MSI Intros MS-CF13 Mini-ITX Fanless, Ultra Low-Power Motherboard

[Nomad76]

We are excited to introduce the MS-CF13 Mini-ITX motherboard, a groundbreaking solution designed to meet the demands of modern applications with its fanless, low-profile, and ultra low-power features. Powered by the Intel Alder Lake-N SoC series, the MS-CF13 offers exceptional performance while maintaining energy efficiency, making it an ideal choice for a variety of industries.

Key Features:

• Powered by Intel Alder Lake-N Processor: The MS-CF13 is equipped with Intel Alder Lake-N PC Client & Embedded Series SoC, delivering reliable and efficient performance for diverse applications.
• High-Speed Memory: Featuring a DDR5 4800 MHz SODIMM slot, the motherboard supports up to 16 GB of memory, ensuring robust data handling capabilities.
• Triple Independent Displays: Supports DP, HDMI/DP, and LVDS/eDP, making it perfect for applications that require multiple high-resolution screens.
• Enhanced Network Connectivity: Includes 2 2.5 GbE LAN ports with RJ-45, providing high-speed network connections for data-intensive tasks.

• Versatile Expansion and Storage: Offers 1 M.2 E Key slot, 1 M.2 B Key (with SIM Holder, B+M key supported) and 1 SATA 3.0 port, ensuring extensive expansion and storage capabilities.
• Comprehensive I/O Ports: The MS-CF13 features 2 USB 10 Gbps, 1 USB 5 Gbps, 3 USB 2.0, 6 COM, GPIO, Audio, and a 3 W amplifier, facilitating seamless connectivity with various devices.
• Advanced Security: Onboard TPM 2.0 provides enhanced security features, crucial for sensitive applications.
• DC-IN 12 V: Supports a stable 12 V DC input, making it suitable for environments with consistent power requirements.

Industry Applications:
The MS-CF13 Mini-ITX motherboard is particularly well-suited for these industries due to several key features:

1. DIGITAL SIGNAGE

• Fanless Design: Ensures silent operation, which is crucial for environments where noise can be disruptive.
• Multiple Display Outputs: Supports triple independent displays (DP, HDMI/DP, LVDS/eDP), allowing for dynamic and high-resolution digital signage.
• Low-Power Consumption: Reduces energy costs and is ideal for installations that require continuous operation.

2. MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

• Low-Profile Form Factor: Fits into compact medical devices where space is at a premium.
• High Reliability: The fanless design reduces the risk of mechanical failure, ensuring consistent performance.
• Enhanced Connectivity: Multiple USB and COM ports facilitate the connection of various medical instruments and devices.

3. EDGE COMPUTING

• Ultra Low-Power Consumption: Essential for edge devices that need to operate efficiently in remote or power-constrained environments.
• Robust Processing Power: Intel Alder Lake-N SoC provides the necessary computational power for real-time data processing and analytics.

4. SECURITY SURVEILLANCE

• Multiple Display Outputs: Supports multiple high-resolution displays, which is critical for monitoring and surveillance applications.
• High-Speed Network Connectivity: 2 2.5 GbE LAN ports ensure fast and reliable data transmission for video feeds.
• Fanless Design: Enhances reliability and reduces maintenance needs, which is important for 24/7 surveillance systems.

These features collectively make the MS-CF13 Mini-ITX motherboard an ideal choice for modern applications across these industries, providing a balance of performance, efficiency, and reliability.



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[Philaphlous]

If I had to guess...probably significantly slower than Apple's fanless M1-M2-M3 lineup... And this is coming from a non-apple fanboi.

 

[hsew]

If I had to guess...probably significantly slower than Apple's fanless M1-M2-M3 lineup... And this is coming from a non-apple fanboi.

These boards aren't intended to run home OS. They are intended for NAS, Firewall, Surveillance, and other commercial applications...

For home use, there are a number of sub-$200 ADL-N or sub-$300 ADL mini-pcs which are smaller, more flexible, and more upgrade-able than their Apple counterparts.

