System76 Meerkat Mini PC with Linux Gets Major Update
System76 has made a new update to their small Meerkat Linux PCs. They've swapped the old Intel Meteor Lake for the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Arrow Lake. They also brought out a cheaper model that starts at $599.
Processor Options and Prices
Every Meerkat comes with at least 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 500GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and can run Pop!_OS or Ubuntu Linux. Here are the new processor choices and their starting costs:
- Intel Core 3 100U (Raptor Lake) with 16GB RAM / 500GB SSD at $599
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U (Arrow Lake) with 16GB RAM / 500GB SSD at $844
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255U (Arrow Lake) with 16GB RAM / 500GB SSD at $1048
More Memory and Storage
You can set up your Meerkat with up to 96GB of DDR5-5600 memory. For keeping data, you can pick up to an 8TB PCIe 4.0 SSD or a 4TB PCIe 5.0 SSD on Arrow Lake models. You can change both memory and storage yourself.
More Room Inside
The case lets you add more parts:
- 2 memory slots
- 2 slots for main storage – for Arrow Lake models: 1 PCIe 5.0 slot and 1 PCIe 4.0 slot, and for Raptor Lake models: 2 PCIe 4.0 slots
- 1 smaller slot for added storage (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Connectivity and Size
The Meerkat is 117 x 112 x 54mm big and has lots of ports and wireless tech:
- WiFi 7
- Bluetooth 5.4
- One 2.5 GbE LAN port
- Two Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) ports
- One USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C (20 Gbps) port
- Three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps) ports
- One USB 2.0 Type-A (480 Mbps) port
- Two HDMI 2.1 ports
- One DC power input
You can add another 2.5 Gb Ethernet port for $49 more. Note, this device doesn't have its own 3.5mm audio jack, but you can use Thunderbolt or HDMI ports for sound.
