Mini PC with Linux: System76 Meerkat updated with up to Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU and 96 GB of memory

Hunting for a well-equipped mini PC from a reputed brand is no longer a tiresome affair, considering the plethora of options available on the market. For Linux enthusiasts, however, the selections are far more limited, but not non-existent. For instance, the System76 Meerkat mini PC is one such Linux-equipped mini PC, which has now been refreshed with more powerful internals.

The updated System76 Meerkat mini PC can now be configured with up to Intel's Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, paired with up to 96 GB of memory and 16 TB of SSD storage, courtesy of its M.2 slot as well as an 2.5-inch SATA bay. The Core Ultra 7 155H sports 16 cores and 22 threads, allowing for very decent performance that roughly matches the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS found in the Beelink SER8 (currently $499 on Amazon). Considering the compact size, the system lacks the luxury of discrete graphics, and has to make do with the integrated Intel Arc iGPU that should be sufficient for tasks that are forgiving on the GPU.

The Meerkat Linux mini PC sports a healthy array of ports as well, including Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (with DP 1.4a), triple USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, dual HDMI 2.1, as well as an audio jack. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 allows for wireless connectivity, while the dual 2.5 G Ethernet takes care of wired networking. In terms of pricing, the Meerkat mini PC is certainly on the pricier side. The base variant with an Intel Core Ultra 125H paired with 16 GB of DDR5-5600 memory and 500 GB of storage starts at $799, and the price escalates rather quickly when the system is specced higher.