Beelink is putting the same Intel Core 3 Processor 304 into three different Wildcat Lake mini PCs, shifting the buying decision from CPU tier to memory, storage, and chassis design. That matters most for budget buyers who want a compact desktop, a small office box, or a starter NAS without stepping into higher-end hardware.
The lineup includes the EQ mini, EQI, and ME Pro-2, all built around Intel’s new Wildcat Lake low-power platform, according to Notebookcheck. Pricing and availability have not been disclosed, though Beelink may share more at Computex next week, where AMD’s RX 9070 GRE is also drawing attention.
“The new series includes two mini PCs and one NAS-oriented device,” Beelink said in its launch material, positioning the systems around compact desktops, AI workloads, and storage-heavy use cases.
Budget buyers get one Core 3 chip across three Beelink chassis
The core news is simple: Beelink is not splitting this Wildcat Lake family by processor class. All three systems use the Intel Core 3 Processor 304, so the real choice becomes form factor.
That is useful for buyers who do not want to decode a messy stack of CPU SKUs. Instead, the split is clearer:
| Model | Main role | Memory support | Storage focus | PSU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EQ mini | Entry-level compact mini PC | LPDDR5 only | Two M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSDs | 45 W built-in PSU |
| EQI | Larger mini PC with more flexibility | Desktop-grade DDR5 | PCIe 4.0 SSD support | 85 W built-in PSU |
| ME Pro-2 | NAS-oriented mini PC | DDR5 only | 2x 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch HDDs + PCIe 4.0 SSD | 120 W PSU |
All three models support UFS 3.1 storage, PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, dual USB4 ports, and a 10 GbE NIC. That is the surprising part. Beelink is putting connectivity usually associated with pricier machines into a budget-conscious Wildcat Lake lineup.
Who should care first?
If you were already looking at a compact desktop for everyday work, the EQ mini is the cleanest starting point. If you want replaceable desktop memory, the EQI is the more flexible box. If your priority is local storage capacity, the ME Pro-2 is the only one of the three built around hard drive bays.
For broader compact-storage context, MLXIO has also covered how vendors are pushing small hardware into bigger storage roles, including Aoostar Cuts 11-Bay WTR Max to $559, Dares NAS Buyers.
Builders get Intel Wildcat Lake in a low-power Core 3 package
Wildcat Lake is Intel’s new low-power processor family aimed at efficiency-focused systems. In Beelink’s lineup, the important chip is the Intel Core 3 Processor 304.
The processor combines:
- CPU layout: One Cougar Cove performance core and four Darkmont efficiency cores
- Graphics: Integrated Xe3-LPG GPU
- AI block: Onboard NPU for AI workloads
- AI claim: Up to 24 TOPS from the NPU and iGPU combined
- Performance claim: Around 120% higher single-core performance and 60% multi-core uplift over the Core i3 N305
Those are Beelink/Intel-side claims, not independent benchmark results. Real-world performance will depend on Beelink’s cooling, power limits, memory configuration, and final firmware.
What does the Core 3 Processor 304 signal?
This is an entry-level Intel part, not a workstation CPU. The likely fit is mainstream productivity, local media use, browser-heavy desk work, and lightweight AI-assisted tasks that can benefit from the NPU or iGPU.
The interesting builder angle is the Intel 18A connection. Beelink’s launch material says Wildcat Lake is based on Intel’s 18A process technology, which introduces RibbonFET gate-all-around transistors and PowerVia backside power delivery. Those are Intel’s process-level changes intended to improve power efficiency, thermals, and signal stability versus prior FinFET-based designs.
For readers tracking Intel’s broader client roadmap, this sits alongside MLXIO’s recent Intel coverage such as Intel Grabs First Shot at Microsoft Surface Pro 12.
Upgraders must choose between LPDDR5, DDR5, and hard drive bays
The biggest practical difference across the three Beelink Wildcat Lake systems is not the CPU. It is expandability.
The EQ mini measures 11.2 x 11.2 x 3.7 cm and supports LPDDR5 RAM only. LPDDR5 is typically power-efficient and compact, but it usually gives buyers less room to upgrade than standard desktop memory.
