Intel’s Compute Stick is a nifty little device that lets you turn any HDMI display into a full-fledged PC provided that you aren’t looking to perform processor intensive tasks, because it’s not really a powerhouse. The first-gen Compute Stick is powered by the Intel Atom Z3735 Bay Trail processor coupled with 2GB RAM, multiple reviews of the product suggest that this package is just not enough to get things done on the Compute Stick. This is why the next-gen Stick may have an Intel Core M processor instead.
On the other hand Intel will also be offering a much cheaper version of the Compute Stick which will have 8GB of onboard storage, 1GB RAM and Ubuntu Linux. The one that went on sale last month has 32GB of onboard storage and Windows 8.1, which is probably why it costs $149.99.
Intel does plan on launching more powerful versions of this PC-on-a-stick in the future, and they could come with an Intel Core M processor. As opposed to the Atom, the Core M processor will provide more compute power and better graphics performance while maintaining energy efficiency.
Despite its small size the Compute Stick has a fan which starts up when the processor gets too hot. A representative for Intel said that the company added the fan because it has plans in the future to offer Compute Stick models with Core M chips alongside Atom powered models.
Intel hasn’t said when it will launch the Core M processor powered models.
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