Microcomputers review. Review and testing of the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer based on the Intel Atom x5-Z8300 single-chip system

There are different types of microcomputers - really “micro” and slightly larger, not very productive and generally not suitable for anything other than Internet surfing. Today this type includes a whole host of different devices with different capabilities and purposes, but among the apparent diversity it is not easy to find a model that is powerful enough in its class. It is even more difficult to find such a PC in Russia. The models that are on the market today are, for the most part, only suitable for Internet surfing and watching movies with far from the highest resolution. Intel itself decided to rectify the situation by releasing a microcomputer based on a hardware platform of its own design. We are talking about the Intel Bay Trail platform in the Intel Bay Trail-T version, intended primarily for tablet computers, but successfully used in many other devices. The new microcomputer has everything from Intel - both design and hardware. Well, who, if not Intel itself, knows better what form factor and what functionality a device on the Intel hardware platform should have?

⇡ Contents of delivery

The device comes in a compact cardboard box, corporate blue for Intel. Inside, in addition to the microcomputer itself, the following accessories were found:

• HDMI cable;
• USB ↔ Micro-USB cable;
• power adapter with a set of four plugs of different standards;
• quick printed user guide;
• activation card for an annual subscription to McAfee antivirus.

We will get to know the purpose of the accessories in more detail a little later, but for now let’s look at the technical characteristics of the new product.

⇡ Specifications

Intel Compute Stick
CPU	Intel Atom Z3735F, 4 × 1.33 GHz (1.83 GHz), 2 MB L3
Graphics controller	Intel HD Graphics
RAM	2 GB DDR3L-1333 (667 MHz) (soldered on board)
Storage System	1 × eMMC 5.0 32 GB, Samsung MBG4GC
Flash card connector	microSDXC
	1 × USB 2.0 type A 1 × Micro-USB (power supply only) 1 x HDMI 1.4a
WiFi	802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth	4.0
Sound	Intel High Definition Audio
Nutrition	Power adapter 5 V, 2 W; Via USB
Size, mm	104 × 38 × 13
Weight, g	54
operating system	Windows 8.1 with Bing 32-bit
Official manufacturer's warranty, months.	12
Approximate price*, rub.	10 500

* Average price on Yandex.Market at the time of writing.

The microcomputer is available in two versions - with different OS: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Windows 8.1 with Bing. We got the second option for testing. Interestingly, the manufacturer slightly deprived the version of the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer running Ubuntu, providing it with less RAM and disk subsystem and making it, accordingly, cheaper. As for the second version of this device, which came to our test laboratory, its OS has a 32-bit kernel. But the word Bing in the name means little to the user, except that this not the most popular search engine is built into the Internet Explorer browser. If you want, use it, if you don’t want, use any other.

Processor and Chipset Information

As mentioned above, the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer is based on the Intel Bay Trail-T platform with the quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F, which already belongs to the second generation of processors for this platform, released last spring and developed on the 22-nanometer Silvermont architecture. This processor is one of the most inexpensive in the line, and therefore has a minimum clock frequency, which in nominal operating mode is 1.33 GHz and can be increased to 1.83 GHz in turbo mode. The volume of the second level cache is 2 MB. The processor is a very economical model. The SDP (Scenario Design Power) indicator, that is, the level of average power consumption during everyday use, is only 2.2 W. Obviously, most often an active cooling system is not required for this processor, but in the case of the Intel Compute Stick it is still implemented.

In general, there are many much more interesting models in the Intel Bay Trail-T processor family. It is not clear why the manufacturer chose the Intel Atom Z3735F, which has a number of serious limitations regarding RAM, video output and other interfaces. Most likely, this was done for economic reasons, because a more productive device will cost more, which means the consumer circle will be completely different.

