MSI Cubi NUC 1MG-295US 2025, Core 3 100U, 16GB, 500GB SSD, Black
MSI
59 Overall Score
vs
Dell OptiPlex 3050 Micro 2016, Core i5-6500T, 8GB, 256GB SSD, Black
Dell
39 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
MSI Cubi NUC 1MG-295US 2025, Core 3 100U, 16GB, 500GB SSD, Black
78 out of 100 medium confidence 13 reviews
The MSI Cubi NUC 1MG is a compact and quiet mini desktop with excellent connectivity, including dual 2.5GbE LAN, Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI ports. It handles everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming, and office work smoothly, but the Intel Core 3-100U processor can be overwhelmed under heavy loads, and initial setup may involve high CPU usage and bloatware. Upgradability is decent with accessible RAM and storage slots, making it a solid choice for light productivity or home server use.
Pros
- Compact and quiet form factor
- Excellent connectivity (dual 2.5GbE, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI)
- User-upgradable RAM and storage
- VESA mount included
- Good for light productivity and streaming
Cons
- Underpowered processor for heavy tasks
- High CPU usage and bloatware out of the box
- Limited gaming capability
- Slow included NVMe drive
- MSI telemetry and Norton 360 preinstalled
Processor performance 5
Connectivity 4
Form factor 4
Gaming capability 3
Upgradability 4
Bloatware and telemetry 2
Dell OptiPlex 3050 Micro 2016, Core i5-6500T, 8GB, 256GB SSD, Black
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Compact
Home Office
Business
Developer
Workstation
Creator
Ai Llm
Gaming
Specifications
| MSI Cubi NUC 1MG-295US | Dell OptiPlex 3050 Micro | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Intel Core 3 100U★ | Intel Core i5-6500T |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 6★ | 4 |
| Frequency | 3.3 GHz★ | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB★ | 6 MB |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | Intel Graphics★ | Intel HD Graphics 530 |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | integrated | integrated |
| VRAM | — | 48 GB★ |
| VRAM Type | — | GDDR6★ |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 16 GB★ | 8 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5★ | DDR4 |
| Storage 1 | 500 GB★ | 256 GB |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD★ | SSD |
| Build | ||
| Form Factor | mini | mini |
| PSU | 120W★ | — |
| Weight | 0.63 kg | 1.18 kg |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | 2★ | 0 |
| USB Ports | 4 | 4 |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 4 x 2 | — |
| HDMI | 2 x HDMI | 1 x HDMI 1.4 |
| DisplayPort | 0 | 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E★ | — |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4★ | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Ethernet | 2.5GbE | Gigabit Ethernet |
| System | ||
| OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
Pros & Cons
MSI Cubi NUC 1MG-295US 2025, Core 3 100U, 16GB, 500GB SSD, Black
- Strong social proof (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong port selection (76th percentile)
Dell OptiPlex 3050 Micro 2016, Core i5-6500T, 8GB, 256GB SSD, Black
- Strong reliability (70th percentile)
- Below average cpu (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average ram (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average storage (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average gpu (21st percentile)
Verdict
Winner: MSI Cubi NUC 1MG-295US
Scores 59 overall, wins 8 of 8 usage categories and 15 of 26 specs.