ASRock has launched a new Mini PC based on Intel’s Raptor Lake-U chips. Taking less space than many TV receivers/routers, this compact machine is perfect for light tasks that require constant operation.
Mars RPL is a new Mini PC series from ASRock measuring 194mm x 150mm x 26mm, resulting in a volume of 0.7 litres. To get a sense of its size, even the smallest SFF case we have ever reviewed sits at 11.4 litres. This makes it a prime candidate for VESA mounting on monitors such as MSI’s Pro MP275QPDG. Now, you can get a clean and aesthetically pleasing workspace without much effort.
Inside you will find a 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U packing two P-cores plus eight E-cores clocked up to 4.6GHz. This chip can be accompanied by up to 96GB of non-ECC SO-DIMM DDR5-5200 memory. For storage, you get room for two M.2 SSDs, one being Gen 4 while the other tops at Gen 3. Plenty of capacity and speed for most tasks, especially when factoring in the PC’s size.
To cool everything this tiny PC relies on a single blower fan, the kind you find on laptops. Not surprising since this is mobile hardware after all. While ASRock doesn’t give any precise cooling measurements, it indicates that this cooling system ensures optimal thermal performance. Seeing how the power adapter is rated for 65W, which is less than many laptops, this solution should be fine.
On the outside you will find a good variety of connectivity options. USBs are covered by four 3.2 Gen 2, two rated at 2.0, a single Type-C, and an individual Thunderbolt 4. Visuals include an HDMI alongside a legacy D-Sub port. And there’s an SD card reader and Gigabit LAN rounding out the I/O, mixed with WiFi 6E and Bluetooth under the hood.
The brand advertises this Mini PC as a solution for office multimedia and productivity, in addition to multi-display digital signage and video surveillance thanks to its four video-output-capable ports.
ASRock didn’t share any pricing for this machine, but you can expect around $600/£450 if competing products are any indication.
