Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q vs MeLE Quieter 4C
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q is both faster and cheaper here - the default pick unless you need something specific from the other.
The verdict
- CPU
- Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q has 2.4x the CPU throughput (12,829 vs 5,307 PassMark).
- Plex
- MeLE Quieter 4C transcodes more 4K HDR streams (~5 vs ~3).
- Idle power
- MeLE Quieter 4C idles lower (7W vs 11W) - cheaper to run 24/7.
- RAM ceiling
- Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q takes more RAM (64GB vs 16GB).
- Local AI
- Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q has a PCIe slot for a low-profile GPU - the other needs a DIY build for local LLMs.
Which wins for each job
| Job | Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q | MeLE Quieter 4C |
|---|---|---|
| Plex / Jellyfin | ~3 streams | ~5 streams win |
| Frigate NVR | ~4 cameras | ~4 cameras |
| Proxmox / VMs | 12,829 PassMark win | 5,307 PassMark |
| Firewall / router | 1 NICs | 1 NICs |
| Local AI / LLM | PCIe GPU slot win | no slot |
Approximate - capacity estimates from curated specs, the same logic as the recommender. Verify against your exact setup. Prices move; check the retailer.
Full specs
| Spec | Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q | MeLE Quieter 4C |
|---|---|---|
| Price (list) | $220 | $220 |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-10700T | Intel Processor N100 |
| Cores / threads | 8 | 4 |
| PassMark | 12,829 | 5,307 |
| iGPU | Intel UHD 630 | Intel UHD (24 EU) |
| NICs | 1 | 1 |
| NIC model | Intel I219-LM | 1GbE (chip unlisted) |
| RAM max (GB) | 64 | 16 |
| M.2 free | 1 | 1 |
| PCIe slot | x8-lp | none |
| Idle (W) | 11 | 7 |
| TDP (W) | 35 | 6 |