Tag: Intel Meteor Lake

July 12, 2025

NovaCustom NUC Box: Mini PC with Open-Source BIOS & 96GB RAM

Key Takeaways

– NovaCustom’s NUC Box mini PC is designed for open-source tech enthusiasts, focusing on privacy.
– The mini PC features Intel’s Meteor Lake technology and powerful processors, including the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H.
– It has a compact design (117.5 x 110 x 49 mm) but lacks space for dedicated graphics cards, relying on integrated GPUs.
– Users can easily upgrade memory and storage with multiple options, and it includes a coreboot-based Dasharo open-source BIOS.
– The starting price is $970 (€830), with reasonable upgrade costs and support for advanced wireless connectivity options.

Hardware buying has long been a challenging task for many who love open-source tech. NovaCustom seems to have recognized this struggle, providing a range of hardware focused on privacy. Their newest offering, the NUC Box mini PC, features Intel’s Meteor Lake technology along with open-source firmware.

Compact Design with Powerful Performance

The NovaCustom NUC Box is a remarkably small mini PC, measuring only 117.5 x 110 x 49 mm. It is powered by Intel’s Meteor Lake CPUs, including the impressive Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, a 16-core processor, and can be equipped with as much as 96 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM. However, this small form factor comes with a significant drawback—there’s no space for dedicated graphics cards, meaning users have to make do with the 7- or 8-core integrated Arc GPUs.

Upgradeable Storage and Memory

Both memory and storage can easily be upgraded, thanks to the inclusion of dual SODIMM slots and M.2 2280, M.2 2242, and 2.5-inch storage options. Notably, the mini PC’s standout feature is its coreboot-based Dasharo open-source BIOS, which emphasizes a privacy-centric approach. The selection of ports is also quite generous:

For wireless connectivity, the device supports WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, with options for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 as an additional paid upgrade. The pricing for this mini PC has been disclosed, starting at $970 (€830) for the model with the Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, along with 8 GB of single-channel memory and a 250 GB SSD. Fortunately, the upgrade prices are quite reasonable.

Conclusion

NovaCustom has made strides in addressing the hardware needs of open-source fans, and their latest mini PC reflects that effort. With its compact design, privacy-focused features, and upgradeable options, the NUC Box stands out as an appealing choice in the market.

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Tags: Intel Meteor Lake
February 19, 2025

Advantech UBX-330M: Compact Mini PC with Intel Meteor Lake Processors

Key Takeaways

1. Advantech launched the UBX-330M mini PC, designed for industrial applications and enhancing intelligent city services.
2. It features Intel’s Meteor Lake-H and Meteor Lake-U processors, with options for Core Ultra 5 and Core Ultra 7 configurations.
3. The UBX-330M supports up to 48 GB of DDR5 RAM and offers multiple storage options, including an M.2 slot and a 2.5-inch bay.
4. Connectivity includes dual USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2.5G LAN, USB-C, HDMI 2.1, and expansion options for RS232 and 4G/5G SIM connectivity.
5. Its compact size (125 x 125 x 58.25 mm) makes it suitable for light to moderate tasks, but it lacks discrete graphics capabilities.

A new mini PC has been launched by Advantech, called the UBX-330M. This device, as its name suggests, seems to be aimed at industrial applications, with Advantech asserting that it is built to “enhance intelligent city services.” This mini PC is driven by Intel’s Meteor Lake-H and Meteor Lake-U processors, promising solid performance, and it’s already up for grabs.

Specifications and Performance

The UBX-330M can be outfitted with several processors: the 28-watt Core Ultra 5 125H, the 15-watt Core Ultra 5 135U, or the 15-watt Core Ultra 7 155U. The most powerful option is obviosly the 28-watt Core Ultra 5 125H, which features 14 cores and 18 threads, along with a strong Intel Arc 7-core integrated GPU. Nevertheless, all configurations are expected to manage light to moderate tasks quite well without much trouble.

Memory and Storage

This system includes a single SODIMM slot that supports up to 48 GB of DDR5 RAM. For storage options, an M.2 2280 slot is available, along with a 2.5-inch bay, which is suitable given the intended audience for the UBX-330M. Its compact dimensions of 125 x 125 x 58.25 mm make it quite small, and it doesn’t have space for discrete graphics, which isn’t a major concern since the mini PC isn’t designed for heavy graphics processing.

Connectivity Options

The Advantech UBX-330M comes equipped with a variety of ports, including dual USB 3.2 Gen 2, a 2.5G LAN port, USB-C, HDMI 2.1, an audio combo port, and dual USB 2.0 ports. There are also expansion modules that include RS232 serial ports for communication, along with one that has a SIM slot for 4G/5G connectivity. Given the industrial focus of this mini PC, everyday users might find better value in alternatives like the Beelink SER8, which is currently priced at $499 on Amazon.

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Tags: Intel Meteor Lake, Mini-PC