Barebone systems. Barebone systems as a prototype of the PC of the future. Nettop Purism Librem Mini is built on the Linux platform

Introduction

In this article we will tell you about SFF format barebone platforms. Today, the market is literally flooded with Barebons from various manufacturers, and, as usual, the average user is at a loss and looks at a small computer, excuse the expression, like you-know-who at a new gate. The purpose of this material will be to explain to you what a modern Barebone platform is, why it costs so much and what its pros and cons are. This material will be based on reviews of various platforms from manufacturers Shuttle, MSI and EliteGroup. Today, these are the main manufacturers and suppliers of barebons to our market, and it is these companies that, to varying degrees, determine the development of the industry as a whole.

Barebone = SFF (Small Form Factor)

In fact, the term “Barebone” itself translates as “clean bone” or skeleton. Therefore, Barebone is any platform on which a computer is built. This could be a MicroATX case or even a 1U or 2U server case with preinstalled motherboard. The platforms themselves were designed for assemblers of low-cost computers to make it easier and therefore cheaper for them to assemble standard machines. But a few years ago, Shuttle introduced a new standard computer case - SFF (Small Form Factor). These familiar cubes measuring approximately 200(w)x180(h)x260(d) mm have today become synonymous with the word “Barebone” for us. And every time we say Barebone, we mean Small Form Factor and vice versa.

Such cubes have quite a few advantages over standard ATX and MicroATX cases. First of all, these are the sizes. And if the width of the SFF is slightly smaller than a standard ATX case, then in terms of height and depth the advantages of compact barebons are obvious. This means that you can use your workspace more efficiently. But at the same time, the SFF format, compared to the Mini-ITX format and other compact standards (for example, Flex ATX or Nano-ITX), allows the use of standard computer components - a 5.25" optical drive, expansion cards with PCI interfaces or AGP 8x, as well as standard 3.5" hard drives. That is, the SFF format imposes virtually no restrictions on the buyer’s use of standard components for a personal computer.

A clear example of a Barebone platform in which excessive miniaturization has led to a loss of compatibility is the IWill ZPC platform (pictured above). Here, only a flat optical drive from a laptop is used, a 2.5" hard drive is also from a laptop, and there is no talk of any expansion cards. It is not surprising that this form factor was not accepted by users.

That is, one of the key advantages of the SFF format is compatibility with standard PC components (except the motherboard) with smaller case dimensions.

What does a barebone platform consist of? Part I - exterior.

Modern barebone platforms include the maximum number of components necessary to assemble computers. The fact is that today the average platform costs around $330, which is much higher than the cost of the components used in its composition, and most of the price is the so-called “luxury fee” and the return of the money spent on its development. To make it the most profitable to build, manufacturers try to add as much as possible to the barebon without overloading it, so that the buyer or assembler can still modify the configurations of the resulting computers.

Case types

So, the main component of the barebones is the case with the power supply. Today, three types of cases are common - these are the already familiar “cubes”, in which the width and height are approximately equal, horizontal cases of the Asus DigiMatrix type, in which the width is greater than the height,

and turrets whose height is greater than their width. "Recumbent" cases like Asus DigiMatrix no longer belong to the SFF class. They are 285mm wide and use flat optical drives. Tower format cases are used in ECS EZ-Buddie barebone platforms.

The most economical in terms of space taken up on the desktop are turret-type cases. For example, the EZ-Buddie D4I4-1 case is only 16 cm wide. But in such cases the optical drive is installed vertically, which makes it impossible to read 8 cm CDs on it.

Since the case itself of any Barebone in SFF format is small in size, and again the price of the platform is quite high, manufacturers prefer to make the case walls from aluminum. Aluminum is also a fairly light metal, and its use reduces the overall weight of the computer, which is very important for a compact computer. The most common body colors today are silver and black. White barebone cases are a little less common. All other colors are exotic.

Barebone in front

A modern computer should provide easy connection of various peripheral devices. This is why bezel ergonomics are very important for any platform. Most modern SFF format platforms have one 5.25" bay for an optical drive; a significant part of them also have one external 3.5" bay. The disk drive for such computers is a terrible archaism, so manufacturers prefer to install a card reader for 6 types of flash cards in the 3.5" bay. Almost any card reader can, if desired, be removed from the case to make room for, say, one more hard drive. But there are two types of card readers and I even find it difficult to give them names.

