Beelink was one of the first companies to launch an Intel Processor N150 mini PC with the EQ14 model, and they’ve now launched the ME Mini 6-slot SSD NAS based on the Twin Lake processor, coupled with 12 GB RAM, 64GB eMMC flash, and a 2TB NVMe SSD.
The compact NAS/computer also features two 2.5GbE ports, a WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless module, HDMI 2.0 video output, and a few USB ports. Like the Beelink EQ14, it comes with an integrated 100/240V power supply instead of an external power brick.
Beelink ME Mini specifications:
- SoC – Intel Processor N150 quad-core Twin Lake processor @ up to 3.6 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel UHD graphics @ 1.0 GHz; TDP: 6W
- System Memory – 12GB LPDDR5 4800 MHz; note: a 16GB LPDDR5 model will also be available
- Storage
- 5x M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 x1 sockets
- 1x M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 x2 socket (SSD4) also compatible with SATA SSDs; it can be used to boot the operating system instead of the eMMC flash.
- 1x or 2x 2TB NVMe SSDs preinstalled in the system
- 64GB eMMC flash
- Video Output – HDMI 2.0 up to 4Kp60
- Networking
- 2x 2.5GbE RJ45 ports via Intel i226V 2.5GbE controllers
- WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 via Intel AX101 module
- USB
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type-A port
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type-C port (data only)
- 1x USB 2.0 port with always-on support
- Misc
- Power button
- Power and Sleep LEDs
- Clear CMOS pinhole (underneath)
- Aluminum heatsink and “silent” fan for cooling
- Power Supply – Built-in 45 Watts 100/240V 50/60Hz power supply up to 1.5A
- Dimensions – 99 x 99 x 99 mm with rubber feet
- Weight – TBC
- Temperature Range – Operating: -10°C to 45°C; storage: -20°C to 65°C
- Humidity – Operating: 30%-90% RH; storage: 10%-90% RH
The ME Mini ships with an HDMI cable, a power cord suitable for your country (US/EU/UK/JP/AU), and a multilingual user’s manual. The system was previously unveiled in March, but there was not enough information for an article on CNX Software at the time. However, I’ve just found out about availability since Beelink has released the BIOS for both the 12GB LPDDR5 and 16GB LPDDR5 variants.
It does not look like an operating system is installed on the system, but we’re told Windows, Linux, Proxmox VE, ESXI, TrueNAS, UNRAID, KODI, JellyFin, Plex, and Emby are all supported. Lightweight systems should be installed on the eMMC flash, while larger OS like Windows 11 can be installed on SSD4 instead.
The Beelink ME Mini offers an alternative to the CWWK x86-P6 Pocket NAS and PC with Intel N150 or Core 3 N355 Twin Lake CPU, a DDR5 SO-DIMM socket that can take up to 64GB RAM, dual HDMI 2.0, dual 2.5GbE, but only four M.2 PCIe 3.0 x1 sockets for NVMe SSD storage.
Beelink is now taking orders for the Beelink ME Mini for $329 with 12GB LPDDR5 and a 2TB Crucial SSD. The 16GB model is not for sale just yet. The company also has an AliExpress store, so I’d expect the Beelink ME Mini models to be listed there shortly.
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.
Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress. We also use affiliate links in articles to earn commissions if you make a purchase after clicking on those links.
The PCIe 3.0 x2 socket would be a nice one to install an optane drive in for caching or a dedicated metadata device. They can still be useful I think…
The processor only has 9 PCIe lanes, which is the major limit when designing devices like this.
you can use pcie switches to get more lanes, if you want to stick with such cpu
A 16 lane, 5 port PCIe switch sets you back ~80€, and uses additional 3 Watt.
Cooling will likely be the key. As we have seen from the other similar product recently released, the GMKTec G9, which turned out to have completely insufficient cooling, let us hope that Beelink have carried out all of the necessary testing and QC.
Whilst primarily advertised as a NAS, the Mini PC option could well be quite desirable for the desktop use, for tinkerers, developers and those wanting multiple OS boot options. Which makes me wonder if there is a restriction on which of the M.2 slots can be used as bootable options.
I would also liked to have seen one of the USB-C ports have video out to enable dual monitor support.
Those who might use many containers might potentially see 12Gb (or 16) RAM as a downside, so perhaps a 32Gb version might be desirable.
Overall I do like it though and it would make quite the versatile device for me and at a price that seems reasonable.
Plenty of other options, if primary goal is desktop use. And it’s likely that most people don’t actually need 6 M.2 slots, even if they’re tinkerers.
Versatiliy seems to be the key here.
Yes, most may not need all 6 slots but to have the option if required later on down the line….
Considering the price, subject to the thing actually delivering what it promises, it’s a nice new kind of option that is small and with the least amount of power draw.
You can build a minitx rig, if your goal is upgradability. This, other than lots of m2 slots, doesn’t offer any flexibility, as everything is soldered..
More M.2 slots allow to use 1/2 TByte drives instead of more costly (per TByte) 4 or 8 TByte drives, and to simply add more drives later when the storage needs grow.
Never understood the point of these so called “SSD” NAS devices.