The EQI grows to 12.6 x 12.6 x 4.42 cm and supports desktop-grade DDR5 RAM. It also adds a 2.5 GbE NIC alongside the shared 10 GbE NIC, and its built-in PSU rises to 85 W.
The ME Pro-2 is the largest system at 12.1 x 12.1 x 11.2 cm. That extra height serves a purpose: it supports 2x 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch HDDs plus a PCIe 4.0 SSD. It also supports DDR5 RAM, adds a 2.5 GbE NIC, and uses a 120 W PSU.
Does PCIe 4.0 SSD support matter here?
Yes, mostly because it gives these machines a faster local storage path than hard drives or older storage interfaces. In the ME Pro-2, that matters even more. The hard drives can handle capacity, while the PCIe 4.0 SSD can serve as the faster system drive or active project drive, depending on final software support and configuration.
Beelink has not disclosed SSD slot limits beyond the details reported for the models, so buyers should wait for final spec sheets before assuming a maximum storage layout.
Students, offices, and home NAS buyers face different trade-offs
The best model depends less on raw compute and more on what you want to change later.
For a basic study desk or home setup, the EQ mini makes the most sense if the final price is low and the fixed memory configuration is enough. Its small 11.2 x 11.2 x 3.7 cm case and 45 W built-in PSU point to a machine designed around minimal desk impact.
For a small office or tinkerer, the EQI is the more practical pick. The move to desktop-grade DDR5 RAM gives it more configuration flexibility, while the extra 2.5 GbE NIC expands networking options beyond the standard 10 GbE port shared by all three models.
For a home storage buyer, the ME Pro-2 is the only serious option in this lineup. Two hard drive bays give users room for capacity-focused storage, while the PCIe 4.0 SSD gives the system a faster tier for the operating system or active data.
A simple buying scenario
- Basic desktop buyer: Choose EQ mini if low cost and compact size matter more than upgrades.
- Upgrade-minded buyer: Choose EQI if replaceable DDR5 matters.
- Storage-first buyer: Choose ME Pro-2 if the system needs hard drive bays and faster networking in one box.
That is the cleanest read from the specs Beelink has shared so far.
NAS appliance makers now have a mini PC storage box to answer
The ME Pro-2 is the most strategically interesting model because it blends mini PC and NAS roles. A NAS-style device is a small always-on computer that stores files centrally and exposes them over a network. Here, Beelink is pairing that role with 10 GbE, an extra 2.5 GbE NIC, two HDD bays, and a PCIe 4.0 SSD.
That does not automatically make it better than a dedicated NAS appliance. The value depends on details Beelink has not fully disclosed:
- Drive compatibility: Which HDDs and SSDs are supported?
- Cooling: Can the chassis handle two drives and sustained network transfers?
- Noise: Will the fan profile suit a desk or living room?
- Software: What operating system options will Beelink support?
- Storage features: Will users get the redundancy, caching, or sharing tools they expect?
- Price: Can it compete once drives are added?
The hardware layout is promising. The unanswered software and thermal questions are where NAS-oriented mini PCs usually prove themselves or disappoint.
Buyers should verify six specs before choosing a Wildcat Lake mini PC
Beelink has shared enough to make the lineup worth tracking, but not enough to make a final buying call.
Before choosing between the EQ mini, EQI, and ME Pro-2, buyers should verify:
- Final price: None has been disclosed.
- Availability: Regional launch timing remains unknown.
- RAM limits: Capacity ceilings matter, especially for the DDR5 models.
- Memory design: Confirm whether modules are user-replaceable.
- SSD layout: Slot count and supported sizes should be checked model by model.
- Cooling behavior: The same Core 3 Processor 304 can behave differently across three chassis.
The strongest case for Beelink’s Wildcat Lake family is segmentation. One CPU, three bodies, three upgrade paths. If Computex brings firm pricing and complete configuration sheets, the decision will come down to a simple question: do you need the smallest box, the most flexible memory, or the most storage?
Key Takeaways
- All three models use the same Intel Core 3 Processor 304, making chassis and storage features the main buying factors.
- Budget buyers get higher-end connectivity including dual USB4 ports and a 10 GbE NIC across the lineup.
- The ME Pro-2 gives Beelink a storage-focused option for users who want a compact starter NAS.
