MeLE Quieter2Q Fanless Mini PC Review: Small, Silent, and Surprisingly Powerful

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of a compact, powerful computer that doesn’t make a peep. I’ve tried several different mini PCs in the past, but they always seemed to have some sort of compromise: either they were noisy, lacked power, or were too expensive. It’s like the saying goes: “You can’t have it all.” This is why I was so intrigued by the MeLE Quieter2Q Fanless Mini PC, a small form factor computer that promises to deliver both power and silence.

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MeLE Quieter2Q Fanless Mini PC, Celeron J4125 8GB 128GB Micro Computer, Small Desktop with Gigabit...
  • Ideal for Industrial and Business Use – Powered by the Intel Celeron J4125 CPU, the Quieter 2Q...
  • Memory and Storage - This Quieter2Q small computer equipped with 8GB LPDDR4 RAM, 128GB storage,...
  • Compact and Fanless Cooling Design - This fanless computers leverage an passive cooling technology,...
  • Dual-band WiFi, Gigabit Ethernet, Dual HDMI - The small computer comes with a Gigabit Ethernet port,...

Things to Think About Before Buying a Fanless Mini PC

Mini PCs offer a lot of versatility: they are great for media centers, web browsing, and even light gaming. If you’re looking for a small, quiet computer that doesn’t take up much desk space, a fanless mini PC might be the perfect solution. However, it’s important to remember that these devices are not as powerful as a full-fledged desktop computer. If you need to run demanding applications, a more powerful computer with a dedicated graphics card might be a better choice.

Before you buy a fanless mini PC, there are a few things to consider:

* Power needs: How much power do you need? If you plan on using your mini PC for light tasks like web browsing and document editing, a fanless model could be fine. But if you’re going to be running more demanding programs, you’ll need a mini PC with more powerful specs and a fan to keep it cool.
* Ports: Ensure the mini PC has enough ports for your needs. Think about how many monitors you’ll need, and if you’ll need any specific ports like USB-C or Ethernet.
* Storage: How much storage space do you need? Fanless mini PCs often come with limited storage, so you may need to consider upgrading to a larger drive.
* Expandability: Some fanless mini PCs have slots for upgrades. Be sure to check if it’s possible to expand the storage and RAM for future use.

Introducing the MeLE Quieter2Q Fanless Mini PC: A Detailed Look

The MeLE Quieter2Q Fanless Mini PC is a small, compact computer that measures just 4.72 inches in width, 4.13 inches in depth, and 1.69 inches in height. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron J4125 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. The MeLE Quieter2Q comes equipped with two HDMI ports, one Gigabit Ethernet port, and four USB ports. The Quieter2Q is designed to be a no-frills, quiet computer that is ideal for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and watching movies. It’s also a great option for those who are looking for a compact and portable computer.

Pros:

* Compact size: Takes up minimal desk space.
* Silent operation: No fan means quiet operation, perfect for those who want a quiet workspace.
* Energy efficient: Uses less power than a typical desktop computer, saving money on your electricity bill.
* Affordable price: Offers great value for the price compared to other mini PCs on the market.
* Expandable: It supports an M.2 NVMe SSD for storage expansion, giving you the flexibility to increase storage space as needed.

Cons:

* Limited power: The Celeron processor is not as powerful as a more expensive CPU. It may not be suitable for resource-intensive tasks, gaming, or video editing.
* Thermal limitations: The fanless design leads to potential thermal throttling under heavy workloads. It may be necessary to reduce performance to prevent overheating.

Features & Benefits of the MeLE Quieter2Q Fanless Mini PC

Performance: Quiet Power for Everyday Tasks

The MeLE Quieter2Q Fanless Mini PC is powered by an Intel Celeron J4125 processor, which is a dual-core processor with a base clock speed of 2.0 GHz and a burst frequency of 2.7 GHz. This processor is sufficient for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and light multimedia playback. While it’s not a gaming machine, it’s more than capable of handling casual games or older titles. The 8GB of RAM ensures smooth multitasking, allowing you to switch between multiple applications without experiencing lag.

