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Intel Compute Stick gets an upgrade to more powerful Skylake Intel Core m processors

By Koh Wanzi - on 12 Jan 2016, 10:29am

Intel Compute Stick gets an upgrade to more powerful Skylake Intel Core m processors

Intel Compute Stick Core m

Intel’s concept of a computer-on-a-stick opened quite a few doors in the space of mobile computing, but the original Compute Stick frankly failed to impress because of its stuttering performance and other limitations. Nevertheless, Intel appears committed to the form factor because it has announced more powerful versions of the Compute Stick that will be equipped with the latest sixth-generation Intel Core m processors.

We first got wind that the update was coming back in September, and Intel is now back with further details on its beefed-up stick PCs. They will ship with either an Intel Core m5-6Y57 (1.1GHz, 4MB cache) or Core m3-6Y30 (0.9GHz, 4MB cache) processor, 4GB of DDR3 1,866MHz dual-channel memory, and 64GB of eMMC storage.

In addition to the more powerful processor options, the new specifications represent a doubling of the onboard memory and storage over the first Compute Stick, which should improve multi-tasking performance and allow you to install more productivity software on it.

Networking capabilities have also been upgraded with a 2x2 Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 module with support for 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1. On top of that, Intel also included two extra USB 3.0 ports on the power adapter itself, so you can now plug in a wired keyboard and mouse and still have one more port left over.

Finally, Intel also announced a third variant of the Compute Stick, this time with an updated Cherry Trail Intel Atom x5-Z8300 processor (1.44GHz, 2MB cache). This unit features just 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage, but it retains the improved dual band Wireless-AC 7265 networking module.

The different SKUs and their prices are listed below:

  • Core m5 without OS (US$499)
  • Core m3 with Windows 10 (US$399)
  • Core m3 without OS (US$299)
  • Atom x5 with Windows 10 (US$159)

The lower-powered Atom SKU is already in production, while the Core m units are expected to be in production by February.

Source: Intel (1), (2)

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