Probably, a very long time ago there was a time when most integrated subsystems could not satisfy even the most undemanding user. Why, exactly, “probably”? This time has not completely passed even now, although integrated systems are becoming more and more efficient and functional every year, and the quality of their execution is very close to the quality of completely independent hardware. In any case, the period when it was possible to make an integrated subsystem work only through all sorts of shamanic dances with tambourines, and when the lack of additional capabilities meant maximum reliability and bug-freeness (what is not there cannot break) has long passed. Most integrated sound, network, video and other cards are now quite functional, and their capabilities are sufficient for many users.

And when the board has everything you need, why buy a large and noisy, and also dusty, heavy, and space-consuming case, into which a board with six PCI slots will fit? Do you need these PCI slots, or maybe a small and quiet system with no or minimal expansion capabilities, and not a very fast, cheap, and not very heat dissipating processor will be enough for you?

In a very large number of cases, the user makes a decision not in favor of large bulky cases. This is fully understood by component manufacturers, who over the past year have released a huge number of different kinds of barebone systems of completely different classes, with completely different capabilities, and costing, accordingly, from “very little” to “very much.” In this article we will try to figure out Is a barebone system suitable for you, and if so, which one?

What are barebone systems in general? As a rule, this is a case with dimensions significantly smaller than those of a standard ATX, and most often even a mATX case, in which a motherboard of a standard (mATX, mini-ITX) or form factor developed specifically for this system is mounted. The motherboard usually contains the maximum number of integrated devices - sound, video, network, FireWire, sometimes a modem, and in some cases (VIA EPIA boards, for example) - even a tightly soldered processor. It may or may not have expansion slots (PCI, AGP, CNR / AMR), but there are usually few memory slots - one, maximum two. There are also few overclocking capabilities, most often there are none at all. In addition to the motherboard, the case may contain other devices, such as an AM/FM tuner. Often these types of systems come with a special processor cooler, because not every radiator will fit into a small case. There are very few fans in such systems; there are cases when there are none at all. Accordingly, the thermal regime inside the case, firstly, is not conducive to overclocking, and secondly, it does not allow installing very powerful devices inside, such as the latest video cards and fast hard drives, but the noise is not very loud. Power supplies for barebone systems, by the way, are also not very powerful and are unlikely to support such devices. There is rarely more than one magnetic storage device in such systems. Very often it is not possible to install a floppy drive. In especially small systems (such as the Iwill ZPC), 2.5” hard drives and thin laptop CD-ROMs are generally used.

All of the above seems to fully define the purpose of this type of machine - light office and home work, such as working with texts and watching movies, but do not rush to draw such conclusions. Below you will understand why this is not always the case.

Now let's see what various manufacturers offer us.

VIA EPIA M10000 - slow and quiet.

The first class of small systems are very quiet, very low-power machines. The rules here are systems based on VIA C3 processors and motherboards for them - EPIA M9000 and EPIA M10000. EPIA M boards have an integrated video core with a built-in MPEG2 and TV-out decoder, an audio codec, a FireWire controller, and several USB 2.0 ports. and one PCI slot, which theoretically can be used for, say, a modem. Today, the clock speed of the processors in these boards has reached 1 GHz, however, since this is still a C3 and not a PIII, the operating speed of such systems is not very high. You can immediately forget about 3D games and heavy applications, but such a system is quite capable of light work with office applications, Internet surfing and watching DVDs. A low-power processor has a fan, but it can easily be removed and replaced with a radiator, and since power consumption is very low, there is no need to equip the system with a powerful and hot power supply. A high-speed hard drive is also useless here. Based on the EPIA M10000, it is quite possible to assemble a system without a single fan, and therefore almost silent.

No fan needed!

In Russia, many companies assemble such PCs, sometimes using very small and nice cases, and of course, you can buy an EPIA M board and assemble such a system yourself. I don’t think that an EPIA M-based PC, being the only one in the house, can satisfy any user, but it is good as a second system. We do not always need the capabilities of large gigahertz and gigabytes.

The second class of barebone systems are systems without expansion capabilities, primarily without the ability to use external video. As a rule, such systems are packaged in very small and cute cases into which a video card simply would not fit, and if they have a fan, then there is only one and a slow one. The motherboard is completely unique, designed specifically for this system, and cannot be replaced. The power supply, as a rule, is located not inside the case, but outside it. Often in such cases there is not even a full-fledged hard drive, having been replaced by a hard drive from a laptop. Such a machine cannot be called a standard PC, since it has very little in common with it. A striking representative of systems of this class is the Iwill ZPC PC, which we described recently.

Iwill ZPC is small and stylish.

In addition to Iwill, AtoZ Technology has been noticed in the production of such systems with its models E7401SB and E5041D. Such systems are built on much more powerful processors (usually Pentium 4 mid-range) and corresponding integrated chipsets (i845GV or SiS650), have all the necessary integrated controllers, including good sound, and, in general, are suitable for any job with applications that do not require a powerful GPU. That is, again, you won’t be able to play on them, or you’ll succeed, but at very low resolutions, but everything else is fine. Of course, there is no smell of overclocking. The only inconvenience is that upgrading such systems due to the use of components for mobile PCs in them will be very expensive, and replacing the motherboard is completely impossible.

