solid performer for a small form factor card. It's not going to set gaming records, landing in the 73rd percentile for GPUs, but it's more than capable for AI inference, CAD work, and rendering tasks that lean on CUDA cores. Storage speeds are about average for a Gen 4 NVMe drive, which is to say, still very fast for everyday use. The real bottleneck here is the 170W power supply, which keeps a tight leash on sustained boost clocks for both the CPU and GPU. You're getting excellent burst performance, but don't expect it to run flat-out forever.

Stacked against something like the Dell Tower Plus EBT2250, the Lenovo trades blows differently. The Dell will likely offer more raw GPU muscle and far better internal expansion in a much larger case, but it can't touch the Lenovo's desk footprint. The HP Omen GT22 and ASUS Republic of Gamers GM700TZ are gaming-focused rigs that will demolish the P3 Ultra in GPU-bound tasks and offer far more port variety, but they lack the professional RTX Ada drivers and vPro manageability. The MSI EdgeXpert is a closer philosophical match, but the Lenovo's 20-core CPU is the clear differentiator here, putting it in a higher tier for compute-heavy professional work. You're choosing between a hot-rod gaming PC and a precision instrument, and the P3 Ultra is firmly the latter.

At $4039, the P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 is a premium tool for a specific job. You're paying a hefty tax for that tiny 4L chassis and the professional RTX 2000 Ada GPU with its ISV certifications. If raw performance per dollar is your only metric, a traditional tower will smoke this thing. But that's not the point. You're buying density and quiet, reliable power for a professional environment. It's a fair price for a specialized workstation, not a bargain.

The Lenovo P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 packs a surprising punch for a 1.8kg box that's barely bigger than a hardcover book. The Intel Core Ultra 265 lands in the 89th percentile for CPU performance in our database, which means it's one of the best laptop-class chips you can get in a desktop this small. Paired with 32GB of DDR5 and a 1TB NVMe drive, this thing is built to chew through developer workloads and workstation tasks without breaking a sweat. Our scoring backs that up, with a 73.6 for developer use and a 72.2 for workstation duty. It's a compact powerhouse that knows exactly who it's for.

Skip this if you need a wide variety of ports or plan to add internal cards later. The port selection falls into a disappointing 37th percentile, so you'll be living the dongle life. Gamers and 3D artists who prioritize raw GPU rendering speed should also look elsewhere, as the 73rd percentile GPU score and 170W PSU will feel limiting compared to a full-sized desktop with an RTX 4080 or 4090. If your workflow is all about sustained, combined CPU and GPU loads, the power limit will frustrate you.

The Lenovo P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 is a purpose-built machine that nails its mission. It puts a top-tier mobile workstation CPU and a capable professional GPU into an impossibly small package. The port situation is a letdown and the PSU holds it back from being a true rendering monster, but for developers, data scientists, and CAD jockeys who need certified drivers and a desk-friendly footprint, this is one of the best options on the market. Just know what you're signing up for: this is a specialized tool, not a jack-of-all-trades.