[But Aaeon's GENE-CML5 is not, it is an ultra-compact single board computer (SBC) that supports socketed Intel 10th generation Core CPUs.

Of course, it is not intended to be carried around in a pocket or palm of your hand with a PC; if your project requires something more powerful than a Raspberry Pi or similar Arm-based SBC, you can build a small, powerful system with x86 computing power around it It is possible to build a small, powerful system with x86 computing capabilities around it. Perhaps it could replace a small Windows or Linux desktop for basic computing tasks, a lightweight server, or a low-power gaming PC for less demanding titles.

Compared to a typical Raspberry Pi, the GENE-CML5 (via LinuxGizmos) is just a bit larger, measuring 5.75" long by 4" wide (146mm x 101.7mm). That's half the appeal; Aaeon, a division of Asus, makes SBCs for industrial and embedded platforms. But being rooted in x86 and supporting relatively powerful CPUs means that there are other opportunities to make something like this, which is the other half of what makes this product so interesting.

Aaeon offers several SKUs based on Intel's Q470, Q470E, and H420E chipsets. The board supports the Core i7 10700TE, an 8-core/16-thread Comet Lake processor with a base clock of 2 GHz, a maximum turbo clock of 4.4 GHz, 16 MB of L3 cache, and a 35 W TDP. Unfortunately, 10-core Comet Lake CPUs are not supported.

It also features Intel's UHD Graphics 630 (GT2), enough to play games like Overwatch, League of Legends, and other lightweight titles.

The board can be fitted with up to 64 GB of DDR4-2933 SO-DIMM memory. For storage, there is an M.2 slot (on the back of the board) that provides PCIe 3.0 x4 bandwidth and two SATA 6Gbps slots.

Other features include USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 connectivity, dual GbE LAN ports, DisplayPort and VGA output, onboard HD audio, and UEFI BIOS. There is also a header with four USB 2.0 ports.

No pricing was mentioned, but interested parties can easily request a quote from Aaeon.