MeLE has just launched a new model from its Quieter family with the Quieter4C ultrathin fanless mini PC powered by an Intel Processor N100 quad-core Alder Lake-N processor, 8GB to 16GB LPDDR4, and 128GB to 512GB eMMC+SSD storage, and supporting up to three independent 4K displays.
Intel N100 mini PCs have become popular due to their excellent price/performance ratio, but although a few are fanless, many are actively cooled, and the Quieter4C differentiates itself by its low profile with the system being just 18.3 mm thick.
MeLE Quieter4C specifications:
- SoC – Intel Processor N100 quad-core Alder Lake-N processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel HD graphics @ 750 MHz; TDP: 6W
- System Memory – 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4X
- Storage
- 128GB or 256GB eMMC flash
- Optional 256GB M.2 SSD (for 512GB storage in total) via M.2 2280 SATA III/PCIe Gen3 x4 socket
- MicroSD card reader
- Video Output
- 2x HDMI 2.0 ports up to 4Kp60 Hz
- DisplayPort 1.4 via USB-C
- Up to 3x independent displays supported
- Audio – 3.5mm headphone+mic jack, digital audio output via HDMI
- Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port, dual-band 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2
- USB – 2x USB 3.2 ports (one 5 Gbps, the other 10 Gbps), 1x USB 2.0 port, 1x USB 3.2 (10 Gbps) Type-C port with DisplayPort 1.4 alt mode support
- Misc
- Power Button
- CMOS reset pinhole
- Kensington lock slot
- BIOS with support for Wake on LAN, PXE, BIOS One-Step Reset, Auto Power on, RTC wake-up
- Power Supply – 12V/2A via USB-C port compliant with USB PD 3.0
- Dimensions – 131 x 81 x 18.3mm
- Weight – 203 grams
The specifications are pretty similar to the earlier MeLE Quieter2D model, except for the processor, memory capacity, and USB ports. The mini PC ships with a 12V USB-C power supply with EU/US/UK, or AU plug adapter, a VESA mount, and a user manual.
The system ships with Windows 11 Pro by default, but the company also says it supports Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Debian. The performance may be impacted or not by the thin design, as companies often have to lower the thermal limits of the processor to make it work in such a smaller package, but Ian found the performance of the earlier Quieter3C fanless mini PC not to be impacted too
MeLE has started selling the Quieter4C mini PC on Aliexpress for $252 and up. That price is for the model with 8GB RAM and 128GB eMMC flash (no SSD), but it’s not the actual price you should pay… There’s currently a $60 coupon (MELE60), and when I added the mini PC to the cart, I also got a $10.04 seller discount (whatever that is) with the final price being $181.94 including shipping to Thailand.
For what it’s worth, in the past, MeLE sold its computer at a higher price during the week and a discounted price during the weekends. I’m not sure they are still doing this, but if you are asked over $200 excluding taxes for the cheaper model, you may want to be patient and come back later… to save $60 to $70…
Via FanlessTech
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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Let’s hope their power block finally respects the USB-PD spec and delivers “up to 12V” and not 12V by default :-/
As understand it, they are shipping the mini PC with the same 12V/2A power adapter as before, but it’s also possible to use a standard USB-C adapter as long as it can deliver 12V or 18V.
Looks good, but it would be better if it was 2.5Gbps instead of gigabit ethernet
@Jean-Luc Are you going to do a review of this unit? Because I would be very interested to know how the power consumption and performance is compared to the 3C and 3Q.
Not sure. I haven’t been contacted by MeLE yet, and looking at my “review whiteboard” I have 17 ongoing reviews although I’m not doing all those by myself 🙂
Really sad to hear that. It’s not that I dont expect other sites to do a review. But I would really like CNX to do it, because that way I know that exact the same procedure + measurement equipment + benchmarks were used. So it would make it a lot easier to do a fair comparison between the two.
Even though I already ordered the 4C, what I am worried about is that because of throttling (as the N100 will run hotter) it will perform about the same as the 3C with N5105 did. Maybe these worries are unjustified, but the only way to know that for certain is when the same reviewer who tested the 3Q and 3C also tests this 4C.
If they did not provide you with a sample unit, I will write them a mail to request for that. Because I ordered multiple units from Mele purely based on your review, so its in their best interest.
Ian did the reviews for the earlier Quieter models. He may still do some reviews for CNX Software, but not for consumer-grade mini PCs as he’s doing those on Liliputing.
So you could ask them to send one to Ian instead. Alternatively, I could let Suthinee review it, but she has four other mini PCs to review, and I’m also busy with my own reviews plus translation of other people’s reviews, so realistically, it could only be reviewed on CNX Software in late January or February 2024.
All things considered, considering what is being packed into a small space, it has enough features to potentially make it attractive.
I’m really not keen on what will be comparatively slow EMMC is this kind of device.
WiFi 6 would have added value and 2.5Ghz Ethernet desirable.
Somewhere around $200 would likely make it very popular.