LattePanda IOTA Offers Eight‑Fold Performance Boost in Ultra‑Compact Desktop PC
LattePanda IOTA Offers Eight‑Fold Performance Boost in Ultra‑Compact Desktop PC
Introduction
The LattePanda IOTA marks a significant leap forward for Intel‑based single‑board computers (SBCs). Positioned as a direct drop‑in replacement for the original LattePanda, the new board delivers roughly eight times the processing power while retaining the same compact footprint. With upgraded connectivity, expanded storage options, and a flexible power‑management system, the IOTA is designed for both IoT deployments and ultra‑tiny desktop use cases.
Hardware Overview
Processor and Graphics
- CPU: Intel Twin Lake N150 – 4 cores, 4 threads, up to 3.6 GHz (single‑core) or 2.9 GHz (all cores).
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD graphics with 24 compute units, clocking up to 1.0 GHz.
- Thermal Design Power (TDP): Configurable up to 20 W, with a default of 10 W.
Memory and Storage
- RAM: Options of 8 GB or 16 GB LPDDR4X (4800 MT/s) with in‑band ECC.
- On‑board eMMC: 64 GB or 128 GB capacity.
- Expandable storage: Via an M.2 2280 slot (PCIe 3.0 ×1) supporting up to 2 TB SSDs.
Operating System
- The IOTA ships with Windows 11 pre‑installed, but its x86 architecture also supports a full range of Linux distributions.
I/O and Expansion Options
| Interface | Specification |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 | One full‑size USB‑C 10 Gbps port |
| USB‑A | One USB‑A 10 Gbps (USB 3.2) port |
| HDMI | Full‑size HDMI 2.1 connector |
| Display | eDP connector for internal panels |
| PCIe | PCIe 3.0 ×1 FPC connector (used for M.2 SSD) |
| M.2 Slot | M.2 E‑key for Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/4G modules |
| Audio | 3.5 mm headphone/mic jack |
| Storage | Micro‑SD card reader, internal eMMC |
| Power | Additional power input, RTC battery connector |
| Misc. | DIP switches, I²C touch connector |
Expansion Hats
- M.2 adapter – Enables SATA/NVMe SSD installation.
- 4G LTE module – Provides cellular connectivity.
- Smart UPS hat – Battery backup using three 18650 cells; supports 12‑24 V charging input.
- Active cooling fan – Low‑profile cooler with BIOS‑controlled speed.
BIOS Configuration and Power Management
The IOTA’s BIOS offers granular control over performance and power settings:
- CPU TDP limit: Adjustable from 10 W up to 20 W, allowing the N150 to reach its full 15‑W baseline and exceed 20 W when the GPU is also engaged.
- Fan control: Automatic or manual modes, with PWM output for the attached active cooler.
- Power‑loss behavior: Options to stay on, power off, or resume on AC restoration.
- Wake‑on‑LAN and trusted computing features for IoT deployments.
During testing, setting the TDP to 20 W let the CPU draw ≈15 W under full load, while combined CPU/GPU stress peaked at ≈21.7 W—well within the board’s thermal envelope.
Performance Benchmarks
Synthetic Scores
- Geekbench 6 Single‑Core: ~1,190 points
- Geekbench 6 Multi‑Core: ~2,820 points
These scores place the IOTA comfortably ahead of earlier LattePanda models (which used Intel Atom x5‑Z8350) and even outperform many low‑end ARM SBCs such as the Raspberry Pi 5 in multi‑core workloads.
Real‑World Tasks
- Web browsing, email, document editing: Snappy response with negligible lag.
- 4K HDR video playback (60 fps): Zero frame drops on YouTube, demonstrating the N150’s strong media decoding capabilities.
- Gaming (low‑end/indie titles): Smooth 60 fps at 720p in titles like Silkong and Hades II; older PC games (e.g., Half‑Life 2, Left 4 Dead 2) run comfortably. More demanding titles such as Skyrim hover around 50 fps at low settings.
- Emulation: Capable of Dreamcast, PSP, and many GameCube titles via Dolphin; several PlayStation 2 games are playable.
Power Consumption
Operating on a modest 65 W USB‑C PD charger, the IOTA demonstrates impressive efficiency:
- Idle (Windows 11): ~3 W
- 4K video playback: ~7 W
- Peak load (CPU + GPU stress): ~26 W
Even at the higher 20 W TDP setting, the board remains suitable for battery‑powered or solar‑driven installations.
Conclusion
The LattePanda IOTA redefines what an ultra‑compact x86 SBC can achieve. By delivering an eight‑fold performance increase, robust I/O, flexible power options, and support for both Windows and Linux, it bridges the gap between hobbyist development boards and low‑power desktop PCs. Whether you need a capable edge‑computing node, a compact media workstation, or a versatile platform for retro gaming and emulation, the IOTA offers a compelling blend of power and size.
Its configurable TDP, active cooling solution, and expandable storage ensure that the board can be tailored to a wide range of workloads while maintaining a low energy footprint. For anyone looking to upgrade from the original LattePanda—or to adopt a powerful yet tiny x86 platform for IoT or desktop use—the IOTA stands out as a clear, future‑ready choice.