What is an intel compute stick? Intel Compute Stick review: a full-fledged PC the size of a flash drive
Last year, we met a couple of very interesting devices - Intel Compute Stick and Modecom FreePC microcomputers, which in appearance resemble either very large flash drives or CDMA modems with a USB interface. Despite their unusual nature, these products are full-fledged PCs that run the familiar Microsoft Windows operating system and are designed to perform a wide range of everyday tasks that are not resource-intensive. Meanwhile, despite the bold idea, both of its practical implementations that we examined were not without drawbacks. It is not surprising that the founder of this class of devices, Intel, introduced a new version of the Compute Stick STK1AW32SC microcomputer based on the Atom x5-Z8300 single-chip system.
Compared to the previous generation product STCK1A32WFC, the new model has received a number of improvements, including expansion capabilities, but retains the same attractive retail price. Whether the newcomer managed to get rid of the “bottlenecks” of its predecessor, we will find out during today’s review, but for now I suggest you familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics of the devices.
| Model | Intel Compute Stick STCK1A32WFC | |
|---|---|---|
| Official product page | intel.com | intel.com |
| CPU | Intel Atom x5-Z8300 (1.44 GHz, 2 W SDP, 4 cores, 4 threads) | Intel Atom Z3735F (1.33 GHz, 2.2 W SDP, 4 cores, 4 threads) |
| RAM | 2 GB DDR3L-RS SDRAM 1600 MHz | 2 GB DDR3L-RS SDRAM 1333 MHz |
| Video card | Intel HD Graphics | Intel HD Graphics |
| Disk subsystem | eMMC 32 GB, 1x microSDXC UHS-I (up to 128 GB) | |
| I/O Ports | 1x HDMI 1.4b, 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0 | 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x USB 2.0 |
| Sound subsystem | Intel HD Audio | Intel HD Audio |
| Communications | 1x Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n+ac, Bluetooth V4.0) | 1x Realtek RTL8723BS (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth V4.0) |
| power unit | External 15 W (5 V, 3 A) | External 10 W (5 V, 2 A) |
| Dimensions, mm | 113x38x12 | 103.4x37.6x12.5 |
| Pre-installed OS | Windows 10 Home | Windows 8.1 with Bing (free upgrade to Windows 10) |
| Recommended cost, $ | 139 | 139 |
Contents of delivery
The Intel Compute Stick that arrived at our test lab turned out to be an engineering sample intended to demonstrate the technical capabilities of the product. Therefore, the design and shape of the cardboard box intended for transporting the device may differ significantly for retail copies.
On the reverse side, instead of technical specifications, there is a description of the main advantage of the Compute Stick: the ability to use it to transform any monitor or TV with an HDMI input into a full-fledged, ready-to-use personal computer.
In addition to the device itself, the package includes:
- user guide;
- network adapter;
- HDMI extender.
In general, the newcomer’s set of accessories is not much different from that of last year’s model, with the only difference being that the included WA-15105R network adapter, which provides an output power of 15 W (5 V, 3 A), is equipped with a non-removable cord with a micro-USB connector type “B”, whereas the previous generation product had a cable supplied separately from the power supply.
Design
The 2016 Intel Compute Stick, like its predecessor, is made in HDMI Dongle format, that is, the device is installed in a free HDMI connector of a digital monitor or TV, but power is supplied from an external network adapter. If the TV is located close to the wall, the included HDMI extender will come to the rescue. The microcomputer case is made of plastic, its dimensions are 113x38x12 mm. Compared to the 2015 model, the height and width have not changed, while the length has increased by 10 mm. On the top cover of the device two groups of ventilation holes are visible, through one of them a miniature fan of the active cooling system is visible. There is also a power indicator and the Intel Inside logo.
On the reverse side there is a place for a sticker, on which retail copies will have service information, including the name of the model and its serial number, as well as a hole plugged with a rubber stopper. Under it there is a screw that holds the halves of the case together.
At one end of the miniature PC there is an HDMI 1.4b connector, designed to output images in 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second. There is no official support for 4K, which is due to hardware limitations of the platform used.
On the right side of the device there is a microSDXC memory card slot that supports UHC-I flash drives up to 128 GB, and a pair of small ventilation holes.
The left side of the newcomer carries USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 type “A” connectors, a micro-USB port for power supply, a power button and slots for supplying fresh air to the cooling system.
After opening the case, the internal structure of the Compute Stick becomes visible. Most of the surface area of the printed circuit board is occupied by a heatsink that removes heat from the single-chip system.
The efficiency of the cooling system was a pleasant surprise; in the maximum simultaneous load mode on the processor cores and the built-in video card, the temperature did not exceed 81° C, no signs of overheating or the inclusion of clock skipping mode were noticed. The noise emitted by the cooler can be described as insignificant and does not stand out against the general background of the living room.
Under the heatsink lies the “heart” of the microcomputer - SoC Intel Atom x5-Z8300, which is one of the versions of the economical Braswell platform, which has found application in nettops and budget-class embedded solutions. This single-chip system, manufactured in compliance with 14-nm production standards, has four computing cores built on the basis of the energy-efficient Silvermont microarchitecture. Among the expansion capabilities of the Intel Atom x5-Z8300, support for USB 3.0 and PCI Express buses was added, the presence of which the Atom Z3735F, which underlies the previous generation Compute Stick, could not boast of. But, as in the case of its predecessor, the maximum amount of RAM of the new product is limited by the capabilities of the platform, which is why the microcomputer is equipped with only 2 GB of DDR3L-RS RAM, operating in single-channel mode at a frequency of 1600 MHz. If we compare the computing capabilities of the Atom x5-Z8300 and the Atom Z3735F, then with the exception of a more subtle technological process in the first, the difference between them is very small. The volumes of cache memory of the first and second levels did not change, the Turbo Boost clock frequency remained at the same level of 1840 MHz, while in normal mode there was a noticeable increase from 1330 to 1440 MHz. Both SoCs support SIMD instruction sets SSE4.1, SSE4.2, 64-bit computing, AES encryption acceleration and VT-x hardware virtualization. As for energy efficiency, the SDP parameter, which characterizes power consumption in typical user scenarios, for the Atom x5-Z8300 is only 2 W, not least thanks to the EIST technology, which reduces the clock frequency and voltage during idle moments.
