Beelink announces mini PC lineup with Intel Wildcat Lake CPUs

To show that the 18A node is still on track with production schedules, Intel initially announced the release of the Wildcat Lake CPUs for power efficient laptops under-$600 that would rival Apple’s Macbook Neo models. These low-power processors also seem ideal for budget mini PCs, so Chinese integrators like Beelink are now readying models powered by the Intel Core Series 3 SoCs that builds upon the benefits of the older Core i3 N305 CPUs.

Beelink plans to release three distinct models powered by the Intel Core 3 Processor 304. This processor integrates a single Cougar Cove performance core paired with four Darkmont efficiency cores, plus the latest Xe3-LPG GPU and an onboard NPU for AI workloads. Intel claims the new SoC's NPU and iGPU can deliver up to 24 TOPS of AI performance. Moreover, Beelink's internal testing reveals that the CPU delivers around 120% higher single core performance and 60% multi core performance uplift over the Core i3 N305.

The EQ mini model is positioned as the entry-level with a compact case, while the EQI comes with a slightly bigger case and support for desktop-grade components, and the ME Pro-2 is the NAS-oriented model that offers support for extended storage capacity. Even though these models are targeted at budget-conscious users, they actually include features that are usually seen on premium models. All three models support UFS 3.1 storage, PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, dual USB4 ports and a 10 GbE NIC.

As far as differences go, the EQ mini features a 11.2 x 11.2 x 3.7 cm case that can fit only LPDDR5 RAM, two M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSDs and a 45 W built-in PSU. With a slightly bigger case measuring 12.6 x 12.6 x 4.42 cm, the EQI model can fit desktop-grade DDR5 RAM and also comes with an additional 2.5 GbE NIC plus an 85 W built-in PSU. The ME Pro-2 model gets the biggest case measuring 12.1 x 12.1 x 11.2 cm, which fits 2x 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch HDDs and a PCIe 4.0 SSD, and supports only DDR5 RAM plus an additional 2.5 GbE NIC and a 120 W PSU.

Pricing and availability info has not yet been disclosed, but Beelink may share more details at Computex next week.