SDG #346 LattePanda Mu Small Board Computer

The LattePanda Mu is an x86 compute module built around a four core Intel N100 at up to 3.4 GHz with 8 GB of LPDDR5 at 4800 MHz and 64 GB of eMMC storage. The module carries the processor and memory on a small card for custom designs or, as here, the DFRobot carrier board, which adds USB 3, Ethernet, HDMI, a PCIe x4 slot, two M.2 slots for an SSD and a wireless card, and UART and I2C interfaces. Power comes from USB-C Power Delivery, with a DC barrel jack required only when the PCIe slot is used for a graphics card. The processor can be configured between roughly 6 W and 35 W, and the fan cooler is only necessary at the upper end.

The build adds a 1 TB M.2 2230 SSD, an Intel AX210 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card with external antennas, and the CMOS battery. Measured with a USB power meter, the board draws just under 1 W in standby, about 10 W during boot and 5 to 7 W idling in Windows 11 or Ubuntu. Windows is preinstalled but unlicensed. The BIOS exposes 15 W normal and 25 W turbo power limits. Benchmarks place the CPU slightly ahead of other N100 systems, with the integrated graphics the weak point and a possible memory gain from enabling XMP.

The intended use is as a lighting controller: Wi-Fi to the home network and Ethernet carrying Art-Net to a DMX controller driving a large set of architectural LED fixtures, with QLC+ on Ubuntu providing the control desk. At around $150 the Mu costs more than a Raspberry Pi 5, but the x86 platform, operating system freedom and PCIe expansion make it the more capable option where that is needed.