Much more significant changes have occurred in the integrated Intel HD Grahics graphics card. For the Atom x5-Z8300, the number of executive units (EU - Execution Units) has tripled compared to the Atom Z3735F video subsystem - from four to 12 pieces, and the EUs themselves have received an 8th generation microarchitecture. API DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.2 are supported, and the clock frequency, depending on the load, can range from 200 to 500 MHz.
As for accelerating video decoding, the hardware processing unit supports most popular formats, including VC-1, H.264 and HEVC in resolutions up to 4K inclusive. This information is fully confirmed by the DXVA Checker diagnostic utility, and in practice, the Intel Compute Stick 2016 turned out to be capable of playing video in a resolution of 3840x2160 at 60 frames/s.
The single-chip system's support for the PCI Express 2.0 x1 interface made it possible to equip the device with a high-speed wireless adapter Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265, which provides operation in Wi-Fi networks of IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n+ac standards and the Bluetooth V4.0 protocol. This allowed us to double the network connection throughput: from 6 to 12 MB/s.
Wireless Wi-Fi throughput of Intel Compute Stick STK1AW32SC (left) and Intel Compute Stick STCK1A32WFC (right)
The disk subsystem is represented by a SanDisk DF4032 SSD with a capacity of 32 GB, connected to a single-chip system via the eMMC 5.0 interface. As for the speed characteristics, in comparison with the Samsung MBG4GC SSD, which was equipped with last year's Compute Stick, the difference is small: the newcomer is slightly faster in linear read and write operations, while its predecessor has a slight advantage when working with small files.
Performance of the disk subsystem Intel Compute Stick STK1AW32SC (left) and Intel Compute Stick STCK1A32WFC (right)
Thus, the main improvements in the new version of Compute Stick affected the wireless adapter and the built-in graphics subsystem, as well as the appearance of an additional USB 3.0 port. We will find out very soon how the use of the new single-chip Atom x5-Z8300 system affects the performance of the Intel microcomputer, but now let’s take a look at the UEFI Setup and bundled software for the newcomer.
UEFI Setup
Despite its miniature size, Intel Compute Stick STK1AW32SC is equipped with a full-fledged UEFI Setup. The setup menu has a clear and simple graphical interface, and the number of options available for changing is kept to a minimum. The Main section displays information about the version of the control microcode, the SoC model and its operating mode, and also sets the date and time.
The System Identification Information submenu displays detailed information about the device, including its name, serial number, and hardware version.
The Configuration tab is responsible for the activity of additional controllers and expansion ports, as well as boot parameters, including managing the Secure Boot function.
Finally, in the Exit section, you can apply changes to UEFI Setup settings, as well as restore default values.
As you can see, the Intel Compute Stick firmware is completely devoid of any performance control options, but it offers all the necessary capabilities for administration and basic configuration of the microcomputer.
Bundled software
As for the software component of the Intel Compute Stick, there are two versions of it: STK1A32SC without an operating system, and STK1AW32SC, equipped with 32-bit Windows 10 Home, which was in our test laboratory. Alas, the system had problems with activation, which is quite acceptable for a pre-sale engineering sample, especially since this fact did not in any way affect the stability and efficiency of its operation.
Meanwhile, the presence of an operating system made it possible to evaluate the use of disk space, which is especially important with such a small amount of SSD with which the device is equipped. As it turns out, out of the 27.8 GB allocated for the system partition, Windows 10 Home along with a set of drivers takes up 10.2 GB, so a modest 17.6 GB remains available to users.
However, even these turned out to be enough to install an office suite and a set of test software, and if necessary, the Compute Stick can be equipped with a micro SDXC memory card or connect an external drive with a USB 3.0 interface. And, of course, there is always the possibility of using network storage, for example, the Microsoft OneDrive cloud service, in which each registered user is offered 15 GB for free.
In addition to the necessary drivers, Compute Stick offers only one, but very useful application - Intel Remote Keyboard, which significantly increases the usability of the microcomputer. This program allows you to turn a smartphone or tablet running Android or iOS, and located with the Compute Stick on the same Wi-Fi network, into a touch keyboard and mouse.
To work on a mobile device, you will need to install a special application from Google Play or the App Store, go through the pairing procedure, after which you can enjoy full control of the microcomputer without using a traditional keyboard and mouse.
In general, there are no questions about the software component; in any case, the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer is not overloaded with unnecessary software that only takes up precious space on the system disk, and the only third-party program, Intel Remote Keyboard, is really useful and easy to use.
Test results
In performance tests, the Intel Compute Stick competed with the previous generation device. Such a comparison will answer the question: is the difference in performance significant and is there any point in hunting for a new model? Before testing, the Microsoft Windows 10 Home operating systems on both microcomputers were reset to their original state, after which no performance adjustments were made. The following software was used to evaluate operating speed:
- Futuremark PCMark 8 v2.5.419;
- TouchXPRT2014;
- WebXPRT 2013 (Microsoft Edge);
- Futuremark 3DMark v1.5.915.
Each test was repeated at least three times, based on the results of which the arithmetic mean was calculated. If any of the results was noticeably different from the other two, testing continued. For convenience, in the graphs the new STK1AW32SC model is designated as Intel Compute Stick (2016), and the previous generation product STCK1A32WFC is designated Intel Compute Stick (2015).
