Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo Ultra Mini PC with RTX 5060 and 14-Core CPU Drops to $1,136 with $823 Discount

Lenovo's ThinkCentre Neo Ultra Gen 2 mini PC delivers impressive desktop-class performance in a compact form factor, and right now it's available at a significant discount. The specific configuration featuring an Intel Core Ultra 5 235 CPU, GeForce RTX 5060 discrete GPU, and 16 GB of DDR5 memory has dropped to just $1,136.22 on Lenovo's official online store, representing a substantial $823 savings off the original price.

This deal makes the ThinkCentre Neo Ultra particularly attractive for users seeking powerful performance without the footprint of a traditional desktop tower. The mini PC measures 3.6 liters in volume, which while compact, is noticeably larger than some ultra-small form factor alternatives on the market.

Desktop-Class Performance in a Mini Package

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 processor at the heart of this system is a desktop-class chip with a 65-watt TDP, featuring a 14-core configuration that promises multicore performance competitive with high-end mobile processors like the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU found in many premium mini PCs. According to synthetic benchmarks, this CPU should handle demanding workloads with ease.

What truly sets this configuration apart from most mini PCs is its discrete graphics solution. Rather than relying on integrated graphics, the ThinkCentre Neo Ultra boasts an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Desktop GPU with 8 GB of GDDR7 VRAM on a 128-bit bus. With 3840 CUDA cores, this graphics card should easily outpace mobile alternatives like the GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, making it suitable for both creative workloads and gaming.

Our review of an older variant revealed good sustained GPU performance, though thermal constraints did impact CPU performance under extended loads. Cinebench scores dropped by approximately 25% after a dozen or so loops during stress testing, indicating that the compact chassis does face some thermal challenges when pushing the CPU to its limits. However, GPU-based workloads maintained stable performance without major issues.

Expandability and Connectivity

Despite its compact size, the ThinkCentre Neo Ultra offers respectable upgrade potential. The 16 GB of DDR5 memory can be easily expanded, and the 512 GB of solid-state storage is user-upgradeable thanks to dual SODIMM slots and triple M.2 2280 slots.

The I/O selection is comprehensive for a mini PC:

• Five USB Type-A ports (10 Gbps)
• One USB Type-A port (5 Gbps)
• One USB Type-C port (20 Gbps)
• Thunderbolt 4 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4b and power delivery
• DisplayPort 1.4
• HDMI 2.1

Alternative Options to Consider

At 3.6 liters, the Neo Ultra might be too large for users seeking the most compact possible solution. For those prioritizing size over graphics performance, the Minisforum AI X1 Pro offers an interesting alternative at $1,440 on Amazon. This 1.65-liter system features an equally powerful CPU but with significantly less capable integrated graphics.

Value Proposition

The current pricing makes this ThinkCentre Neo Ultra configuration particularly compelling given the ongoing RAM and storage pricing challenges in the market. The combination of a powerful desktop-class CPU, capable discrete GPU, and the flexibility of upgradeable memory and storage creates a versatile system that can handle everything from office productivity to creative workloads and gaming.

However, potential buyers should be aware of the time-limited nature of this deal. Given the substantial discount, interested customers would be wise to act quickly before the promotion ends or stock runs out.

The ThinkCentre Neo Ultra Gen 2 represents Lenovo's continued commitment to delivering powerful computing solutions in space-efficient packages, and at this discounted price point, it offers strong value for users who need performance without sacrificing desk space.