MSI has announced two new additions to its mini-PC line-up – the MSI Cubi 2 Plus and the MSI Cubi 2 Plus vPro mini computers. Both computers combine serious processing power with a small-sized chassis and feature new mini motherboards that measure 5 x 5 inches and that comply with the STX motherboard standard. Mini STX motherboards are 29 per cent smaller than mini-ITX boards and this makes them the smallest motherboards that come with a socket design.
The Cubi 2 Plus mini PC comes with three Skylake processors – the Intel Core i3-6100T and the Intel Core i5-6500T and Core i7-6700T chips. The computer sports the Intel H110 chipset and relies on Intel HD 530 graphics to present visuals on a monitor. Inside the Cubi 2 Plus supports up to 32 GB of DDR4-2133 memory and has enough space to house one M.2 SATA SSD (up to 256 GB) and one 2.5-inch 7200 rpm HDD or SATA SSD with capacities of up to 1 TB. The computer measures just 155.3 x 147.9 x 58.6 mm and includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0 or 802.11n Wi-Fi, a single USB 2.0 port on top, three USB 2.0 ports up front, a single USB 3.1 Type-C port, a card reader, HDMI, an RJ-45 port and more. The Cubi 2 Plus runs Windows 10 Pro 64-bit and relies on a 90-watt power supply adapter.
The Cubi 2 Plus vPro mini-PC features Intel vPro technology as seen from the name and relies on a motherboard with the Intel Q170 chipset. The rest of the specs are pretty much the same as in the regular Cubi 2 Plus mini-PC except that the vPro-enabled version features two USB 3.0 ports up front and two HDMI connectors in the rear. Just like the Cubi 2 Plus, the vPro version comes with a 90W power adaptor and runs Windows 10 Home 64-bit edition. The computer measures 155.3 x 147.9 x 58.6 mm.
Both computers will be on the market in early March 2016. No word on pricing as of now.
Source: MSI