Testing in the popular comprehensive benchmark Futuremark PCMark 8, which allows you to evaluate the overall level of performance in basic user scenarios, was carried out in Accelerated mode, which allows you to use OpenCL acceleration. The 2016 model showed noticeably better performance in the Home and Creative scenarios, obviously due to a more powerful video core, while in the Work subtest the situation was exactly the opposite: the newcomer was noticeably behind and the reason for this was the low results in the LibreOffice program, apparently due to incompatibility with Intel Atom x5-Z8300 processor.
Unlike the previous benchmark, the TouchXPRT2014 test package is more focused on measuring productivity when performing multimedia tasks: processing digital images, converting Full HD video content, mixing audio tracks, and creating animated presentations. In this case, the clock frequency of the computing cores plays a key role and, since it is equal for both participants, their identical results were not surprising.
To evaluate the speed of working with web applications in the Microsoft Edge browser, which is the main browser for Windows 10, the online benchmark WebXPRT 2013 was launched. In this case, Compute Stick 2016 turned out to be noticeably faster than its predecessor.
In the Futuremark 3DMark gaming test package in the Sky diver scenario, thanks to one of the main advantages of the new Intel microcomputer - a powerful graphics subsystem - the average score exceeded the previous generation model by more than twice, and when accelerating physical effects using the computing cores, the advantage was reduced to 20%.
In the Cloud gate subtest from Futuremark 3DMark Compute Stick 2016 also outperformed its ancestor, although the victory was not as impressive as in the previous case. The gain ranged from 60% overall to 100% in graphics subsystem scores, while in the Physics test track both devices showed very close results.
conclusions
As you would expect, the 2016 Intel Compute Stick turned out to be much more interesting than the previous generation product, primarily due to the use of the advanced Intel Atom x5-Z8300 single-chip system. The improvements affected the increase in the throughput of the wireless adapter, which became possible thanks to the emergence of bus support in the SoC PCI Express 2.0, and an increase in the speed of the graphics subsystem, which should now be enough not only for casual projects, but also for games that were 5 years old. Also, one cannot help but note the appearance of a second USB 3.0 port for connecting various peripherals, which significantly enriches the expansion capabilities of the device. The most pleasant impression was also left by the well-thought-out cooling system, which does not allow the processor to overheat even under the most intense load. As for power consumption, no measurements were taken, but we can say with confidence that the updated Intel Compute Stick fits within the 15 W provided by the included power supply. In a word, in some aspects progress is evident, which cannot but rejoice.
However, compared to its predecessor, the volume of the built-in storage and the size of RAM have not changed, and the long-awaited support for 4K image output has not appeared. However, there is a reasonable explanation for this: in an effort to ensure a low recommended price, which for the 2016 Compute Stick is set at $139 for the version with Windows 10 Home, the manufacturer is forced to use a budget SoC with limited capabilities and severely save on other components. But even in this configuration, the microcomputer is perfect for use as a home multimedia entertainment center, and in the business sector, the Compute Stick can be used for organizing an information board, a self-service kiosk, and also as a thin client or entry-level workstation. So, there is no need to demand anything more from a microcomputer. And for those who still want to get the performance of a full-fledged PC in the HDMI Dongle form factor, Intel has prepared a real gift: they will soon introduce a Compute Stick based on energy-efficient Skylake processors with double the amount of RAM and solid-state drive. But that's a completely different story!
Experimenting with computing system formats, Intel introduced the ultra-compact Compute Stick platform. A full-fledged PC with a quad-core processor, a wireless network controller, internal memory and Windows 8.1 on board is designed in the form of a large key fob. What is this, a bold experiment by the manufacturer or the birth of a new format of computing systems? Let's take a look at what to expect from a PC like this.
Compact systems similar in size to large flash key fobs are no longer very exotic. Similar platforms based on chips with ARM architecture and Android/Chrom OS have been on the market for some time. But this is the first time we’ve actually seen a PC of this form factor with an x86 processor and the Windows 8.1 operating system. And it is not surprising that such a solution was proposed by Intel, which has recently been increasingly developing the direction of miniature computers.
The system comes in a neat, fairly compact box.
The kit includes an external power supply with a power of 10 W (5V, 2A) with a set of adapters for various standards of electrical outlets, an HDMI extension cable (20 cm), a quick user guide and a coupon for a one-year subscription to McAfee AntiVirus Plus.
Design and Layout
So, Intel Compute Stick has dimensions of 103x37x12 mm. The system is offered as a complete solution. All you need to operate a PC is a screen with an HDMI interface and control peripherals (keyboard/mouse).
The system body is made of black plastic. The top panel has a glossy finish. Of course, in this case the eye catches on such nuances of the external decor, but so do the fingerprints that inevitably remain on such a surface. There are no special design delights here. Often this computer will be hidden from the owner’s eyes, because even in the external design of the system, everything is primarily subordinated to the functionality of the device.
On the top panel you can immediately distinguish two zones with grilles for exhausting heated air, through one of which a miniature fan is visible. In the central part there is a large and clearly readable Intel Inside logo. Closer to the top edge there is an activity indicator that lights up blue while the system is operating.
On the left side of the stick there is a power button, a micro-USB connector for connecting an external power supply, as well as a full-length USB 2.0 port, which can be used to connect any peripherals.
On the right panel there is a slot for installing Micro SD memory cards up to 128 GB.
There are no elements on the back of the Intel Compute Stick. Almost the entire panel is occupied by a sticker with supporting information.
There is an HDMI connector on the bottom panel.
All you need to do to connect the Intel Compute Stick is connect it to the appropriate port on your monitor/TV. Due to the shape of the case, it is obvious that not all devices will allow you to directly connect a PC. In such cases, the included flexible HDMI extender is very useful. Unfortunately, the video interface cannot provide power to the Compute Stick, so an additional external source is required for the system to operate. For these purposes, a 10-watt power supply (5V, 2A) with the usual micro-USB connector is used. The USB cable from the power supply is 95 cm long, so it is advisable to have a free electrical outlet within reach. Theoretically, the system can be powered even from the USB connectors located on the TV/monitor, but only if these ports can provide the necessary power.
