GMKtec K17 Plus pairs Intel’s Arc 140V with a PCIe Gen5 SSD slot

GMKtec’s K17 Plus is a small, quiet Intel mini PC that punches above its size for photographers who edit but do not need a full workstation — and one specification lifts it above the usual palm-sized machine: dual SSD slots including a PCIe Gen5 bay. Details are on the official GMKtec K17 Plus page.

What it runs

At its heart is Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V — a Lunar Lake chip built on TSMC’s 3nm process, with 8 cores, 8 threads and a 4.8GHz turbo, paired with Intel Arc 140V graphics and an AI Boost NPU. GMKtec quotes up to 115 TOPS of combined AI performance, of which 64 TOPS comes from the Arc graphics.

Intel’s Arc graphics are the relevant part for creative work. Arc has consistently been strong at video encode and decode, which is what governs whether a 4K timeline plays back smoothly and how quickly an export finishes. For Lightroom, Photoshop and mainstream 4K editing in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, this is comfortably capable hardware in a machine measuring just 127.5 x 127 x 44.5mm.

The storage is the standout

Memory is 32GB of LPDDR5X at a fast 8533 MT/s, soldered as it is on most machines this size. But the storage is unusually generous: two M.2 slots, one PCIe Gen5 x4 and one PCIe Gen4 x2, taking up to 16TB in total.

That Gen5 bay is rare in a mini PC and genuinely useful — it means a scratch or working drive with headroom beyond anything the EVO series (PCIe 4.0) offers, with a second drive for your catalogue and archive. For a photographer keeping an active project on fast storage and a library on capacity, having both internal is the sort of practical advantage that matters more day to day than a TOPS figure.

Connectivity is well covered: USB4 at 40Gbps with 100W PD input, HDMI 2.1 supporting 8K, triple-display output, 2.5G Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6E. It runs cool and quiet on dual heat pipes and a single low-noise fan, with TDP modes from 20W to a 37W peak.

Where it sits

This is not a machine for running large AI models locally or for heavy grading — the Strix Halo machines with their 128GB unified memory and far stronger graphics remain the choice for that. The K17 Plus is the sensible-editing option: quiet, compact, efficient, and priced accordingly at $949.99 for the 32GB/1TB configuration.

Two honest caveats. Networking is 2.5G rather than 10G, so it is not the machine for editing 4K directly off a NAS. And GMKtec is flagging a price increase, so the current figure may not hold — worth checking before buying.

GMKtec K17 Plus: Specifications

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (Lunar Lake, TSMC 3nm), 8 cores / 8 threads, up to 4.8GHz, 12MB Smart Cache.
Graphics: Intel Arc 140V, up to 1.95GHz, 64 TOPS.
AI: Intel AI Boost NPU; up to 115 TOPS total.
Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X at 8533 MT/s, soldered.
Storage: dual M.2 slots — one PCIe Gen5 x4, one PCIe Gen4 x2 — up to 16TB.
Networking: 2.5G Ethernet (Intel I226-V), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2.
Ports: USB4 40Gbps with 100W PD input, HDMI 2.1 (8K), DisplayPort, USB-C, 3.5mm audio; triple-display support.
Cooling: dual heat pipes, single low-noise fan; TDP 20W/25W/35W, 37W peak.
Dimensions: 127.5 x 127 x 44.5mm, metal chassis.

GMKtec K17 Plus: Price and availability

The K17 Plus is available now, priced at $949.99 for the 32GB/1TB configuration, with a 2TB option also offered. GMKtec has indicated a price rise is coming. UK pricing varies by configuration and region — check current listings before purchase.