There are plenty of Mini-PCs for Windows, but very little designed with Linux in mind. Star Labs Byte MK II is one of them, based on Intel N processors, ideal for use in compact and inexpensive computers.

The Star Labs Byte MK II uses a typical Mini-PC design with a square polycarbonate and metal chassis with dimensions contained in 127 x 127 x 43 mm which allow it to be installed anywhere on the desk or in the living room if you are going to use it as a home theater computer. Of course, it also serves as basic equipment for companies and offices.

If Star Labs opted for AMD Ryzen 5000 in the original version, in the second generation Byte chooses Alder Lake-N. You already know them from other Windows computers. This is a platform that Intel launched earlier this year as a replacement for the discontinued Celeron and Pentium, offering basic performance, low power consumption and price.

Specifically for this mini-PC integrator mounts a Intel N200, development with 4 cores/threads with a maximum frequency of 3.7 GHz, 6 MB of L3 cache and an Intel UHD GPU with 32 execution units. It won’t break performance records, but it should be enough for this type of device, it’s cheap, and its 6-watt TDP will significantly reduce final consumption.

The CPU is accompanied by up to 16 GB of RAM and for storage, a typical M.2 to PCIe SSD of up to 2TB, plus a 2.5″ bay for hard drives or multiple SATA SSDs. The computer supports Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 and includes ports on the front and back, 2 Ethernet LAN, 1 HDMI, 4 USB 3.0, 1 USB Type-C and an audio jack.

What really makes this compact interesting and different is the Windows alternative it presents. In addition to using a open source firmware (based on Coreboot and TianoCore EDK II) offers the option to install a large number of GNU Linux distributions for those fed up with the UEFI crashes with TPM and Secure Boot that Microsoft enforces. They are really the most interesting and some are intended especially for users who Jumping from Windows to Linux for the first time:

• Basic OS 6.1
• linux mint 21
• Manjaro 21.3.7
• MX Linux 21.1
• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
• Zorin OS 16.1

Star Labs Byte MK II is available on its website with a bargain price in the basic version 456 euros.