Platform
The Intel Compute Stick is equipped with an Intel Atom Z3735F processor from the Bay Trail-T family. This is a quad-core SoC model with a base frequency of 1.33 GHz, which can accelerate up to 1.83 GHz under load.
These chips use the Silvermont architecture and are manufactured according to the 22-nanometer process technology. The thermal package of the CPU is less than 4 W, while the SDP is 2.2 W. Overall, this is a typical model used for tablets based on the Intel platform. Slightly faster versions of this family are also used for affordable models of compact laptops.
The built-in Intel HD Graphics video core includes 4 execution units, and the GPU frequency can vary between 311–664 MHz.
The Intel Atom Z3735F memory controller allows 2 GB in single-channel mode (DDR3L-1333). This is exactly the amount of RAM installed in the Intel Compute Stick modification in question. The system also features a built-in 32GB eMMC flash storage (Samsung MBG4GC). The Realtek RTL8723BS controller is responsible for working with wireless networks, providing communication via Wi-Fi 802.11bgn (1×1, 150 Mb/s) and Bluetooth 4.0.
The Intel Compute Stick modification in question is initially equipped with the Windows 8.1 operating system with Bing, which obviously can be painlessly upgraded to Windows 10 after its announcement. This uses a 32-bit version of the OS, which is quite logical, given the available amount of RAM.
Performance and usage nuances
Obviously, the system performance in this case is determined by the processor used. In general, we have already repeatedly reviewed the capabilities of PCs and tablets based on Intel Bay Trail family of chips. As one of the manufacturer's slogans used for the Compute Stick says, “We reduced the size of the system, but not its performance.” And this is actually true. First, some results from synthetic tests.
The results are quite expected. Yes, the speed indicators are not amazing, especially in terms of graphics capabilities. In this regard, I would really like to see a Compute Stick based on 14-nanometer Chery Trail chips, which have become even more economical, a little more productive and have integrated 8th generation graphics (Gen 8) with 12 computing modules and support for DirectX 11.2. Unfortunately, the company presented these SoCs only in March, while the Inte Compute Stick was announced back at January CES 2015. Surely we will see new processors as part of “computing sticks,” but of the next generation.
The capabilities of the current system are quite sufficient for a fairly wide range of tasks. There are no problems with opening several heavy pages with complex layouts. Although you shouldn’t be particularly zealous here either. Browsers require more and more RAM, and with only 2 GB of RAM, you have to curb your appetite. Otherwise, the responsiveness of the system is reduced. The Compute Stick handles office applications confidently. Serious, voluminous projects are unlikely to be processed on such a system, but relatively simple documents can be edited quite comfortably.
The gaming capabilities of the Intel Compute Stick are not great. The built-in graphics core will provide a comfortable level of fps only in simple casual projects. A compact PC looks much more confident in the form of a universal media player.
The list of video formats for which hardware decoding is supported is quite convincing. With DXVA support, the system can easily handle streams with bitrates up to 100 Mb/s.
When using the Intel Compute Stick, you should take a rational approach to the selection of applications used and the list of tasks that are assigned to the system. Here, in general, the same approaches and principles work as for mobile systems with basic performance. You can try to work with layers in Photoshop or start editing a video, but this is a thankless task. Each task has its own tool.
The version of the Intel Compute Stick in question is equipped with a 32 GB eMMC drive. In this case, part of the disk is allocated for a backup partition, which is necessary for the possibility of system recovery. A significant part of the drive is initially occupied by Windows 8.1 Bing. After the first launch, before updating the operating system and installing additional applications, the system owner has approximately 19.5 GB of free disk space at his disposal. As practice shows, such volumes are processed very quickly. The disk subsystem can be expanded by additionally installing a Micro SD flash card with a capacity of up to 128 GB.
As for the performance of the internal drive, its speed indicators are more likely to be expected for eMMC - not very fast, but quite tolerable, especially for a drive installed in a PC of such a compact format.
To connect additional peripherals, Intel Compute Stick offers one full-length USB 2.0 port. On the one hand, it’s great that in principle it is available on a platform of such dimensions, on the other hand, one USB connector is not enough for many situations. The examples begin with the inability to connect the usual wired mouse and keyboard. Obviously, in this case it is worth taking care of a wireless kit in advance. Although, this is not without nuances. For sets with a radio module, you need to connect an external receiver to the system, which will actually occupy the only USB connector. Peripherals connected via Bluetooth in this case are perhaps preferable. But it’s important not to go cheap here – the most affordable mice/keyboards with Bluetooth often suffer from mediocre responsiveness during operation.
The issue of connecting peripherals is radically solved here by a USB hub with 4–8 additional ports. It is also worth considering here that the USB port on the Compute Stick offers a current of up to 500 mA, that is, the total power of connected consumers should not exceed 2.5 W. It will not be possible to connect several external hard drives and wired peripherals to the hub at once. For such a body kit you need an active USB hub with additional power. Such a device radically solves the problem, but it requires another electrical outlet, and in general, in this configuration the topology of the platform changes somewhat. Instead of a simple compact solution, we get a branched system with a lot of additional wires, which requires three free sockets for operation.
Power consumption, noise and heat
In rest mode, the “baby” with the wireless receiver installed in the USB connector consumes about 3–3.5 W. When there is no load, the cooling system operates in passive mode, and the SoC heats up to 45–50C. After some activities, when the processor temperature reaches 60 degrees, the fan starts. It was not possible to register its rotation speed using known utilities. It is subjectively felt that the rotation speed varies within a certain range depending on the heating of the processor. During maximum load on the computing cores, the CPU temperature rose to 70 degrees.
The noise level emitted by the fan is low, but in a quiet home environment, if the stick is connected to a work monitor, it is not difficult to hear it. If the system is connected to a TV installed at a distance of 2–3 meters from the user, then the presence of a fan should definitely not be confusing. The same is true for working in an office space. Of course, the ideal option would be to use a passive cooling system, which would eliminate all issues with the level of noise emitted. But, as we see, Intel relied on effective heat removal and safe temperature conditions for the system.