Mobile hard drives to desktops!

In addition, the lack of any expansion slots limits you in choosing, say, a sound card with a built-in codec and external systems like Extigy. But in combination with a small and thin LCD monitor, a system like the ZPC will look extremely stylish, take up little space, and make about the same amount of noise. Suitable for many non-gaming users.

The third, intermediate class of systems are systems that are essentially smaller copies of conventional PCs, but still do not have the ability to use an external video card. Execution - either a reduced classic tower case, or a slim version, or both, that is, convertible. These barebones include, for example, the Iwill XP4 system we recently described, as well as ASUS Pundit AB-P2600, Shuttle SB52G2, Soltek EQ-3401, MSI Hermes 651, Hermes 845GV and the ultra-modern MSI Hetis 865G.

Iwill XP4 - big, but without AGP.

They are built on the same chipsets as the “stylish-compact” class systems, plus the i865G, and have the same integrated capabilities, but the power supply here is no longer external, but internal; there is more space in the case, more fans, and sometimes some overclockers capabilities, and full-fledged three-inch and five-inch drives. Usually there are one or two PCI slots, which is good news - you can use another sound, modem, or even a PCI video card. The purpose of such systems is purely office, and the reason for this is the built-in video. At home, there is no point in such a system, because if you want to reduce noise, then ZPC is more suitable for you, and if dimensions and a non-standard appearance are simply important to you, then it is easier to take a no larger system of a higher class.

MSI MegaPC is the highest class of barebone systems.

And finally, the most numerous class of barebone systems is miniature desktops. Such systems are produced by all manufacturers of barebone systems without exception, such as Elitegroup (EZ-Buddie), AOPen (MX4GR), Soltek (EQ-3000W, EQ-3701M), Shuttle (XPC), MSI (Mega PC), Iwill (XP4 -G), and others. This class is so numerous that it is time to divide it into subclasses, but since it is not very clear on what basis to do this, I will simply tell you how this class and some of its individual representatives are characterized. Firstly, all of these systems have an AGP slot, and almost all have one or more (up to three for the Aopen MX4GR) PCI slots (the exception is the Iwill XP4-G, which has only AGP). Chipsets are the most modern, most often Intel 845GE or nForce2 (Shuttle SN41G2, SN45G), sometimes i865G (Shuttle SB61G2) or SiS651 (MSI Mega PC, ECS EZ-Buddie). Accordingly, the processors installed in such systems can also be completely different - from medium and low-end Pentium 4 to the highest models that support HT. Some systems based on nForce 2 can install the most powerful Athlon XP with a bus frequency of 400 MHz. Packed with powerful external video, these systems are capable of everything that a typical high-end home PC can do. There are also integrated controllers here: sound, most often AC 97 with the ability to connect a 6-speaker system (MSI Mega PC) or without it (this is more common), network controller, almost always FireWire, sometimes a modem (MSI Mega PC). Most users will be satisfied with them, and if you are not one of this majority, there are PCI slots at your service where you can insert full-size cards. There are, however, systems in whose slots you can only install low-profile devices, but these are few. The cases are very different, most often tower-shaped, cubic, or even slim. Usually there are no case fans, but there is a fan in the power supply and on the processor, and these fans are not always quiet. The motherboard is most often of its own format, but there are also systems on ordinary mATX boards (ECS EZ-Buddie). Hard drives and CD / DVD are ordinary, most often one each, sometimes it is possible to install a second hard drive. Recently, instead of a floppy drive, a memory card reader (EZ-Buddie, Mega PC) began to be displayed on the front panel, but older models, such as the Soltek EQ-3000W, did not yet have them. However, those who like to work with three-inch floppy disks can remove the card readers and replace them with floppy drives. There are, however, systems where this is not possible, because there is no external three-inch compartment.

There are often few overclocking capabilities, sometimes none at all. This is perhaps the most important difference between barebone systems and large PCs. And such a limitation has a basis - the thermal operating conditions of devices inside a small case usually leave much to be desired, and if these devices are also overclocked, then there will be a bathhouse inside the case, and malfunctions will begin. Actually, these problems are common to all barebone systems, with the exception, perhaps, of the slowest ones, but if other classes simply do not need overclocking, then it would not hurt, but it is not possible.

There are, however, exceptions to this rule - for example, in the EZ-Buddie the FSB frequency changes on the go from the front panel, but you still won’t get a big increase - there is no function for increasing the core supply voltage, and even with cooling, as I already did I said there are some problems. There are also systems with very developed overclocking capabilities, such as the Soltek EQ-3701M - the motherboard of this PC can work with all voltages, including even AGP voltage, and of course, allows you to change the FSB frequency in 1 MHz steps.

Each system has its own twist...

ECS EZ-Buddie also has it.