 

[Eternit]

If I had to guess...probably significantly slower than Apple's fanless M1-M2-M3 lineup... And this is coming from a non-apple fanboi.

I have 10" tablet with N100. Installation of Windows updates got it so hot it was hard to hold it and it was throttling. I've bought it as a replacement for my old tablet with Cherry Trail Atom. It was a mistake. But it was cheaper than iPad and I don't like Android. Maybe Intel should do E-cores only Processor manufactured by TSMC.

 

[randomTPUreader]

Seems like MSI is rather late to the party on this type of SBC. There's a flood of other outfits selling loads of Alder Lake N N100-N300 SBCs, bare boards or in cases, with varying degrees of quality for almost a year now.

However, I can understand businesses being more comfortable purchasing from a well known company like MSI vs the loads of much less well known outfits that also sell them.

 

[tetrapak]

"groundbreaking solution"

 

[JWNoctis]

Hopefully I am not the only one who saw that heatsink and think, if for a moment, "that's a huge northbridge."

I wonder what's the reason the board is specified as only supporting up to 16GB of memory, when 24GB/32GB/48GB modules are available. Power? Actual utility given the use case?

 

[randomTPUreader]

Hopefully I am not the only one who saw that heatsink and think, if for a moment, "that's a huge northbridge."

I wonder what's the reason the board is specified as only supporting up to 16GB of memory, when 24GB/32GB/48GB modules are available. Power? Actual utility given the use case?

The Alder Lake N series of CPUs only support at max of 16GB of RAM. Many boards work with 32GB but it's not a guarantee.

Intel® Core™ i3-N305 Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.80 GHz) - Product Specifications | Intel

Intel® Core™ i3-N305 Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.80 GHz) quick reference with specifications, features, and technologies.

www.intel.com

 

[Solaris17]

These boards aren't intended to run home OS. They are intended for NAS, Firewall, Surveillance, and other commercial applications...

Exactly. These get put in billboards, or offer connectivity or control to isolated systems, generally. Or they are the heart of custom machines with modified OSs.

This is going to go and do something a Mac literally never will.

 

[yfn_ratchet]

Looks neat, but the drawback for a lot of these boards for things I'd actually be interested in doing is the lack of storage expandability. I don't want to have to buy some kind of mini-SAN enclosure or kill one of my M.2 slots just so I can get enough SATA ports for a home NAS. Gimme a mini-SAS, an internal OcuLink, SOMETHING. Please.

 

[randomTPUreader]

Looks neat, but the drawback for a lot of these boards for things I'd actually be interested in doing is the lack of storage expandability. I don't want to have to buy some kind of mini-SAN enclosure or kill one of my M.2 slots just so I can get enough SATA ports for a home NAS. Gimme a mini-SAS, an internal OcuLink, SOMETHING. Please.

These chips only support a total of 9 PCIe 3 lanes which is their big drawback (beyond the RAM limit) IMO. I'm sure some of that is for power efficiency but also likely done for market segmentation purposes.

About a year ago I looked long and hard for an Alder Lake N based solution for a relatively low power NAS/SAN box with the ability to use a SAS HBA, 2.5GbE or 10GbE, and the ability to host a couple of VMs or docker containers . In the end it became clear you could have one or two of those things but not all of them due to the lack of PCIe lanes. There's a few boards out there that appear like they have all that, but they use PCIe bridges to share lanes which is less than ideal.

Devices like this tick 2 of the boxes (mostly) and have limited storage options. https://www.servethehome.com/intel-core-i3-n305-and-n100-2-port-10g-2-port-2-5gbe-appliance/

In the end I went with a used Xeon W based workstation for my homelab. Not nearly as power efficient but so much more flexible while still being inexpensive!

 

[Ruru]

So is Alder Lake-N a CPU using just the E-cores?

 

[randomTPUreader]

So is Alder Lake-N a CPU using just the E-cores?

Yes, those chips are 100% all E-cores.