Memory information

One of the most important limitations of the Intel Atom Z3735F processor is that it has a single-channel RAM controller, the maximum volume of which is not four, like other processor modifications, but two gigabytes. This is exactly how much is soldered onto the Intel Compute Stick motherboard. The DDR3L-1333 module is used, that is, the maximum possible frequency for the Intel Atom Z3735F. The microcomputer has a small amount of RAM, but its modification with Ubuntu has an even smaller value - only 1 GB.

Information about the integrated video adapter

The Intel Atom Z3735F processor has integrated Intel HD Graphics with four execution units, running at a base clock speed of 311 MHz and can be overclocked to 646 MHz if necessary. We have already become acquainted with this video adapter more than once, but different processors have different operating frequencies, so we can only talk about the performance and capabilities of Intel HD Graphics after testing. Let us only add that in this case the video adapter operates with a resolution of no higher than 1920 × 1080 pixels, that is, Full HD, while other processors of the Intel Bay Trail-T family can output images with a resolution of 4K.

The disk subsystem of the microcomputer is represented by a Samsung MBG4GC eMMC module with a capacity of 32 GB (29.0 GB available). The disk is represented by one working partition with a capacity of 22.55 GB, on which the operating system is installed. The rest of the volume is allocated for service information and the recovery section. As in the case of RAM, there is a strong desire to increase the capacity of the built-in disk subsystem of the Intel Compute Stick at least twice, but, alas, this is not possible. Well, the modification of the microcomputer with Ubuntu has an eMMC module with a capacity of only 8 GB. In this case, nothing but a video player and a couple more utilities will simply fit on this disk. You will have to use flash cards, because the Intel Compute Stick has a microSDXC reader on board.

To connect external drives and other devices, there is a single USB port on board the microcomputer. The fact that there is only one port is easily explained by the lack of free space on board the new product. In addition, the manufacturer has placed not a smaller, but a full-size version of the Type A USB port. If necessary, you will have to use a USB hub, which, by the way, can be the video panel itself, to which the Compute Stick is connected. But the fact that the USB interface of the Intel Compute Stick has a specification not 3.0, but 2.0, should be considered one of the shortcomings for which the processor used is again to blame. While other models in the Intel Bay Trail-T family have a built-in USB 3.0 controller, the Intel Atom Z3735F processor only works with a 2.0 bus.

The Intel Compute Stick has a standard set of wireless communications. A Realtek RTL8723BS module is installed on board, providing Wi-Fi communications standard 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. As for the sound, the new product is broadcast via the HDMI interface - there are no separate connectors in the device. Power is supplied via USB, for which there is an additional Micro-USB port on board, which can be connected either to one of the USB ports of the video panel, or to the power adapter included in the package.

⇡ Appearance

The Intel Compute Stick looks like a regular flash drive, only not too compact and with an HDMI interface instead of USB. The device fits into your pocket without any problems, so if you want, you can use one computer at work, at home, at the dacha, and with friends. It’s just that you won’t be able to work with it on the road - you can’t also carry a monitor with you.

The body of the new product is made of black plastic and consists of two halves. The lower part and side edges have a rough surface, but the top panel is varnished. Naturally, it instantly attracts fingerprints and dust, and then the first scratches will appear on it. The user can compensate for the extremely impractical solution of the manufacturer only by not removing the protective plastic film from the gloss or by sticking his own.

The main interface of the device - HDMI video output - is located on one of the narrow side edges. Since the microcomputer case is still not exactly “micro,” connecting it to the video panel without the short extension cord included in the package can be quite problematic.

All other Intel Compute Stick interfaces are located on the long side edges. On one side there are USB 2.0 and Micro-USB ports, a power control button, as well as a loop for attaching some kind of lanyard or cable that ensures the safety of the device if the video panel with it is placed in a public place. On the other side of the case there is only a microSDXC memory card reader. As for the top lacquered panel, it houses a blue LED power indicator and two large ventilation windows, behind one of which a miniature fan is visible. Small ventilation holes are also located on the side edges.