As a rule, all new barebone systems have a twist, something that distinguishes it from the rest, or at least from a standard PC. The EZ-Buddie has an overclocking knob and front panel indicator, the Mega PC has a built-in mp3 player and AM/FM tuner, as well as a remote control, and the new Shuttle XPC systems (SN45G, SB61G2) have a processor cooling system using heat sink pipes.

Everyone has become accustomed to the annual update of the main components of the personal computer platform (in particular, chipsets, memory modules and processors). However, a real surprise for many was the appearance on the market of a whole galaxy of barebone systems that are rapidly gaining popularity. Thus, last year more than 1.6 million barebone systems were sold, which is approximately 1.5% of the total number of desktop PCs and almost 5% of the number of home computers.

New "breed"

Is that what a barebone system is? In fact, this is a kind of semi-finished product for quickly assembling a computer - a small-sized case with a power supply, motherboard and cooling system already installed in it. Quite often, the package is supplemented with an optical drive and a multi-format card reader.

In order to turn a barebone system into a working computer, it is enough to install a processor, memory modules and a hard drive into it, and even a user with little experience can perform these operations in just a few minutes.

The current generation of barebone systems (or, as they are sometimes called, MiniPCs) is quite heterogeneous: at this stage, manufacturers are busy searching for optimal options and trying a variety of design solutions. Nevertheless, it is already possible to identify several distinctive features that are inherent in all representatives of the new “breed” without exception.

One of the distinctive features of MiniPC is its small dimensions. Compared to the usual system units of the midiTower design, barebone systems look like dwarfs - their internal volume is three to four times smaller. And some outstanding representatives of the new type (for example, Iwill ZPC) are quite comparable in size to external models of optical drives.

Iwill ZPC a full-fledged PC in a surprisingly compact case

When comparing with traditional system units assembled from a scattering of components, a number of important internal differences can be noted. Thus, the motherboards used in MiniPC are, as a rule, unique and designed specifically for a given case (or for a line of cases of the same size). The same applies to the cooling system: in many barebone systems it is designed taking into account the design features of the case and the topology of the motherboard installed in it. To ensure efficient system cooling combined with low noise levels, the most advanced high-tech solutions are used: heat pipes, complex-shaped air ducts, etc.

It is quite natural that the small size of the system leads to a high degree of integration of the various components. The actual standard for MiniPC is the presence of USB 2.0 and IEEE-1394 controllers, video and audio subsystems, a modem, a network adapter, etc., integrated on the motherboard. There are few expansion slots on such boards: usually there is AGP and one or two PCI. Some barebone systems do not have an AGP slot at all - it is believed that the capabilities of the integrated video adapter are quite sufficient for a PC of this level. When it comes to storage locations, the most common option is to have one 5.25-inch and one 3.5-inch bay, as well as one internal 3.5-inch hard drive bay.

ASUS DiGiMatrix the original hybrid digital media center and PC, with which you can watch TV programs, DVD videos and digital photos from various media, listen to radio broadcasts, audio CDs and compressed audio files and all this without loading the operating system

The most compact representatives of MiniPC do not have slots for expansion cards at all - additional cards simply do not fit there. In order to minimize dimensions, such systems use 2.5-inch hard drives and slim-format optical drives (as in laptops).

The MiniPC concept implies maximum system flexibility and ample opportunities to connect a wide variety of external devices. Therefore, in addition to a full set of interface connectors on the rear panel of the case, barebone systems provide the ability to quickly connect external devices. As a rule, the front panel has USB 2.0 and IEEE-1394 port connectors, as well as a set of analog (and sometimes digital) audio inputs and outputs. An almost obligatory component of the MiniPC is a multi-format card reader, the slots of which are also located on the front panel of the case. With the growing popularity of wireless solutions, Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth adapters are becoming increasingly common in barebone systems.

Recently, many barebone systems have appeared, which are a hybrid of a PC and a digital media center. Such models are equipped with a large number of different multimedia functions, and many of them can be used without loading the operating system - for example, listening to AudioCDs and MP3 files from various media, viewing DVDs and VideoCDs, and, if you have the appropriate expansion modules, receiving television and radio programs. To control the functions of the media player, the corresponding controls (buttons, knobs, etc.) are located on the front panel of the case, and quite often the delivery package of such systems also includes a wireless remote control.

The MEGA series barebone systems released by MSI are much more like stereo systems than computers

Typical representatives of this subspecies of barebone systems are ASUS DiGiMatrix, Abit DigiDice, as well as a whole series of MSI MEGA models (by the way, MSI produces special speaker systems and a carrying bag as additional accessories for the latter).

MiniPC: pros and cons

Having become acquainted with the most characteristic features of barebone systems, we will consider their main advantages and disadvantages.

Undoubtedly, compact and at the same time low-noise system units look very attractive in the eyes of home users. Almost all currently produced barebone systems have an original design, which allows the system unit to fit into the interior of the room as organically as possible. Thanks to its small size, such a system can be easily moved to another room, and, if necessary, loaded into a bag and taken with you.

Flexible options for connecting a variety of external devices and removable media allow you to easily use the MiniPC for working with digital photo and video materials, as well as as a home media center.

