Lenovo’s ThinkCentre Neo Ultra excels in GPU performance and multi-display support for power users, but buyers on the hunt for a more modest compact desktop can find better value elsewhere.
While we’ve tested many mini desktop PCs that have served up respectable performance, few have included a dedicated GeForce or Radeon graphics chip. Enter the Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo Ultra (starts at $1,869.99; $2,215 as tested), which breaks the mold by pairing a desktop-class Intel Core processor with an Nvidia GeForce RTX laptop GPU. (Our review unit featured the mobile RTX 4060; the latest ones ship with the Nvidia “Blackwell” RTX 5060.) Power users will value its support for up to seven displays and its generous memory and storage expansion. Still, unless discrete graphics is a must, the MSI Pro DP21 and Asus NUC 15 Pro+ provide more potent overall performance, VESA-mountable designs, and generally better value. Our most recent Editors‘ Choice award winners for mini desktops, meanwhile, are Apple’s 2024 Mac mini and Geekom’s A6 Mini.Configurations: Desktop Power With Dedicated Graphics
During our review period, Lenovo was preparing an updated ThinkCentre Neo Ultra featuring Intel’s Core Ultra 2-series “Arrow Lake” processors and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5060 graphics. The unit reviewed here, available through CDW, packs a Core i7-14700 (20 cores, 28 threads, up to 5.4GHz turbo), a GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 32GB of DDR5-5200 memory, and a 512GB SSD. It ships with Windows 11 Pro, a basic USB keyboard and mouse, and a one-year warranty.
Our configuration sits well above the base model, which includes a Core i5-14500, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Lenovo also sells higher-end variants with up to a Core i9-14900, 64GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Regardless of other specs, these older configurations rely on the GeForce RTX 4060.
Lenovo notes that select ThinkCentre models may include a Kinara Ara-2 Neural Processing Unit (NPU), although these configurations appear scarce in the market. Some variants also feature a low-power Core T-series CPU, which enables an extra Flex I/O port on the rear panel.
The ThinkCentre commands a premium; our configuration costs nearly twice as much as the MSI Pro DP21, despite sharing the same CPU. However, it includes enterprise-grade features absent from more consumer-oriented models, such as Intel vPro Enterprise management tools and a more robust warranty. The dedicated GPU also contributes to the higher price. That said, since systems like this are typically purchased in bulk through business channels, direct pricing comparisons can be of limited relevance.
