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| The Jupiter2 is a new mini PC with an unusual architecture |
The RISC-V ecosystem is heating up, and the latest proof comes in a tiny, powerful box. Milk-V has officially launched pre-orders for its Jupiter2 mini PC—a compact developer-focused system that packs surprising specs for just $300. But before you rush to add one to your cart, here’s what you need to know about this unconventional machine.
Right now, you can secure your unit exclusively through Arace, the official pre-order partner. The price is remarkably low for what’s inside, but there’s a catch: this isn’t your average home or office PC. “Customers” looking for a daily driver might want to look elsewhere—the Jupiter2 is first and foremost a RISC-V developer platform. And that’s exactly why enthusiasts and embedded engineers are getting excited.
👉 Secure your Milk-V Jupiter2 pre-order at Arace here
Spacemit K3 SoC: Eight Cores and RISC‑V’s Latest Instruction Set
At the heart of the Jupiter2 sits the Spacemit K3, an octa-core processor built around the company’s A100 compute cores. While raw clock speeds haven’t been fully detailed, the architectural highlight is support for the RVA23 instruction set—a relatively recent RISC-V profile that brings standardized vector extensions and virtualization features. For developers, this means less time wrestling with experimental toolchains and more time building real applications.
But the K3 isn’t just about CPU grunt. Milk-V claims up to 60 TOPS of AI performance, putting the Jupiter2 in the same ballpark as some entry-level NPU-equipped x86 and Arm boards. That level of local inference capability opens the door to running LLMs, computer vision pipelines, and other machine learning workloads entirely on-device—no cloud subscription required. For privacy-focused edge AI projects, that’s a massive selling point.
Networking That Belongs on a Server
One area where the Jupiter2 punches far above its weight class is networking. The inclusion of an SFP+ cage is almost unheard of in a $300 mini PC. With SFP+, you can achieve 10 Gbps link speeds—roughly 1.2 GB per second of real transfer. That’s enough to saturate a NAS, run a high-speed router, or build a compact home‑lab firewall.
And Milk-V didn’t stop there. You also get:
- Gigabit Ethernet (as a fallback or for management)
- WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity
- A SIM card slot with support for an optional cellular module (4G/5G ready)
For IoT gateways, portable edge servers, or even mobile robotics, having both fiber and cellular options in a 5W‑class device is genuinely rare.
Storage and Expansion: UFS, M.2 SSD, and PCIe 3.0
The Jupiter2 supports UFS storage onboard, but the real flexibility comes from the M.2 2280 slot. It’s wired for four lanes of PCIe 3.0, so you’re not bandwidth-starved. Pop in a high‑capacity NVMe SSD, and you’ve got a surprisingly snappy development environment or local database node.
Display Outputs: eDP and USB‑C with Alt Mode
You won’t be stuck with a serial console. The Jupiter2 includes an eDP port capable of driving a 2.5K panel at 90Hz—smooth enough for UI work or even lightweight media playback. Meanwhile, the USB‑C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and can output 4K at 60Hz. That’s two independent displays if you need them.
For I/O, you get:
- Two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB‑C form factor)
- Four USB 2.0 Type‑A ports
- Power via USB‑PD or a 12V input using two ATX pins
The dual power options are thoughtful—use a standard USB‑C charger for portability, or wire it into a 12V industrial supply for permanent installations.
Operating Systems: Fedora and Ubuntu 26.04 Ready
Out of the box, Milk-V is targeting Fedora and Ubuntu 26.04 as supported operating systems. That’s a pragmatic choice: both distributions have mature RISC‑V builds, and Ubuntu 26.04 (the next LTS, expected in early 2026) will likely include solid RVA23 enablement. Developers can expect a near‑standard Linux experience, though as with any new architecture, expect some package‑compilation adventures.
👉 Learn more about the Milk-V Jupiter2’s specs and roadmap on the official Milk-V Jupiter2 product page
Who Is This Really For?
Let’s be honest: the Jupiter2 is not competing with a NUC or a Raspberry Pi 5 for mainstream users. At $300, it’s more expensive than a Pi and less polished than an Intel N100 mini PC for general tasks. But for RISC‑V software and hardware developers, it’s a golden ticket.
- Kernel and distro maintainers get a high‑performance RVA23 testbed.
- AI edge researchers can evaluate 60 TOPS of RISC‑V NPU capability before larger silicon arrives.
- Network engineers can build a 10G firewall or router with an open ISA.
- Educators have a concrete platform to teach computer architecture without proprietary ISAs.
The presence of SFP+, cellular expansion, and 60 TOPS suggests Milk-V sees the Jupiter2 as an edge AI gateway first—something you’d deploy in a factory, lab, or remote monitoring station.
The Bottom Line
Pre‑orders are live at Arace for $300, with shipping expected in the coming months. If you’re working on RISC‑V bring‑up, need a compact 10GbE appliance, or simply want to support the open‑source hardware movement, the Jupiter2 is a compelling buy.
But if you’re a casual user hoping for a silent YouTube box or Windows machine, save your money. The Jupiter2 doesn’t run Windows, and its software ecosystem is still maturing. That said, for the tinkerers, the builders, and the future‑of‑computing crowd—this is your next playground.
Pre-order link: Arace Milk-V Jupiter2
Official specs and docs: Milk-V Jupiter2
Will RISC‑V finally have its “Raspberry Pi moment”? The Jupiter2 is the closest we’ve seen yet.
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| SFP+ is available, a cellular modem can be installed as well |