Under load on the CPU and GPU units, the system's power consumption is about 8–9 W, while when watching HD video, the Compute Stick's consumption is 5–6 W. This is not the 20-30 W that a NUC class system requires. The difference is quite noticeable, but this is exactly what we expected from a PC with such a compact form factor and economical hardware platform.
Price
Intel Compute Stick will be available in two versions. A version with 2 GB of RAM, a 32 GB drive and the Windows 8.1 operating system with Bing is already offered in the US market for $149. The model with Linux Ubuntu 14.04 LTS will cost $110, but this version will be equipped with 1 GB of RAM and an internal disk with a capacity of 8 GB. The price is relatively low, but at the same time it is not an ultra-budget solution. In the nascent segment of stick computing, cost matters a lot. The price range is different and $20–30 is already a significant difference. To the cost of the device you should also add the amount required to purchase a mouse/keyboard set, and if you are going to actively use additional peripherals, then you cannot do without purchasing a USB hub.
When making a choice in the direction of “key fob” format systems, you need quite compelling arguments and a justified model for using an ultra-compact platform, because slightly more expensive mini-PCs offer wider functionality.
Results
Intel Compute Stick allows you to turn any TV or monitor with an HDMI output into a full-fledged system suitable for work. With a familiar operating system and a set of necessary applications. When you see solutions like the Intel Compute Stick, you can especially feel the progress of computing systems. The capabilities of a PC, which not so long ago required a classic system unit, are now implemented in a keychain that gets lost in a shirt pocket. Yes, of course, such a “stick” will not fully replace a desktop or laptop, and it certainly does not pretend to be the only computer in the house. However, at a relatively low cost, it can turn a large TV into another computer that can cope with everyday tasks and network activities, and also allows you to watch videos in various formats and slightly entertain yourself with casual games.
Intel Compute Stick is the manufacturer's first iteration in this segment. The platform is not ideal yet; at least there are certain parameters that I would like to improve. Of course, such a compact solution has its own nuances of use, but if the spirit of technical adventurism is alive in you, then such a PC will be very interesting even as an object for experimentation. At the same time, the ease of connection and the initial readiness of the system for operation allows us not to limit the circle of potential owners of the Intel Compute Stick only to enthusiasts.
Liked
Very compact dimensions
Performance sufficient for everyday tasks
Availability of a full-size USB port
Micro SD card slot (up to 128 GB)
HDMI extender included
Operating system Windows 8.1 with Bing
Did not like
- Modest integrated graphics capabilities
— Active cooling system
— Small amount of internal storage
Single-chip systems of the Bay Trail family are found today in smartphones, tablets, compact motherboards and microcomputers. The Silvermont architecture turned out to be a significant step forward for Intel and allowed it to strengthen its position in the mobile market. The most successful was, perhaps, the Z3700 series, which even opened a second wind for the microcomputer segment.
With four cores and a typical consumption of 2 or 2.2 W, these models made it possible to create products with support for the Windows operating system that can cope with common mass typewriter tasks - the Internet, office, multimedia. At the same time, we must understand that such a reduction in power did not pass without a trace. The chips targeted by the manufacturer at the tablet segment have significant limitations in terms of hardware configuration, including a maximum amount of RAM of 1, 2 or 4 GB and the lack of modern fast external peripheral interfaces. However, as experience has shown, for a certain category of users such products are very interesting, especially considering their relatively low price.
This spring we have already tested one of these models, and today we’ll get acquainted with a microcomputer developed by Intel itself, which they called Intel Compute Stick. One of the key characteristics of the device is ease of use - “Connect, Compute, It’s that simple.”
This solution in the HDMI dongle format is interesting for its compact size, performance sufficient for popular tasks and affordable cost. The company positions the device as an addition to monitors or TVs, turning them into a “real computer.” Use cases include basic office PC, multimedia, thin client and video advertising.
Two modifications of the device are presented:
- with Windows 8.1 with Bing operating system, 2 GB RAM and 32 GB storage
- with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, 1 GB RAM and 8 GB storage
The remaining characteristics of these modifications are the same. The first version took part in this testing.
Delivery set and appearance
Intel has both the experience and the ability to ensure the attractiveness of its solutions on the shelves of retail chains, photographs in online store catalogs, and simply in the hands of the user. The Intel Compute Stick comes in a brightly decorated box made of sturdy cardboard, which may be the envy of some smartphone suppliers. Glossy and matte varnish is used, there are photographs of the device, technical specifications, descriptions of ports and connectors. In Russian - only a couple of words with an explanation of the configuration.
The computer itself is located in a special insert at the top of the box. The rest of the space is occupied by a short (20 cm) HDMI cable (female-male), a meter Micro-USB cable, a 5 V 2 A power supply with a set of inserts for different sockets, brief instructions for getting started and a card for activating an annual subscription to the antivirus McAfee. This is all quite enough to work with a computer.
True, there are small comments on individual elements. In particular, the HDMI cable could be made rigid with shape memory, and the cable outlet on the power supply could be placed on the side rather than at the end. Still, when we talk about compactness, spending 11 cm from the plane of the outlet is not very convenient.
On the manufacturer's website in the support section you can download driver and BIOS updates for this device. True, for the second there is a certain remark regarding the complexity of the installation process. Of course, given the almost complete lack of support for similar nameless products, this is not bad, but still, in this case, it was worth somehow simplifying and improving these aspects.
The computer case is made of durable black plastic. One element is glossy, which can hardly be called the optimal choice, given the positioning of the model, and the second is matte. Overall dimensions excluding the HDMI connector are 38x104x12.5 mm.
On one of the short ends there is a connector for connecting to a monitor. Fortunately, the manufacturer used the full-size HDMI version, so in most cases no adapters will be required. However, it should be noted that the width of the model’s body is quite large, so it will not be convenient to use it with all TVs. In this case, the supplied extension cord will be useful.
