Already at first glance X22- a very interesting device. On the one hand, it can be a typical all-in-one desktop solution. On the other hand, a platform for building a PC based on the specific requirements of a particular user. This is because the X22 models will also be delivered in two versions: ready to run with a fixed configuration and an installed OS, as well as in barebone format, that is, without a processor, RAM, hard drive and, accordingly, without an OS. But with a mini-ITX motherboard, which, if desired, can be replaced and made a total upgrade.
Our editors received an already assembled 22 "monoblock with a good set of hardware.
Specifications
In parentheses are the components that are in the device in a ready-to-use configuration.
- Socket: LGA1151;
- [Core i5-6500 Quad-Core S1151 3.2 GHz installed];
- chipset: Intel H110;
- video: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 530;
- RAM: 2xDDR3 SO-DIMM 1600/1333 MHz up to 32 GB;
- [installed 2x 8GB Foxconn Foxline 1600 (FL1600D3S11-8G)];
- hard drive: 2.5" SATA3;
- [installed SSD ADATA 256GB Premier SP610 (ASP610SS3-256GM-C)];
- optical drive: any thin SATA DVD ± RW with a thickness of 12.7 mm;
- Half Mini PCI: 1x Wireless wifi adapter or Wi-Fi with Bluetooth;
- Full Mini PCI: 1x M-SATA SSD;
- dimensions: 518 x 359 x 58 mm
- 12-19V power port;
- 1x HDMI (output);
- 3x USB 3.0;
- 2x USB 2.0;
- 1x combined audio input-output (+ additional output);
- 1x microphone input (+ additional output);
- 1x Ethernet, RJ45.
- size: 21.5";
- resolution: 1920x1080;
- viewing angles (H x V): 170 x 160;
- brightness: 250 cd/m2;
- response: 2-5ms.
- wireless network: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n adapter;
- power supply: 120 W;
- camera: 2 MP;
- sound: built-in stereo speakers 2 x 1.5W.
Appearance and features
Aio X22 comes in a box made of plain cardboard, the device is packed in a thick seal and is very well protected from the hardships of transportation on Russian roads. In the box, in addition to the monoblock, there was a manual for opening and completing the platform, a power supply, a power cable, a mounting kit and a driver disk. In the barebone modification, the user will also find a cooling system, but in our case it was already installed inside the X22.
The monoblock is made in a silver case mounted on a gray metal stand. The stand has a non-slip coating and is very stable considering the weight of the case. The display is protected by glass. Glass, as usual, is not frosted, so be prepared to take care of it, i.e. remove fingerprints and dust. Immediately after removing the protective film, the monoblock looks very attractive and will definitely please not only (sorry for the spoiler) performance, but also appearance.
The thickness of the case, excluding the stand, does not exceed 50 mm, the frame is very thin - only 16 mm.
The tilt of the display is adjustable between -2°/+65°.
The slope is very convenient when connecting cables to the ports on the motherboard, brought out from the bottom of the case.
On the back of the monoblock are ventilation holes and holes for a universal VESA mounts 100x100, so that if desired, the case can be mounted on a bracket after unfastening the desktop stand. If the device is to be used at an exhibition or other public place, it can be secured with a Kensington lock.
The sticker tells us what kind of animal we have purchased and how to feed it.
On the right side are the controls: buttons for adjusting the brightness, turning off the display and the power button. The buttons are slightly recessed into the case and are pressed a little more tightly than you might expect. An optical drive will be located on the same side, if installed. In addition, you can install an additional hard drive in its place.
On the opposite side of the case, there is a microphone input, a universal audio port for headphones or a headset, as well as two USB port 2.0. In truth, the old USB versions In 2016, I don't want to see it anymore. Of course, their presence can be explained by the absence of the need to connect peripherals to high-speed ports. But in this case, USB 2.0 should have been placed at the bottom. And USB 3.0, respectively, on the side, since external drives it is more convenient to connect there. But it is obvious that the location of the ports is 100% dependent on the motherboard used, so if you really want to, you can change everything yourself.
