ASRock refreshes Mars slim mini PCs with Intel Alder Lake-U processors, adds Thunderbolt 4 connector

ASRock is refreshing its Mars thin mini PC lineup with Intel Alder Lake-U processors. The chassis is essentially the same from the previous gen models, with a 26 mm profile and 0.7 l volume, but ASRock is now packing more powerful features like an i5-1235U processor and one Thunderbolt 4 connector. Availability and pricing information has not yet been released.

CPU options also include the i3-1215U and Celeron 7305, which support RAM capacities of up to 64 GB DDR4-3200. The storage side of the Mars ADL mini PCs feature expanded storage support via a PCIe 4.0 X4 M.2 slot and an additionalM.2 slot for PCIe 3.0 NVMe or SATA III SSDs. ASRock is providing an Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E module by default. A proprietary active cooler allows the 15 W CPUs to operate at 55 W with boosted clocks for a longer time compared to similarly specced laptop solutions.

As far as ports go, the new Mars ADL model offers a robust selection with 3x video outputs via Thunderbolt 4, HDMI and VGA, and it comes with a full-size SD card reader, as well. Other ports include  4x USB 3.2 Gen + 2x USB 2.0, GbE, mic and headphones jacks. Bluetooth connectivity can be added via a supplied M.2 key E 2230 slot. The system is compatible with VESA mounts and comes with a stand.

Buy the ASRock NUC BOX mini PC barebone with Intel 12th Gen i7-1260P processor on Newegg