The disadvantage of using this format is the difficulty of placement in a rack with equipment or at a great distance from the receiver, since the required cables of sufficient length are found in the assortment of specialized stores much less often than traditional options. Perhaps it would be worth adding a compact adapter to the HDMI socket in the box.
On the top glossy cover of the device, in addition to the manufacturer’s logo, you can see two ventilation grilles (another pair is present at the ends). Moreover, a fan is visible under the largest of them. Yes, despite the low declared power consumption of the device, it has an active cooling system. As we will see in the tests, this solution ensures the absence of processor throttling even under high load, but it leads to the fact that the model can no longer be called silent. There is also a blue power LED here, and on the edge there is a hole for a lanyard, which can probably be used for basic theft protection.
All connectors and ports of the model are located on the long ends. One has a slot for memory cards with a latch. You may need a tool to install or remove the card. On the other hand, it does not protrude from the housing during operation.
On the other side we see the power button. Perhaps it is too close to HDMI, but still quite convenient due to its shape. Next comes Micro-USB for supplying power to the computer and standard USB 2.0 Type A for connecting peripherals.
Model identification numbers can be seen on the bottom cover of the system. The implication is that the device is so light (55g) that it will simply “hang” on an HDMI connector or extender. Not the best option in terms of reliability. Especially considering the relatively weak Micro-USB and the high probability of simultaneously using a “large” USB port.
In general, we see that for the sake of a compact size we had to make some compromises in the design. The solution is more of a product for geeks or a template for other companies than a truly mainstream product for the end consumer.
Specifications
The solution uses the Intel Atom Z3735F SoC as the main element of the hardware platform. We have already met this model in previous publications. An SDP of 2.2 W is specified for this chip, so it is quite appropriate for this device format. The model has four cores with support for 64-bit computing. When there is no load, their frequency drops to 500 MHz, its standard value is 1.33 GHz, and in overclocking mode (Burst) it can reach 1.83 GHz. Today, when automatic frequency control technologies are actively used, exact values do not make much sense, since the criteria for their selection are established, among other things, by the system manufacturer.
Like us wrote earlier, this modification of the processor is one of the youngest in the family. It supports only 2 GB of single-channel RAM, does not have a USB 3.0 controller, and the maximum video output resolution is FullHD.
The device in question has 2 GB DDR3L-1333 installed. Out of the box, the operating system already occupies about 700 MB, so there is no need to talk about the possibility of effective multitasking with resource-intensive applications.
The Intel HD Graphics controller supports DirectX 11 and OGL 3.2 and has hardware units for decoding video of popular formats (which does not include H.265). The HDMI video output allows you to connect monitors with resolutions up to 1920x1080, and is also the only wired option for outputting audio from a computer.
As with other microPCs based on such a platform, we tried to test the media center scenario with the device discussed in this article. It should be noted that due to the limited speed of the wireless module, using this model to fully watch video in maximum quality and with HD sound does not seem to be a very convenient option. In addition, here too we encountered certain difficulties with bitstreaming multi-channel audio tracks. So in this case, we can only talk about basic functions for watching online videos or files with stereo tracks and low bitrates.
The device is equipped with one standard (Type A) USB 2.0 port. It can be used to connect a keyboard, mouse, drives and other standard devices. Unfortunately, there was no room for at least one more port on the case. So, in fact, the most convenient option would be to use a computer with input devices connected via Bluetooth, or work with a USB hub in the monitor.
The built-in SSD in this model appears in the device manager as Samsung MBG4GC. It has an eMMC interface and a capacity of 32 GB. The disk has a 6.35 GB operating system recovery partition, so that leaves about 22.55 GB for the user, and 19.8 GB free out of the box. After installing the latest updates at the time of testing, the amount of free space is reduced to 16.9 GB. Note that the computer has a microSDXC port, so you can relatively easily expand the amount of space for storing user data.
The only standard option for connecting to the network is the built-in Wi-Fi controller based on the Realtek RTL8723BS chip, connected via SDIO, since no other methods are provided in this platform. This chip was introduced last year and provides an 802.11b/g/n wireless adapter with support for the 2.4 GHz band and a maximum connection speed of 150 Mbps, as well as Bluetooth 4.0. There is no mention of BLE support in the device specifications.
The product also includes an implementation of wireless display connection, which is natively supported by Windows. When working with the Netgear PCTV3000 adapter, the resolution of the additional monitor was 1366x768, and video and audio could be output to it.
The Micro-USB port is used to power the computer. The stated requirements for the power supply are 5 V 2 A. We will try to estimate the actual consumption in the testing section.
It is quite expected that there are no options for changing the configuration in such a compact case. The only thing left for the user is to install a memory card to increase disk space.
The modification in question comes with a 32-bit version of the Microsoft Windows operating system with Bing. There is no additional software installed on the computer, except for the bundled antivirus subscription, but you will need to download it yourself.
When you turn on the device for the first time, the user will be asked to specify several parameters for the operating system, including the ability to select the interface language (Russian is present in the list). Further operation of the product is no different from traditional personal computers.
Testing
Since we have already encountered such a platform in both tablets and microcomputers, the approximate level of its performance is known. The product is suitable for mass tasks that do not require computing speed - browsing Internet sites (with a reasonable number of tabs in the browser), working with email, editing simple office documents, consuming multimedia content (photos, music, videos), communicating via the network, casual games and so on.
The main criticisms in this case relate to the small amount of RAM and low network access performance. The first problem can be dealt with by launching only the applications that are needed at the moment, and the second can be solved by using external network adapters with a USB interface.
As we wrote above, system performance in the case of such solutions depends not so much on the main platform, but on the settings of the processor operating modes, the choice of RAM modules and the characteristics of the system drive. So let's start this section by checking individual components.
