We’ve had our fair share of low-cost x86 SBCs in recent years, mostly based on Intel Cherry Trail processor, with the likes of Atomic Pi and Rock Pi X. Ice Whale Technology has come up with its own low-cost Intel single board computer with ZimaBoard “single board server” as it mostly has network storage applications in mind, but with a 4K capable mini DisplayPort connector it could also be used as a standard SBC or mini PC. There are two versions of the board both with Apollo Lake processors: ZimaBoard 216 with a dual-core Celeron N3350 coupled with 2GBRAM and 16GB eMMC flash, and ZimaBoard 832 powered by a quad-core Celeron N3450 with 8GB RAM and 32GB storage. Both ZimaBoard SBC shares most of the same specifications in terms of I/Os: SoC – ZimaBoard 216 – Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core processor @ 1.1/2.4GHz (Burst freq.) with 12 EU Intel HD […]
2.5-inch “Industrial Pi” Pico-ITX SBC offers PoE , mini DP++ port
Taiwan based DFI has launched the AL05P “Industrial Pi + PoE” 2.5-inch Pico-ITX SBC powered by an Apollo Lake processor that reminds me of last year’s DFI GHF51 SBC based on AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G processor but with a larger, and more standard form factor that’s also part of the “Industrial Pi” family. The board also comes with 4GB RAM, up to 64GB eMMC, a mini DisplayPort video output, two USB 3.1 ports, Gigabit Ethernet with isolated PoE, a mini-PCIe, and more. DFI AL05P SBC specifications: SoC (one or the other) Intel Atom x5-E3940 quad-core processor @ 1.6/1.8 GHz with 2MB cache, Intel HD Graphics; 9.5W TDP Intel Atom x5-E3930 dual-core processor @ 1.3/1.8 GHz with 2MB cache, Intel HD Graphics; 6.5W TDP Intel Pentium N4200 quad-core processor @ 1.1/2.5 GHz with 2MB cache, Intel HD Graphics; 6W TDP Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core processor @ 1.1/2.4 GHz with 2MB cache, […]
Lenovo LAVIE MINI 8-inch mini laptop to come with optional desktop and gaming docks
In the last two years or so, we’ve seen several so-called mini laptops with screen sizes from 5-inch to 8-inch mostly from smaller companies like GPD and One Netbook, but also CHUWI to a lesser extent. Now Lenovo has entered the fray with LAVIE MINI mini laptop powered by an Intel Tiger Lake processor and equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen display. The device is also offered with optional accessories including an HDMI desktop docking station and a gaming dock with two game controllers. Lenovo LAVIE MINI preliminary specifications: SoC – Intel Tiger Lake with Intel Xe graphics up to Intel Core i7-1180G7 SoC System Memory – 16GB LPDDR4x-4266 dual-channel memory (soldered) Storage – 256GB SSD Display – 8-inch touchscreen display with 1920 x 1200 resolution, 400 nits brightness Audio – 1.5W stereo speakers Camera – IR camera with Windows Hello face recognition Connectivity – WiFi 6 & Bluetooth 5.1 User […]
Emini V6 mini PC integrates a tiny LCD display for CPU usage, temperature…
Emini V6 is a desktop mini PC powered by a 15W Intel Core i5-7200U Kaby Lake processor, that looks like most other comparable computers, except for one detail: a tiny LCD display is integrated into one side of the case. At first, it seemed non-sensical, especially the photos should a Windows logo on the photos, but it made a little more sense once the company explained it was to display CPU usage, temperature, and other system information. Emini V6 (MR-V6-I5K72D4U-LCD) specifications: SoC – Intel Core i5-7200U dual-core Kaby Lake processor @ 2.5GHz / 3.1GHz with 3MB Cache, Intel HD Graphics 620; TDP: 15W System Memory – 2x DDR4 SO-DIMM slots up to 32GB RAM (dual-channel) Storage – M.2 2242 SSD and 2.5-inch SATA SSD support Video Output 1x HDMI 1.4a up to 4096 x 2304 @ 24Hz 1x mini DisplayPort (mDP) up to 4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz Display – […]
