The MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG Ultra 7 258V is not only a cute name for a NUC PC, but the small computer is a classic example of good things coming in small packages. There was a time when you had to plan carefully and account for the space required not only for a monitor, but also for the often bulky desktop tower that accompanied it. At best, some business-class towers allowed placing the monitor on top, which freed up a little more room.
With the rise of NUC PCs and other small-form-factor computers, the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG sits on the larger side of the spectrum. Its dimensions—5.34 by 5.22 by 1.97 inches—make it slightly bigger than a modern Mac Mini. Larger is relative, however. Compared with a traditional desktop, the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG Ultra 7 258V is a dwarf, albeit a powerful and capable one.
In terms of ports, the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG has a lot to offer. On the front are two USB 3.2 10 Gbps ports, a microSD card slot, a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a fingerprint reader-equipped power button. On the back, there are dual 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, and two USB 2.0 ports for office peripherals that do not require high bandwidth. The rear also includes a power jack for the included cable.
“The MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG Ultra 7 258V is a classic example of good things coming in small packages.”
Powering on the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG reveals its impressive internal specs. It includes an Intel Lunar Lake Ultra 7 2.2 GHz CPU with Intel AI Boost technology, an Intel Arc-based integrated GPU capable of multi-display output with high refresh rate support, and 32 GB of RAM. One of the key selling points of the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG Ultra 7 258V is its AI capability, which, when paired with Windows 11 Pro (pre-installed on the device), makes it a true office workhorse.
AI-powered tasks, led by Microsoft Copilot, finally feel like integrated system-level features rather than beta or gimmicky add-ons to the stock Windows 11 experience. With Copilot, users gain access to a suite of AI-driven productivity tools such as Click to Do, which generates context-aware prompts for workflows, and advanced live captioning options. Other familiar tools, including Microsoft Bing’s image generation, are now integrated directly into Microsoft Paint.
Intel also offers the Intel AI Playground suite, which comes preloaded on the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG Ultra 7 258V. The suite provides access to Intel’s own AI tools, such as image generation features, which run locally on the NUC. Still, the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG is first and foremost designed for everyday office tasks. With its strong specs, however, I wanted to see how far I could push the little mini PC as a gaming and entertainment solution. These tests should be considered a bonus. With that in mind, I chose a mix of lighter and more demanding games to see what the Cubi could handle.
Starting with an indie favourite, I tested Hotshot Racing, a Sega Virtua Racer-inspired title with a low-poly aesthetic that makes it an ideal benchmark for the NUC. At 1440p, Hotshot Racing ran at a steady 60 fps, making it a great fit for the system.
Next, I wanted to see how the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG performed with a slightly more demanding title: Bakeru, a 3D platformer with a Japanese aesthetic that until recently struggled with performance issues on the Nintendo Switch. The Cubi handled it flawlessly, delivering 120 fps at 1080p after a brief stutter, likely due to shader compilation.
Finally, to push the system further, I tested a popular AAA title: Cyberpunk 2077. Using its built-in benchmarking tool, the game ran at a stable 45 to 56 frames per second on a mix of medium and high settings. Considering the Cubi’s small footprint, the performance was impressive.
“The Cubi managed to stream both 1080p and 4K video over Plex without issue, even on Windows 11.”
As a last test, I wanted to see how the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG Ultra 7 258V performed as a media server. Typically, I prefer running Plex on Linux or a dedicated NAS. Even with the overhead of Windows 11, however, the Cubi managed to stream both 1080p and 4K video without issue over my network using a temporary Plex install. It remains to be seen how well the machine handles multiple transcoded streams, but in that case, replacing Windows or creating a Linux partition could help squeeze out more performance.
On the streaming front, the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG supports Wi-Fi 7 and features dual Ethernet ports, enabling link aggregation. Combined with the higher bandwidth of Wi-Fi 7, this makes the system well-suited for streaming large volumes of data.
Ultimately, the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG excels at what it was designed to do—and more. It is a compelling choice for anyone seeking a powerful home office computer that can be mounted or tucked away without taking up much space or feeling intrusive. Prospect buyers looking for a powerful NUC that goes beyond everyday office tasks can rest assured in knowing that the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG will get the job and then some
