LattePanda Mu Ultra review: compact x86 module offers extensive connectivity

TechRadar’s Jack Laurent reviewed the LattePanda Mu Ultra, a compact x86 compute module built around an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor. The module includes 16GB of LPDDR5 memory, an Intel Arc 140V GPU and an NPU. It measures 70 x 60 mm and requires a carrier board to function fully.

Connectivity is a central feature: the module provides eight PCIe 4.0 lanes, two USB 3.2 ports at 10Gbps, and support for up to three displays, including two DisplayPort connections over USB-C. The Mini carrier board adds 2.5GbE and OcuLink. The module has no onboard storage or networking; those capabilities require external peripherals.

In Geekbench 7, the processor scored 2,260 in the single-core test and 10,200 in the multi-core test. The module and carrier used about 10W at idle and up to 55W during the benchmark. The review also reports that the fan reached 50dB at one meter during testing.

Laurent lists the Core Ultra 7 256V version with 16GB of memory at $783 and a Core Ultra 5 226V version with 16GB at $683. The Mini carrier board costs $69, while the Full-Function carrier costs $89. A heatsink, which the module requires but does not include, costs $5 to $12. The review says the Mu Ultra offers more PCIe lanes and display interfaces than the Nvidia Jetson Orin NX, and supports x86 compatibility.