GMKtec’s U.S. store lists the selected 12 GB RAM/256 GB SSD configuration at $389.99. A 512 GB SSD configuration also appears in the selector, although the inspected page does not establish a separate price for it.
Core 3 304: five cores, with a power-limit distinction
Intel’s official specifications identify the Core 3 304 as a Series 3 mobile processor formerly codenamed Wildcat Lake. It has one performance core and four low-power efficient cores, for five cores and five threads, with a maximum turbo frequency of 4.3 GHz and 6 MB of cache.
There is an important distinction behind the launch coverage’s 25 W figure. Intel specifies 15 W processor base power and 35 W maximum turbo power. Those processor ratings should not be confused with the M3S’s configurable operating profiles.
Notebookcheck reports Silent, Balanced and Performance settings at 15 W, 20 W and 25 W respectively, with a single fan and heat pipe handling cooling. It also reports a second M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slot for additional storage. In other words, GMKtec provides storage expansion, not memory expansion.
The practical purchase question is therefore straightforward: does the fixed memory configuration fit the workload you expect to run throughout the machine’s life? Buying it with plans to “add RAM later” is not an option.
Three displays, not a graphics-performance promise
Notebookcheck reports that two HDMI 2.0 outputs and the USB4 connection can drive three 4K displays at 60 Hz simultaneously. Its connectivity list also includes three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, USB 2.0, 2.5GbE Ethernet, a 3.5 mm audio jack, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Windows 11 Pro is reportedly preinstalled.
Intel independently lists support for three displays at the processor level, alongside integrated Intel Graphics, AV1 hardware encoding and decoding, and Quick Sync Video. These capabilities provide useful platform context, but Intel cautions that feature availability depends on the system implementation.
The editorial distinction matters: display support describes the screens a PC can drive, not how quickly it will render demanding applications on them. Three monitors can make a workspace more useful without turning a small desktop into a workstation. More screen real estate is welcome; it is not a benchmark wearing an HDMI cable.
What prospective buyers should prioritize
The M3S presents a clear configuration trade-off rather than a universal bargain. Before ordering, the sensible checks are:
- Memory headroom: Treat 12 GB as a permanent purchasing constraint, not a starting point.
- Storage needs: Decide whether the supplied drive is sufficient or whether the additional SSD slot is part of the plan.
- Display connections: Plan the monitor arrangement around the two HDMI outputs and USB4 connection.
- Exact configuration price: Do not assume the 512 GB version costs the same as the selected 256 GB model.
GMKtec’s listing offers both storage configurations, but that selector alone does not establish identical pricing. The $389.99 figure should be understood as the observed listing price for the selected configuration, not a blanket price for every M3S option.
The strongest reason to consider this mini PC is its combination of display connectivity and expandable storage. The strongest reason to pause is equally clear: storage can grow, but memory cannot. For this particular Windows desktop, that is the specification worth deciding on before the box reaches the desk.