⇡

The manufacturer does not assume that the user will open the plastic case of the device, since there are no replaceable parts inside it. Nevertheless, disassembling the new product was not difficult. The entire internal space is occupied by the motherboard, covered by a composite aluminum radiator. The huge USB Type A port here looks like something from another world - strange and archaic. However, its presence is an undoubted advantage of the design, so there is no need to find fault.

The compact fan is mounted on the case cover and connected to the connector on the motherboard with a long and very thin wire. The fan housing has blank walls on the three sides that abut the ribs of the cover. And only that side face that faces the radiator, as well as the lower plane, are open for the intake of heated air.

⇡ Testing

To compare the performance of the Intel Compute Stick, we used the test results of one of the contemporaries of this device that visited our laboratory - the ECS LIVA X model. This is not so compact, but still a mini-PC, which is based on the Intel Bay Trail-M platform with a dual-core Intel Celeron N2808 processor operating at a frequency of 1.58 to 2.25 GHz. It has 4 GB of DDR3L-1333 RAM soldered on the motherboard and the same integrated Intel HD Graphics graphics core as the Intel Compute Stick, with only one difference - the maximum core frequency is not 646, but 792 MHz. The disk subsystem of these PCs is also similar. In ECS LIVA X it is represented by a Toshiba THGBMBG9D8KBAIG eMMC module with a capacity of 64 GB.

⇡ Performance

Unfortunately, it is not possible to conduct full testing using our traditional method in the case of the Intel Compute Stick. The thing is that some test packages, such as CINEBENCH R15 or the fpFlac encoder, are designed to work only in a 64-bit environment, and our microcomputer has a 32-bit version of Windows 8.1 installed. Testing in Adobe Photoshop CS6 could not be completed due to insufficient disk space, although the Intel Compute Stick has enough resources for the program itself to function. However, to evaluate performance, the part of the tests that completed successfully is enough.

Despite the lower clock speed of the processor and half the amount of RAM compared to the ECS LIVA X, the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer demonstrated performance almost identical to the capabilities of its larger competitor. In some tests the ECS LIVA X minicomputer took the lead, and in others it was slightly ahead of the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer, but this difference is completely insignificant. But the dimensions of today’s guest of the test laboratory are several times smaller than those of the ECS LIVA X, which in itself gives reason to think.

In general, the performance and capabilities of the new product are sufficient both for solving office tasks and for creating a home entertainment center based on this device, allowing you to watch movies in Full HD, listen to music and even work with various multimedia programs. The only disappointment is the critically small amount of RAM, which simply physically does not allow the user to work with several programs at the same time. One can only imagine what this tiny device could be capable of if it had a slightly more powerful processor from the same Intel Bay Trail-T family, working with 4 GB of RAM in dual-channel mode and allowing image output up to 4 K.

Of course, the capabilities of the integrated Intel HD Graphics video adapter are completely insufficient for gaming. Due to the slightly lower operating frequencies of the graphics core in the 3DMark test, the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer fell slightly behind its larger competitor. Let's return for a moment to the previous “if…”: older versions of Intel Atom Z37x5 processors have an integrated video adapter with a core frequency of up to 792 MHz, like the ECS LIVA X processor, which would give a microcomputer from Intel the opportunity to equal the results, and maybe even break out forward. But it is what it is. However, the gaming capabilities of both ECS LIVA X and Intel Compute Stick are still only suitable for sitting through simple Internet strategies or some digital board games - and nothing more.

In addition to tests using the traditional method for laptops and PCs, we conducted several additional studies for the Intel Compute Stick. The first concerns its disk subsystem, represented by the eMMC 5.0 module. Test results in specialized programs ATTO Disk Bemchmark and CrystalDiskMark differ, but not much. The drive demonstrates not fantastic, but quite decent performance for its class, which is significantly higher than most 2.5-inch hard drives, but lower than modern SSD modules.