MINIX NEO J50C-4 Max mini PC international giveaway
Right before Christmas, I posted a review of MINIX NEO J50C-4 Max mini PC powered by an Intel Pentium J5005 Gemini Lake processor coupled with 8GB RAM and a 240GB SSD. It’s basically the same as the previously reviewed MINIX NEO J50C-4 except for the extra memory and faster & higher capacity SSD storage. MINIX asked me if I could do a giveaway of three units on CNX Software after the review, and I thought it would be a good idea so here we are. I wanted to complete the review before launching the giveaway and tested MINIX NEO J50C-4 Max with the pre-installed Windows 10 Pro. I worked just as well as the previous model with no CPU throttling and the performance one should expect from a Gemini Lake processor, but you may want to add an extra 8GB memory stick to take advantage of the higher bandwidth provided […]
Rock Pi X Review – An Atom x5 SBC running Windows 10 or Ubuntu 20.04
The ROCK Pi X is the first x86 SBC (single board computer) from Radxa and resulted from repeated enquiries about running Windows on their earlier ROCK Pi 4. The ROCK Pi X comes in two models (Model A and Model B) with each model having either 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB of RAM and either 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of eMMC storage. Additionally, the Model B includes WiFi and Bluetooth together with supporting Power over Ethernet (PoE) although this requires an additional HAT. Both Seeed Studio and Radxa provided samples and in this review, I’ll cover some performance metrics from both Windows and Ubuntu and also discuss the thermals. Rock Pi X Hardware Overview The ROCK Pi X is similar in size to a Raspberry Pi board… but with slightly different ports and port locations even when compared to the Raspberry Pi 4. It is physically slightly larger than its […]
ECS GLKD-HTI is a “Half mini-ITX” motherboard with Gemini Lake processor
If you’ve never heard about a “half mini-ITX” motherboard, that’s normal, as I don’t think it’s actually a thing. At least until now, as ECS GLKD-HTI is an Intel Gemini Lake motherboard that’s half the size of a standard mini-ITX motherboard. The board still comes with the usual HDMI, DisplayPort, USB and Ethernet ports, as well as a SODIMM slot for DDR4-2133 memory, an M.2 socket for 2280 SATA SSDs, as well as a SATA 3.0 port. ECS GLKD-HTI “half mini-ITX” motherboard specifications: SoC – Choice of Intel Gemini Lake processors with Intel UHD 600 graphics System Memory – 1x DDR4 SO-DIMM socket for up to 8GB DDR4 2133 non-ECC memory Storage 1x M.2 slot for SSD for 2280 single side SATA SSD 1x SATA 3.0 6Gbps connector 128 MB SPI Flash for AMI BIOS / UEFI Video Output – HDMI 1.4a up to 1920×1200 1x LVDS connector Audio 2x […]
MINIX NEO J50C-4 Max mini PC review with 8GB RAM, 240GB SSD
Back in 2018 MINIX Introduced NEO J50C-4 Windows 10 Pro mini PC based on Intel Pentium J5005 Gemini Lake processor and fitted with 4GB RAM and 32GB eMMC flash. It never got released in this configuration, as due to Gemini Lake processors shortage the company relaunched it with a 64GB eMMC flash in 2019. Since then, the company launched the NEO J50C-4 Plus with a 240GB SSD and 4GB RAM, which I did not review. But now the Hong Kong company has introduced a new model with NEO J50C-4 Max equipped with 8GB RAM and 240GB SSD. I’ve just received a sample, but since the design and specifications are the same as the earlier NEO J50C model except for the SSD and RAM capacity, I’ll focus this mini review on the main differences, and small issues I had last year. NEO J50C-4 Max Unboxing The package looks familiar… And so […]