Connectivity: All the Ports You Need

The MeLE Quieter2Q offers a good selection of ports. It has two HDMI ports, which allows you to connect to two monitors simultaneously. You’ll also find a Gigabit Ethernet port for a wired internet connection, and four USB ports for connecting peripherals like a keyboard, mouse, and external storage devices. These ports make it easy to connect all your essential devices, ensuring a seamless computing experience.

Silence is Golden: The Fanless Design

The biggest selling point of the MeLE Quieter2Q is its fanless design. This makes the mini PC incredibly quiet, making it perfect for use in a home office, bedroom, or other sensitive environments. The lack of a fan also contributes to the overall energy efficiency of the device. However, this fanless design comes with a tradeoff: the Quieter2Q can get noticeably warm, especially when under heavy load. The lack of a fan means that the device relies on passive cooling, which can sometimes be insufficient to dissipate heat effectively. This can lead to thermal throttling, where the CPU slows down to prevent overheating.

Storage: Expandability Options

The MeLE Quieter2Q comes with 128GB of storage, which is decent for basic usage. If you need more storage, you can easily expand the storage capacity by adding an M.2 NVMe SSD. This is a huge advantage, as it allows you to upgrade the device without any hassles. Simply pop in a new NVMe SSD and you’re ready to go.

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro

The MeLE Quieter2Q comes pre-loaded with Windows 11 Pro, making it easy to get started. Windows 11 Pro is a powerful and versatile operating system that offers a wide range of features and functionality. It’s also compatible with a vast ecosystem of apps, making it a great choice for everyday use.

User Reviews: What Other People Are Saying

I’ve done some research on the internet to see what other people are saying about the MeLE Quieter2Q Fanless Mini PC. Overall, the reviews have been positive, with many users praising its quiet operation, compact size, and ease of use. Some users have reported that the device gets warm under heavy workloads, but most users have found this to be a minor inconvenience.

One user said: “So far so good. Took a while to arrive, shipped from Shenzhen for $30 discount. Out of the box you get the unit and the usb-c power adapter –no other cables, brackets, and extras included. Windows 10 Pro license is activated automatically once its powered on and connected to the internet. Initially it will prompt you to select for Windows System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) from the System Preparation Tool and reboot. This will re-initialize a fresh install of Windows 10 Pro build 20H2. M.2 NVMe 2280 is supported. Added a 1TB WD Blue SN550 NVMe SSD and reinstalled Windows 10 Pro from it with no issues. Prior to any reinstallation, be sure to perform Device Driver Backups and save it to a thumb drive for hassle free process. MeLE Quieter2 is snappy, responsive, super quiet, and boots up fast–of course with fresh Windows 10 and no bloatware, yet.Quirks: the unit gets hot to touch for intensive tasks (warning label included); the USB ports are “upside down” than usual so remember to twist when plugging peripherals; and sample video, music, and other test files can be found on the Desktop or C: drive on the first boot and before selecting the OOBE. The unit is also not fully portable since it needs to be plugged in with the supplied adapter at all times.So far, the MeLE Quieter2 is not bad for typical desktop work and other projects like digital signage. The form factor (size of a typical external drive) and expandability for faster (e.g. NVMe support) and larger storage option are major pluses. However, the price point for a Celeron unit is a decision point for me. If these were priced more competitively, I probably end up owning 3-5 of these for various projects, applications, and experiments.”

