Turbo Mini X mini PC launches with desktop-class Intel processor and eGPU support with impressive performance claims
Mini Maker has unveiled its latest mini PC offering at Computex 2024: the Turbo Mini X. This sleek-looking mini PC boasts a black metal chassis and supports the LGA1700 socket thanks to its custom B760 motherboard, accommodating 65 W Intel chips, up to the 14th gen Raptor Lake refresh SKUs. The company also unveiled the StreamPlay X eGPU accompanying the Turbo X Mini, which can be connected with the help of a proprietary connection allowing for speeds much faster than Thunderbolt 4.
While most mini PCs feature mobile processors owing to their modest thermal and power envelopes, the Turbo Mini X is an exception to this trend and can be configured with desktop-class chips, albeit restricted to those under a TDP of 65 W, so no K-series chips. This means that processors up to the 24-core i9 14900 (curr. $579 on Amazon) can be supported, although the 14-core i5 14500 or the 20-core i7 14700 would be better suited given the mini PC's thermal capabilities. Moreover, users are also expected to bring their own RAM to populate the dual SODIMM slots.
Even though the Turbo Mini X lacks any internal discrete GPU, it can easily connect to Mini Maker's StreamPlay X eGPU launched alongside the Mini X. Using a PCIe connection through a custom port, it boasts performance levels that are 95% of the performance offered if connected directly to the motherboard, as claimed by a Mini maker rep speaking with Tom's Hardware. The StreamPlay X eGPU is available with various PSU capacities, ranging from 250 W, all the way to 400 W, while the Mini Turbo X comes with a 125 W power brick.
In terms of connectivity, the Turbo Mini X features an impressive array of ports, including 4x USB 2.0 Type A, a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type C (can also output 45 W for charging), a USB 3.2 gen 2x1 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, an HDMI 1.4, 2x DisplayPort 1.2, a gigabit ethernet and an audio jack. Coming in at just 1.4 liters of volume, the Turbo Mini X features dimensions of 21.4 cm x 3.6 cm x 18 cm and rocks a translucent side panel that can be easily detached by the user. The StreamPlay X on the other hand also rocks a sleek transparent wrap-around plastic panel.
As far as pricing is concerned, Tom's Hardware reports that both the Mini Turbo X and StreamPlay X eGPU will be priced somewhere around $150 each for the barebones version, which is considerably cheap for what it offers. The products will first hit the shelves in China and Taiwan, while parent company Hibertek looks for distribution partners in the US and elsewhere.
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