Architectural Evolution

The primary difference between the Quieter 3 series and the Quieter 4 series is the silicon microarchitecture. The transition from Jasper Lake to Alder Lake-N and Twin Lake dictates performance and efficiency.

Memory & Bandwidth

Memory topology dictates system latency in fanless designs. The Quieter 3 series uses LPDDR4 at 2933 MHz. This speed bottlenecks the Intel UHD graphics during heavy video decoding.

The Quieter 4C introduces LPDDR5 at 4800 MHz. This upgrade is necessary. Benchmarks show that memory bandwidth gates performance on the Alder Lake-N platform. An N100 with LPDDR5 scores significantly higher than an N150 bottlenecked by older DDR4.

Storage Bottlenecks

Older units use soldered eMMC storage. It is half-duplex and slow. Sequential read speeds hover around 290 MB/s. Background Windows tasks often saturate the controller, causing system lag.

All models include an M.2 NVMe slot. Even though the slot speed is capped at PCIe 3.0 x2 or x4, installing an NVMe drive boosts speeds to 3400 MB/s. Newer 4C batches (16GB/512GB models) often ship without eMMC, booting directly from a pre-installed NVMe drive. This removes the primary storage bottleneck out of the box.

Linux & Kernel Compatibility

While MeLE markets these devices primarily for Windows 11, a large segment of the user base runs Linux for Home Assistant, Plex servers, or telescope control (INDI/Indigo).

Driver Note: The 3Q/3C utilizes Intel AX201 or Realtek 8821CE, which have mature Linux blobs. The 4C often ships with the AX101, which was notorious for missing firmware in early 2023 distros. Ensure your distribution includes the latest linux-firmware package.

Power Metrics & Efficiency

For battery-operated setups in astrophotography or off-grid digital signage, every watt counts. We measured power draw at the wall using a standard kill-a-watt meter.

The Alder Lake N100 (4C) is less efficient at idle than the Jasper Lake N5105 (3Q) due to higher leakage currents on the newer node and the higher base frequency of the E-cores. However, the “race to sleep” performance of the 4C is superior, meaning it finishes tasks faster and returns to idle quicker.

BIOS & Industrial Features

Unlike consumer laptops, the MeLE BIOS is unlocked, exposing settings relevant for industrial deployment.

• Auto Power On: Can be configured in the Chipset > PCH-IO configuration. Critical for digital signage that must recover after a power outage.
• PXE Boot: Fully supported for diskless network booting.
• Fanless Operation: The BIOS thermal trip points are set higher (105°C) than standard laptops to accommodate the passive cooling design.

Technical Specifications

Media Engine & Codecs

The media capabilities define the longevity of these units as Home Theater PCs (HTPC).

Thermodynamics & Heat

The 3Q dissipates heat upward through the chassis lid. The CPU hits 87°C under load, but the heat escapes efficiently.

The 4C uses a different approach. It routes heat downward into a base plate heatsink. This turns the bottom of the unit into a radiator. Unfortunately, this cooks the internal M.2 NVMe drive. Drive temperatures in the 4C can soar to 67°C, compared to 35°C in the 3C.

Connectivity & Power Risks

The 3C and 4C feature a “Smart” full-function USB-C port capable of video and power input. The 3Q lacks this. However, all models utilize a dedicated “Dumb” USB-C power input port.

This dumb port lacks PD protocol negotiation. Plugging a standard 12V MeLE charger into a phone or laptop will force high voltage into the device, potentially destroying it. Conversely, standard smart chargers often fail to power the MeLE because the port cannot request the correct voltage.

Wireless Regression

The older 3Q uses the superior Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 module. Surprisingly, the newer 4C regresses to Wi-Fi 5 or lower-end Wi-Fi 6 (AX101) in some batches. This downgrade is likely due to lane allocation costs on the Alder Lake-N board. For heavy wireless transfer, the older 3Q is often superior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Supply Chain Notes

These units are primarily available via direct import. Be aware of customs duties in regions like India, where taxes can inflate the cost significantly. Buying through local domestic resellers often acts as an insurance premium against unpredictable customs levies.