System76 Packs Desktop Power Into 11-Liter Thelio Prime
System76 is launching a compact Linux desktop that supports up to 96 GB of memory and 8 TB of storage while fitting into just 11 liters of space. The Thelio Prime arrives November 18.
System76 has unveiled a new compact form factor for its Thelio desktop line, arriving November 18. The announcement came from Carl Richell, System76's founder and CEO, who shared details about the upcoming System76 Thelio Prime on social media.
The Thelio Prime measures just 11 liters in volume—11.3″ L x 5.9″ W x 11.1″ H (288mm × 148.9mm × 281.9mm) in vertical orientation with feet. Despite its diminutive footprint, the machine does not compromise on internal capacity, supporting configurations with up to 96 GB of Dual Channel DDR5 memory and as much as 8 TB of storage via 1 x M.2 PCIe Gen5 NVMe and 1 x M.2 PCIe Gen4 NVMe slots.
System76's marketing for the device emphasizes reclaiming desk space. The company's preview page declares, "Get your desk back," and describes the machine as "An 11-liter Linux desktop that fits almost anywhere, without giving up on performance."
Connectivity options are distributed across the chassis. The top of the unit includes 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-C), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type A), microphone, and headphone jacks. The rear houses 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1, 4 x USB 2.0 ports, and 1 x BIOS Flashback Button. Video output includes 1 x HDMI 2.1 and 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4 support for integrated graphics, with additional DisplayPort and HDMI options available depending on discrete GPU selection.
The system will ship with processor options limited to AMD Ryzen 9000 Series chips. Graphics capabilities come from AMD Radeon integrated graphics, with optional AMD or Nvidia discrete GPUs available.
System76 distinguishes itself through its custom software stack. The Thelio Prime ships by default with Pop!_OS running the COSMIC desktop environment, both developed in-house. The company states, "No bloatware, no distractions you didn't choose. Open source, and entirely yours." Customers who prefer an alternative can request Ubuntu 24.04 LTS instead.
Pricing for the Thelio Prime starts at $1,599. System76 is accepting registrations on the product preview page for customers who wish to receive notification when the system becomes available for order.