An important role for such a compact device with a small amount of disk space and without a wired network adapter is played by the speed of wireless data transfer, and therefore we decided to test the performance of the built-in Wi-Fi module. The testing involved a Netgear WNDR3800 dual-band router connected via a wired gigabit interface to a test bench with an Atheros AR8151 controller serving as the endpoint. Testing was carried out within one room. The data transfer speed was 45-60 Mbit/s, which can be assessed as a completely acceptable result. This performance is sufficient not only for simple data transfer, but also for streaming video.

⇡ Cooling system

As a rule, microcomputers, and most other devices based on economical Intel Bay Trail processors, have a passive cooling system, but Intel decided to do it differently. The Intel Compute Stick model has its own active system with a miniature fan and an aluminum radiator that covers most of the electronic components on the motherboard. When the processor and video core are slightly loaded, the fan remains at rest, but even when it is running, no noise is heard. It’s difficult to say what will happen after a year of active use, but while it’s new, this fan can be called one of the quietest.

The efficiency of the cooling system was assessed using stress tests of the AIDA64 package. During testing, the device was placed on the monitor wall in a room with a temperature of about 21 °C. The processor demonstrated stable operation, although it was not possible to see the maximum frequency - 1.83 GHz. The highest recorded frequency was 1.58 GHz, and the operating temperature did not exceed 65 °C. No throttling was observed when loading all systems.

⇡ Pre-installed software

The microcomputer is supplied without any pre-installed proprietary software, except for drivers and utilities for hardware components. As for the Bing search engine, as mentioned above, the user is still free to choose which search engine and which Internet browser to use, so you should not be afraid of the word Bing in Windows 8.1.

⇡ conclusions

On the one hand, the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer sets a new level of performance for devices of this type. On the other hand, the potential of the hardware platform embedded in it is not fully realized in the device. In fact, the level of performance and capabilities of the new product could be even higher, but for economic reasons, obviously, the manufacturer decided to limit itself to a not the most powerful processor from the very extensive Intel Bay Trail-T family.

Of course, Intel Compute Stick is not alone in its kind, and anyone can find a dozen Chinese analogues on well-known trading platforms if they wish. But don't make a mistake when choosing! There are microcomputers on various low-performance platforms, and there are on Intel Bay Trail, which includes the hero of our today's review. Despite its modest dimensions, the Intel Compute Stick has the same capabilities as an entry-level laptop or desktop PC. Among the shortcomings, in addition to the already repeatedly mentioned processor with limited functionality, we can note the small volume of the built-in eMMC drive and the completely impractical varnish coating of the upper part of the case.

Despite the existing shortcomings, the new product makes a very pleasant impression and makes you think about the future of the PC as a whole, because the Intel Compute Stick is a full-fledged Windows PC with a very wide range of uses. Thus, the new product can be successfully used as a home multimedia center without complaining about excessive slowness during operation. You can purchase it as a PC for presentations and various types of on-site sessions. Well, for completely undemanding users who need a full-fledged, but not productive PC, the Intel Compute Stick model can become the main device, which can also be carried in your pocket without any problems.

Lenovo Ideacentre Stick 300, Archos PC Stick, ECS PCoS and others, the cost of which promises to be 20-40% less than the Intel Compute Stick. At the same time, the hardware component of these microcomputers absolutely completely repeats the one we met today. You shouldn’t expect that after all the above-mentioned pocket PCs enter the Russian market, the cost of the Intel Compute Stick will drop to six thousand rubles (that’s exactly what the Archos PC Stick is planned to sell for), but if it drops by at least one and a half to two thousand, it will be good .

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.

Today, almost any TV, additional monitor, or even a projector equipped with an HDMI port can turn into a personal computer equipped with Windows 10. And it only takes a few seconds. The secret to this magical transformation is a new generation of micro-desktops, like Intel's Compute Stick, which costs about 13,500 rubles ($159). They are only slightly larger than a USB dongle and plug into the backup HDMI port.