One of the representatives of the iDEQ family of barebone systems produced by Biostar

Another advantage of barebone systems is their balanced design. The power of the power supply used and the parameters of the cooling system installed in the case are optimized taking into account the characteristics of the motherboard used and the features of other components. Thus, the likelihood of overheating and overloads is minimized, and according to this indicator, barebone systems are a much more reliable solution compared to system units assembled by home-grown craftsmen from standard cases and components.

The most significant disadvantages of MiniPC (compared to PCs assembled in traditionally designed cases) include limited capabilities for upgrading and expanding the system configuration, as well as lower maintainability. As mentioned above, many barebone systems use unique motherboards and non-standard power supplies, as a result of which it will not be so easy to replace these components if they fail.

Another disadvantage of barebone systems is their higher cost compared to PCs assembled from separate components. However, it is worth noting that a direct comparison in this case is hardly appropriate - due to significant differences regarding both functionality and consumer qualities.

Prospects for miniaturization

At this point, it is still quite difficult to give an unambiguous forecast about whether the MiniPC craze is a stable market trend or is it just another fashion fad. The share of barebone systems in the total number of PCs sold for home and office use is still small. True, many analysts predict that this year twice as many barebone systems will be sold as last year.

At this stage, barebone systems attract many users precisely because of their novelty, their radical difference from the usual image of a PC - a faceless and dull gray box. It is only natural that manufacturers are trying to make the most of this idea. It is not a special secret that the increased interest of Taiwanese manufacturers in barebone systems is caused by purely economic reasons. Due to the fierce competition between companies producing components for PCs (motherboards, optical drives, etc.), the profitability of the production of such products is decreasing from year to year, and the market for barebone systems has not yet been fully developed, and the profit margin of those working in this segment of companies still remains relatively high.

Distinctive features of the Qbic series barebone systems produced by Soltek are a metal case made of aluminum alloy, as well as a proprietary IcyQ cooling system

When considering possible prospects for the development of MiniPC, it is worth considering that “large” computers are also improving. Last year, Intel presented its thoughts on the personal computer of the near future, formalized in the form of the BTX specification. Upon closer examination, many features of the MiniPC can be traced in the BTX: smaller case sizes, the use of motherboards and power supplies of a new form factor (with smaller dimensions), a low-noise cooling system, etc. And what seems new and unusual today may become generally accepted tomorrow standard.

Unusual design, compactness and expanded multimedia capabilities are the main criteria for the popularity of barebone systems. Read about how to choose the right devices in the new issue of the Guide.

Barebone systems owe their appearance, first of all, to the fact that many people have long been tired of standard gray cases, more appropriate in an office than in a home interior. The first to realize this was Apple, which began producing computers in cases with an unusual and attractive design. However, due to the stable demand for ordinary personal computers and the lack of non-standard components, other manufacturers were in no hurry to experiment with case designs. Subsequently, the demand for PCs began to fall, and barebone systems turned out to be one of the ways out of this situation for many companies. The unusual design, compactness and advanced multimedia capabilities were really able to attract new buyers. And this despite the fact that the cost of barebone systems is noticeably higher than the cost of standard cases!

A small digression that clearly illustrates the popularity of the compactness of barebone systems. Apple, which, in fact, was the founder of unusual computer cases, took advantage of the experience of barebones manufacturers and released a compact Mac mini computer, not inferior in design to the best representatives of barebone systems on the PC platform. Moreover, this computer has become the cheapest of Apple's desktop personal computers: in the USA it sells for only $500! True, this is not a barebone, but a ready-made computer, and Apple does not plan to supply systems for self-assembly. On the other hand, Macintosh computers traditionally have a lot of modifications, from which you can choose the most suitable machine.

What is a typical barebone system? The first idea can be obtained from the name - the word barebone can be translated from English as “skeleton”. In other words, a barebone system is the basis, a kit for assembling a personal computer. First of all, a barebone is a case of non-standard dimensions, usually with a smaller power supply, an original cooling system, and a proprietary motherboard. In some cases, the package also includes an optical drive and a hard drive. Such systems go on sale precisely as a kit for assembly. However, many computer manufacturers, even such large companies as Fujitsu-Siemens, do not shy away from using third-party barebone systems to assemble personal computers under their own brand. Russian companies have also succeeded in this matter, so those who wish can choose a ready-made computer rather than engage in “technical creativity” on their own.

Contrary to popular belief, barebone systems can be used to build not only an ordinary home PC, but also a high-end, high-performance computer. Moreover, some companies produce specialized machines based on “skeletons”, “tailored” for specific tasks, for example, for use as a compact desktop sound studio. So don’t be afraid that by choosing a case with a stylish design you will limit yourself in system performance.

Currently, many companies are producing barebone systems. The pioneer in this market was the Taiwanese company Shuttle, which, in fact, made “skeletal” systems popular. Shuttle products have the largest range, and everyone can choose a model to suit their taste. All modifications have either a multi-format card reader or a compartment for a floppy drive. Other major manufacturers of barebone systems include MSI, Asus, Soltek and Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS). The models of these companies are more focused on multimedia use than Shuttle products. Many barebone systems can be used as music centers or video sources, and in most cases, audio and video playback can be performed without loading the operating system.

