Nano-U12P - An 8K digital signage player powered by an Intel Alder Lake processor

Alder Lake processors were first formally announced at the end of 2021 with the most powerful H-Series, followed by a range of Alder Lake Edge IoT processors, and in February, Intel officially launched Alder Lake P-Series and U-Series mobile hybrid processors which I had expected to find in several mini PCs by now.

But apart from ASRock iBOX 1200 Series announcement, and leaks of the NUC 12 Studio Pro, I had not really seen any. But today, I found what looks like a mini PC with the Polywell Nano-U12P, but it’s instead marketed as an 8K digital signage player with a choice of Alder Lake P-series and U-series processors.

Nano-U12P specifications:

SoC (one or the other)
- Intel Core i7-1280P 6P+8E (20 threads) processor @ 3.60/4.80GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 20/28W TDP
- Intel Core i7-1270P 4P+8E (16 threads) processor @ 3.50/4.80GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 20/28W TDP
- Intel Core i7-1260P 4P+8E (16 threads) processor @ 3.40/4.70GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 20/28W TDP
- Intel Core i5-1250P 4P+8E (16 threads) processor @ 3.30/4.40GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 20/28W TDP
- Intel Core i5-1240P 4P+8E (16 threads) processor @ 3.30/4.40GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 20/28W TDP
- Intel Core i3-1220P 2P+8E (12 threads) processor @ 3.30/4.40GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 20/28W TDP
- Intel Core i7-1265U 2P+8E (12 threads) processor @ 3.60/4.80GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 12/15W TDP
- Intel Core i7-1255U 2P+8E (12 threads) processor @ 3.50/4.70GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 12/15W TDP
- Intel Core i5-1245U 2P+8E (12 threads) processor @ 3.30/4.40GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 12/15W TDP
- Intel Core i5-1235U 2P+8E (12 threads) processor @ 3.30/4.40GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 15W TDP
- Intel Core i3-1215U 2P+4E (8 threads) processor @ 3.30/4.40GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 15W TDP
- Intel Pentium Gold 8505 1P+4E (6 threads) processor @ 3.30/4.40GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 15W TDP
- Intel Celeron 7305 1P+4E (5 threads) processor @ 1.10GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 12/15W TDP
System Memory – Up to 64GB dual-channel DDR4 3200/2933/2666MHz unbuffered non-ECC RAM via 2x SO-DIMM sockets
Storage – 1x M.2 2280 socket for SATA 3.0 or PCIe x4 NVMe SSD
Video Output
- 1x HDMI 2.1 port up to 8Kp60
- 1x DisplayPort 1.4 up to 8Kp60
- 2x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports with support for Type-C to HDMI 2.1/DP 1.4 8K graphics
- Support for up to 4x displays
Audio
- USB HD Audio Sound
- 3.5mm audio combo jack
Networking
- Gigabit Ethernet via RTL8111H controller, or optional 2.5GbE LAN; Wake on LAN, PXE boot (diskless) supported
- Optional extra Gigabit Ethernet LAN via USB LAN module
- Optional WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 M.2 2230 module
USB/Thunderbolt
- 4x USB 3.2 ports
- 2x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port with DisplayPort alt mode
Expansion
- 1x M.2 2230 (for WiFi+BT or another module)
- 1x M.2 2280 for SATA 3.0 or PCIe x4 NVMe
Security – Optional TPM 2.0
Misc – Clear CMOS/Recover button, watchdog
Power Supply – 19VDC via 5.5/2.5mm DC jack
Power consumption – Energy Star Compliance, Idle mode at <1W
Dimensions – 120 x 120 x 48mm (NUC chassis)
Weight – 1.5 lb. (Net) 5 lb. (gross with packaging)
Temperature Range
- Operating – -5 to +45°C
- Storage – -20 to +70°C
Vibration
- Operating – 9.8 m/s2(1.0G) 5 to 500Hz
- Storage – 49 m/s2(5.0G) 15 to 500Hz
Shock
- Operating: 3,920 m/s2 (400G) 2ms
- Storage – 8,820 m/s2 (900G) 1ms
Relative Humidity
- Operating – 10% to 90% (non-condensing)
- Storage – 5% to 95% (non-condensing)
MTBF: 100,000 Hours
Certifications – FCC, CE, RoHS

VESA, wall mount, and rackmount brackets are mounting options for the digital signage player. The company lists Windows 11/Windows 10, IoT, and Linux as supported operating systems, and besides being used as a digital signage player, the company also says the device is suitable for Edge AI, deep learning, entertainment PC, set-top box, and so on.

There’s no availability and pricing information just yet. More details about the 8K digital signage player may be found on the product page.

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.