The MSI Cubi N ADL is a 0.66-litre mini PC built for professional use, with Type-C (DP Alt), DP and HDMI™ ports that support up to three displays at 4K resolution. The Thinvent Aero Mini PC is the closest alternative in this range, offering Intel Core i3 to Core Ultra 5 processors, RAM up to 64 GB and a choice of wireless options.
MSI Cubi N ADL vs Thinvent Aero Mini PC
| MSI Cubi N ADL | Thinvent Aero Mini PC, Intel Celeron N5095A | Thinvent Aero Mini PC, Intel Core i3-1215U | Thinvent Aero Mini PC, Intel Core Ultra 5 125U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel N200 or N100 options | Intel Celeron N5095A | Intel Core i3-1215U | Intel Core Ultra 5 125U |
| Cores/Threads | Not stated | 4 cores | 6 cores | 12 cores |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR4 (as stated for the 3.2 GHz configuration) | 8 GB DDR4 | Up to 64 GB DDR4 | Up to 64 GB range, 32 GB DDR5 in listed configuration |
| Storage | 512 GB HDD (as stated for the 3.2 GHz configuration); M.2 SSD and 2.5" HDD/SSD support | 128 GB SSD | 128 GB SSD | 128 GB SSD |
| Form Factor | 0.66 L mini desktop | Mini PC | Mini PC | Mini PC |
| Displays | Up to 3 displays, 4K (Type-C DP Alt, DP, HDMI™) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Wireless | Not stated | No WiFi or Dual Band WiFi | No WiFi or Dual Band WiFi | Dual LAN, No WiFi or Dual Band WiFi |
| Security | dTPM 2.0 | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home (Windows 10 Pro recommended) | DOS | DOS | DOS |
Key differences
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Higher core counts: the Thinvent Aero with Intel Core i3-1215U offers 6 cores and the Core Ultra 5 125U offers 12 cores, compared with the processor options listed for the MSI Cubi N ADL.
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Expandable memory: Thinvent Aero models support up to 64 GB of RAM across the Core i3 and Core Ultra 5 range.
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Choice of wireless: Thinvent Aero models are available with Dual Band WiFi (802.11ac) or without WiFi, so you can match the connectivity to your network.
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Dual LAN: Core i3-1215U and Core Ultra 5 125U Thinvent Aero configurations include Dual LAN.
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Trade-off: the MSI Cubi N ADL is stated to include dTPM 2.0 security and comes with Windows 10 Home, while Thinvent Aero models ship with DOS.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the MSI Cubi N ADL if you want a compact desktop with a stated dTPM 2.0 security chip and multi-display output for retail, kiosk, digital signage or office use. Choose a Thinvent Aero Mini PC if you need more cores, higher RAM capacity, Dual LAN or a choice of Intel Core i3 or Core Ultra 5 processors.