You get 6 M.2 slots, but no 2.5/3.5″ option. Ok you want fast NAS, but you’re chocked with 2.5Gbit ethernet and a weak CPU. And since the cpu has limited pcie lanes, you can’t really extract max power outta m.2 nvme neither.
If this had 4 3.5″ bays it would make much more sense with 2.5Gbit. Regular HDDs are already fast enough to saturate 2.5Gbit ethernet. If not, stripping/raiding will certanly get you there.
Noise, heat and power are the focuses. I have an RK3588 based system with 4 nvme ports and 2.5gbit ethernet. It is silent and cold as a rock most of the time which is great when it’s a metre away from my desk.
That said I’d like a version with more nvme bays and a 10gbit SFP+ since you’re right 2.5gbit is the bottleneck.
You could easily use an external drive array with 4 3.5″ drives runing odff the 10Gb USB-C port.
Even greater versatility.
I think the point of this device is packing a lot into a small space.
Whether tyou are choked by 2.5Gbit ethernet depends on your use case.
You can also buy a regular minipc for 1/3 price and use external usb m2 or 3.5 drives…
I just think this device maybe serves a niche within a niche within a niche.
So you’re someone that wants fast drives (but doesn’t actually want to access them quickly) and you want silence. And you don’t care about TB/$ on your storage devices.
Practically, if your goal is low power, noise and saturating 2.5G network, you’d be much better off using regular 3.5″ HDDs and using a ~1TB SSD cache.
With 1TB of cache, drives will be off 95% of the time, and so will be noise and power consumption. And you still reap the benefits of high storage density and low cost.
Bulk SSD storage rarely makes sense, especially at home.
So i think manufacturers should more focus on briging cost down for devices supporting 3.5″ drives. I mean, if you’re looking at a 300$ NAS devices, chances are, you’re not gonna fill it with 6x4TB SSD drives.As that would be beyond dumb.
A minipc with an N150, DDR5 memory, 2.5GBit/s ports, and 2 TByte SSD will cost you significantly more than 110$US, the included Crucial SSD alone costs more than 100$US.
Connecting external drives via USB adds more cabling, more possible causes for faults. Also, external drives have additional costs.
Using SSD as a cache only adds complexity, and additional costs. Add you have to find a good solution for the caching strategy. Also, using the SSD for caching only will negatively affect its longevity.
3.5″ inch HDDs are not meant to be spun down frequently, and each time you have to spin them up you will get an additional multisecond delay. HDDs are mostly usable for either always on, or cold storage/archiving.
If you want to store 20TB today, HDDs are still cheaper (and noisier, power hungry, slower). But if you need to store 2 or 4 TByte today, and want the option to expand later, this box seems to be a very good option. If you need about 8TByte today you have to decide if you want the better performance and less power and pay the small extra price. (1TByte SSD + 8TByte HDD ~ 260€, 8TByte SSD 400€, storage alone). For the HDD solution, you will also get a bulkier case, and pay extra for the power supply (even more when you want multiple HDDs as an option).
2.5G will be more than adequate for most people. 5G and 10G ports are still a significant premium, while 2.5G is becoming mainstream.
2.5″ is totally pointless, 2.5″ HDDs need more power than m.2 NVMe, are slower, and take up more space, and cost between 80%-200% of an NVMe of the same size.
A single 3.5″ can hardly saturate even a 1GBit link (only for sequential reads, significantly less for anything halfway random). If you use multiple drives, you add more failure points. If you use RAID-5/6, you drive up the price per TByte.
Multiple HDDs also need a significant amount of power. For spinup, 4 3.5″ drives need about 100 Watt. Dependent on rotational speed, each drive needs between 6 and 10 Watt on use, and 3 to 5 Watt on Idle. You need a larger cooling system, and a bigger power supply.
More than 2.5GBit/s hardly makes sense. The PCIe 3.0×1 link limits the speed to 8GBit/s, and 5GBit/s would require a additional MAC/PHY, would use up one of the PCIe links, and use more power. A 10GBit/s SFP+ port can require a significant amount of power, and for most users would just cause additional costs for the modules.
I think this is very well balanced. Drive speed and link speed are fairly well matched. The CPU is more than fast enough to saturate the link even with AES encryption. Going up would require additional external chipsets (ethernet, PCIe switches), all causing additional PCB space requirements, additional cost, additional failure points, and additional power draw.
[ What’s Your guess for long time data storage/backup (data retention) comparison between NVMe SSDs and HDDs, considering data access reliability(/hw durability)? (thx) ]
Amazing what strong hardware in small package.
Nice Hardware! integrated Power Supply, 2x 2,5G NIC, powerful CPU with a lot of RAM and 6 M2 SSDs are great.
And I dont know where I could get this for 350$
18 comments, I’m not impressed at all.
“Silent fan” haha 🙂
This could and should be more compact and more silent.
AC Power port -> USB-C (45W)
Mainboard -> Verical.
RAM -> Dual SO-DIMM
Fan -> Copper/Alu hearsink
EMMC -> SPI Flash
HDMI -> USB-C DP
My money -> Taken