The Chinese manufacturer Chuwi offers a wide portfolio of mini PCs, laptops, and tablets. With the CoreBox series, the range also includes compact desktop computers that should also meet higher demands. With the Chuwi CoreBox 4th, the latest generation was recently introduced, which does not bring any optical changes with it, but has received some significant upgrades in the built-in hardware. The heart of the CoreBox 4th is a 12th-generation Intel i3-1215U processor paired with 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD. The new mini PC is available on Chuwi’s website at the current special price of $359.00. According to the manufacturer, the regular price is $499.00. Here are some advantages of Chuwi CoreBox 4th MINI PC Choosing in 2023 First.
Compact Design and Thunderbolt 4
The case of the Chuwi CoreBox 4th is mostly made of dark gray aluminum. On the front, a shiny plastic element with an embedded stand-by button provides a visual highlight. In addition to the ventilation outlet, the back accommodates all connections of the compact computer. On this point, Chuwi seems to have listened to the criticism that we also voiced about the predecessor. The following interfaces are installed:
- 4x USB-A 3.0
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- 3.5mm microphone connector
- USB-C Thunderbolt 4
- HDMI 2.0
- DisplayPort
- Gigabit-Ethernet
- power connection
Fortunately, a DisplayPort and a USB-C connection are also installed. Thunderbolt 4 is even hidden behind the latter so that significantly higher data rates can be achieved in combination with compatible devices than with the classic USB protocol. Possible uses include using an external GPU, improving graphics performance, or connecting docks with multiple 4K monitors. To what extent this makes sense for a product as cheap as the Chuwi Corebox remains to be seen. But it’s nice that the Thunderbolt 4 standard is included. Another special feature is that the USB-C connection can also be used as a power connection. According to Chuwi, at least 65 watts of power must be offered by the power supply via power delivery. Use with a Thunderbolt 4 display, which supplies the computer with power, is therefore also conceivable.
12th-Gen Intel CPU and DDR5 RAM
The Intel processor of the Chuwi CoreBox 4th is a 12th-generation i3-1215U and is based on the Alder Lake architecture. The chip, manufactured using the 10nm process, has two performance cores and four efficiency cores. The performance cores support Hyperthreading and clock at 1.2 to 4.4 GHz. The clock rate for the efficiency cores is 0.9 to 3.3 GHz. An Intel Xe graphics unit is also integrated into the processor. The power consumption is between 15 and 55 watts (turbo). In the case of the CoreBox 4th, however, Chuwi limits the chip to a TDP of 35 watts.
The Intel i3-1215U is certainly not a high-end processor that meets the highest gaming demands. As a solid mid-range notebook processor, it should offer enough performance for the usual applications in the home office. In connection with a powerful external graphics card, it should also be possible to play more complex games with medium details. Experience has shown that the integrated graphics unit is the bottleneck in gaming, which then only allows casual gaming. Compared to the Intel i5-5257U of the predecessor, the i3 should certainly offer a multiple of additional performance.
The CoreBox 4th also seems to be well-equipped when it comes to storage. With 16 GB of LDDR5 RAM (4,800 MHz) and a 512 M.2 SSD, many applications should be covered. In addition, the memory can be expanded via a SATA 3.0 interface with another hard disk. The built-in SSD can of course also be swapped out in the M.2 slot. The main memory, on the other hand, is soldered and therefore cannot be upgraded. According to Chuwi, the cooling of the CoreBox 4th has also been revised and only reaches a volume of 35dB even with maximum system load. The Intel AX201 with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 is installed as the wireless module. The computer comes with Windows 11 pre-installed.
The Chuwi CoreBox 4th offers modern hardware in compact housing at an attractive price. Compared to its predecessor, the new generation of mini PCs should be significantly more powerful and offer many connections. The Thunderbolt 4 connection in particular enables the computer to be integrated into various application scenarios. For more information visit the official website.
What is your opinion on the new Chuwi CoreBox 4th? Let us know in the comments.