Such microcomputers allow us to take a fresh look at the concept of a pocket PC. Starting with the original Computer Stick, which made a splash at CES 2015 and was redesigned in 2016, you can finally have a full-fledged pocketknife-sized Windows desktop that you can carry in your pocket. The latest version of the Computer Stick currently costs 13,500 rubles ($159) at retail, although this price may drop further.

All this is part of the growing trend towards miniaturization of such devices. Set-top boxes like Roku or Amazon Fire TV are the size of a small book. Similar solutions are available for desktop computers. If, of course, you are willing to put up with some inconveniences.

Computer Stick, like its analogues, are by no means hi-end devices. In fact, they are somewhere on the level of inexpensive laptops costing up to $200. They carry a low-power Intel Atom processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of flash storage (most of which is occupied by the operating system).

However, those who need to quickly turn a TV or monitor into a computer rarely need anything more than simple web surfing, watching streaming video or working with other online services, for which such functionality is more than enough.

This year the Computer Stick has become longer, but has an additional USB port.

Computer Stick 2016. What's changed?

The 2016 model has evolved in a positive direction. Externally, it is the same small block with a matte surface and rounded corners. It is a little longer than its predecessor, but this is forgivable, because it now has two USB ports (one USB 3.0 and the other USB 2.0) versus one on its predecessor. The WiFi antenna now supports the 802.11ac standard (although WiFi problems were noted with its predecessor), and the Intel Atom processor has been updated to the latest version called Cherry Trail. Although even with the old processor, last year's model played HD video very well. This is despite the fact that Atom processors, regardless of generation, are by no means intended for everyday work computers.

Specifications

• Estimated price - 13,500 rubles ($159);
• Processor - Intel Atom x5-Z8300, 1.44 GHz;
• RAM - 2048MB DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz;
• Video adapter - 128MB (dedicated) intel HD Graphics;
• Permanent memory - 32GB SSD;
• Operating system - Windows 10 Home (32-bit).

Design and functionality

The Compute Stick's design, regardless of generation, is sleek and minimalistic. At least that's what it seems at first glance. And of course, installing and running it is a little more complicated than just “insert into the HDMI port.”

First, you need nutrition. So don't forget about the Micro-USB cable and power supply. This time the cable is longer, a little less than a meter, but it is still an extra wire. Perhaps in the future, in some new version of HDMI, it will be possible to supply power directly through the video port, but this is still a long way off. Also, in case the dimensions do not allow you to insert the unit directly into the HDMI port of the TV, an additional HDMI cable is provided.

Next in line is a keyboard and/or mouse. There are several options here. You can connect wired versions (fortunately there are now two USB ports). Or you can use wireless options by connecting them via a USB radio or Bluetooth. The last option is the most preferable because there is no need to occupy USB ports with cables or radio modules. Especially considering that there are already enough cables.

Intel also offers an app called Intel Remote Keyboard, available for iOS and Android, that will allow you to connect an on-screen keyboard and touchpad from your smartphone or tablet. This is quite useful if you only need basic access to the system or plan to use the mouse for navigation and your smartphone's on-screen keyboard for entering passwords or URLs.

Ports and connectors

• Video - HDMI;
• Audio - no;
• Data - 1xUSB 3.0, 1xUSB 2.0, micro-SD card reader up to 128GB;
• Network - WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0;
• There is no optical drive.

Performance

Last year's first generation Compute Stick had good performance. The power was quite enough for Web surfing and a media player. But she was also prone to sudden slowdowns. The new processor installed on the 2016 version (or, if you look at the names, Cherry Trail vs Bay Trail) shows similar or even more modest results in our benchmark tests, but you most likely won’t even feel the difference. They both compete well with fellow micro PC Kangaroo Mobile Desktop Computer and Lenovo's inexpensive 100S laptop. Determining a clear leader is quite difficult.