I / O-panel, as already noted, goes to the bottom end of the monoblock. In our configuration, we have duplicate audio ports, the "green" port also supports not only headphones, but also headsets. There is an HDMI output, but no input in case you want to output a laptop signal to a 21.5" screen. In addition, there is a network port and a set of USB 2.0 and 3.0 connectors. Power is also connected here.
A 2-megapixel camera is installed on top of the display, the microphone hole is placed on the top end.
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What is inside
Aio X22 is perhaps the easiest monoblock in terms of disassembly. To open, you need to unscrew only two screws and move back panel. And to completely remove the cover to the side, you only need to disconnect one cable. In total, it takes about 30 seconds to disassemble, while the design eliminates the possibility of breaking or damaging anything.
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The internal structure is very simple: the drive pads are located to the left of the motherboard, nothing needs to be removed to access the SO-DIMM ports, all cables are disconnected using reliable, strong connectors. Pay attention to the free slot for the M-SATA solid state drive.
In the pre-assembled modification, the power and data cables for the optical drive are already connected to the motherboard, it is enough to remove the plastic plug, remove the metal casing, install the device and return the casing to its place.
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The cooling system is quite large, and this had a positive effect on the temperature regime during testing.
Testing
We ran memory tests, SSD tests, and ran a series of comprehensive performance measurements in gaming and work environments.
To begin with, as is customary, a summary of HWiNFO64.
Full hardware report from CPU-Z.
We tested the performance of the SSD in Crystal Mark and Anvil's Storage Utilities. The read speed of SSD A-DATA on our platform is excellent, 500-560 MB/s, the write speed is lower and averaged 300 MB/s.
RAM tested in AIDA64 Extreme utility. A very good result in its class.
The performance of the machine in complex multimedia applications was measured in Futuremark 3DMark and directly in games using the Fraps benchmark.
Below are the results of three 3DMark benchmarks. Only in the Skydiver test the result was slightly lower than expected, in other cases the performance level was rated as something between a laptop and a gaming computer. The computer failed the most difficult Firestrike test, as it requires a discrete video accelerator.
We evaluated the performance of the vehicle in Battlefield 4, Skyrim and World of Tanks at the minimum graphics settings. You can drive tanks and games similar in terms of hardware requirements on the Aio X22 without any problems.
Using the PC Mark 8 test, we assessed the ability of a computer to perform everyday and work tasks: use a browser, simple games, text and graphic editors as well as video conferencing. All tasks, with the exception, again, of games, were absolutely no problem for the X22.
Screen
Full-HD display with wide viewing angles and a good margin of brightness. Glass glare, so you need to carefully choose the place for installation.
Camera
To test the camera, we chose a bright area of the room and asked two of our models to pose. In the days of HD-graphics, it is not very clear to install a 2-megapixel webcam on the chassis, except for the sake of reducing the cost of the platform. The quality of shooting, of course, will fit for videoconferencing, but is unlikely to be suitable for, say, master classes that require more detail from the image.
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Sound
The built-in speakers are quite loud, but at maximum volume, some songs cause an overload of the speakers. The speakers do a good job of playing sound when watching YouTube and TV shows. For games it would be better to use headphones.
Cooling system
When the system is running at 100% power, the noise level is average. Computer components do not get hotter than 60°, which is a good result.
General impressions and conclusion
It's fair to consider Aio X22 from two perspectives: as a barebone-platform and as a complete system.
barebones
The distributor has not yet named retail prices, but it is expected that the basis of the monoblock will cost about 30 thousand rubles. For this money, the buyer receives a very high-quality platform with a motherboard based on a junior chipset for Intel Skylake. It does not allow creating RAID arrays and overclocking a computer, which, however, is hardly necessary for a monoblock. On the other hand, we have a good margin for upgrading RAM - up to 32 GB, the ability to use an optical drive and, of course, a base for a series of very powerful Intel processors. Do not forget that the standard Mini-ITX motherboard can be replaced with any other.
