MeLE PCG02 Pro is a mini PC stick / PC-on-a-stick powered by either an Intel Celeron J4125 Gemini Lake processor or a more recent Celeron N5105 Jasper Lake processor, with support for M.2 NVMe/SSD storage, but only for the Gemini Lake model.
The computer is also equipped with 8GB LPDDR4 memory, 128GB to 512GB eMMC flash, two HDMI 2.0 ports capable of driving two independent displays, a Gigabit Ethernet port, WiFi 5 or 6 connectivity, and more.
MeLE PCG02 Pro specifications:
- SoC (one or the other)
- Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core Gemini Lake Refresh processor @ 2.0 / 2.7 GHz (Boost) with 12EU Intel UHD 600 graphics @ 250 / 750 MHz; 10W TDP
- Intel Celeron N5105 quad-core Jasper Lake processor @ 2.0 / 2.9 GHz (Boost) with 24EU Intel UHD 605 graphics @ 450 / 800 MHz; 10W TDP
- System Memory & Storage
- MeLE PCG02 Pro (J4125)
- 8GB LPDDR4-2133 (single-channel)
- 128GB to 512GB eMMC flash
- MicroSD card slot
- Support for M.2 NVMe (PCIe 2.0 x2) or SATA SSD
- MeLE PCG02 Pro (N5105)
- 8GB LPDDR4-2933 (single-channel)
- 128GB to 512GB eMMC flash
- MicroSD card slot
- Does NOT support M.2 NVMe or SATA SSD
- MeLE PCG02 Pro (J4125)
- Video Output – 2x HDMI 2.0 ports up to 4K @ 60 Hz
- Audio Output – 3.5mm earphone jack, digital audio output via HDMI
- Connectivity
- Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port via Realtek RTL8111H with support for PXE and Wake-on-LAN (WoL)
- Wireless
- MeLE PCG02 Pro (J4125) – WiFi 5, Bluetooth 4.2
- MeLE PCG02 Pro (N5105) – WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
- USB – 2x USB 3.2 ports (5 Gbps), 1x USB 3.2 Type-C port (5 Gbps)
- Misc – Power button, Kensington lock slot, reset CMOS pinhole, auto power on support in BIOS
- Power Supply – 12V/2A via USB Type-C port, support for USB PD 3.0
- Dimensions – 146 x 61 x 20mm
- Weight – 182 grams
Both mini PC ships with Windows 11 Pro, but MeLE says it also supports Linux distributions such as Ubuntu and Debian. The CPU performance of the Celeron N5105 is 32% higher than the Celeron J4125, and graphics should be significantly faster with twice the number of execution units and a higher GPU operating frequency.
It’s quite odd that the Jasper Lake model does not support the SSD because the processor can certainly handle this. So I can only think that the CPU is either too big or thick, or there were extra heat dissipation issues despite both the J4125 and N5105 both having a 10W TDP, and the cooling solution takes more space for the Celeron N5105 CPU.
MeLE tested the PCG02 Pro (J4125) with several SATA and NVMe SSD models from Samsung, Western Digital, Kingston, and others, and most worked except the XPG AGMMIXS11L NVMe SSD that I never heard of but looks popular on Amazon.
MeLE initially launched the MeLE PCG02 PC stick with an Ethernet port in 2015, at a time when most Arm or Intel HDMI/PC sticks were only offered with WiFi and/or Bluetooth connectivity, so it was kind of unique at the time. The company kept on launching new models over the years following new Intel processors with Apollo Lake and Gemini Lake variants and some changes to the form factor. They also tried their luck with the MeLE PCG02U, an orange stick pre-loaded with Ubuntu, but the demand for Linux PC sticks was not high enough, so it was only a short experiment. MeLE PCG02 Pro is just the latest member of the family and the first without an HDMI male port, so I’m not sure we should still call it a stick anymore… You can still mount it to the back of your TV or monitor with the included VESA mount and short HDMI cable.
MeLE PCG02 Pro (J4125) is sold on Amazon for $199.99 and up with a $30 coupon, 8GB RAM, and 128GB eMMC flash, while the PCG02 Pro (N5105) starts at $219.99 in the same configuration.
Via Liliputing
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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