Well, as a dessert, don’t forget about Windows 10. Let us remember that last year’s version only had Windows 8. At the same time, Windows 10 is better optimized for weak machines, which somewhat smoothes out the inconvenience of use.

According to the test results, the new model turned out to be a little faster than its predecessor (probably thanks to Windows 10 and the Edge browser), but running several tasks simultaneously still causes lags. However, the mini-PC copes well with basic tasks, such as launching Netflix or YouTube.

The Computer Stick 2016 also handles light games well, but the small amount of memory left after the operating system starts up leaves a limited selection of legacy games like Torchlight or Amnesia: The Dark Descent that will run on almost any platform. If you want something more, then think about the slot for micro-SD cards, which support cards up to 128GB.

Conclusion

Micro PC prices have dropped dramatically, approaching the $100 mark, so $159 for an Intel Computer Stick is expensive. This is despite the (relatively) good performance of the new configuration, as well as two USB ports, which can be very useful.

In principle, the same Asus Chromebit can boast better characteristics, even for a lower price. But it has ChromeOS, which means no new apps. If you're looking for a more powerful Windows micro PC, though, check out Intel's latest Core M, coming out this year. But keep in mind that it will be twice as expensive.

As a device for watching video or surfing the web for everyday use or traveling, securely transporting business data or applications, or just trying to breathe new life into an old TV or monitor, the Compute Stick is pretty out of the price range. But if Intel can bring the price down to $99, then I will say that this will be a “must have” product for anyone interested in such functionality.

Pros: The second generation of the Intel Compute Stick has received several improvements and is great for everyday web surfing and HD video playback.

Minuses: There is very little memory, so installing applications or downloading videos is problematic. Despite the modern design, additional adapters and a tangle of cables greatly spoil the impression.

Result: Intel has fixed last year's handheld blunders, but be prepared for weak specs. However, for email, social networks or video, the resources provided are quite enough.

Intel processor performance growth has slowed noticeably in recent years, but significant progress has been made in reducing power consumption and improving performance per watt. The result has been a noticeable surge in interest in mini-ITX and smaller form factor computers, which have evolved from niche toys to viable mainstream solutions. Perhaps the Intel Compute Stick, which is a full-fledged computer slightly larger than a USB drive, is the culmination of this trend. Today we are looking at this outlandish device and deciding whether it can be applied to anything on the farm.

Getting to know your device

The Intel Compute Stick comes in a small box, similar in size to a cell phone box. In the box itself, in addition to the computer itself, there is a power supply, a USB-microUSB cable and an HDMI extension cable. The latter is welcome, since the body of the Compute Stick is quite wide. If you plug it directly into the TV, it can block adjacent connectors (in our case this is what happened).

The number of connectors and controls on the Compute Stick is minimal. On one of the sides there is a USB 2.0 port, a microUSB connector (which powers the device) and a power button. On the other side is a slot for microSD memory cards. There is nothing in the upper part of the case except the holes for the cooling system, and the entire lower surface is occupied by an extensive sticker with information about the device.

It is worth noting that the Atom Z3735F processor installed in the Compute Stick is used in numerous tablets without active cooling. However, here it is cooled by a miniature fan, which rotates at high speed and emits a very nasty (albeit quiet) high-frequency howl. The problem is aggravated by the fact that the fan speed depends on the load on the processor and integrated graphics. Personally, I experienced quite a lot of discomfort when using the Compute Stick with an office monitor at a typical distance for such a scenario (less than a meter). However, if you connect a computer to a large-diagonal TV, then at a typical TV viewing distance of 2-3 meters, its acoustic characteristics do not cause discomfort.

Performance

The Intel Compute Stick is a typical Atom processor device. Today's Atom is not nearly as helpless as it was a few years ago, so its performance is quite sufficient for tasks such as working with documents, web surfing, watching videos (including high definition) and even simple games. Unfortunately, we were unable to make formal performance measurements for a reason that will be discussed in more detail below.

