MINIX Z100-AERO is an Intel N100 mini PC with triple 4K display support, dual Ethernet

The MINIX Z100-AERO is an actively-cooled Intel Processor N100 mini PC with a form factor similar to the company’s Z100-0dB fanless mini PC but offered with a different choice of interfaces including dual Ethernet (1Gbps + 2.5 Gbps), and three video outputs through HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, and USB-C connectors.

The mini PC supports up to 32GB DDR4 memory via a single SO-DIMM slot and M.2 NVMe SSD storage, and features four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (5Gbps), plus one full-featured USB-C 3.2 port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

MINIX Z100-AERO 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 – 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB DDDR4-3200 via 1x SO-DIMM socket, upgradable to 32GB
Storage
- 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB M.2 SSD (PCIe Gen3 x1?), upgradable up to 4TB
- MicroSD card slot
Video Output
- 1x HDMI 2.1 port up to 4Kp60
- 1x DisplayPort up to 4Kp60
- 1x DisplayPort via USB 3.2 Gen 2 port up to 4Kp60
- Up to 3x independent displays supported
Audio – 3.5mm headphone+mic jack, digital audio output via HDMI
Connectivity
- 2.5GbE RJ45 port via Realtek RTL8125BG-CG controller
- Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port via Realtek RTL8111H controller
- Dual-band 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 via Intel Wireless-AC 9560 module and 2x external WiFi antennas
USB – 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (5 Gbps), 1x USB 3.2 (5 Gbps) Type-C port with DisplayPort Alt mode, USB PD support
Misc
- Power Button
- LEDs for Power, LAN (Active, Status)
- CMOS reset pinhole
- AMI EFI X64 BIOS
Power Supply – 12V/3A power supply
Power Consumption – 10-12W (Typical); 25-27W (Turbo)
Dimensions – 12.7 x 12.7 x 4.3 cm
Weight – 800 grams
Certifications – CE, FCC, RCM, RoHS

The MINIX Z100-AERO comes preloaded with Windows 11 Pro, and ships with a 12V/3A power supply and accessories such as an HDMI cable, antennas, a VESA mount, and a user’s manual. As we’ve seen in the Windows 11 review of the MINIX Z100-0dB, a fanless design may not always extract the full performance of the processor, and it was a bit slower in benchmarks than actively cooled designs, so I’d expect the Z100-AERO to perform at a higher level.

Having said that, while the MINIX Z100-AERO provides some improvements with three independent displays and four USB 3.2 ports, there aren’t any 10 Gbps capable USB ports, only WiFi 5 is supported, and having two HDMI ports like on the fanless mini PC may have been more suitable to most people. I can also see the NVMe SSD is supposedly connected to a PCIe Gen 3.0 x1 interface which could negatively impact storage performance and as a result, overall system performance. Maybe it’s just an error in the specs.

The MINIX Z100-AERO mini PC is also cheaper than the Z100-0dB model with a starting price of $219 on the company’s store, and it’s also available on the MINIX Amazon store.

Via AndroidPC.es

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

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.