eSIM Studios
Five years after starting to ship its first open source, modular laptop, the folks at MNT Research are expanding beyond laptops (and mini-laptops) into desktops. The MNT Station is an upcoming mini PC that’s designed for use as a standalone computer, network-attached storage device, or media center.
And since the MNT Station uses the same mainboard as a MNT Reform, you should be able to buy one either as a fully functional mini PC or buy a MNT Station shell so that you can turn the mainboard from an old MNT Reform laptop into a standalone desktop.
If the idea sounds familiar, that’s because modular laptop maker Framework already offers something similar: that company partnered with Cooler Master to offer an inexpensive case that turns a Framework Mainboard into a standalone desktop computer.
But while this may not be a brand new idea, it’s an interesting expansion of the MNT ecosystem of open source, modular PCs.
The MNT Station features an aluminum enclosure that measures 279 x 133 x 26mm (11″ x 5.2″ x 1″). It’s designed to it can lay flat, stand up along the long edge, or be mounted to a screen or wall with a VESA mount.
Other features include a port cover with a power button and a light bar with 10 LED lights that can be controlled via Linux, allowing you to se t them to display CPU usage, network load, or other status details. There’s an ATTiny microcontroller that allows the port cover to communicate with the mainboard.
While the MNT Station itself is basically just a case + port cover, it’s compatible with MNT Reform motherboards versions 2.0 or newer. That means you get a mainboard with USB, Ethernet, HDMI, and audio ports… as well as a 200-pin connector for processor modules, allowing you to choose your own CPU + memory + storage configuration.
MNT currently sells modules with Rockchip RK3588 processors, but the company has sold other modules in the past, including some with NXP LS1028A or i.MX8M chips, one with a Kintex-7 FPGA, and modules that are compatible with Raspberry Pi CM4 and Banana Pi CM4 boards.
MNT hasn’t announced pricing or availability for the MNT Station yet, but the company has posted a preview for an upcoming crowdfunding campaign at Crowd Supply. And hardware design files are already avail able.
via Hackster and [email protected]
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