MinisForum Introduces Mini PC with Manjaro for Steam Deck Developers
MinisForum and Manjaro introduce the EliteMini UM700. It is a mini PC with an AMD Ryzen processor running Manjaro Linux. According to the two companies, the compact PC is particularly suitable as a platform for Steam Deck developers.
The processor of the EliteMini UM700 is the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, a processor that AMD announced for laptops in early 2019. The GPU is the Radeon RX Vega 10. MinisForum combines this with 16GB of ram and 256GB or 512GB of SSD storage, depending on the chosen configuration.
Users can connect three screens via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort and USB-C, which can then show all three 4k images at 60Hz. Thanks to the presence of Intel’s AC7265 module via the M.2 interface, there is native support for 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The PC measures 128x127x46mm and weighs 500 grams.
With its specifications, the mini PC cannot compete with current competition, but the advantage of this system would be the presence of the Linux distro Manjaro OS Plasma Gamer Edition. The system comes pre-installed with programs such as Firefox, Vivaldi Browser, Okular PDF, VLC media player, Elisa Audioplayer, Gwenview Imageviewer, LibreOffice, Steam, Skype and Crossover On.
According to the manufacturer, the presence of Manjaro and Steam make the system suitable as a development PC for Steam Deck developers. Valve announced the Steam Deck handheld with AMD apu in the summer of last year. Valve itself supplies dev kits to developers, but the company reports that users can also set up their own system with Manjaro as this is an Arch Linux distro, similar to what runs on the Steam Deck.
The EliteMini UM 700 with 256GB storage costs USD 529, the version with 512GB shortly USD 569. Delivery will start at the end of February.