Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Zotac ZBOX Nano XS AD11 Plus mini PC launches with E-450 APU, gets reviewed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/zotac-zbox-nano-xs-ad11-plus-mini-pc-launches-with-e-450-apu-ge/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/zotac-zbox-nano-xs-ad11-plus-mini-pc-launches-with-e-450-apu-ge/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/zotac-zbox-nano-xs-ad11-plus-mini-pc-launches-with-e-450-apu-ge/#comments Image

Zotac and its ZBOXes -- just when you think your next dorm room PC couldn't get any smaller... it does. The latest in the stable is the long-winded Nano XS AD11 Plus, a hysterically titled small form factor PC equipped with a dual-core 1.6GHz AMD E-450 APU, Radeon HD 6320 GPU, 2GB of DDR3 memory and an HDMI output. There's also a 64GB mSATA SSD, a pair of USB 3.0 sockets (as well as a couple of the USB 2.0 variety), a gigabit Ethernet jack and a bundled MCE-compatible remote. In a smattering of reviews that also cropped up alongside the box's launch, we've learned that the E-450 moderately bests the prior E-350 rigs and soars past similarly equipped Atom-based machines; the mSATA SSD is perhaps the biggest upgrade, however, easily helping the system as a whole feel far faster than those with mechanical hard drives. Hot Hardware was pleased with the overall showing, though they did note that the include USB WiFi adapter gave 'em headaches when trying to stream high-bitrate content from a NAS / home server. Worth the $359? Hit those More Coverage links to help you decide.

Gallery: Zotac ZBOX Nano XS AD11 Plus mini PC

Zotac ZBOX Nano XS AD11 Plus mini PC launches with E-450 APU, gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdAMD E-450AmdE-450apudesktope-450pcreview roundupreviewedReviewRoundupsffsff pcSffPcsmall form factorSmallFormFactorzboxzotaczotac zboxZotac ZBOX Nano XS AD11 PlusZotacZboxZotacZboxNanoXsAd11PlusFri, 13 Apr 2012 03:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac's ZBOX nano VD01 packs dual-core VIA CPU in a tiny, tiny box]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/07/zotacs-zbox-nano-vd01-packs-dual-core-via-cpu-in-a-tiny-tiny-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/07/zotacs-zbox-nano-vd01-packs-dual-core-via-cpu-in-a-tiny-tiny-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/07/zotacs-zbox-nano-vd01-packs-dual-core-via-cpu-in-a-tiny-tiny-b/#comments ZBOX nano VD01 Zotac isn't the biggest name in computers, but the company does do one thing particularly well -- cram capable HTPC components in itty-bitty boxes for a reasonable price. VD01 series ditches more well known solutions from Intel and AMD for chips from VIA, specifically the Nano X2 U4025 CPU with its Chrome9 media processor. Inside is room for a 2.5-inch HDD and a single DDR3 slot, but you can get those pre-populated with a 320GB disk and 2GB RAM by opting for the Plus model. Outside is your usual selection of USB 3.0, 2.0, eSATA, Ethernet and HDMI ports while inside are both Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11n radios. There's even an IR receiver and bundled remote to make this truly living room friendly. Check out the gallery below, as well as the PR after the break.

Gallery: Zotac ZBOX nano VD01

Continue reading Zotac's ZBOX nano VD01 packs dual-core VIA CPU in a tiny, tiny box

