NAS with Intel Core i5-1235U turned into gaming PC: RTX 5060 boosted performance by 828%

An enthusiast known as TrashBench modified the compact ZimaCube 2 NAS server by installing a discrete GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card. As a result, gaming performance jumped by 828%, and the system set a record in the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark for the Intel Core i5-1235U processor. The builder showcased the unusual rig on his YouTube channel.

The ZimaCube 2 was never designed for gaming: it is a power-efficient NAS powered by an Intel Core i5-1235U, which combines two performance cores and eight efficiency cores, plus integrated Iris Xe graphics. This configuration targets file management, backups, and server workloads, not running modern games.

The device's key feature turned out to be a full PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, which opened the door for a discrete accelerator. TrashBench first tested the system with a professional AMD Radeon Pro WX5100 card, which delivered a gain of roughly 40%—still not enough for smooth gameplay.

The enthusiast then installed an RTX 5060 via a riser cable. Due to the graphics card's size, it could not fit inside the chassis, so the accelerator was mounted externally. To keep the setup tidy and sturdy, the modder printed a custom bracket on a 3D printer.