Shuttle Reflexion

Here in the photo above is a regular card reader that occupies one 3.5" compartment of the case. You can easily remove it and replace it with a floppy drive, magneto-optical drive or hard drive. In the latter case, a 3.5" bay cover may be supplied with the case, so that if you install a hard drive, there is something close the hole.

Another type of card reader is less practical: they can also be removed from the computer, but the front panel of the case does not contain a compartment for 3.5" devices - it is replaced by card slots.

You can’t install an internal disk drive or magneto-optical drive here, and if you install a hard drive instead of a card reader, the card slots will remain gaping in their silence.

Although, there are some pleasant exceptions. For example, MSI platforms MEGA 180 Deluxe or MSI MEGA 865 Deluxe They have such a “hidden” card reader and on the front panel we see only slots for cards.

However, the socket itself with slots can be easily replaced with a plug supplied in the kit. You can’t install a disk drive or magneto-optics here, but a second hard drive is easy.

EliteGroup made it even more interesting - they hid the card reader behind a plastic door. Thus, completely solving the problem with its replacement. In the EZ-Buddie 2 platform, the card reader slots are generally installed on the side edges of the case, but there is no external 3.5" compartment.

Okay, we seem to have sorted out the card reader. What about the optical drive? Many of you probably know that it is more difficult to purchase a black drive than a white one. I have not seen silver drives for sale. Therefore, when purchasing a platform, it is very important to make sure that you can find an optical drive in the appropriate color so that it does not stand out from the general design. Some barebone platforms, e.g. Shuttle XPC Reflexion, are already supplied with pre-installed drives. In the case of Reflexion, a 16-speed DVD-ROM is a drawback, since it seriously adds cost to the platform, the platform is not sold without it, and I would put a DVD-R/RW drive in such an expensive computer. And so you will have to pay for the DVD-ROM, which will have to be sent for scrap.

The ideal solution in the case of a non-standard color of the case is to use a curtain, behind which the optical drive is hidden. This is done in the MSI MEGA and ECS EZ-Buddie platforms.

In such a case you can put an optical drive of any color - even one painted in Gzhel and it will not spoil the appearance of the front panel.

Interface and audio ports must be installed on the front panel of the case. In general, temporary devices such as home electronics or storage media are connected to the front panel. Anything that is permanently connected must be connected to the back of the case. At least two must be installed on the front panel USB port(for flash drive and MP3 player), at least one IEEE-1394 port for digital camera and three audio jacks. Moreover, IEEE-1394 must be a 4-pin I-Link type so that the user does not have to worry about finding adapters. It would be great if one 4-pin and one 6-pin IEEE-1394 port were installed. As for the audio jacks, there should normally be a headphone output, a microphone input and an SPDIF optical input. If a line input is installed on the front panel, then it must be duplicated at the back so that when connecting some TV tuners, a situation does not arise when you have to surround the case with an audio cable.

What kind of ports should they be - open or closed behind a curtain? From a practical point of view, everyone chooses for themselves. If you plan to use them rarely, look for closed ones, often look for open ones. But the main thing is that there are no shiny plastic parts around the ports that could be scratched. After all, where is the guarantee that you won’t miss the port with the sharp connector of the flash drive?

In addition, the area around ports and buttons is more likely to get dirty.

Well, we've sorted out the front panel of typical Barebone platforms. Let's look at the barebones in profile.

Barebone in profile

Case covers are mostly made U-shaped, that is, they are removed completely, and not in fragments, to provide freer access to the interior of the case. Very often, ventilation holes are made in the side walls of the case or grilles are installed.

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 already installed in it, system board and cooling system. 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 HDD, and these operations can be performed even by a user with little experience 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 size. Compared to usual system units 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 disks 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, barebone systems are becoming increasingly common. Wi-Fi adapters and/or Bluetooth.

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 similar to music centers than on 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, as additional accessories In addition, MSI produces special speaker systems and a carrying bag).

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.

Miniaturization of personal computer components is a long-established market trend. Introduction of modern semiconductor technological processes allows you to create more and more complex integrated circuits, which incorporate the functions of many devices at once and do not require the use of colossal cooling systems. As a result, the placement of such components becomes possible on boards with a small area and in cases with a small internal volume, which explains the significant reduction in the size of a personal computer. Even if you close your eyes to the fact that a fairly powerful hardware in terms of computing fits quite well in the body of a smartphone or tablet, and focus specifically on traditional personal computers, it is clearly noticeable that the average size of such systems has decreased. Both laptops and desktop systems. Among mobile computers Compact netbooks and ultrabooks gained popularity, while productive desktop systems often began to be content with the Mini-ITX form factor, and in parallel, very small-format PCs like Intel NUC or numerous nettops.