Another user said: “I have been using this Mele 2Q fan-less PC for 6 months now as a video streaming and media centre hooked up to my large screen TV. Because of the super low power consumption (max 10 Watts max, ¬3-4 watts under normal use and much less when on standby) I leave the Mini PC running 24/7. A wireless mouse and Bluetooth keyboard are necessary additions if used in the TV room as a media server.PROS: 1. Super portable if i need to take a media server on vacation.2. Form factor accepts a second (potentially super fast) NVMe M2 form factor drive (whereas alternate brand fanned versions usually only accept the older tech 2.5 inch SATA SSD for extra storage (but disk speed difference are not noticeable without doing a speed test)). I don’t think that the Celeron chips are capable of supporting more than ~550 mbs sequential read/write and ~150 random read/writes speeds anyway so additional super fast M2 speeds are moot.3. Solid construction and easy to install a second drive4. Processing power of the latest series of Intel Celeron chips are all perfectly adequate to stream movies and as a media centre and for web browsing, and all the Microsoft Office functions.5. Boot speeds for windows are 20-30 seconds (as fast as any of my more powerful machines) : perfectly acceptable and minutes quicker than old legacy HDD machines.6. For around / under $200 this is a no-brainier and vastly improves my TV experience and relaxation time.7. Super easy to take on holiday.8. Uses max 10Watts power (same as a super efficient LED light bulb) , under normal use 3.6 W and practically zero power on standby.9. I trested an external NVMe M2 drive with fast USB 3.2 data cable and the Mele 2Q mini PC was able to write to this external drive just as quickly as to its internal drives at ~550 mbs sequential read/write and ~150 random read/writes speeds (Random 4K Queues=32 Thread=1), which is light years quicker than the fastest USB 3.1 or 3.0 2.5 inch backup external drives from a few years ago, and also light years quicker than any existing USB memory stick, but not as quick as the max theoretical speed apparently achievable by the M2 drive or 2000-3000mbs. (although i havent been able to get any of my (admittedly older) machines to run above the 550 speeds)CONS: 1. Edges of the box are super sharp hardened plastic and likely to tear my PC bag so i rounded the edges slightly with a file.2. Occasional glitching (which may be caused by CPU thermal throttling / overheating? (which is a problem as there is no fan))3. Thermal CPU speed throttling will be more of a factor than with the fan-cooled Mini PC (but any speed differences are unnoticeable unless tested)4. Mele 2Q Mini PC gets noticeably hot. (CPU normally runs at 70-90 and up to 105 degrees Centigrade, and outside box up to ~70 degrees C. ) (whereas the cube \mini \pcs with mini fans run noticeably cooler at ¬60 degrees C, and appear to glitch less)GLITCHING; I have found that occasionally , the Mele 2Q Mini PC glitches and I need to reboot or reset some of the settings. The glitches that i have experienced are 1. Screen resolution resets to a resolution unintelligible by my large screen TV which means that i need to hook the Mini PC up to another monitor to reset because my large TV goes blank. This has happened 4 times now and is a pain. 2. Wifi functions disappear (which is solved (after some fiddling, time waste) with a simple re-boot. So I have now abandoned the Mele Mini PC as my main media server (i still take it on holiday) and I bought and am using one of the other larger square cube Nuc Celeron type alternate brand mini pcs for my media server (at a slightly cheaper price) and so far after one month i haven’t had any glitches (as yet), and the fan is super quiet, unnoticeable, and I’m happier running a cooler Mini PC (which anyway hibernates / sleeps when not in active use).Having said this, my desktop work PC tower i7 (legacy tech) consumes at least 10-20 times the power and also glitches when left on for protracted periods / weeks / months and the fan is very noisy, compared to any of my mini PCs which run silent (with or without fans).”

A Quiet, Compact, and Value-Packed Choice

The MeLE Quieter2Q Fanless Mini PC is a great choice for those who need a quiet, compact computer for everyday tasks. It’s powerful enough for web browsing, document editing, and light multimedia playback, and it’s very energy-efficient thanks to its fanless design. The MeLE Quieter2Q may not be suitable for gamers or users who need to run demanding applications, but it’s an excellent choice for anyone who needs a quiet and affordable computer that won’t take up much desk space. If you’re looking for a great mini PC that doesn’t require a fan, Click here to check out the MeLE Quieter2Q!