The design of the X22 deserves the highest praise: disassembly and assembly are completed in less than a minute and do not pose a risk to the platform. The cover is removed in two movements, and it is absolutely impossible to break anything. The disadvantage of this design is that in some places the body creaks during manipulations. The device looks, however, monolithic.
The case is very stable, very thin and can be mounted on a bracket if required, which further expands the scope of the X22.
Ready to run
It is expected that the price of a monoblock assembly will be at the level of 70 thousand rubles. The resulting configuration contains everything you need to solve a wide range of tasks and even be suitable for some games. Aio X22 will become good choice for the freelancer working from home and for equipping the office; including jobs for graphic and web designers or editors, if there is no need to work with 4K content. The price of X22 in comparison with similar solutions is slightly below average. Among other things, due to the lack of any peripherals in the kit.
Pros:
- Exceptional ease and safety of assembly / disassembly;
- quality of materials and appearance;
- good performance;
- wide scope.
Minuses:
- camera;
- tight hardware buttons;
- no convenient access to USB 3.0.
Unusual design, compactness and extended multimedia capabilities are the main criteria for the popularity of barebone systems. Read about how to choose such devices correctly in the new issue of the Guide.
Barebone systems owe their appearance, first of all, to the fact that many people have long been tired of standard gray cases, which are more appropriate in an office than in a home interior. The first to realize this was Apple, which began to produce computers in cases with an unusual and attractive design. However, due to the stable demand for conventional personal computers and the lack of non-standard components, other manufacturers were in no hurry to experiment with case design. Subsequently, the demand for PCs began to fall, and barebone systems turned out to be one of the ways out of this situation for many companies. Unusual design, compactness and advanced multimedia capabilities really managed to attract new customers. And this is despite the fact that the cost of barebone systems significantly exceeds the cost of standard cases!
A small lyrical digression, clearly illustrating the popularity of the compactness of barebone systems. Apple, which, in fact, was the ancestor of unusual computer cases, took advantage of the experience of barebone manufacturers and released a compact computer Mac mini, which is not inferior in design to the best representatives of barebone-systems on the PC platform. Moreover, this computer has become the cheapest of Apple's desktop PCs: in the US it is sold for only $500! True, this is not a barebone, but a ready-made computer, and Apple does not plan to supply systems for self-assembly. On the other hand, Macintosh computers traditionally have a lot of modifications, among which you can choose the most suitable machine.
What is a typical barebone system? The first idea can be obtained already from the name - the word barebone can be translated from English as "skeleton". In other words, a barebone system is a foundation, a kit for assembling a personal computer. First of all, a barebone is a case of non-standard dimensions, as a rule, with a reduced power supply, an original cooling system, and a branded motherboard. In some cases, the kit also includes an optical drive and a hard drive. Such systems are sold as an assembly kit. Nevertheless, many computer manufacturers, even such large companies as Fujitsu-Siemens, do not shy away from using third-party barebone systems to assemble personal computers under their own brand. Russian companies have also succeeded in this matter, so those who wish can choose a ready-made computer, rather than engage in "technical creativity" on their own.
Contrary to popular belief, barebone systems can be used to build not only an ordinary home PC, but also a high-performance computer high level. Moreover, some companies produce specialized machines based on "skeletons", "sharpened" for any specific tasks, for example, for use as a compact desktop sound studio. So do not be afraid that choosing a case with a stylish design, you will limit yourself in system performance.
Currently, many companies are engaged in the release of barebone systems. The pioneer in this market was the Taiwanese company Shuttle, which, in fact, made the "skeletal" systems popular. Shuttle products are distinguished by the largest assortment, and everyone will be able to choose a model to their liking. In all modifications, there is either a multi-format card reader or a floppy drive bay. Other major manufacturers of barebone systems include MSI, Asus, Soltek and Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS). The models of these firms are more focused on multimedia use than Shuttle products. Many barebone systems can be used as music centers or video sources, and in most cases sound and video can be played without loading the operating system.