Zotac's ZBOX nano VD01 packs dual-core VIA CPU in a tiny, tiny box originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrome9htpcnano x2nano x2 U4025NanoX2NanoX2U4025U4025vd01vd01 plusVd01Plusviavia nano x2via nano x2 U4025ViaNanoX2ViaNanoX2U4025zboxzbox nanozbox nano vd01zbox nano vd01 plusZboxNanoZboxNanoVd01ZboxNanoVd01Pluszotaczotac zboxzotac zbox nanozotac zbox nano vd01zotac zbox nano vd01 plusZotacZboxZotacZboxNanoZotacZboxNanoVd01ZotacZboxNanoVd01PlusFri, 07 Oct 2011 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac unveils palm-sized ZBOX nano AD10, packing AMD Brazos APU]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/03/zotac-unveils-palm-sized-zbox-nano-ad10-packing-amd-brazos-apu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/03/zotac-unveils-palm-sized-zbox-nano-ad10-packing-amd-brazos-apu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/03/zotac-unveils-palm-sized-zbox-nano-ad10-packing-amd-brazos-apu/#comments Zotac ZBOX nano AD10 The box looks more like Zotac's VIA-powered mini-PC, but inside the AD10 falls right in line with rest of the AD series, packing an AMD E-350 APU alongside a Radeon HD 6310 chip. You're also looking at integrated 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and a pair of USB 3.0 ports -- not bad for something that's (just barely) palm-sized. The AD10 Plus model comes pre-stocked with a 320GB hard drive and 2GB of DDR3 RAM for only $276. The barebones model doesn't seem to have been priced yet, but we wouldn't expect it to be too much less considering how cheap memory and hard disks are these days. Check out the gallery below and the PR after the break.

Gallery: Zotac ZBOX nano AD10

Continue reading Zotac unveils palm-sized ZBOX nano AD10, packing AMD Brazos APU

Zotac unveils palm-sized ZBOX nano AD10, packing AMD Brazos APU originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Sep 2011 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad10ad10 plusAd10Plusamdamd e-350AmdE-350brazosmini pcMiniPcminipostsffsmall form factorSmallFormFactorzbox nano ad10zbox nano ad10 plusZboxNanoAd10ZboxNanoAd10Pluszotaczotac zboxzotac zbox nanozotac zbox nano ad10zotac zbox nano ad10 plusZotacZboxZotacZboxNanoZotacZboxNanoAd10ZotacZboxNanoAd10PlusSat, 03 Sep 2011 07:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac adapter turns your DisplayPort into two HDMI jacks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/zotac-adapter-turns-your-displayport-into-two-hdmi-jacks/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/zotac-adapter-turns-your-displayport-into-two-hdmi-jacks/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/zotac-adapter-turns-your-displayport-into-two-hdmi-jacks/#commentsYou can never have enough HDMI ports, that's what we say at least. Heck, what does that gaming rig you just put together have? Two? And that MacBook Pro of yours doesn't have any at all. But, if there's a DisplayPort hanging around, you can add a pair HDMI jacks with an adapter from Zotac. This little dongle turns any DisplayPort or Mini Displayport into a dual HDMI hookup, with support for two 1920 x 1080 monitors -- provided your graphics card can handle it and the HDMI group doesn't kill the product first. Pricing and availability are still up in the air at the moment, but you'll find a few more details in the PR after the break.

Update: Zotac just reached out to let us know both adapters will be retailing for $50.

Continue reading Zotac adapter turns your DisplayPort into two HDMI jacks

Zotac adapter turns your DisplayPort into two HDMI jacks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesaccessoryadapteradaptersdisplayportDisplayPort to Dual HDMIDisplayportToDualHdmidual hdmiDualHdmihdmimini display portmini displayportmini-DisplayPort to Dual HDMIMini-displayportToDualHdmiMiniDisplayPortzotacZOTAC DisplayPort to Dual HDMIZotac mini-DisplayPort to Dual HDMIZotacDisplayportToDualHdmiZotacMini-displayportToDualHdmiWed, 03 Aug 2011 13:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac unveils new ZBOX mini-PC, powered by VIA's dual-core Nano X2]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/zotac-unveils-new-zbox-mini-pc-powered-by-vias-dual-core-nano/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/zotac-unveils-new-zbox-mini-pc-powered-by-vias-dual-core-nano/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/zotac-unveils-new-zbox-mini-pc-powered-by-vias-dual-core-nano/#comments We covered lots of ground at this year's Computex, but here's one gem that slipped past our radar: the new Zotac ZBOX mini-PC, powered by VIA's latest dual-core processor. Measuring 12 x 12 x 4cm, this little beast runs on VIA's low-power Nano X2, which is available at speeds of either 1.2 or 1.6GHz, depending on your preference. It also comes equipped with native 64-bit software support, VIA's PadLock data encryption engine and is compatible with the company's other processors, including the Nano, C7, C7-M and Eden. Plus, there's an SD card reader, two USB 3.0 ports and HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. Availability and pricing remain a mystery, though we're certainly hoping it won't be as exorbitant as some other bite-sized PCs we've seen in recent months. Steer past the break for the full PR.