When choosing, you must first of all decide on the platform: the model you like externally may not support, for example, the Pentium 4 or Athlon 64, which you want to base your system on. Particular attention should be paid to the system logic set on which the motherboard is built: both performance and the possibility of using certain components or peripheral devices depend on this. Fortunately, without exception, all manufacturers of barebone systems provide their products with very detailed technical specifications and instructions regarding the components that can be installed in a given specific model.

The buyer of a barebone system should keep in mind that the expandability of such a computer is limited compared to a machine in a traditional case. Some particularly small models cannot be modified at all, and most compact models can only accept low-profile expansion cards, and the number of slots for them is limited. In some cases, due to the specific cooling system, processors with high heat generation cannot be installed in such cases; This is usually stated in the technical description of the barebone system.

Among the features of some models of barebone systems are built-in wireless LAN adapters, digital audio outputs and audio inputs that allow you to connect your computer to household audio equipment, as well as remote controls. An unpleasant surprise may be the absence of some ports (for example, a parallel port on some Shuttle models), or the impossibility of installing a floppy drive. In many models, to mount the hard drive and install the hard drive, you will have to show enviable ingenuity and miracles of balancing act.

Of course, those who want to get a music center at the same time as a computer should take a closer look at systems with the appropriate functionality. As a rule, such “skeletons” are also equipped with a large display and a built-in radio. If you plan to play computer games, you should choose models without a built-in graphics controller and with an AGP port. Unfortunately, it is not possible to install the most powerful video card in a compact barebone system, since due to high heat generation such cards are not low-profile. Therefore, you will have to choose only from entry-level and mid-level video cards. However, some models provide for the installation of full-size PCI cards. For example, in some modifications from Soltek, you can install a full-size PCI card, but you will have to sacrifice one of the optical drive bays: the drive will no longer fit here.

Finally, if you don’t have experience building even a regular desktop computer, it’s strongly not recommended to “build” a PC based on a barebone system. The fact is that due to the small dimensions in compact cases, the components are placed very tightly, and non-standard and intricate cooling systems can be very difficult to install. An inexperienced person can easily damage not only the barebone itself, but also expensive components, in particular the processor. If you still want to get a computer based on a “skeletal” system, it is better to contact computer stores or companies that assemble custom PCs.

In conclusion, I would like to warn you that a barebone system will cost you significantly more than a regular case: their price can range from a relatively reasonable 180 US dollars to an impressive 550 US currency units. Beauty requires sacrifice!

On the next page you can get acquainted with some barebone systems present on the Russian market.

Asus DigiMatrix

A typical multimedia model with an unusual appearance: the computer is “masked” as a high-end Hi-Fi component and comes with a remote control. The “stuffing” is not so impressive: a motherboard based on a not-so-modern SiS 651/962L chipset, support for Pentium 4/Celeron processors on the Northwood core (Socket 478) with a clock frequency of up to 2.66 GHz, two slots for DDR 333 RAM /266 with a capacity of up to 2 GB, a SiS 315 graphics core using up to 64 MB of system memory, a single-channel IDE 133 controller to which a hard drive and a “laptop” DVD recorder are connected, a six-channel sound controller. The complete absence of PCI slots and an AGP slot is depressing: you won’t be able to install any expansion devices. Among the advantages are a built-in TV tuner with support for high-definition television and the ability to receive radio programs in the FM range, a seven-format card reader, an S/PDIF digital audio output that allows you to connect to household audio equipment, a wireless LAN controller of the IEEE 802.11b standard (supports in software access point mode), two FireWire ports and as many as eight USB 2.0 ports. Power supply - external, power - 120 W. Overall dimensions - 285 x 53 x 290 mm. The retail price is just as impressive as the appearance - the device costs about $575.

Advantages: compactness, attractive design, almost silent operation, built-in TV tuner and Wi-Fi controller, watching TV and listening to music without loading the operating system, remote control.

Flaws: outdated platform, low performance, inability to install expansion cards, very high price.

ECS EZ-Buddie D2S4-3

An aluminum barebone system of unusual design, reminiscent of a smaller traditional tower-type system unit. The system is fundamentally not multimedia and is not equipped with built-in tuners or a remote control. The device is built on the SiS 661FX+963 system logic and supports Pentium 4/Celeron processors based on the Northwood core (Socket 478, system bus 400/533/800 MHz, including Hyper-Threading technology). The graphics controller is integrated and consumes up to 64 MB of system memory. The built-in display provides information about the operation of the system, including data on the processor temperature, the operation of the drives, as well as any malfunctions that have occurred. Overclocking enthusiasts will love that this can be done using the wheel on the front panel. The board has two slots for DDR 266/333/400 RAM up to 2 GB, an AGP slot, a PCI slot, a dual-channel ATA133 controller and a six-channel audio codec. The case has six USB 2.0 ports and two FireWire ports. There is one three-inch bay occupied by a six-format card reader and one vertical five-inch bay for installing an optical drive. The power supply is external. Overall dimensions - 262 x 162 x 301 mm. The approximate retail price of the system negates almost all of its shortcomings: it is about 200 US dollars - an absolute record among the devices presented in this review. By the way, ECS produces 18 modifications of this barebone system, including for AMD processors, and prices for these systems start at $180 - a very good option for those who are tired of a banal gray box, but who do not have excess funds.