All this is a completely natural reflection technical progress, but this is not the only way it manifests itself. Miniaturization also paved the way for the emergence of devices of fundamentally new form factors that have a hybrid nature and combine two PC essences in one case. Currently, two fundamentally new trends in the external form of computers have emerged: a cross between a laptop and a tablet - a two-in-one class device - and something in between a desktop system and a laptop - all-in-one computers. It is the expansion of monoblocks that will be discussed in this material.

The idea of ​​placing a personal computer in a monitor case itself is far from new. This approach allows you to save space on the work surface, do without a bunch of wires lying on the table and give the computer a more “decent” appearance. appearance. However, until recently, such integrated monoblocks were not so common devices and were used mainly in the business segment. The fact is that placing a motherboard with a processor, memory and video adapter in a monitor case was far from simple and required considerable effort from the developers. As a result, the final products were not affordable, they were based primarily on laptop components, and the final performance was seriously limited by the capabilities of modestly sized coolers. In other words, in reality it turned out to be something like a stationary analogue of an expensive laptop, differing from it for the better in screen size and the ability to choose a keyboard and mouse to suit your taste.

This would probably continue to happen, but with the release of processors Core series In recent generations, Intel has become interested in promoting computers of new form factors. And she not only became interested, but, seeing an opportunity to increase sales of her own processors, decided to participate in the development of this market. It was on this wave that the Intel NUC mini-computer appeared, but it was not limited to it. Intel also became interested in monoblocks, which in the era of transition to touch interfaces and operating system Windows8.1 can offer the user additional convenience.

Intel's participation in the promotion of monoblocks turned out to be quite delicate, but at the same time, effective. The company did not release its own devices of this type and did not resort to large-scale advertising campaigns, but simply standardized the design of the filling, which can fit into the monitor case. The ThinMini-ITX form factor was chosen as the base, for which a reference layout of motherboards with LGA 1155 or LGA 1150 connectors and memory in the form of SO-DIMMDDR3 modules was proposed. This made the development and release of such motherboards a very simple enterprise, in which almost all leading suppliers immediately became involved: ASUS, ECS, Gigabyte, ASrock, as well as numerous OEM developers. It didn’t take long for ODM integrators to start producing all-in-one monoblock cases filled with monitors, compatible with Intel’s ThinMini-ITX standard.

Thus, the market for monoblocks based on Core family processors has come to life, and today it offers a wide variety of products, both from eminent companies and from numerous Chinese and even domestic assemblers. All such products are essentially related, since they are based on the same design of LGA 1150/1155 motherboards, but the differences between them can be very significant. Firstly, the available cases for monoblocks differ in appearance. They have different designs and are equipped with matrices of various sizes - from 18 to 24 inches. Secondly, assemblers are not at all limited in the choice of filling: there are many compatible boards, plus they can install different processors and memory, vary storage drives, wireless controllers and some other additional equipment.

In addition, another option has appeared, designed for advanced users who are accustomed to assembling computers with their own hands. Considering that the design of a modern candy bar is standardized in a certain way, you can purchase a case and fill it with filling yourself. For fans of this approach, products from the Chinese company Wibtek have appeared on our market, which, among other products, offers a kind of skeletal barebone system for assembling a candy bar from components on its own. Wibtek barebones include, among other things, motherboards made based on the reference design, and the user only has to add a processor, memory, storage and some mini-PCIe devices. Today we will get acquainted with one of these barebones monoblocks, created on the basis of Intel’s concept. Our laboratory received a skeletal system for creating the Wibtek A23-TH87G-S U3 Touch L6 all-in-one.