Continue reading Zotac unveils new ZBOX mini-PC, powered by VIA's dual-core Nano X2

Zotac unveils new ZBOX mini-PC, powered by VIA's dual-core Nano X2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 01:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.2GHz1.6Ghz64-bitcomputexcomputex 2011Computex2011computingcpudata encryptionDataEncryptiondual-corehdmimini pcmini-pcMiniPcnano x2NanoX2padlockprocessorusb 3.0Usb3.0VIAVia nanovia nano x2VIA technologiesVIA Zotac ZboxViaNanoViaNanoX2ViaTechnologiesViaZotacZboxzotacZotac ZboxZotacZboxTue, 07 Jun 2011 01:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac's Fusion-based Zbox AD03 Blu-ray HTPC gets reviewed, smiled upon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/zotacs-fusion-based-zbox-ad03-blu-ray-htpc-gets-reviewed-smile/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/zotacs-fusion-based-zbox-ad03-blu-ray-htpc-gets-reviewed-smile/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/zotacs-fusion-based-zbox-ad03-blu-ray-htpc-gets-reviewed-smile/#comments While AMD's Zacate E-350 APU has managed to find its way into a number of laptops, it's not exactly simple to find a desktop based on Fusion right now. Thankfully, Zotac was champing at the bit to be one of the first, and its Zbox AD03 / AD03 Plus has just hit the test bench over at Hot Hardware. All told, the results were fairly predictable, with the Fusion APU running laps around the prior Atom-based version. Of course, "laps" is a relative term, and while it hasn't single-handedly redefined the SFF PC sector, it has provided a real alternative to Intel's stable of underwhelming nettop chips. Across the board, the Zacate E-350 managed to hold its own, with the only real issue being "lackluster Flash video acceleration." We're told that updated drivers are expected to remedy that, however, so there's really little to gripe about from a numbers standpoint. As for value proposition? The AD03 Plus (ringing up at $529.99) seems like a worse deal with its skimpy 2GB of RAM and (comparatively sluggish) 250GB HDD, while the barebones AD03 (which lists for $439.99) could be turned into quite the powerhouse with 4GB of memory and a speedy SSD. Head on down to the source link to get your nerd on, but only if you're interested in scratching that DIY itch that's been so bothersome of late.

Zotac's Fusion-based Zbox AD03 Blu-ray HTPC gets reviewed, smiled upon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AD03amdAMD E-350amd fusionAmdE-350AmdFusionapuBlu-raycesces 2011Ces2011e-350fusionhtpcmedia pcMediaPcreviewedzacatezacate e-350ZacateE-350zboxzotacMon, 21 Feb 2011 17:31:00 EST<![CDATA[AMD's E-350 Zacate APU finds a home in Zotac's Zbox AD03 Blu-ray HTPC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/amds-e-350-zacate-apu-finds-a-home-in-zotacs-zbox-ad03-blu-ray/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/amds-e-350-zacate-apu-finds-a-home-in-zotacs-zbox-ad03-blu-ray/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/amds-e-350-zacate-apu-finds-a-home-in-zotacs-zbox-ad03-blu-ray/#comments AMD's Fusion APU has had its coming out party here at CES, and already companies are champing at the bit to offer updated systems with the E-350 embedded within. Zotac's offering up a revised version of its Zbox HTPC this week, with the AD03 boasting an all-too-familiar exterior, a slot-loading Blu-ray drive and the aforesaid 1.6GHz E-350 APU. There's also an AMD Radeon HD 6310 GPU, a pair of DDR3-1066 RAM slots, room for a 2.5" SATA 6Gbps hard drive, a USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 sockets, an optical audio port, HDMI / DVI outputs (a VGA adapter is included as well), Gigabit Ethernet, support for Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio bitstreaming, 802.11n WiFi, a 6-in-1 card reader and a bundled copy of Cyberlink's PowerDVD software. The "Plus" version of the system actually ships with 2GB of DDR3 memory and a 250GB 5400RPM hard drive, whereas the standard version leaves it up to you to fill those voids. Mum's the word on pricing, but we suspect it'll be loosed on the universe soon.