Advantages: elegant case with pleasant blue backlight, good performance, upgradeable, overclocking by rotating the wheel on the front panel, low noise level, extremely attractive price.

Flaws: built on a previous generation platform, external power supply, vertical arrangement of the optical drive causes inconvenience, in particular, the inability to work with 8 cm disks, lack of support for promising interfaces.

MSI MEGA 865

Another very beautiful barebone system, oriented towards multimedia use and equipped with a remote control. The model is built on the previous generation Intel 865G system logic set with a built-in graphics controller (MS-6796 motherboard) and is designed for Pentium 4/Celeron processors with a clock frequency of up to 3.2 GHz (Northwood core, Socket 478, bus 400/533 /800 MHz). The motherboard contains two connectors for dual-channel DDR400 RAM up to 2 GB, a PCI slot, an AGP 8x slot, a mini PCI slot for installing laptop expansion cards, an ATA 100 connector, a Serial ATA connector, as well as a six-channel Realtek 655/658 audio controller with digital input and output. The device has a modem, a 100-gigabit network controller, and the Deluxe modification additionally installs a mini PCI form factor wireless LAN adapter. The system is equipped with four USB 2.0 ports (two more are located on the motherboard, one is for a card reader) and two FireWire ports. The case can accommodate one five-inch and two three-inch drives. Additionally, a proprietary TV tuner designed specifically for this system is supplied. It is possible to play audio CDs, MP3s, listen to the radio and watch TV programs without loading the operating system. The front panel with a colorful large display contains slots for a six-format card reader. Built-in power supply, power 250 W. Overall dimensions - 202 x 320 x 151 mm. Estimated retail price is $350.00.

Advantages: luxurious design, high performance, expandable configuration, sound playback without loading the operating system, Serial ATA support, built-in modem, remote control, reasonable price.

Flaws: based on a previous generation Intel platform, too cramped in the case - if the relatively noisy cooling system fails, overheating and damage to components is possible.

Shuttle XPC SB83G5

A typical Shuttle "cube" based on the modern Intel 915G chipset for Pentium 4/Celeron processors on the Prescott core (Socket 775, bus 533/800 MHz). The lack of additional multimedia capabilities is also typical for the products of this company. Despite the built-in graphics accelerator Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900, it is possible to install a video card with a PCI Express x16 interface. The proprietary FB83 motherboard has two slots for dual-channel DDR400/333 RAM up to 2 GB, a PCI slot, an ATA100 connector, two Serial ATA 150 connectors and a connector for a floppy drive. The case has one five-inch and two three-inch drive bays. The barebone system has a six-channel audio controller with digital S/PDIF ports, a gigabit network controller, two FireWire ports and four USB 2.0 ports. The device uses a proprietary Silent X cooling system and a built-in 250 W power supply. Overall dimensions - 310 x 200 x 185 mm. The approximate price in Russia is 400 US dollars.

Advantages: attractive appearance, modern platform, high performance, a set of promising interfaces, expandability, gigabit network controller, built-in power supply.

Flaws: Instead of a card reader, this model has an obsolete floppy drive and a relatively high price.

It is reported that the ASRock X300M-STX system based on a certain AMD hybrid processor of the Renoir family was tested in the popular 3DMark Time Spy benchmark. This processor has eight cores and sixteen threads and runs at a base clock speed of 3.5 GHz. The frequency of the built-in graphics processor is 1750 MHz, but its configuration is not specified. The system was equipped with DDR4 memory with a frequency of 3200 MHz.

The CPU performance was rated at 8522 points, while the GPU earned a score of 1182 points. For comparison, the Ryzen 7 4800HS mobile processor, which also has 8 cores and 16 threads, and Vega 7 graphics with a frequency of 1600 MHz, scores 7597 and 1092 points, respectively, in the same tests. In turn, the Ryzen 7 4800U, also with 8 cores and 16 threads, but Vega 8 graphics with a frequency of 1750 MHz, shows a result of 6061 points for the CPU and 1045 points for the GPU.

As for the ASRock X300M-STX system itself, it will apparently be some kind of compact desktop PC, like the one released last year. Let us remember that it can be equipped with hybrid processors AMD Picasso, Raven Ridge or Bristol Ridge. The new product should offer higher performance with new processors.

Nettop Purism Librem Mini is built on the Linux platform

Participants in the Purism project announced a small form factor desktop computer, Librem Mini, using the Intel hardware platform and an operating system based on the Linux kernel.