Specifications

Description/features: All-in-One PC with 23" touch screen
Operating system: not installed, support Windows 7/8
Motherboard chipset: Intel H87 (Wibtek TH87G-SA motherboard)
Supported processors: Intel Core i3/i5/i7 fourth generation, Pentium, Celeron for LGA1150 socket.
RAM: 2 SODIMM slots for DDR3 1066/1333/1600 MHz modules up to 16 GB.
Disk drives: installed by the user, the ability to install one 3.5""/2.5"" HDD.
Disk interfaces: SATA6 Gbit/s.
RAID support: no.
Video adapter: integrated, depends on the installed processor.
Sound card: 7.1 HD-audio (via HDMI).
Acoustic system: 2 built-in stereo speakers.
Optical drive: user installable, supports 12.7mm slim ODD.
Expansion slots: 2 x mini PCI Express(1 x Half Mini-PCIe, 1 x Full Mini-PCIe).
Control: on/off button.
TV tuner: no.
Camera: built-in webcam, 2.0 megapixels.
Microphone: built-in.
Display: 23"", Full HD (1920 x 1080), TouchScreen, with LED backlight.
Network controllers:
10/100/1000 Mbit LAN;
WiFi 802.11b/g/n can be installed.

Firewire: no.
Card reader: yes, supports MS/MS Pro/SD/MMC formats.
Ports/connectors:
1 x HDMI;
4 x USB 3.0;
1 x microphone input;
1 x line out/headphone out;
1 x power connector;
1 x RJ45.

Case color: black (frame), white.
Case material: plastic.
Power supply: external adapter 120 W.
Package contents: instructions, power adapter, driver disk.
Possibility of wall mounting: yes, bracket must be purchased separately.
Dimensions: 557 x 337 x 55 mm (without stand).

Appearance

A monoblock is, first of all, a monitor. This is how the case of any similar computer is perceived, including the Wibtek A23-TH87G-S U3 Touch L6 model under consideration.

In fact, if we do not know in advance what is in front of us - full-fledged computer, you may not notice any significant differences from the 23-inch multimedia LCD display. If you know in advance that we are talking about a candy bar, then the thickness of this monitor will certainly catch your eye. At the edges it is less than 2 cm, but at the place where the stand is attached the monitor swells to about 6 cm.

However, Wibtek designers must be given their due. They were able to make the body quite a strict appearance, without hurting the aesthetic sense of the European. Moreover, the successful combination of black and white colors visually hides the real thickness of the device - the candy bar seems quite slender. There are no special complaints about the quality of the materials used. Although the plastic used is glossy and does not look expensive and thoroughbred, it is not particularly easily soiled and, most importantly, not Chinese-soft. This means that the entire structure seems monolithic, nothing creaks, does not play or dangle. Moreover, a steel plate is hidden inside the case, so the monoblock turned out to be solid: monolithic and quite heavy.

Special mention should be made about the stand. On the one hand, it is good: durable and tough. On the other hand, it provides few degrees of freedom in adjusting the monitor. You can't raise, lower or even rotate the monitor - you can only tilt it back and forth. But the candy bar sits on the stand like a glove, no vibrations or oscillations occur even when touching the screen, which is important, considering that the candy bar has a touch interface.

The front side of the monitor is covered with plexiglass, that is, its surface is glossy and highly reflective. Fortunately, it doesn’t get dirty too quickly even with constant touching, although with intensive use you will still have to wipe the screen regularly. The width of the monitor frame at the edges is approximately 2.5 cm. Fortunately, this frame is made flush with the main surface of the screen, so it does not interfere with use at all. However, it should be mentioned that in new-fangled monitor models, manufacturers are trying to reduce the thickness of the frame, so the monoblock in question does not seem very modern in appearance.

The strict black appearance of the front of the computer in question is not disturbed by any details. Is it just that white buttons for turning on the computer and monitor (it can be turned off separately), as well as adjusting the brightness of the image, peek out from under the screen at the bottom. In addition, the stand, which is black on the front side, has a white edge, and this is also visible. To the left of the buttons in the monitor frame there are two blue LEDs that indicate the operation of the computer and its hard drive. Above the screen in the center is a webcam peephole with a resolution of 2.0 megapixels.

Let's take a look at the side edges of the candy bar. They are white and do not carry any ports.

Only the cover on the right edge is noteworthy. A “thin” optical drive can be hidden under it if the owner of the all-in-one PC wants to install it.

However, a wealth of connectors is located on the bottom side of the monitor. This arrangement is a consequence of the use of a standardized Mini-ITX motherboard, which in the case faces the back panel down. Unfortunately, Wibtek's designers did not bother adding additional USB ports to the side edges of their all-in-one, as a result of which users will definitely pay for the convenience of connecting, for example, USB flash drives. The connector panel contains four USB 3.0 ports, a gigabit network socket, two analog audio jacks and an HDMI port for connecting an additional monitor.

