ASRock, a leading manufacturer of PC components, has unveiled its latest lineup of mini PCs featuring Intel’s newly launched Meteor Lake H-series processors. These compact desktop computers offer moderate improvements in CPU performance compared to the previous-generation Raptor Lake chips. However, the standout feature of these new mini PCs is their significant advancements in graphics performance.
The NUC Ultra 100 Box and NUCS Ultra 100 Box series mini PCs from ASRock are powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor. These mini PCs can support up to 96GB of RAM and can output video to four 4K displays simultaneously, making them suitable for various use cases, including entry-level gaming and video editing.
In terms of design, both lines of mini PCs closely resemble the 4×4 NUC form-factor, with dimensions of 117.5 x 110mm. The main difference lies in their height and storage options. The NUC Ultra 100 Box stands at 49mm tall and can accommodate a 2.5-inch hard drive or SSD, while the NUCS Ultra 100 Box is shorter at 38mm and does not have space for a hard drive. Additionally, there are variations in the port selection between the two models.
ASRock offers models with either a 14-core, 18-thread Core 5 Ultra 125H processor or a 16-core, 22-thread Core Ultra 7 155H processor. Both processors come equipped with Intel Arc graphics, delivering double the GPU performance compared to the previous-generation Raptor Lake-P chips.
One noteworthy feature of Intel’s Meteor Lake chips is the inclusion of a neural processing unit (NPU) for hardware-accelerated AI tasks. This enables the mini PCs to support features like Windows Studio Effects for video calls, hardware-accelerated photo and video editing effects, and other edge AI applications.
While ASRock has not yet revealed the pricing or availability details of these mini PCs, they have provided comprehensive specifications for all models. ASRock is one of the first companies to introduce Meteor Lake mini PCs, and it is expected that many other manufacturers will follow suit in the coming months.
In fact, Chinese PC maker MECHREVO has recently launched the imini Pro, a Mac Mini-inspired mini PC powered by the Core Ultra 5 125H processor. This mini PC is specifically targeted at the Chinese market, showcasing the growing demand for compact and powerful desktop computers.
Overall, Intel’s latest Meteor Lake H-series processors and ASRock’s mini PCs offer a combination of improved CPU performance and significant advancements in graphics capabilities, making them attractive options for users seeking compact desktop computers for various tasks, including gaming and content creation.
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