TOPC TA255 mini PC uses Core Ultra 7 255H and MCIO for external GPUs
TOPC, a mini PC brand has revealed a new compact system called TA255. The system is listed with Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, an Arrow Lake-H processor with 16 cores, 16 threads and integrated Arc 140T graphics.
The TA255 stands out because it uses an MCIO 8i connector for external PCIe devices. This interface is wired for PCIe 4.0 x8, which gives it twice the lane count of common OCuLink implementations used on many mini PCs and handhelds.
MCIO instead of OCuLink
OCuLink is typically limited to PCIe 4.0 x4 in consumer systems. MCIO 8i can provide a wider link for external GPU docks, although the final performance still depends on the dock, cable, GPU and firmware support.
In case you’re wondering what are your MCIO options, GPD has just revealed a special GPU dock with this connector. The ecosystem is indeed quite limited, but if you are after the highest performance for an external GPU, that would be the best option right now.
Source: TOPC
As for TA255 PC, the system is listed with onboard LPDDR5 memory (so no upgrades) two M.2 2280 SSD slots and a vapor chamber cooling system. Connectivity includes USB4, HDMI, DisplayPort, dual 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The Core Ultra 7 255H includes Intel Arc 140T graphics with 8 Xe-cores and a graphics frequency up to 2.25 GHz. Intel lists the processor with a 28W base power and up to 115W maximum turbo power, although mini PC vendors usually define their own power limits.
I couldn’t find any information on this PC on the English TOPC website. What I did find is a teardown of this PC showing the connector up close (gallery below).
Chinese media reports the system will be released in China in July, but no pricing has been confirmed.
Source: Mr Gao (Weibo)