The set at first glance is not rich, however, it is most likely sufficient for a candy bar. Moreover, Wibtek engineers still added to the basic capabilities a card reader installed in the monitor case: it is located adjacent to all other ports. It supports MS/MS Pro/SD/MMC memory card formats.
Power is also supplied to the monoblock from below, through a connector located next to all other ports. The Wibtek A23-TH87G-S U3 Touch L6 system runs on an external “laptop” power supply, which is included in the package. However, the size and weight of this power supply are not so small, which does not really coincide with its only 120-watt power.

The back surface of the candy bar body is also uninteresting, as are its side edges. It is completely white, on top there is a grille for cooling the internal space of the computer, and on the bottom there are two grilles covering the built-in speakers. The installed acoustic stereo system of two 3-watt speakers has a very mediocre quality, lacking low frequencies. We can say that it produces typical laptop sound.

It remains to pay attention to only two details. Firstly, there is a VESA mount on the back surface of the monoblock, which can allow you to mount it on a bracket or directly on a wall. Secondly, the stand has a hole closed with a plug, which is convenient to use when laying cables under the table.

Internal organization

The fact that the all-in-one WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 went on sale in the form of a skeletal system, deprived of the lion's share internal components, which the user is asked to install independently, is not accidental. This system is not only standardized, but also convenient for the assembler. When you complete it, not only will you not need any additional equipment other than a screwdriver, but you will also not have to remember that assembly sometimes requires some non-trivial effort and sleight of hand.

To get inside the system, it is enough to unscrew the nine screws located on the rear surface of the monoblock, after which the entire white part of the case, together with the stand, is easily separated from the screen attached to the front surface. All the filling appears in full view. The display matrix remains protected from access by a steel plate, but the complete set computer components, on the basis of which the monoblock is assembled, is evenly distributed throughout the available space on the opposite side of this plate, which acts as a kind of stand for electronic components.

In the original configuration, a motherboard manufactured by this company itself is installed inside the Wibtek monoblock and there is the necessary low-profile processor cooling system. The user is asked to complete the system with a processor, hard drive, memory and, possibly, some expansion cards. At the same time, interface boards for implementing a touch interface and connecting a monitor matrix via an LVDS interface are preinstalled in the system and are already connected to the motherboard.

However, this does not mean that the motherboard installed in the all-in-one PC is an integral part of the design. As mentioned above, the design of this system is standardized, so the board can be replaced if necessary. There are a lot of suitable compatible models; the most common ones include: Gigabyte boards H87TN or ASUS H81-T. There are options for installing inside a monoblock and motherboards not only for LGA 1150, but also for older LGA 1155 processors. However, let’s first take a look at what capabilities are provided by the WibtekTH87G-SA motherboard already available in the WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6.

As you can easily guess from the name, this board is based on one of the most modern kits Intel logic H87 and is intended for Core processors fourth generation, that is Haswell. However, due to its Mini-ITX size and the limited space in which it is placed, the capabilities of the chipset are far from being fully utilized.
First of all, it should be noted that the board has only two slots for installing memory. Moreover, these slots are mobile – DDR3 SO-DIMM. Thus, dual-channel memory controller mode is supported, but maximum volume DDR3 SDRAM, which can be filled with the monoblock in question, is 16 GB, and the maximum frequency is 1600 MHz.
Noteworthy is the absence of any slots on the board for installing graphics cards. This is a limitation of the standard, which as presented by Intel is designed to use exclusively graphics integrated into the processor. Thus, install a productive graphics card impossible.
But the WibtekTH87G-SA motherboard provides good opportunities for using mini-PCIe expansion cards. There are two slots for them. One is for half size cards and the other is for full size cards. At the same time, the full-size slot allows the installation of mSATA drives, and the second connector, as planned by the developers, should be used to install a WiFi controller. At least, connectors from a pair of 802.11b/g/n antennas, which are laid inside the case, are connected to it.
About the interface connectors located on back panel boards, we have already said, looking at the lower part of the candy bar case, but in addition to them, the board also has a number of internal dislocation ports. Among them, it is important to note the presence of two SATA 6 Gb/s ports (with a power connector), three USB 2.0 ports, an infrared port and an S/PDIF output. Naturally, the board also contains a set of connectors for connecting a monitor panel: LVDS interface, power supply, connectors for brightness control buttons, etc.