Gallery: Zotac's Zbox AD03 Blu-ray HTPC with AMD Fusion APU

Continue reading AMD's E-350 Zacate APU finds a home in Zotac's Zbox AD03 Blu-ray HTPC

AMD's E-350 Zacate APU finds a home in Zotac's Zbox AD03 Blu-ray HTPC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 23:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AD03amdAMD E-350amd fusionAmdE-350AmdFusionapuBlu-raycesces 2011ces2011fusionhtpczacatezotacFri, 07 Jan 2011 23:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Desktops]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-desktops/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-desktops/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-desktops/#commentsWelcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.
Desktops don't get much love these days, what with newfangled "laptops" hogging all the spotlight, but it's still an incredibly vibrant category, full of cutthroat competition, insanely powerful computers, and superfluous LED lighting. The result is tons of hot deals, particularly if you don't mind bringing your own monitor, wrangling wires behind an entertainment center, or being chained to a desk. In return you'll get performance that simply isn't possible on a laptop, expandability should you choose take advantage of it, and so many hot deals. Follow along after the break as we show you some of our favorites.

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Desktops

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Desktops originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appledellgiftshgghgg 2010Hgg2010holiday gift guideholiday gift guide 2010HolidayGiftGuideHolidayGiftGuide2010hplenovomac miniMacMiniministudio xps 7100StudioXps7100touchsmarttouchsmart 310Touchsmart310vectorvector holiday editionVectorHolidayEditionvelocity microvelocity micro vectorVelocityMicroVelocityMicroVectorzbox hdZboxHdzino hdZinoHdzotaczotac zbox hdZotacZboxHdMon, 20 Dec 2010 14:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac Zbox HD-ID34 Blu-ray playing nettop reviewed, scores well for non-audiophiles]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/20/zotac-zbox-hd-id34-blu-ray-playing-nettop-reviewed-scores-well/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/20/zotac-zbox-hd-id34-blu-ray-playing-nettop-reviewed-scores-well/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/20/zotac-zbox-hd-id34-blu-ray-playing-nettop-reviewed-scores-well/#commentsZotac Zbox Blu-ray playing nettop reviewed, scores well for non-audiophiles Little PCs are wonderful things, and those that can handle Blu-ray playback and do so while sucking down less than 45 watts are doubly delightful. Zotac's Zbox is such a machine, an Atom D525 and ION2 nettop with a Blu-ray all built into a lovely sliver of brushed metal. AnandTech found its performance to match its looks the majority of the time, able to play most HD footage without issue either from the network or straight from the optical drive. However, there's one problem: surround audio. The box cannot bitstream DTS-HD MA or Dolby TrueHD and comes with playback software that's not capable of delivering 5.1 channel surround over the box's HDMI output. So, it's perhaps not a home theater audiophile's dream, but at $399 without memory or storage, or $499 with 2GB of RAM and a 250GB HDD, it is at least a heck of a good bargain.