The device is housed in a housing with dimensions of only 128 × 128 × 38 mm. The Intel Core i7-8565U processor of the Whiskey Lake generation is used, containing four computing cores with the ability to process up to eight instruction threads. The nominal clock frequency is 1.8 GHz, the maximum is 4.6 GHz. The chip includes an Intel UHD 620 graphics accelerator.

The amount of DDR4-2400 RAM can reach 64 GB: two SO-DIMM slots are available for installing the corresponding modules. There is a SATA 3.0 port for a 2.5-inch drive. In addition, a solid-state M.2 module can be used.

A Gigabit Ethernet LAN network controller is provided. Optionally, Wi-Fi 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless adapters can be installed.

The set of connectors includes one HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 interface, four USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, a symmetrical USB Type-C port. The device weighs about 1 kg.

The computer will come with the PureOS Linux platform. The price will be from 700 US dollars.

The OnLogic ML510G-50 compact computer uses the Intel Coffee Lake platform

OnLogic has announced the ML510G-50, a small form factor computer suitable for commercial and industrial applications.

The new product is based on the Intel Coffee Lake hardware platform. The top version includes a Core i7-8700T processor, which contains six processing cores with the ability to simultaneously process up to twelve instruction threads. The nominal clock frequency is 2.4 GHz, the maximum is 4.0 GHz.

The device can carry on board up to 32 GB of DDR4-2666 RAM. It is possible to install an M.2 solid-state drive with a capacity of up to 512 GB.

It is important to note that the computer is fanless and therefore does not produce any noise during operation. The ribbed surface of the case acts as a radiator to dissipate heat.

The new product can be equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 wireless adapters. There is a two-port Gb LAN network controller.

Among other things, it is worth highlighting four USB 3.1 ports, two DisplayPort connectors, as well as standard audio jacks. Price starts at US$640.

The compact computer ECS SF110-Q370 is equipped with an Intel processor

ECS has announced the SF110-Q370 small form factor computer, built on the Intel hardware platform.

The device uses a ninth generation Core processor. An LGA 1151 chip with a maximum thermal energy dissipation value of up to 35 W can be used.

The amount of DDR4-2666 RAM can reach 32 GB. There are two SO-DIMM slots for installing the corresponding modules.

The computer can be equipped with a 2.5-inch drive with a SATA 3.0 interface and an M.2 2280 solid-state module.

The equipment includes a Gigabit LAN network controller, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 or 5.0 wireless adapters.

Dimensions are 205 × 176 × 33 mm. The Windows 10 operating system or a software platform based on the Linux kernel can be used. There is no information about the price yet.

Chuwi AeroBox: mini PC powered by a mysterious AMD A9-9820 processor

The AMD A9-9820 processor was first announced almost a year ago, but AMD has never officially presented it. However, the Chinese company Chuwi recently introduced the AeroBox desktop mini-PC based on this hybrid processor.

The AMD A9-9820 processor apparently belongs to the Bristol Ridge family of chips. It has eight cores with Excavator architecture, which run on eight threads. The processor clock speed, according to Chuwi, is only 2.35 GHz. There is also integrated graphics Radeon R7 350, built on the third generation GCN architecture, the clock speed of which reaches 985 MHz.

The manufacturer positions AeroBox as an office system, which, according to him, is nevertheless capable of handling 4K video playback and modern games. About the latter, however, we have some doubts, but it should clearly cope with typical tasks for a mini-PC.

In addition to the mysterious processor, the AeroBox mini PC is equipped with 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, which can be expanded up to 32 GB. For data storage there is a 256 GB solid-state drive in M.2 format with a SATA interface. The user can independently install a 2.5-inch drive. There is also a gigabit network controller and a wireless module with support for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11ac.

Unfortunately, neither the price nor the start date of sales of the compact desktop computer Chuwi AeroBox have yet been announced.

Kontron 3.5"-SBC-VR1000 computer board uses the AMD Ryzen Embedded platform

Kontron has announced a single board computer called the 3.5"-SBC-VR1000: the product is suitable for use in commercial and industrial applications, in educational and medical fields, etc.

The new product is made in a 3.5-inch form factor. The AMD Ryzen Embedded hardware platform is used: it is possible to install a V1605B, V1202B, R1606G or R1505G processor. The first of these chips contains four cores and Radeon Vega 8 graphics, the other three contain two cores and Radeon Vega 3 graphics.

The mini-computer supports up to 32 GB of DDR4-2400 RAM in the form of two SO-DIMM modules. There are two SATA 3.0 ports for connecting storage devices. In addition, a solid-state M.2 NVMe SSD module can be installed.

The product has two Gigabit Ethernet network ports based on Intel I210-AT and Intel I211-AT controllers. HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort interfaces are available for image output. In addition, there are USB 3.1 Type-A ports.

The single board computer is compatible with the Windows 10 operating system. Dimensions are 146 × 105 mm.

Mass production of the new product is planned to be organized towards the end of the second quarter. Unfortunately, there is no information about the estimated price yet.

Intel NUC Bean Canyon Lite: mini-computers on non-existent processors

A description of two new Next Unit of Computing (NUC) small form factor computers, devices from the Bean Canyon Lite family, has appeared on the Intel Corporation website.

