Star Labs launches Byte MK II Linux mini PC with Intel N200 Alder Lake-N

Star Labs, a company concentrating on designing and manufacturing Linux PCs, boasts a product line inclusive of laptops like StarLite and StarBook, as well as a mini-desktop named Byte. According to a report by Liliputing, they have recently introduced the Byte MK II, an evident successor to Byte, as discerned from its nomenclature.

This desktop device measures a mere 127 x 127 x 43mm, slightly larger than Intel’s NUC. The CPU onboard is the Intel N200, an Alder Lake-N processor with a configuration of 4 cores and 4 threads, entirely E-Core, capable of turbo speeds reaching 3.70GHz. Unsurprisingly, its Thermal Design Power (TDP) is quite low at 6W, leading to Byte MK II’s utilization of a passive cooling solution. The included DC power adapter is rated at 36W.

The unit provides a SODIMM slot, an M.2 2280 slot, and a 2.5-inch hard drive bay (requiring the purchase of an additional connector), thereby supporting a maximum of 16GB DDR4-3200 memory and 6TB of storage space.

Mini-computers, including the Byte MK II, typically come with a rich variety of I/O ports. It presents 4 USB 3.0 ports, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm audio interface, on its front and back panels. Notably, it also includes 2 RJ45 network ports that many find desirable. Regarding wireless connectivity, the device is equipped with the Intel 9560, a WiFi 5 card, supporting Bluetooth 5.1.

In terms of pricing, information from the Star Labs official website indicates that the Byte MK II is currently in the pre-sale stage. A basic version with 8GB of memory and a 480GB SSD, devoid of accessories and pre-installed with Ubuntu LTS 22.04.02, is priced at $452. It is set for official release in September, at which point the price will revert to $595.