Zotac Zbox HD-ID34 Blu-ray playing nettop reviewed, scores well for non-audiophiles originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 06:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hd-id33hd-id34id33id34reviewreviewedzboxzotacWed, 20 Oct 2010 06:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac introduces ID33 and ID34 Zbox mini PCs, complete with Atom D525 and Blu-ray]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/08/zotac-introduces-id33-and-id34-zbox-mini-pcs-complete-with-atom/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/08/zotac-introduces-id33-and-id34-zbox-mini-pcs-complete-with-atom/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/08/zotac-introduces-id33-and-id34-zbox-mini-pcs-complete-with-atom/#comments Now this is an HTPC worth gawking at. Zotac has just revised its long-standing Zbox line with a new duo, and we have to say -- we're digging the new look. Beyond the exterior improvements, the outfit has bolstered the internals by providing the HD-ID33 and HD-ID34 with Intel's new 1.8GHz Atom D525 CPU, 2GB of DDR2-800 memory, NVIDIA's next-gen Ion graphics platform, an HDMI output, 6-in-1 card reader, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, a couple of USB 2.0 ports and an unexpected pair of USB 3.0 sockets. The only notable difference between the two is the inclusion of a 250GB hard drive in the ID34, while the 2.5-inch HDD slot is left open for DIYers in the ID33. Windows 7 is onboard, naturally, as is a slot-loading Blu-ray drive that the company is (rightfully) proud of. It's not talking prices just yet, but we're willing to overlook a modest premium to finally get BD support within a delightfully small package. Hit the gallery below for more eye candy.

Gallery: Zotac's Zbox ID33 and ID34 with Blu-ray

Continue reading Zotac introduces ID33 and ID34 Zbox mini PCs, complete with Atom D525 and Blu-ray

Zotac introduces ID33 and ID34 Zbox mini PCs, complete with Atom D525 and Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atombdblu-rayd525desktophtpcid33id34intelmedia center pcmedia pcMediaCenterPcMediaPcmini pcMiniPcpczboxZotacWed, 08 Sep 2010 20:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac's Zboxes are small, Ion-fueled, and cheap]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/zotacs-zboxes-are-small-ion-fueled-and-cheap/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/zotacs-zboxes-are-small-ion-fueled-and-cheap/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/zotacs-zboxes-are-small-ion-fueled-and-cheap/#comments If you're like us, you're constantly on the hunt for the perfect small computer. Now, we're not saying we've found it in this new set of Zotac Zboxes... but we do like where they're coming from. The minimal slivers pack Ion chipsets along with Intel CULV CPUs, making for a power-sipping experience that can actually push a couple of pixels (a couple, not many more). The company is dishing out a few varieties of the mini PCs, all loaded with some variation of Intel's Celeron processors. The HD series (the NS21 and ND22) pack a Celeron 743 or SU2300 CULV (respectively), DDR3 RAM slots, a 2.5-inch hard drive slot, HDMI and DVI-I ports, along with NVIDIA's Ion GPU. There's also an ITX series, all sporting those same CPUs, a single PCI Express x16 slot, a handful of SATA / eSATA hookups, and HDMI, DVI-D, and VGA connections. All the systems have a slew of USB ports, the boxes can be mounted in four different positions (including on the back of a monitor), and though retail pricing hasn't been announced, it looks like at least the ND22 should list for around $270. Hit the source link for all the details, and More Coverage for a review.

Zotac's Zboxes are small, Ion-fueled, and cheap originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culvhd-nd22hd-ns21intelintel culvIntelCulvionitxmini pcMiniPcns-21nvidiazboxzbox hd-nd22zbox hd-ns21zbox nd22ZboxHd-nd22ZboxHd-ns21ZboxNd22zotaczotac zboxZotacZboxSat, 28 Aug 2010 00:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 starts shipping for $250]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/zotacs-zbox-hd-id11-starts-shipping-for-250/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/zotacs-zbox-hd-id11-starts-shipping-for-250/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/zotacs-zbox-hd-id11-starts-shipping-for-250/#comments You've seen the sneak peek, you've dug into the review, and now you're more ready than ever before to part with $249.99 in order to get your grubby mitts around one of the world's smallest Ion 2-based small form factor PCs. You've already dreamed up the perfect application for this pint-sized rig, and now it looks as if Newegg is shipping out the orders that it receives right now. Go on and head down to the source link if your mind's made up, but remember, we can't be held responsible for buyer's remorse effective March 13, 2004.

Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 starts shipping for $250 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atom d510AtomD510barebonebarebonesd510full hdFullHdgpugraphicshdion 2Ion2now shippingNowShippingnvidianvidia ionnvidia ion 2NvidiaIonNvidiaIon2sffSFF PCSffPcshipshippingshipssmall form factorSmallFormFactorzboxZBOX HD-ID11ZboxHd-id11zotaczotac zboxZotac Zbox HD-ID11ZotacZboxZotacZboxHd-id11Mon, 10 May 2010 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac ZBOX HD-ID11 and its Ion 2 innards reviewed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/07/zotac-zbox-hd-id11-and-its-ion-2-innards-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/07/zotac-zbox-hd-id11-and-its-ion-2-innards-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/07/zotac-zbox-hd-id11-and-its-ion-2-innards-reviewed/#comments Small form factor? Check. Low power consumption married to 1080p video playback capabilities? Of course. Quiet cooling? Naturally. Those are the basic requirements for, and their fulfillment is the means by which we judge, a good home theater pc. They're also the highlights of Zotac's Ion 2-powered ZBOX HD-ID11 barebone (you have to add your own RAM, storage and OS) nettop, which recently visited AnandTech's labs for some old fashioned review action. It's a highly illuminating read, particularly for those interested in the differences between NVIDIA's Ion generations, which throws up a mixed bag of results. While you'll be quite alright watching Full HD Blu-rays on the ZBOX, Flash hardware acceleration -- yeah, that old nugget again -- is not yet implemented well enough, resulting in a maximum of 480p resolution before Hulu streams started glitching out on the reviewer. A June driver update from NVIDIA should rectify this issue, and we're encouraged to wait it out and see what we might see then. In the mean time, you can just delve into the complete analysis which awaits at the link below.

[Thanks, Wowzers]

Zotac ZBOX HD-ID11 and its Ion 2 innards reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p40nmatomatom d510AtomD510barebonebarebonesd510full hdFullHdgpugraphicshdhome theater pcHomeTheaterPchtpcintel atomintel atom d510IntelAtomIntelAtomD510ionion 2Ion2nettopnext generation ionNextGenerationIonnvidianvidia ionnvidia ion 2NvidiaIonNvidiaIon2reviewsffsmall form factorSmallFormFactorzboxzbox hd-id11ZboxHd-id11zotaczotac zboxZotac Zbox HD-ID11ZotacZboxZotacZboxHd-id11Fri, 07 May 2010 11:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 tiptoes into the wild, should ship soon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/zotacs-zbox-hd-id11-tiptoes-into-the-wild-should-ship-soon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/zotacs-zbox-hd-id11-tiptoes-into-the-wild-should-ship-soon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/zotacs-zbox-hd-id11-tiptoes-into-the-wild-should-ship-soon/#comments When you've got a footprint of just 7.4- x 7.4- x 1.73-inches, it's hard to make too big of an impression. That said, Zotac's new ZBOX looks to be just the thing for those scouting a diminutive HTPC or bedroom machine that can handle the best Glee re-runs and all of that YouTube HD footage that your long-lost siblings continue to email you from the wilds of Wisconsin. Originally launched back in March, this pint-sized PC is just now starting to make its way out to reviewers, which hopefully means that it's ever closer to shipping to end users, too. The benchmarking lords over at Hot Hardware took the time to unbox and preview the device, giving you the opportunity to wade through a gallery of images while it undergoes all sorts of torture. Head on down and have a look if an Ion-based machine that can fit inside your shoebox sounds even marginally appealing.

Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 tiptoes into the wild, should ship soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>desktopgpuin the wildInTheWildionmini pcMiniPcnvidianvidia ionNvidiaIonpcpicssffsmall form factorSmallFormFactorsneak peekSneakPeekzboxZBOX HD-ID11ZboxHd-id11ZotacTue, 04 May 2010 11:19:00 EST<![CDATA[CyberPower, Digital Storm and Maingear add NVIDIA Fermi GPUs to flagship gaming PCs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/29/cyberpower-digital-storm-and-maingear-add-nvidia-fermi-gpus-to/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/29/cyberpower-digital-storm-and-maingear-add-nvidia-fermi-gpus-to/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/29/cyberpower-digital-storm-and-maingear-add-nvidia-fermi-gpus-to/#comments Origin PC kicked things off on Friday by shoving NVIDIA's latest and greatest into its Genesis desktop, and now a few more in the custom PC game have upped the ante by offering a similarly delectable taste of Fermi. NVIDIA's new GeForce GTX 470 and 480 have been all the rage over the weekend, and if those raucous benchmarks have you convinced that the time to buy is now, a trio of system builders are here vying for your attention. Digital Storm's Black|OPS rig can now be ordered with a GTX 480 (starts at $2,891), while CyberPower is giving prospective customers the ability to add the latest Fermi GPUs into a smattering of towers. Maingear's formidable SHIFT supercomputer is also seeing the update, but it's really asking for trouble with a triple GTX 480 configuration that demands a minimum investment of $6,199. In related news, ASUS, Zotac and a slew of other GPU makers are cranking out new boards based on the minty fresh core, so you shouldn't have a difficult time finding one if the rest of your rig is a-okay for now.

CyberPower, Digital Storm and Maingear add NVIDIA Fermi GPUs to flagship gaming PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asusblack opsblackopscyberpowerdesktopdigital stormDigitalStormfermigaming desktopgaming pcgaming rigGamingDesktopGamingPcGamingRiggeforcegeforce gtx 470geforce gtx 480GeforceGtx470GeforceGtx480gpugraphicsgraphics cardGraphicsCardgtx 470gtx 480Gtx470Gtx480maingearmaingear shiftMaingearShiftnvidiapcshiftzotacMon, 29 Mar 2010 01:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 has NVIDIA Ion 2 and Atom D510 to thank for excellent media playback (updated)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/03/zotacs-zbox-hd-id11-has-nvidia-ion-2-and-atom-d510-to-thank-for/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/03/zotacs-zbox-hd-id11-has-nvidia-ion-2-and-atom-d510-to-thank-for/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/03/zotacs-zbox-hd-id11-has-nvidia-ion-2-and-atom-d510-to-thank-for/#comments Like gaming? Move right along to the iBuyPower booth, please. Want an unobtrusive PC that will feed your Hulu and YouTube HD streaming addiction? Say hello to the ZBOX HD-ID11. It's basically a desktop version of the same Ion 2 setups you saw announced on the mobile front yesterday, and as such should provide flawless Flash 10.1 playback while occupying an extremely lean footprint on your desktop. Zotac has matched MSI's Wind Box DE220 with its inclusion of a dual-core 1.66GHz Atom D510 CPU, though it obviously differs with its NVIDIA Ion 2 graphics subsystem that includes 512MB of dedicated DDR3 memory. HDMI 1.3a and standard VESA wall-mounting are expected extras, with six USB ports, integrated 802.11n WiFi, dual-link DVI, and a 6-in-1 media card reader covering the rest of your bases. Check out some 1080p playback on a similarly specced system right here while you wait for pricing and availability to be revealed.

Update: We've heard directly from Zotac on the matter of pricing and we're told that the American MSRP will be $209.99 ($239) for the barebones edition, which will require you to add your own hard drive, memory and OS.

Update 2: Zotac seem to have been a little too ambitious with the initial price they quoted and have asked us to correct that number upwards by 30 bucks -- MSRP is now expected to land at $239.

Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 has NVIDIA Ion 2 and Atom D510 to thank for excellent media playback (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080patomatom d510AtomD510desktophdhd-id11htpcintel atomintel atom d510IntelAtomIntelAtomD510ion 2Ion2media pcMediaPcmini pcMiniPcnettopnext generation ionNextGenerationIonnvidianvidia ionnvidia ion 2NvidiaIonNvidiaIon2pineviewzboxzbox hd-id11ZboxHd-id11zotaczotac zboxZotacZboxWed, 03 Mar 2010 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[ION Cube case mod wins NVIDIA design contest]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/ion-cube-case-mod-wins-nvidia-design-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/ion-cube-case-mod-wins-nvidia-design-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/ion-cube-case-mod-wins-nvidia-design-contest/#comments
We haven't seen a ton of ION-based case mods just yet, but it looks like NVIDIA itself has kick started the scene in a pretty big way with a case mod design contest, and it's now crowned a winner. Built by Bill Owen of Mnpctech.com, the so-called ION Cube draws on a few fairly obvious influences, and makes use of a combination of CNC milled sheets of aluminum and laser cut pieces of acrylic which, combined with the rest of the build, apparently took over a hundred hours to complete. On the inside, and one of the impetuses for the contest, is the ZOTAC ION ITX 330 motherboard, which is intended for small, low-power systems just like this (and less flashy ones, too). Head on past the break a video, and hit up the link below for a look at the build.

