Maiyunda M1 is an unusual Intel N100 or Core i3-N305 Alder Lake-N mini PC and soft router equipped with four M.2 NVMe SSD slots so users can replace storage devices without having to open the enclosure, as well as four 2.5GbE ports for networking applications.
The mini PC also supports up to 32GB DDR5 memory, wireless connectivity through an internal M.2 socket (that can also be used as a fifth NVMe SSD socket), dual 4K display setups through HDMI and DisplayPort connectors, and offers five USB Type-A ports for expansion.
Maiyunda M1 specifications:
- Alder Lake-N SoC
- Intel Processor N100 quad-core processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel UHD graphics; TDP: 6W
- Intel Core i3-N305 octa-core processor @ up to 3.8 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 32EU Intel UHD Graphics; TDP: 15W
- System Memory – 16GB LPDDR5 4800 MHz upgradeable to 32GB
- Storage
- 4x M.2 M-key sockets for 2280/22110 NVMe SSD (PCIe x1) – The Pro version comes with quick-release slots
- 1x M.2 M-key socket (internal) for 2280 NVMe SSD
- MicroSD card slot
- Video Output
- 1x HDMI 2.0 up to 4Kp60
- 1x DisplayPort up to 4Kp60
- Networking
- 4x 2.5GbE RJ45 ports via Intel i226V 2.5GbE controllers
- M.2 socket for WiFi (also used for NVMe SSD)
- USB
- 1x USB 3.2 Type-A ports
- 4x USB 2.0 Type-A ports
- 1x USB 2.0 via 5-pin internal header
- Misc
- Power button with LED
- Heatsink+fan for cooling
- AMI BIOS/UEFI with support for auto power on, Wake-on-LAN (WoL) and PXE, fan control, buzzer
- Power Supply – 12V DC via 5.5/2.5mm DC jack
- Dimensions – 165 x 147.5 x 52 mm, or 59mm including rubber feet
- Weight – TBD
- Temperature Range – -0°C to +70°C
- Humidity – 5%-85% non-condensing
Maiyunda says Windows, Linux, Proxmox VE, ESXI, Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Unraid, and OMV (OpenMediaVault) are supported. As a side note, the “M1” name was previously by another Alder Lake-N mini PC with four 2.5GbE ports that has about the same design as the iKOOLCORE R2 mini PC and router. We’ve also written a tutorial showing how to use Proxmox VE with a desktop OS (like Ubuntu) and network OS (like pfSense) that could also be useful for the Maiyunda M1.
Several YouTube video reviews of the Maiyunda M1 in Mandarin have been uploaded in recent weeks/days, including the one from AL Technology from which we extracted the internal photo shown below.
The Maiyunda M1 can be purchased on Taobao for 1380 CNY (about $190). So unless you are ready to use a Taobao agent, the 2-in-1 mini PC and soft router is only available in China. Having said that, I can see Maiyunda mini PCs are also sold on Aliexpress under the JONSBO brand, so the M1 might eventually become available outside of China. Additional information may also be available on the product page (very slow to load from where I am).
Via Liliputing and ChipHell
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.
Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress
I’m amazed that it has taken so long for push/pull M.2 to become a thing.
This certainly looks very cool but the NVMe would likely be wired to x1 to the Intel SoC as it only has Gen 3 x9 lanes in total. There might even be some PCIe mux being implemented.
The Alder Lake N series also does not have any lane directly off the CPU, every lane is instead from the on package PCH. On a case like this, the DMI interface would be the bottleneck.
In their datasheet, they mention that the OPI(on package interface) operates at 4 GT/s. I would think this would also use x8 link width like with Skylake-U/Y, which would give at best 4 GB/s or 4 PCIe lanes. Which isn’t a lot when you consider that the 5 SSDs, the 4 2.5gbE ports, the microSD card slot, the optional wifi card and the several USB ports are all stuck together under that limit, aside from the odd system function like some sensor GPIO.
https://edc.intel.com/content/www/us/en/design/products/platforms/processor-and-core-i3-n-series-datasheet-volume-1-of-2/001/functional-description_8/
I’ve wondered why these N’s don’t idle any better, but that PCH might explain it…
I have a N100 mini pc, after bios tweaking, enabling ASPM, using wifi instead of LAN port, it idles at 1.5W with screen turned off, cpu package is 95% of the time in C10 state, with screen on, it is in C8 and idling at 2.5-3W
Which mini PC specifically, please?
I won’t lie, I really want one of these. I already have an all flash NAS at much higher price point, but have a project idea that has my using up all of my spare optane 128gb sticks as working temp storage for a small cluster of mini PCs to use as centralized storage.
Anyway, can’t wait for something to be available for us outside of China can order.