MetaComputing, a company established in Switzerland in 2024, has unveiled the “MetaComputing AI PC with Framework Laptop 13.”
This innovative device boasts the CIX P1 12-core Cortex-A720/A520 System on Chip (SoC), delivering 45 TOPS, similar to what is found in single-board computers such as the Orion O6, Orange Pi 6 Plus, and the MINISFORUM MS-R1 mini PC.
Notably, this is reportedly the inaugural laptop utilizing the CIX P1. It offers configurations of 16GB or 32GB RAM along with a 1TB SSD, and is presented in the Framework Laptop 13 chassis (Pro model). Additionally, a “Standard” variant featuring a co-branded Framework and Cooler Master Case is available.
MetaComputing AI PC specifications (preliminary):
- SoC – CIX P1 (CP8180)
- 12-core DynamIQ processor
- 4x Cortex-A720 high-performance cores @ up to 2.6 GHz
- 4x Cortex-A720 mid-performance cores
- 4x Cortex-A520 energy-efficient cores
- Cache – 12MB shared L3 cache
- GPU – Arm Immortalis G720 MC10 with hardware ray-tracing support, compatible with graphics APIs: Vulkan 1.3, OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 3.0
- VPU
- Video Decoder – Supports up to 8Kp60 AV1, H.265, H.264, VP9, VP8, H.263, MPEG-4, MPEG-2
- Video Encoder – Capable of up to 8Kp30 H.265, H.264, VP9, VP8
- AI accelerator – Offers up to 28.8 TOPS Neural Processing Unit (NPU), supporting INT4/INT8/INT16, FP16/BF16, and TF32; achieving up to 45 TOPS with CPU and NPU combined
- Manufacturing Process – TSMC 6nm technology
- TDP – 28 Watts
- Memory – Available in 16GB or 32GB configurations
- Storage – 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display (Pro model only) – 13.5-inch screen with a resolution of 2256×1504, 60Hz refresh rate, 400nits brightness, and 100% sRGB color accuracy
- Video Output (Standard model only) – HDMI expansion card
- Camera (Pro model only) – 1080p60 webcam
- Wireless Connectivity – Intel Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 AX210 module
- USB Options
- Standard model – USB-C expansion card
- Pro model – Dual USB-C expansion cards
- User Input (Pro model only) – Standard QWERTY keyboard with touchpad
- Miscellaneous – Fingerprint reader (Pro model only)
- Power Supply – Delivered through USB-C port
- Battery – 55Wh capacity (Pro model only)
- Dimensions & Weight
- Standard model – Dimensions TBD
- Pro model – 296.63 x 228.98 x 15.85 mm | 1.3kg
The specifications remain preliminary, based on limited details provided by the company. The information was supplemented with data from the Framework Laptop 13 and prior CIX P1 boards to establish these specifications.MetaComputing AI PC with COOLER MASTER case
The system will ship pre-installed with Ubuntu 25.04, and the company asserts that it offers “a stable and developer-friendly environment optimized for Arm and AI workloads,” enabling users to seamlessly run AI frameworks, development tools, and edge applications without additional configurations.
If the design appears familiar, it stems from the DeepComputing DC-ROMA mainboard, which is based on a StarFive JH7110 RISC-V SoC.
While both DeepComputing and MetaComputing were founded by Yuning Liang, they operate as distinct entities; the former is based in Hong Kong, while the latter is a newer establishment situated in Switzerland. The Framework Laptop 13 features a modular design
Though the specifications look impressive on paper, several concerns arise regarding the solution’s practicality. The technical specifications provided are somewhat lacking, and there has yet to be a demonstration of the laptop or mini AI PC.
Uncertainty looms over the hardware’s developmental status. Additionally, there are significant apprehensions about deploying the CIX P1 in a battery-operated laptop, especially given the high idle power consumption rates observed with the Radxa Orion O6, which measured between 16 to 17 watts—findings corroborated by reviews of the MINISFORUM MS-R1 mini PC.
Historically, devices launched by DeepComputing carry premium price tags, and the MetaComputing AI PC with Framework Laptop 13 is no exception, retailing at $999 for the 16GB RAM version and $1,099 for the 32GB configuration. The “Standard” mini PC variants are offered at $549 and $649, respectively, depending on RAM.
Source link: Cnx-software.com.
