According to TechRadar, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90s Gen6 is currently discounted by 30% for Black Friday and outperforms Apple’s Mac Pro with M2 Ultra chip. This mini PC packs an Intel Core 9 Ultra 285 processor with 24 cores, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB Gen4 SSD in a compact 340 x 93 x 300mm chassis. It supports up to four 4K monitors simultaneously through its USB-C, HDMI, and dual DisplayPort connections. The system includes Windows 11 Pro and features an integrated NPU capable of 13 TOPS for AI workloads. Despite its small size, it offers expansion options including room for a low-profile GPU and additional storage up to 18TB.
Workstation performance in a tiny box
Here’s the thing about mini PCs – they’ve traditionally been about compromise. You get small size but sacrifice power. But this Lenovo machine completely flips that script. We’re talking about a system that actually beats Apple’s flagship Mac Pro in performance benchmarks according to CPU Benchmark comparisons. That’s not just impressive – it’s borderline shocking given the size difference.
Who actually needs this?
This isn’t your average home office computer. With that 32GB of DDR5 RAM and workstation-grade components, we’re looking at a machine built for serious multitasking and productivity. Think video editors, data scientists, engineers – anyone who needs desktop-level performance without the desktop footprint. And for industrial applications where space matters, companies like Industrial Monitor Direct provide the rugged displays that pair perfectly with compact powerhouses like this.
The competition struggles
TechRadar mentions Dell’s Pro Micro Plus as an alternative, but honestly? It’s more expensive with worse specs. That’s the real story here – Lenovo has managed to pack workstation performance into a consumer-friendly package at a price that makes sense. When you compare the Lenovo configuration against the Dell alternative, the value proposition becomes crystal clear.
Thermal limitations reality
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – cooling. The article points out that it’s “near impossible” to fit anything more powerful in this form factor without thermal throttling. That 65W TDP is basically the sweet spot for mini PC performance. Any higher and you’d need louder fans or bigger heatsinks, defeating the whole “mini” purpose. It’s a careful balancing act that Lenovo seems to have nailed.