Obviously, all the capabilities of the board cannot be realized through the logic set functions alone. Therefore, additional controllers can be found on the board: the RealtekRTL8111E gigabit network controller and the RealtekALC662 six-channel audio codec. However, let us remind you: the monoblock in question has only two analog audio outputs, so the possibilities for connecting external speaker systems are very limited. High-quality multi-channel sound can only be output through the HDMI port, but this, of course, will require redirecting the image output from the built-in display.

Since the voltage to the monoblock motherboard is supplied from an external 19-volt power supply, the power circuit layout is somewhat different from what we are used to seeing on Mini-ITX boards. However, for the processor there is a three-channel converter assembled on classic field effect transistors, coils and solid capacitors. By the standards of boards for enthusiasts, such a design could be called primitive, but a monoblock is a different matter. There are no plans to use powerful processors here, much less overclocking. Therefore, the power converter copes well with the role assigned to it and does not even get very hot - the absence of radiators on the transistors is completely justified.

Limitations in the power of compatible processors are determined not even by the board, but by the cooling system provided by the design. The processor is covered by a bare heat sink, which, using direct contact technology, penetrates three 6 mm copper heat pipes. They transfer heat to an 80x80x24 mm aluminum radiator installed next to the board, through which air is blown by a radial fan with PWM control. The air intake for this cooling system is carried out from inside the case, and the exhaust is directed outside it, through the grille located in the upper part of the monoblock. The manufacturer promises that this cooling system will be sufficient to cool processors with a 65-watt thermal package. This means that the candy bar in question can be installed with any dual core processors Haswell family, or quad-cores, which belong to the energy-efficient S and T series.

The WibtekTH87G-SA motherboard has two fan connectors - processor and system. Both of them are used in the candy bar. As a system fan, the manufacturer installed a small centrifugal turbine in the corner of the board, which simply mixes the air inside the case. Frankly speaking, such fans with an impeller diameter of 40 mm usually do not promise anything good in terms of system noise, but in this case its rotation speed is controlled via PWM, which significantly mitigates the severity of the problem.
It must be said that, despite the fact that the Mini-ITX form factor describes a fairly compact size of the motherboard of 17x17 cm, the developers of the WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 monoblock were able to fill the entire internal space located behind the monitor panel. On one side of the board there is a cooling system, on the other, space is allocated for storage drives. For them, the monoblock provides two seats. On top, if desired, you can place an optical disc drive. Any thin model is supported, and you don’t have to worry about the color of the front panel, it will be hidden under the cover. At the bottom there are mounts that allow you to install a 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch hard drive.

Thus, WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 allows you to assemble a completely complete and modern system with a good level of performance. The only significant limitation is the need to use the graphics built into the processor. And, considering that the all-in-one board has a regular LGA 1150 desktop socket, the maximum possible GPU version– Intel HD Graphics 4600, which is quite difficult to classify as an acceptable solution for games. In other words, the Wibtek system in question will not make a gaming candy bar, but it can be used in an office or in a normal home environment without problems. Moreover, in the latter case, an interesting addition to the capabilities of this system will be support for touch input.

The BIOS of the WibtekTH87G-SA motherboard provides only the most basic functionality. There are no means for overclocking the processor, memory or graphics core, just as there are no means for managing processor energy-saving technologies. But the BIOS contains options for controlling fan speed. Both adaptive mode and fixing the performance of the cooling system at a specific level are available.

Test results

The first thing you have to evaluate when getting to know a candy bar is its monitor. The 23-inch WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 panel has a native resolution of 1920x1080 and uses LED backlighting. The stated viewing angles are 178 degrees vertically and horizontally, brightness is 250 nits, contrast is 1000:1 and response time is 5 ms. All these are rather mediocre parameters by modern standards, but we must take into account that the candy bar in question is gaming computer not positioned. Its main focus is to use it in the office or at home as a second or third computer. And here such screen parameters could be quite sufficient, if not for one thing.

The fact is that the monoblock has a TN-Film type matrix installed. Accordingly, the viewing angles at which the picture does not fade turn out to be not very large. In fact, the picture looks clear and without loss of colors only at right angles. Practical brightness and contrast are not too high either. To achieve a comfortable level of brightness, you have to turn it up to maximum, but the contrast does not change at all. In general, the monitor could use at least some adjustments, but the developers did not provide them, like the on-screen menu.

