msi Cubi msi Cubi 5 Premium Compact Desktop, 12th Gen Intel Review

The MSI Cubi 5 is a premium compact desktop with a killer feature set for connectivity, including Thunderbolt 4 and triple 4K display support. However, its mobile-class CPU performance is underwhelming for the price, and it's not meant for gaming. It's a niche pick for users who value a tiny footprint and multiple monitors above raw power.

If you're hunting for a compact desktop PC that doesn't take up half your desk, the MSI Cubi 5 is worth a look. This little box packs a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD into a chassis that weighs less than six pounds. At around $700, it's positioned as a premium mini PC for home office and general use. And with Thunderbolt 4 and support for triple 4K displays, it's trying to punch well above its weight class in terms of connectivity.

Let's be clear about what this is. The Intel i7-1255U is a 10-core mobile processor, and our database puts its CPU performance in the 26th percentile versus all desktops. That means it's fine for office work, web browsing, and light multitasking, but don't expect it to chew through heavy video encoding or complex data analysis. The real star here is the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, which somehow lands in the 97th percentile. That's because it's paired with a massive 48GB of shared VRAM, making it surprisingly capable for driving multiple high-resolution monitors. For actual gaming, though, our score is a harsh 22 out of 100. You're limited to older titles or esports games on low settings.

At $699, the Cubi 5 sits in a weird spot. You're paying a premium for the mini form factor and the Thunderbolt 4 port. If you don't need that extreme compactness, a similarly priced traditional desktop tower would give you a much more powerful CPU, more RAM, and often a dedicated GPU. But if desk space is at a premium and you need to connect a ton of high-res peripherals, this starts to make sense.

The most direct competitor is the Intel NUC series, but they often cost more for similar specs. If you want more power in a small box, the ASUS ROG NUC gaming mini PC is a beast, but it's also over twice the price. For most people, a better value might be a small form factor tower like the Lenovo ThinkCentre M series, which offers better upgradeability. The Cubi 5's main trick is its combination of tiny size and massive display/output potential, which is hard to find elsewhere.

Skip the Cubi 5 if you need serious computing power for video editing, 3D rendering, or gaming. Also, if you don't care about the tiny size and don't need to run three 4K monitors, your money is better spent on a standard desktop tower with a more powerful CPU and dedicated graphics. Look at something like the HP Pavilion or Dell Inspiron desktops in the same price range.

Should you buy the MSI Cubi 5? Only if your needs are very specific. This is a fantastic machine for a kiosk, a digital signage setup, or a super-clean home office where you need to run three 4K monitors but only do basic computing tasks. For anyone else, the CPU is a letdown for the money. We'd only recommend it if the mini form factor and triple 4K output are non-negotiable for you.