In particular, the models NUC8i3BEHS and NUC8i5BEHS were announced. They use Core i3-8140U and Core i5-8260U processors that have not yet been officially presented. The first of these chips contains two cores with the ability to process up to four instruction threads; The clock speed varies from 2.1 to 3.9 GHz. The second processor combines four cores (up to eight threads) with a frequency of 1.6 to 3.9 GHz. The chips include an Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics accelerator. The TDP indicator is 15 W.

Mini-computers allow installation of up to 64 GB of DDR4-2400 RAM in the form of two SO-DIMM modules. Inside the case there is room for one 2.5-inch drive. In addition, a solid-state M.2 module can be used.

Intel Wireless-AC 9560 and Bluetooth 5.0 controllers are responsible for connecting to wireless networks. A wired connection is implemented using the Intel Ethernet I219-V adapter.

Among the available interfaces we can mention USB 3.1 Gen2, USB Type-C, HDMI 2.0a ports. In addition, an infrared sensor is provided. It is said to be compatible with the Windows 10 operating system.

The embedded iBase SI-324-N system allows you to create a video wall

iBase Technology has announced the SI-324-N embedded system, which provides the ability to display images on four 4K displays at once.

The new product is suitable for creating video walls in various configurations: for example, 1 × 4, 4 × 1 or 2 × 2. Four HDMI 2.0 digital interfaces are used to connect screens.

The device is based on the AMD Ryzen Embedded V-Series hardware platform. The V1605B processor is used, which contains four cores with a base frequency of 2.0 GHz (increases to 3.6 GHz). Radeon Vega 8 graphics are used.

The system can use up to 32 GB of DDR4-2400 RAM in the form of two SO-DIMM modules. An M.2 connector is provided for a 2280 SSD.

The new product has a Mini PCIe connector and an M.2 connector for the 2230 module. It is possible to install a 4G/LTE modem and a combined Wi-Fi/Bluetooth wireless card.

The equipment includes a dual-port Realtek RTL8111H Gigabit LAN network controller. Available interfaces include two USB 3.0 ports, a USB 2.0 port and a standard audio jack.

Dimensions are 215.8 × 164 × 45 mm. Guaranteed compatibility with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise and Ubuntu operating systems.

Intel NUC 11 on Tiger Lake processors will not be released until the second half of 2020

Last January, Intel was preparing new compact desktop computers NUC 11 with Tiger Lake processors. And now, thanks to the resource FanlessTech it became known exactly when we should expect the appearance of these systems, as well as the new generation processors themselves.

The source obtained and published a fragment of Intel’s so-called “road map” dedicated to compact NUC systems. According to the document presented, the new compact NUC 11 desktop computers powered by Tiger Lake-U processors will become available during the second half of this 2020. However, we must be aware that the coronavirus may interfere with the plans of Intel, like many other technology companies, so the release of new generation processors may be delayed.

At the moment, all we can say with certainty is that NUC 11 computers powered by Tiger Lake-U processors will not be released until the third quarter. Around the same time as the new mini-PCs, and perhaps a little earlier, laptops with Tiger Lake-U processors will begin to appear. All this means that there is not much time left before the announcement of the 11th generation Core mobile chips.

Returning to the next-generation mini-PCs themselves, we note that Intel's plans include the release of two families of NUC 11 computers, codenamed Panther Canyon and Phantom Canyon. The Panther Canyon systems are classic square-shaped NUCs (in the first image) and will be built on Tiger Lake-U-generation Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors with integrated 11th-gen graphics.

In turn, the Panther Canyon family will feature larger and more powerful NUC 11 Extreme models. Tiger Lake-U chips of the Core i5 and Core i7 series will also be used here, but they will be supplemented by discrete graphics “from a third-party manufacturer.” These compact computers will be positioned as mini gaming PCs.

Zotac Magnus EN52060V: productive compact PC with laptop filling

Zotac has released a new compact desktop computer, the Zbox Magnus EN52060V, built on hardware originally designed for mobile computing. The manufacturer is positioning the new product as a mid-price solution for users of creative professions and content creators or creators.

The Zbox Magnus EN52060V is based on a quad-core Intel Core i5-9300H mobile processor of the Coffee Lake generation. It is capable of eight threads, its base clock speed is 2.4 GHz, and the maximum turbo frequency reaches 4.1 GHz. The TDP level is 45 W. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 video card with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory is responsible for processing graphics in the new product. Unfortunately, we do not know whether the video card in MXM module format is used here, or whether it is soldered directly to the motherboard.

Zotac's new work mini PC can accept up to 32 GB of DDR-2600 RAM in two SO-DIMM slots, and is also equipped with an M.2-2280 solid-state drive with PCIe 3.0 x4 or SATA III interface and a 2.5-inch SATA III drive . There is also a Killer 1650 wireless module with support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, and a pair of 1- and 2.5-gigabit controllers are responsible for wired network connections.

Unfortunately, neither the cost nor the start date of sales of the compact work desktop computer Zotac Zbox Magnus EN52060V has not yet been specified.