MARCH 2021 PCWorld 33The SoM is integrated into a carrier board
boasting a number of ports, including one
HDMI 2.0, one ethernet, two USB 3.0, one
microUSB, and a microSD port for storage.
The PC draws its energy from a 12V power
port, and there’s an IR receiver for anyone
looking to enable remote control. Its fanless
design should run in utter silence.
All of that handy computing hardware
comes packed into a tiny box measuring two
inches on each side. The compact box is one
of the major selling points of this product,
according to the company. The idea is that
you have the convenience of something like a
single-board computer such as the Raspberry
Pi or Nvidia’s Jetson Nano developer kit (go.
pcworld.com/jnan), already packaged in a
diminutive case. (Of course, DIYers who don’t
mind putting some work into building their
machine can house their Raspberry Pi in a
case, too [go.pcworld.com/hspi].)
“Sometimes a software developer or
machine learning researcher just wants a
streamlined system to test their product on,
be it an Android application or a new Edge-
based AI inference algorithm,” SolidRun’s
chief systems architect Jon Nettleton said in
the announcement.
While the CuBox-M is meant for software
development, tiny desktops like this can
sometimes double as all-purpose PCs for
home use. However, the CuBox-M might not
be ideal as its HDMI port is limited to 1080p
at 60Hz. That’s fine for the time being, but
with 4K quickly becoming the new standard
on TV sets it’s only a matter of time until 4K
resolution is the standard for most content.
As is typical with mini-PCs, the CuBox-M
doesn’t come pre-loaded with any software.
It’s compatible with the Linux kernel version
4.9 or higher, and it can run Linux or a version
of Android. SolidRun provides software built
for the SoM (go.pcworld.com/4som) for
download via its website and GitHub,
including versions of Android 10 (with 11
coming soon), Debian, and two Linux
versions for embedded devices: Buildroot
and Yocto.
The CuBox-M could be an interesting
device for makers who want something a little
more like a PC out of the box rather than a
bare single-board computer. Regardless, this
is pretty much a device for software
development and DIY smart-home projects.
It’s not the ideal choice for a home theater PC
or other uses where 4K output matters.