ZDNET’s key takeaways
- This highly effective PC is on the market now, beginning at $1230
- The NX Gen3 PC was capable of run the gpt-oss:20b LLM and not using a hiccup
- This Kubuntu-powered PC is probably extra highly effective than your present PC.
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Any likelihood I can get to evaluation a Linux-powered PC, I am thrilled to take action. It is not solely as a result of I get to expertise how a 3rd occasion approaches the OS, but additionally as a result of it means there are extra avenues for shoppers to buy Linux programs.
When you’ve ever heard of Kubuntu, you recognize it is a spin on Ubuntu that focuses on the KDE Plasma desktop — an excellent desktop UI. Kubuntu Focus, however, is an organization devoted to promoting laptops and desktops powered by the Kubuntu OS.
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After receiving the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3, unboxing, and setting it up, I hit the ability and watched as Kubuntu loaded. In seconds, I used to be greeted with the onboarding wizard. In stark distinction to any Home windows PC I’ve reviewed, it took me lower than two minutes to have the NX Gen3 up and working.
My expertise
Reviewing a Linux-powered laptop computer or PC is at all times a breath of contemporary air to me, as a result of I do know the OS very effectively (so I do know precisely what to anticipate) and it is virtually at all times a optimistic expertise from begin to end.
The NX Gen3 was no exception.
The mannequin I acquired housed an Intel Extremely 7 255H, Arc T140 8 Xe CPU/GPU, with 32 GB of RAM and Mesa Intel graphics, which runs round $1,230. You may spec a system as much as 96 GB of RAM, a 4TB drive, which bumps the worth as much as $2,075.
There are many vents to maintain this PC cool.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
In fact, it is KDE Plasma, so the desktop is superb. And, sure, it defaults to a darkish theme, which I instantly custom-made. As quickly as I had that taken care of, I ran the obtainable updates (which took all of three minutes) and got down to do the one factor I at all times do when testing a brand new PC: pushing it to its limits.
How? Nowadays, that is fairly simple. I put in Ollama, pulled the llama3.2 LLM, and ran a question. I’ve grow to be accustomed to sluggish responses to Ollama queries on evaluation machines, and at first I assumed the NX Gen3 was going to present me the identical outcomes. After a number of seconds, nevertheless, Ollama spit out the reply to “What’s Linux?” far quicker than I assumed. In truth, I have never seen a small form factor PC reply this shortly to an area AI question.
Spectacular.
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I then determined to obtain a bigger LLM (gpt-oss:12b, which is 65GB). In fact, the pull took without end (due to its measurement, which is not any reflection on the NX Gen3. As soon as it was full, I ran the identical question (“What’s Linux?”), which was considerably quicker than the llama3.2 LLM. Whereas gpt-oss:20 was answering the question, I went about utilizing different apps and, to my shock, nothing was hampered by Ollama pummeling the CPU. The NX Gen3 did not bat a watch.
Past the AI portion of my check, I went about doing precise on a regular basis duties (putting in apps, opening and utilizing apps, shifting home windows round, working upgrades, looking… you recognize the drill) and was not in in the least stunned that the NX Gen3’s efficiency was completely stellar. I might put this tiny machine almost on par with my System76 Thelio (which is essentially the most highly effective desktop PC I’ve ever used).
I might go as far as to say that the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 PC is highly effective sufficient for absolutely anything you want for common use. No, you are not going to mine large information or launch a ship to Mars with this laptop, however for the common human, the NX Gen3 affords manner above common efficiency.
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Even with a number of KDE Plasma window results working (comparable to Wobbly Home windows), I noticed zero lag, tearing, or pixelation.
It doesn’t matter what I did with the NX Gen3 PC, I got here away impressed. This tiny machine is a powerhouse and would serve anybody effectively. And, sure, KDE Plasma is a desktop surroundings appropriate for these new to Linux. So, whether or not you are new to the open-source working system or have been utilizing it for years, you may guess the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 PC is as much as no matter process you need to throw at it.
I didn’t trouble working benchmarking exams on this machine as a result of I are likely to desire my evaluations to be of worth to those that would really buy such a machine to make use of day-after-day. Benchmarking is nice, however these numbers do not are likely to imply a lot to the common person.
ZDNT shopping for recommendation
When you’re out there to buy a brand new PC and also you need to lastly bounce on board the Linux bandwagon, the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 isn’t just an excellent place to start out, however an amazing place to remain. This small-footprint laptop severely impressed me. It is highly effective, silent, simple to setup, and a deal with to make use of.
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When you’re wanting on the finish of life on your Home windows 10 PC, and out there for one thing higher than what’s on the cabinets of the large field shops, head over to the official Kubuntu Focus site and buy an NX Gen3 PC. You will not remorse it.
Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 tech specs
I will checklist out the baseline specs right here:
- CPU/GPU – Intel Extremely 5 225H CPU/Arch T130 Xe GPU
- RAM – 16 GB
- Storage – 500 GB PCIe 4
- Disk encryption – non-obligatory
- Guarantee – 1 yr restricted
- Transport – 3-6 day floor without cost