The computing cores of a single-chip system operate at a frequency of 500 MHz in idle mode. When a load appears in the form of processor stress tests of the AIDA64 program, they are overclocked to 1583 MHz. The core temperature in this mode is about 60 degrees. Let us remind you that this product has a built-in fan that allows you to keep heating at a reasonable level throughout the entire operating temperature range from 0 to 35 degrees.
If you put a load on all components of the system at once, the temperatures rise to about 70 degrees, but even in this mode throttling does not occur. In terms of clock speeds, the cores switch between 1333 and 1583 MHz states.
You can see the maximum declared frequency of 1833 MHz on a single-threaded load, for example in the LinX test running in one thread.
As we can see, the fan greatly helps to ensure a high level of performance and ensure a comfortable temperature regime. The price of this is a slightly increased, compared to some other similar solutions, the size of the computer case and the noise produced by the fan. Fortunately, if there is no load and no heat, it is completely off. It is not possible to determine the exact parameters of the fan operation algorithm. Monitoring it during stress tests showed that it probably turns on when temperatures reach about 60 degrees and turns off when they drop to 50 degrees. In this case, the fan rotation speed is constant and it is impossible to check it programmatically. Such characteristics lead to the fact that during Futuremark tests the fan was running almost constantly.
Comparison with the previous system, which was not equipped with an active cooling system, is clearly in favor of Intel's solution. Most likely, this will provide a higher level of performance in resource-intensive tasks due to the absence of a reduction in the frequencies of the processor cores.
Let's now look at the AIDA64 report on working with RAM. Let us remember that this SoC uses a single-channel memory controller.
The results are almost completely consistent with those previously seen on this platform. A similar comment can be made for synthetic GPGPU tests.
So from the point of view of the processor and RAM operating parameters chosen by the manufacturer, there are no comments.
More important for the user is the speed of the system drive. Using the eMMC interface does not in itself guarantee a certain performance. Much depends on both the controller and the flash memory chips.
In this case, we can say that the choice turned out to be quite successful - streaming read and write speeds exceed 160 and 70 MB/s, respectively. This, of course, is not SATA or PCIe, but for this segment the values are very good.
At the same time, let's look at working with external drives - a SanDisk Ultra memory card and a solid-state drive connected via USB 2.0 (using a hub and additional power).
Considering that in this case we will most likely not be talking about exchanging large amounts of data with a standard drive, but direct work with external drives, the shown maximum speeds of 20-30 MB/s can also be assessed as quite decent.
Today, using computers without network access is almost impossible, so the characteristics and speed of network adapters can play a big role. In this case, the platform limits the manufacturer to the SDIO interface, and the wireless adapter installed in the model under review is not amazing and is similar to those installed in mass-market inexpensive smartphone models - 802.11n in the 2.4 GHz band with one antenna and a maximum connection speed of 150 Mbit/s. In ideal line-of-sight conditions over a distance of several meters, it shows performance of 50 Mbps. However, in reality, given the format of the device and the likely location of its placement, everything could be much worse. When installed behind a monitor and connected to a router that was located about six meters behind one wall, the speed drops to 15 Mbit/s. It’s no longer easy to talk about comfortable work in this case. For example, after turning on the computer for the first time, it decided to download about one gigabyte of updates for the operating system... In addition, such speeds significantly limit multimedia scenarios with network sources or media libraries.
Let's now move on to Futuremark's integrated benchmarks - PCMark 7, PCMark 8 and 3DMark. For comparison, the tables will show the performance of the Foxconn Ultra Nano PC on a similar platform, which we tested a couple of months ago. Let us recall that synthetics showed similarity between the participants in computing tests, differences in drive speeds, and significant differences in processor performance under high load. All tests were carried out with a connected monitor resolution of 1920×1080 pixels.
| PCMark 7 Scenarios | Intel Compute Stick | Foxconn Ultra Nano PC |
| PCMark score | 2395 | 1993 |
| Lightweight | 2339 | 1934 |
| Productivity | 1807 | 1585 |
| Entertainment | 1579 | 1189 |
| Creativity | 4786 | 3424 |
| Computation | 5822 | 4570 |
| System Storage | 4096 | 3059 |
Depending on the scenario, the advantage of the first participant ranges from 14 to 40%. It probably won’t be possible to explain this only with a faster drive. Most likely, the operation of the system's central processor also plays a role here. This version of the test does not have convenient means of checking its parameters, but PCMark 8 reports are more informative. But let's look at the results first.
| PCMark 8 Scenarios | Intel Compute Stick | Foxconn Ultra Nano PC |
| Home accelerated 3.0 | 1078 | 971 |
| Creative accelerated 3.0 | 956 | 855 |
| Work accelerated 2.0 | 1137 | 1143 |
In the first two tests, the advantage of the Intel solution is about ten percent, and the third one works equally well on these devices. It was not possible to test the system drive in the Intel Compute Stick due to its small volume.
This version of the test package has the useful ability to view graphs of the temperature (turquoise line) and frequency (purple line) of the processor, which will allow us to compare the two systems in more detail. In this case, the graphs refer to the Creative template run. The time scale is slightly different, but some features can be found.
First of all, it is worth noting that the average temperature line for the Intel system is at 60 degrees, while for the opponent it is at 80 degrees. As for the frequency, the first participant boasts a stable 1583 MHz in the Music To Go and Video Editing Part 2 v2 templates, while the second solution is forced to sometimes reset the frequency to 500 MHz, which clearly affects the result.
Let's now look at the graphics tests of the 3DMark package. Despite the fact that solutions cannot be called gaming, graphics performance today still plays a certain role in other applications.
| 3DMark Scripts | Intel Compute Stick | Foxconn Ultra Nano PC | |
| Ice Storm | Score | 10861 | 8741 |
| Graphics score | 10490 | 8737 | |
| Physics score | 12401 | 8756 | |
| Ice Storm Extreme | Score | 6737 | 4719 |
| Graphics score | 5975 | 4223 | |
| Physics score | 12173 | 8020 | |
| Cloud gate | Score | 1022 | 1020 |
| Graphics score | 1019 | 1044 | |
| Physics score | 1034 | 946 | |
In Ice Storm scenarios, the advantage of Intel's solution ranges from 20% to 50%. But Cloud gate differs slightly between products. Let's see here what the situation was with temperatures and frame rates during the Ice Storm test.
