While there are plenty of low power x86 mini PCs running Windows 10, and although in most case it’s always possible to install a Linux distributions yourself, it’s much more difficult to find products that ships with Linux by default.
Launched a few years ago, MintBox Mini and MintBox Mini Pro mini PCs are such options being powered by AMD A4 Micro-6400T and AMD A10 Micro-6700T processor respectively, and running Linux Mint. The Mint team has now announced upgraded versions with MiniBox Mint 2 and MiniBox Mini 2 Pro, both based on Intel Celeron J3455 quad core Apollo Lake processor, and just differing by the amount of memory and storage.
![](https://www.cnx-software.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Mintbox-Mini-2-640x418.jpg)
Just like the previous model, they collaborated with Compulab for the hardware, and went with a design based on Fitlet2 fanless mini PC with the following specifications:
- SoC – Intel Celeron J3455 quad core processor @ 1.5 / 2.2 GHz with 12 EU HD graphics; 10W TDP
- System Memory & Storage
- Mintbox Mini 2 – 4GB DDR3L-1866 (upgradeable to 16GB) + 64GB M.2 SSD + micro SD slot
- Mintbox Mini 2 Pro – 8GB DDR3L-1866 (upgradeable to 16GB) + 120GB M.2 SSD + micro SD slot
- Display – mini DP 1.2 up to 4K @ 60 Hz; HDMI 1.4b up to 4K @ 30 Hz
- Audio – ALC886 audio codec; stereo line-out, stereo line-in / mic, 7.1 S/PDIF out (via optional 3.5mm to SMA cable), HDMI & DP audio
- Network Connectivity – Dual Gigabit Ethernet (via Intel i211), dual band 802.11 b/g/n/ac WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 (Intel 8260AC card)
- USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports, 2x USB 2.0 ports
- Serial – RS232 port (via micro USB port)
- Power Supply – 7V to 20V DC input
- Power Consumption – 5 to 15 Watts
- Dimensions – 112 mm x 84 mm x 34 mm
- Weight – 350 grams
- Temperature Range – 0°C to 45°C
- Relative humidity – 5% – 95% non-condensing
![](https://www.cnx-software.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MintBox-Mini-2-Block-Diagram-640x448.jpg)
The CPU performance should be quite better than the Mintbox Mini and Mini Pro mini PCs based on the GeekBench 4 scores published below, but graphics performance may be a little lower than on the previous generation Mini Pro (Radeon R6).
The new Mintbox Mini 2 / Mini 2 Pro mini PCs will become available in June 2018 around the time of Linux Mint 19 “Tara” release, and sell for respectively $299 and $349. More technical details & features can be found on the product page.
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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.
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*yawn* wake me up when it will be arm based 😀
Nothing can wake you up …
This is in-fact the CompuLab Fitlet2 which currently goes for around $175 USD as a bare-bone with the J3455 on-board. So if you add the memory, SSD etc. yourself you get to around the $299/$349 price anyway, and any extra is probably going to the Linux Mint effort, which is a good thing IMO. Yes, the CompuLab devices are over-priced IMO, but the hardware is supposedly industrial scale. There is a VESA mount available for the Filet2. The PROBLEM with this offering is the included 64GB/120GB M.2 SSD, which is too small IMO, and you probably can’t remove it in… Read more »
Which place (other than Iran, N. Korea Etc) puts barriers on importing from Israel?
In my experience, Indonesia.
Yeah, i’d definitely have supported the Linux Mint team had i had a use case for such a box. They are doing a fantastic job with Cinnamon DE, which i use with RHEL/CentOS 7. It’s my favorite DE on desktop (otherwise LXDE on laptop, XFCE on other ARM boxes + VNC sessions)
Anybody know if this one gives off electric shocks like the last one? I had so many electric shocks in the week I had it, I thought it was me, turns out it was the PC.