Mini computers are wonderful for many reasons, but one of the most notable is a small footprint. While some people have large homes and rooms, others are very limited in space. If you live in a small apartment, for example, you may only have room for a small desk; a mini-PC will save space and may even be VESA mountable to your monitor. The small size also makes them ideal in a living room -- both large and small -- as they can easily be hidden away.
Today, ZOTAC announces upgrades to its ZBOX M-series line of mini-PCs. Featuring new Broadwell Core i3 and i5 processors, they will make awesome workstations or HTPCs.
"The first of the two new designations, the ZBOX MI522 nano is the easy choice to get into the new Broadwell architecture. Shrinking the transistors to a mere 14nm, more transistors can fit on a single chip, boosting both calculation and graphical performance over its predecessors. Planted with an Intel Core i3 processor, the nano unit only measures at 127mm x 127mm x 45mm (5in x 5in x 2in)", says ZOTAC.
The manufacturer further explains, "the ZBOX MI542 nano is a step up that is packed with more computing power with the same advanced Intel Broadwell family. With a pulsing Intel Core i5 at its foundation, the ZBOX MI542 benefits from an even faster clock speed featuring up to 2.7GHz. This powerful nano unit is available on the same petite casing with all the functions of a desktop, and is topped with a vast array of connectivity options and dual-channel memory".
ZOTAC shares the following specs.
|
Product |
ZBOX MI522 nano series |
ZBOX MI542 nano series |
|
SKU |
ZBOX-MI522NANO |
ZBOX-MI542NANO |
|
Memory |
2 x DDR3-1600 (up to 16GB) |
2 x DDR3-1600 (up to 16GB) |
|
Storage |
2.5 inch SATA HDD/SSD |
2.5 inch SATA HDD/SSD |
|
CPU |
Intel Core i3-5010U |
Intel Core i5-5200U |
|
GPU |
Intel HD Graphics 5500 |
Intel HD Graphics 5500 |
|
Display Options |
HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 |
HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 |
|
Card Reader |
3-in-1 (SD/SDHC/SDXC) |
3-in-1 (SD/SDHC/SDXC) |
|
Ethernet |
Dual 10/100/1000Mbps |
Dual 10/100/1000Mbps |
|
Wi-Fi |
802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.0 |
802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.0 |
|
USB Ports |
4 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 |
4 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 |
|
Audio |
HDMI Audio Headphone Microphone |
HDMI Audio Headphone Microphone |
|
DirectX Support |
11.2 |
11.2 |
|
Other Features |
Intel Quick Sync Video InTru 3D Intel Clear Video HD Native 4K output |
Intel Quick Sync Video InTru 3D Intel Clear Video HD Native 4K output |
|
HDCP |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Windows |
Windows Vista / 7 / 8 ready |
Windows Vista / 7 / 8 ready |
While these are essentially bare-bones offerings, ZOTAC will sell "plus" versions too, with 4GB RAM and a 500GB HDD pre-installed. This will of course increase the price. With that said, I would recommend adding the needed hardware yourself. Not only should it be less expensive, but you gain the ability to pick the hardware you want; go for 8GB of RAM and an SSD!
Pricing and availability is not yet available, so keep an eye out at your favorite computer seller if interested.