When choosing, you must first of all decide on the platform: the model you like externally may not support, for example, Pentium 4 or Athlon 64, which you want to base your system on. Particular attention should be paid to the set of system logic on the basis of which the motherboard is built: both performance and the possibility of using certain components or peripheral devices depend on this. Fortunately, without exception, all manufacturers of barebone-systems attach to their products very detailed technical specifications and instructions regarding the components that can be installed in this particular model.
The buyer of a barebone system should keep in mind that the expandability of such a computer is limited compared to a machine in a traditional case. Some extremely small models cannot be modified at all, and most compact models can only accept low-profile expansion cards and have a limited number of slots for them. In some cases, due to the specific cooling system, processors with high heat dissipation cannot be installed in such cases; this is usually stated in the technical description of the barebone system.
Among the features of some models of barebone-systems are built-in wireless LAN adapters, digital audio outputs and audio inputs that allow you to connect your computer to home audio equipment, as well as remote controls. An unpleasant surprise may be the absence of some ports (for example, a parallel port for some Shuttle models), the impossibility of installing a floppy drive. In many models for mounting a hard drive and installing a hard drive, you will have to show enviable ingenuity and miracles of tightrope walking.
Of course, those who want to get a music center at the same time as a computer should take a closer look at systems with the appropriate functionality. As a rule, such "skeletons" are also equipped with a large display and built-in radio. If you plan to play computer games, you should choose models without an integrated graphics controller and with an AGP port. Unfortunately, you won't be able to install the most powerful video card into a compact barebone system, because due to high heat dissipation, such cards are never low-profile. Therefore, you will have to choose only from entry-level and mid-level video cards. However, some models provide for the installation of full-size PCI cards. For example, in some modifications by Soltek, you can install a full-size PCI card, but in this case you will have to sacrifice one of the optical drive bays: the drive will no longer fit here.
Finally, if you have no experience in assembling even an ordinary desktop computer, it is strongly not recommended to "construct" a PC based on a barebone system. The fact is that due to the small dimensions in compact cases, components are placed very tightly, and non-standard and intricate cooling systems can be very difficult to install. An inexperienced person can easily damage not only the barebone itself, but also expensive components, in particular, the processor. If you still want to get a computer based on a "skeletal" system, it is better to contact computer stores or companies that assemble PCs to order.
In conclusion, I would like to warn you that a barebone system will cost you much more than a regular case: their price can range from a relatively reasonable $180 to an impressive $550. Beauty requires sacrifice!
On the next page you can get acquainted with some barebone systems present on the Russian market.
Asus DigiMatrix
A typical multimedia model with an unusual appearance: the computer "masquerades" as a high-end Hi-Fi component and comes with a remote control. The "stuffing" is not so impressive: a motherboard based on a not very modern SiS 651/962L chipset, support for Pentium processors 4/Celeron on Northwood core (Socket 478) up to 2.66 GHz, two slots for DDR 333/266 memory up to 2 GB, SiS 315 graphics core using up to 64 MB of system memory, single-channel IDE 133 controller, to which a hard drive and a "notebook" DVD recorder, a six-channel sound controller are connected. The complete absence of PCI slots and an AGP slot is depressing: you won't be able to install any expansion devices. Among the advantages are a built-in TV tuner with support for high-definition television and the ability to receive radio programs in the FM band, a seven-format card reader, an S / PDIF digital audio output that allows you to connect to household audio equipment, an IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN controller (work is supported in soft AP mode), two FireWire ports, and as many as eight USB 2.0 ports. Power supply - external, power - 120 watts. Overall dimensions - 285 x 53 x 290 mm. The retail price is just as impressive as the looks - the device costs around $575.
Advantages: compact size, attractive design, near-silent operation, built-in TV tuner and wifi controller, watching TV and listening to music without loading the operating system, remote control.
Flaws: outdated platform, low performance, inability to install expansion cards, very high price.
