Zotac’s new mini PC uses a special RTX 5060 Ti without any power cables, aims for desktop-level performance
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Zotac has launched a new mini PC, and it might be one of the most interesting small-form-factor systems released this year. Despite having a tiny 2.65-liter chassis, this compact machine still manages to fit an RTX 5060 Ti inside. That alone is impressive, but what makes it even more unique is the way the GPU is powered. Zotac has found a way to run the graphics card without using any external power cables, something we almost never see in a desktop GPU setup.
The new system, called the Zotac ZBOX MAGNUS EN275060TC, is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 255HX processor and Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti 16GB GPU. Normally, a desktop GPU of this level requires a dedicated power connector from the power supply, but Zotac designed a custom hybrid PCIe interface that lets the GPU receive both data and power directly from the motherboard.
It’s the smallest PC with an RTX 50 series desktop GPU inside
A breakdown of the system by HKEPC revealed how it works. The RTX 5060 Ti in this mini PC uses a split PCIe gold-finger design, where one half handles the standard x8 PCIe 5.0 connection, and the other half delivers power. The motherboard routes the 19V input from the system’s power brick to the GPU through this secondary PCIe segment. This allows the GPU to pull its full 180W TGP without needing a traditional cable.
This is a clever engineering solution, especially for ultra-small PCs where internal space is extremely limited. Zotac essentially removed the need for bulky power connectors while still delivering desktop-class performance. It also opens the door for future compact PCs to use similar designs without sacrificing GPU power.
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The rest of the hardware is packed into the small chassis. It comes equipped with a 1TB SSD for storage, which can be upgraded as well. It also supports up to 96GB of DDR5 memory. For connectivity, it comes with Wi-Fi 7, dual 2.5Gb LAN ports, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1b, and three DisplayPort 2.1b ports for multiple monitor setups. Cooling has also been handled well, with large ventilation openings on the top, sides, and rear of the chassis to push heat out effectively.
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