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The Mele Overclock 4C is a tiny desktop computer that’s a pocket-sized PC with support for user-upgradeable memory and storage, and a cheap but versatile Intel N95 processor.
Now Mele has expanded the Overclock 4C lineup to include models with Intel N100 chips, which should offer slightly better performance while consuming a little less power. The latest version of the Mele Overclock 4C is available from Amazon with prices starting at under $200 when you clip the on-page coupon.
The computer measures 178 x 94 x 21mm (7″ x 3.7″ x 0.8″), making it small enough to slide into a pocket. But unlike most mini PCs this size, it features a SODIMM slot for user-upgradeable DDR4-3200 memory and an M.2 2280 slot for a PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe or SATA SSD.
It also has 256GB of eMMC 5.1 flash storage – entry level models ship with just the flash storage, while higher-priced configurations have eMMC and an M.2 SSD.
Ports include:
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (Power, data, and video)
- 1 x USB Type-C (power only)
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
- 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A
- 2 x HDMI 2.0
- 1 x Gigabit Ethernet
- 1 x 3.5mm audio
The system supports USB Power Delivery and should work with 12 to 20 volt power adapters that supply at least 36 watts of power.
Mele’s “Overclock” branded mini PCs get their name from a feature that lets you adjust the PL1 and PL2 power limits for improved sustained performance. As Ian Morrison noted when reviewing the Overclock 3C for Liliputing though, “overclock” usually implies that the CPU frequency can be increased, and that’s not the case for the Mele Overclock mini PCs.
So what sets the new model apart from the version that launched late last year? Not much, really. But the new version should offer some efficiency improvements.
Both the Intel N95 and N100 processors are part of the Intel Alder Lake-N line of chips, which are basically what you’d get if you built 12th-gen Intel Core processor using only Efficiency cores with no Performance cores.
They’re also both quad-core processors with support for CPU speeds up to 3.4 GHz and Intel UHD graphics. But the Intel N95 chip is a 15-watt processor with 16 GPU execution units (EUs) and graphics speeds up to 1.2 GHz, while the N100 is a 6-watt chip with 24 EUs at up to 750 MHz.
In terms of performance, they’re pretty similar, but since the N100 is designed to use less power, it may be a better fit for a small computer like the Overclock 4C, where there may be a risk of overheating.
Mele’s mini PC also features a copper heat pipe and a 4500 RPM fan that should help keep the system cool while keeping fan noise below 40 dB.
via AndroidPC.es