Doesn't shine high quality and color rendition. In other words, it’s clearly not possible to edit images or do printing pre-press preparation on a candy bar. Moreover, the perception of the picture will be hampered by its mercilessly glare glossy surface. However, in defense of the Wibtek monoblock, it should be said that such coverage is a consequence of the implementation of the touch interface. And in this part there are no complaints about the candy bar. As testing has shown, the capacitive touchpad used in Windows 8.1 is very responsive and works clearly and accurately, recognizing up to ten simultaneous touches.

But the built-in one acoustic system I wasn't pleased at all. It produces sound so flat and devoid of low and mid frequencies that it can only be used for listening to system Windows sounds. So if the monoblock is planned to be used not only for office work, then it will have to be supplemented with external speakers, which, by the way, will inevitably add wires to the table, which the very concept of combining everything in a single case is designed to combat. The position for the built-in microphone was also poorly chosen. It is located on the bottom edge of the case, so all the sounds coming from the speakers get into it, reflecting from the table. As a result, it is almost impossible to talk, for example, on Skype using the built-in tools of the candy bar.

We did not test the performance of the WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 in detail. It is quite obvious that it will directly depend on what components are installed in the system. The test showed that compared to conventional desktop systems using similar hardware, the performance is almost the same. A small (at the level of a few percent) lag in the speed of the all-in-one can only arise due to the settings of the memory subsystem. The Wibtek system uses DDR3 SO-DIMMs, which are generally slower than conventional DDR3 memory sticks. Moreover, the BIOS does not provide the ability to configure them: the frequency and delays taken from the SPD are used. Therefore, the maximum practically available memory frequency is DDR3-1600, and with rather weak timings. Full-fledged desktop systems, of course, allow you to configure memory much more flexibly. You can read more about the impact of frequency and timing on performance here.

As for other important practical aspects of the operation of WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 - noise level and temperature conditions, special attention was paid to their study. Based on the monoblock, a working system was assembled based on the Corei3-4340 processor with a thermal package of 54 W, equipped with two 4 GB DDR3-1600 SO-DIMM modules with timings 11-11-11-28-1T and a WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500 GB hard drive.

Unfortunately, we cannot call the monoblock silent in this configuration. Even when idle, the small system fan spins at over 3,000 rpm, creating an audible hum. A more massive processor cooler, on the contrary, behaves very restrained during idle time: its fan speed does not exceed 1400 rpm. However, under load the situation changes dramatically. When the CPU warms up, the processor fan can accelerate to 4000 rpm, raising a real howl, similar to the operation of a small vacuum cleaner. In other words, a quiet system from a Wibtek monoblock can only be achieved by using economical, energy-efficient processors. Conventional CPU models, although they do not overheat, force the standard cooling system to work in extreme and very noisy mode.
By the way, the thermal regime of the system during the tests turned out to be quite acceptable. The typical processor temperature under load is from 70 to 80 degrees, and the temperature inside the all-in-one is maintained at no higher than 50 degrees. And even after conducting an hour-long stress test in LinX0.6.5, the maximum temperature of the processor was 91 degrees, the chipset chip was 57 degrees, and the hard drive was 53 degrees. This means that heat dissipation in the WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 system is built normally, and there is no need to worry about overheating of components.

conclusions

Until recently, those who wanted to get a compact one-component system that allows them to get rid of traditionally accompanying desktop computers bundles of wires, there were only two options: a branded candy bar or a laptop. Systems of both types have long been supplied by leading PC manufacturers, but in both cases such products have noticeable disadvantages due to the fact that they are a ready-made and closed product that does not allow either configuration for the specific needs of the user or subsequent full modernization. However, times are changing, and the market for such systems has gradually begun to turn towards enthusiasts who are accustomed to assembling computers with their own hands. So, today we came across a unique skeletal system with a monoblock form factor, designed for self-assembly of a computer using widely available components.

“Thank you” for this should first of all be said to Intel, which has developed a certain standard for the layout of a monoblock. Armed with this standard, numerous Chinese manufacturers have rushed to the market, ready to supply cases compatible with a wide range of ThinMini-ITX motherboards and other hardware components. The WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 system discussed in this review is one of the embodiments of such a semi-finished monoblock: it combines in a single case an LCD monitor and a platform for assembling a modern PC based on a Haswell processor. By adding a desktop LGA 1150 processor of your choice with a heat dissipation of no more than 65 Watts, DDR3 memory and storage, it is not difficult to build a fully-fledged all-in-one personal computer, the configuration of which will be adjusted to the specific needs of the user.