As in the previous comparison, let’s first pay attention to the temperature scale, and then to the dynamics of frame rate changes. There is another confirmation of the correctness of the active cooling solution chosen by Intel.
Despite the use of one of the younger modifications of the Bay Trail-T family in the model under review, we can say that it quite successfully copes with the tasks stated for it in terms of performance. Of course, there are certain compromises in terms of multitasking, network speed and storage capacity, but if you understand these limits, the device can be in demand for many categories of users.
As an addition, we present the values of power consumed by the device obtained in several scenarios. The model was connected to a monitor, a Logitech wireless receiver for a keyboard and mouse was installed in the USB port, and a 32 GB memory card was present in the microSD slot. The evaluation was carried out by averaging five minutes of measurements of the current consumed by the Micro-USB port in several scenarios: inactivity, data exchange over a wireless network, CPU stress test in AIDA64, stress test of all components in AIDA64.
As we can see, the requirements for the power supply indicate 2 A with a large margin (however, we did not take into account the use of external drives). The actual maximum consumption in our configuration is only slightly higher than 5 W. So in most practical use cases, a standard USB output on a TV or other device may be sufficient for a computer.
Conclusion
Before we evaluate the device, let's look at the prices. For the considered modification with Windows, the manufacturer indicates a recommended price of $149, the version with Ubuntu is planned to be sold for $99. Considering that you only need a keyboard and mouse for operation, these numbers look quite attractive. As expected from such a manufacturer as Intel, the computer has a good design and interesting appearance, is well assembled and has sufficient equipment. Separately, it is worth mentioning the effective solution to the issue of overheating, which allows for stable performance. However, we would recommend that potential buyers carefully evaluate their requirements before purchasing this device.
The microcomputer is quite capable of handling the traditional basic set of Internet+Office+Multimedia tasks. This is facilitated by the efficient cores of the main chip, a good graphics unit and a fast system storage. Optimization of the Windows 8.1 operating system also plays a certain role. But it’s probably not worth approaching this solution like a familiar desktop computer, even an entry-level one. Limited RAM can affect multitasking, and the lack of fast external interfaces reduces the comfort of performing some tasks.
We have already mentioned above the scenarios for using Intel Compute Stick proposed by the manufacturer. Testing has shown that they all fit well into the concept and capabilities of the model. We can offer several more - an additional computer for the kitchen, living room or children's room, a mobile solution for those users who often need to work in different places, an emulator of game consoles of previous generations, a microserver, a home automation controller, a solution for transport. True, in almost every case some compromises will have to be made, for example in terms of connecting peripherals, appearance or ease of management, but, in general, we do not see any significant problems in these tasks. It is also worth mentioning the need in some cases to independently resolve issues with additional software, for example, to implement a multifunctional media center.
It would be interesting to look at a similar microcomputer with older versions of the family, which, with a similar thermal package, have a faster RAM controller, support for 4 GB, increased frequencies of processor cores and graphics. True, most likely, this will be a completely different segment in terms of cost, since the chips themselves are more than twice as expensive, and the board for them requires a more complex one. And there it’s already not far from the Intel NUC. In any case, a full-fledged x86 computer with an operating system for $150, and even under the Intel brand - this combination is clearly worth paying attention to.
Video review
In conclusion, we suggest watching our video review of the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer:
Miniaturization is a progressive trend - it is worth looking at the development of computers. Years ago, they took the form of huge boxes, then shrunk to laptops to eventually become smartphones. Nowadays, even desktop computers have become so small that you can hide them in your pocket. Such as, for example, Intel Compute Stick.
It is a miniature computer in the form of a USB flash drive. The device is packaged in a case made of durable and matte plastic. Parts of the case have holes through which the fan can be seen. On the case you can also find two full-size USB ports (one 3.0), a MicroUSB power port, an HDMI connector and a MicroSD card slot.
The equipment is quite large in size, namely 113 x 38 x 12 mm. For this reason, once you connect it to your TV, you will block the other HDMI input. But Intel took this into account, and the mini computer is equipped with an HDMI extender, which eliminates this problem. In addition, it allows you to hide the Intel Compute Stick behind your TV.
The Intel Compute Stick is a multimedia-enabled device. In practice, however, Windows 10 is difficult to control on a TV screen and the OS is not very user-friendly in this regard, even if you have a proper multimedia keyboard with a built-in touchpad.
The system interface doesn't look very good on a big screen. Individual components and system fonts are too small. On the other hand, using standard programs or a web browser on the TV screen is a tough test of patience.
This device admittedly can't handle the latest games, but is ideal for streaming when used at home. My desktop computer is located a few meters from the TV, in another room. For this reason, I have a PlayStation 4 in the living room, which is much more convenient to use.
With high-speed 802.11 Wi-Fi connectivity, the Intel Compute Stick allowed me to enjoy the best graphics without having to carry a PC. This solution is much cheaper than PlayStation 4 or Xbox One.
Bottom line
The Intel Compute Stick is a device that will work great in many situations, but will be useless in most others. Except that you don’t need to carry your computer and connect it to an external screen in a hotel. I prefer to have a laptop, which I use in any situation.
The Intel Compute Stick is an excellent solution for streaming games to another screen, in excellent quality.
Such equipment is characterized by low productivity, but quite sufficient for office work. And given that the processor power is still too low, you can always wait a few weeks for the next version of the Compute Stick to be released, equipped with a powerful Intel Core M processor. Unfortunately, its price will likely be noticeably higher than $200-$250.