Continue reading ION Cube case mod wins NVIDIA design contest

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ION Cube case mod wins NVIDIA design contest originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>case modCaseModionnvidianvidia ionNvidiaIonzotacZOTAC ION ITX 330ZotacIonItx330Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac Ion-based IONITX-A SFF motherboard review roundup]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/13/zotac-ion-based-ionitx-a-sff-motherboard-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/13/zotac-ion-based-ionitx-a-sff-motherboard-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/13/zotac-ion-based-ionitx-a-sff-motherboard-review-roundup/#comments
Jonesing for a new small form factor PC, are you? Not so keen on selecting a pre-fabricated unit? If you definitely fit the bill here, it's worth taking a gander at Zotac's recently released IONITX-A motherboard. As the first of its breed to actually ship, a whole lot is riding on its solder points, and according to reviews found 'round the web, it's done a satisfactory job of living up to expectations. The test bench-abusin' kids over at Hot Hardware found that Zotac's board (and the included dual-core Atom 330 CPU) performed "as expected," notching results that were "significantly better than any of the single core Atom 230-based systems." The unique DC power input was also lauded, and the silent nature made this a perfect candidate for a low-power, highly-capable carputer building block. All in all, this here mobo won't transform your life, but it's certainly a welcome extra in the all-too-stale DIY SFF market. Check the links below for all the bar charts you can handle.

Read - Hot Hardware ("most appealing of the Ion-based products")
Read - PC Perspective ("an impressive motherboard for its size")
Read - The Tech Report ("as good as the Ion platform gets")
Read - Tom's Hardware ("it's most promising destination is in the HTPC space")

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Zotac Ion-based IONITX-A SFF motherboard review roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 May 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>230330atomatom 230atom 330atom n330Atom230Atom330AtomN330geforcegeforce 9400mGeforce9400mionIONITX-AIONITX-AUIONITX-BEjapanmedia pcmedia pcsmediapcmediapcsmini itxmini-itxMiniItxmobomotherboardn330nettopnvidianvidia ionNvidiaIonPureVideo HDreviewreview roundupReviewRounduproundupsffzotacWed, 13 May 2009 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Zotac jumping in Ion-filled waters with new Mini-ITX motherboards]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/21/zotac-jumping-in-ion-filled-waters-with-new-mini-itx-motherboard/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/21/zotac-jumping-in-ion-filled-waters-with-new-mini-itx-motherboard/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/21/zotac-jumping-in-ion-filled-waters-with-new-mini-itx-motherboard/#commentsWe'd heard a few whispers rolling through the gentle breeze that Zotac would be hopping on the Ion bandwagon early on, and sure enough, it looks like said firm is indeed latched on. Reportedly, the outfit will be producing a few Mini-ITX motherboards in the near future that support Intel's Atom 230 / 330 processors and come loaded with NVIDIA's GeForce 9400M G chipsets. The mobos would also include all of the basic amenities: Ethernet, two RAM slots, HDMI / DVI / VGA outputs, a trio of SATA ports and a WiFi module. There's still no word on what system maker is looking to slap these into their next-generation nettops, but who knows, maybe this will end up being the first standalone Ion-based board for the DIYers in attendance.

[Via Expreview, thanks Shawn]

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Zotac jumping in Ion-filled waters with new Mini-ITX motherboards originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>230atomatom 230Atom230geforcegeforce 9400mGeforce9400mionIONITX-AUIONITX-BEjapanmini itxmini-itxMiniItxmobomotherboardnettopnvidianvidia ionNvidiaIonPureVideo HDsffzotacTue, 21 Apr 2009 09:53:00 EST