Moreover, the resulting system will be in many ways no worse than branded monoblocks from leading personal computer manufacturers. It will be able to offer excellent performance by modern standards, a display with a 23-inch diagonal and FullHD resolution, full compatibility with Windows 8.1, support for touch input, the ability to connect to home network using WiFi technology and much more.

However, despite the huge advantage of the Wibtek system, which lies in its orientation towards the market of DIY enthusiasts, one cannot fail to note its disadvantages. In order for the reviewed system to be put on a par with branded monoblocks, it lacks polish. The lack of pedigree leads to some simplicity of the exterior, some miscalculations in the internal design and the use of a not very high-quality TN display matrix in the monoblock.
As a result, a personal computer assembled on the basis of the Wibtek A23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 skeleton, in any case, will not be able to look like an elite solution, even if it is stuffed with the most expensive and productive components. However, the Wibtek system does not pretend to do this, compensating for its shortcomings with a completely affordable price. The recommended price of a monoblock case complete with a motherboard is only $600 (and it is available at retail even cheaper). Accordingly, the price of a fully assembled system made from this barebone monoblock will be about $800-900. And this is noticeably cheaper than a branded monoblock with similar characteristics, which, moreover, will not allow for subsequent modernization. This means that the construction kit for assembling the WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 all-in-one computer is a very interesting offer for advanced users, which they may well want to turn into both an office and a second home computer.

We would like to express our gratitude to 3Logic for providing the Wibtek A23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 monoblock for testing.

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 performance 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 big. 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. Systems based on VIA C3 and motherboards under 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 work 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!

Additionally, the lack of any expansion slots limits your choice of, say, sound card built-in codec and external systems such as 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 cannot be used 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 an AM/FM tuner, as well as a remote control remote control, and the new Shuttle XPC systems (SN45G, SB61G2) have a processor cooling system using heat pipes.

You can select and buy a Barebone for any task from the NICS online store catalog, which presents popular series of microcomputers from popular brands - ASUS VivoMini, ASRock Beebox, GIGABYTE BRIX and Intel NUC. Barebone is a compact, lightweight and cost-effective computer that can be an equivalent replacement for a desktop PC. Due to their small dimensions, minicomputers will become ideal option when equipping a limited-sized workspace. At the same time, their stylish design will perfectly complement and decorate any interior. Distinctive feature barebone is a flexible configuration option – choice random access memory, operating system and data storage subsystem are provided to the user, and to upgrade the platform you only need a screwdriver.

ASUS VivoMini are functional minicomputers for home and office based on Intel processors with a wide range of interfaces. They have an attractive design made of aluminum and plastic and, with a size of 131x131x42 mm, have low energy consumption and boast very low noise levels. ASUS VivoMini barebones can be mounted on the back of VESA-compatible monitors. Thanks to their functionality, compact platforms can play the role of a work computer, a home multimedia center or a file server. Support high resolution will allow you to use some Barebone models as part of a home theater.

ASRock Beebox – microcomputers with concept design for home theater, office work or business at competitive prices. Among the advantages are the powerful hardware, including an Intel processor, a wide range of interfaces that allows you to connect up to 3 monitors and devices with a connector USB Type C for fast charging, as well as zero noise level. Two slots for DDR3 memory modules and a bay for a 2.5-inch drive significantly expand the possibilities of using the compact platform.

GIGABYTE BRIX is the ideal foundation for a personal cinema, home or office PC, and a versatile platform for low-power digital kiosks. Stylish, lightweight aluminum body, compact form factor, and VESA mount for Barebone mounting on the back of your monitor. Powered by Intel processors and integrated graphics, these minicomputers allow you to customize the amount of RAM and disk drives you need, display high-quality images across multiple displays, and connect to mobile devices.

Intel NUCs are powerful, full-featured 10 x 10 cm minicomputers for entertainment, gaming and productivity. They are based on Intel processors and are customizable, allowing you to install memory, storage and the appropriate operating system. Latest models With powerful processors The 7th generation Intel Core supports 4K video playback and provides decent performance, not inferior in performance to desktop PCs.