Problems

Let's say right away that when testing the Intel Compute Stick, we encountered a number of problems. Let's list them all.

System disk capacity

The built-in eMMC storage capacity of the Intel Compute Stick is only 32 GB, which is a bit narrow in itself. Of this 32 GB, approximately 9 GB is taken up by the operating system's recovery partition, so the user has to deal with a 23 GB system partition, of which less than 17 GB is free. After several rounds of installing updates to the Windows 8.1 operating system, the amount of free space on the drive drops below the 10 GB level, which leads to big problems when installing updates and applications. In particular, because of this, we were unable to install the 3DMark test on the Compute Stick.

Low speed with memory cards

When using a high-quality UHS-I microSD memory card from SanDisk in the Compute Stick, we obtained a write speed of about 5 MB/s and a read speed of 17 MB/s. In an Apple MacBook Pro laptop, the same memory card showed a write speed of 33 MB/s and a read speed of 49 MB/s. It’s not hard to guess that this puts a big, bold end to the ability to fully use a microSD card as an ersatz disk for installing applications.

Ugly Wi-Fi adapter

The Intel Compute Stick uses a Realtek RTL8723BS dual-band wireless module with support for Wi-Fi 802.11n. It does not support MIMO, so the maximum theoretical data transfer speed with the access point is limited to 150 Mbps. In practice, with our editorial router TP-LINK WDR4300 (802.11n / 5 GHz), the data transfer speed did not exceed 10 Mbit/s, and such things as working with email, web surfing, etc. were problematic. At the same time, the laptop standing next to it on the table behaved completely normally when working with the same access point.

Possible use cases

What can you use the Intel Compute Stick for? Several options come to mind.

Intel Compute Stick and Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad - HTPC Kit

• Office PC(in combination with a monitor equipped with an HDMI connector). In my opinion, the Compute Stick will be quite good as an ultra-budget machine for working with documents and playing solitaire (especially if you replace Windows with Linux).
• HTPC. The Intel HD Graphics built into the Atom processor supports hardware decoding of HD video in a variety of formats, so the device is interesting as an HTPC (especially if you use special shell programs like Kodi). Personally, I see only two obstacles to this: firstly, the Compute Stick cannot output high-definition audio streams via HDMI (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD), and secondly, the poor performance of the Wi-Fi module makes video streaming over the network problematic . However, if desired, the second problem can be solved (for example, using an Ethernet adapter with a USB interface). In this scenario, the built-in Bluetooth module will be relevant, which can be used to connect a keyboard and mouse.
• Thin client. Well, everything is clear here.

I would like to add that in the office we use a mini-PC connected to the TV for presentations, access to the websites under discussion, etc. This mini-PC was built four years ago, its cost at that time was about 600 dollars. Today, with certain reservations, it could well be replaced with an Intel Compute Stick, which costs only $139, takes up no space at all and consumes much less electricity.

Bottom line

The Intel Compute Stick is a device that has a lot of problems (see the "Problems" section above). However, at the same time, this is one of the most interesting devices that have come into my hands over the past few years. The fact that a full-fledged computer can be crammed into a flash drive form factor and sold for $139 is in itself surprising and gives hope that it can be used for the widespread computerization of schools and in other similar projects. Personally, I believe that the next generation of Compute Stick will be free from childhood ailments, but for now, in my opinion, you should refrain from purchasing it.

The editors would like to thank the MOYO chain of stores for kindly providing the Intel Compute Stick for review.

4 reasons to buy Intel Compute Stick:

1. low cost;
2. performance sufficient for simple tasks;
3. trouble-free playback of HD video of different formats;
4. ultra-compact form factor.

2 reasons not to buy Intel Compute Stick:

1. a large number of childhood “sores”;
2. noisy active cooling system.

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 will 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 designed 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.

As we 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 evaluate 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: