TMCnet News
ZOTAC ZBOX PI320 Review [T-break Tech (Middle East)](T-break Tech (Middle East) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ZOTAC have been known for putting out some really small mini-PCs over the years, but their latest installment is simple mind-boggling. The ZOTAC ZBOX PI320 is a ridiculously tiny yet fully-fledged PC, one that the company says you can disconnect and slip into your pocket. Build quality & designFrom a size standpoint, the PI320 is probably the smallest mini-PC that ZOTAC have manufactured so far. Measuring just 115.5mm x 66mm x 19.2mm, it's ridiculously diminutive and roughly smaller than an average smartphone. Here’s a photo of it compared to my HTC One M8: Connectivity-wise you have three USB 2.0, full-size HDMI, Ethernet, audio, and even a microSD card slot. Under the hood there's 2GB of RAM, 32GB of integrated eMMC storage, and an Intel Atom Z3735F Quad-core processor running at 1.33GHz. The 32GB of storage isn't much, which is why ZOTAC included the microSD slot if you need extra space. Unlike other ZOTAC mini-PCs, the PI320 comes with Windows 8.1 preinstalled, so it's ready to use right out of the box. Because of its tiny size, the PI320 can be hidden almost anywhere, and also includes a plastic mount to attach it discreetly to the back of any display. This allows you to use the PI320 as a HTPC, kiosk display, or even a simple machine to connect to a Citrix server in a business environment. Benchmarks & PerformanceA tiny machine like this has a limited number of uses due to the hardware powering it. You can quite comfortably stream full-HD content from YouTube or third party apps such as XBMC, without any stuttering. You'll be able to run most basic applications such as Chrome or Office on the PI320, and maybe even some simple audio editing. Anything more challenging than that and you're better off with a laptop or a tower PC. But for its size and price point, the PI320 is an excellent mini-PC that can be installed virtually anywhere for a multitude of purposes. Heat and Noise levelsThanks to the low-voltage processor being used, ZOTAC have managed to make the PI320 without any vents or fans, so it runs whisper-quiet – much like a thin client would. It gets a little warm to the touch after a long session of streaming content, but it's barely approaching lukewarm. This is something you could easily tuck away in your bedroom or living room without even noticing that it's there. ConclusionThe ZOTAC ZBOX PI320 is a tiny little thing, but it's capable of filling some rather big shoes. While the storage is the only upgradable thing about it, the PI320 makes a great (and silent) multimedia box or a simple PC you can tuck away in your house or office. At $200 with Windows preinstalled, it's certainly an affordable deal for anyone looking for a simple mini-PC that they can literally slip into their pocket. Retail price – AED 790 The post ZOTAC ZBOX PI320 Review appeared first on tbreak.ae. COPYRIGHT 2014 TBREAK MEDIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). (c) 2014 All rights reserved. Albawaba.com |