ECS EZ-Buddie D2S4-3
Aluminum barebone system of unusual design, reminiscent of a reduced traditional system unit tower type. The system is fundamentally not multimedia and is not equipped with either built-in tuners or a remote control. The device is based on the SiS 661FX+963 system logic and supports Pentium 4/Celeron processors based on the Northwood core (Socket 478, 400/533/800 MHz system bus, including those with Hyper-Threading technology). The graphics controller is integrated and eats up to 64 MB of system memory. The built-in display provides information about system operation, including data on the temperature of the processor, on the operation of drives, as well as on malfunctions that have occurred. Fans of overclocking will like that this can be done using the wheel on the front panel. The board has two slots for DDR 266/333/400 RAM up to 2 GB, an AGP slot, a PCI slot, a dual-channel ATA133 controller, and a six-channel audio codec. There are six USB 2.0 ports and two FireWire ports on the case. There is one 3-inch bay for a 6-format card reader and one vertical 5-inch bay for an optical drive. Power supply - external. Overall dimensions - 262 x 162 x 301 mm. The estimated retail price of the system negates almost all of its shortcomings: it is about 200 US dollars - an absolute record among the devices presented in this review. By the way, ECS produces 18 modifications of this barebone system, including for AMD processors, while the prices for these systems start at $180 - a very good option for those who are tired of the banal gray box, but who do not have excess funds.
Advantages: elegant case with nice blue backlight, good performance, upgradeable, overclocking by turning the front panel wheel, low noise level, extremely attractive price.
Flaws: built on the platform of the previous generation, outdoor unit power supply, the vertical position of the optical drive causes inconvenience, in particular, the inability to work with 8-cm disks, the lack of support for future-oriented interfaces.
MSI MEGA 865
Another very beautiful barebone-system oriented towards multimedia use and equipped with a remote control. The model is built on the basis of a set of system logic of the previous Generations of Intel 865G with an integrated graphics controller (MS-6796 motherboard) and is designed for Pentium 4/Celeron processors with clock speeds up to 3.2 GHz (Northwood core, Socket 478, 400/533/800 MHz bus). The motherboard has two slots for dual-channel DDR400 memory up to 2 GB, a PCI slot, an AGP 8x slot, a mini PCI slot for installing laptop expansion cards, an ATA 100 connector, a Serial ATA connector, and a Realtek 655/658 six-channel audio controller with digital input and output. The device has a modem, a 100-gigabit network controller, and the Deluxe version additionally installs a mini PCI wireless LAN adapter. The system is equipped with four USB 2.0 ports (two more are routed on the motherboard, one is for a card reader) and two FireWire ports. You can install one 5-inch and two 3-inch drives in the case. Additionally supplied branded TV tuner, designed specifically for this system. It is possible to play audio CD, MP3, listen to the radio and watch TV programs without loading the operating system. On the front panel with a colorful large display slots for a six-format card reader are displayed. Power supply built-in, power 250 watts. Overall dimensions - 202 x 320 x 151 mm. Estimated retail price - 350 US dollars.
Advantages: luxurious design, high performance, expandable configuration, sound playback without operating system boot, Serial ATA support, built-in modem, remote control, reasonable price.
Flaws: at the base - Intel platform the previous generation, too crowded in the case - if the relatively noisy cooling system fails, overheating and damage to components can occur.
Shuttle XPC SB83G5
A typical "cube" for Shuttle based on the modern Intel 915G chipset for Pentium 4/Celeron processors based on the Prescott core (Socket 775, 533/800 MHz bus). The lack of additional multimedia features is also typical for the products of this company. Despite the integrated graphics accelerator Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900, it is possible to install a video card with a PCI Express x16 interface. The proprietary FB83 motherboard has two slots for dual-channel DDR400/333 RAM up to 2 GB, a PCI slot, an ATA100 connector, two Serial ATA 150 connectors, and a floppy drive connector. The case has one five-inch and two three-inch drive bays. The barebone system has a six-channel sound controller with digital S/PDIF ports, a gigabit network controller, two FireWire ports and four USB 2.0 ports. The device uses a proprietary Silent X cooling system and a built-in 250W power supply. Overall dimensions - 310 x 200 x 185 mm. Estimated price in Russia - 400 US dollars.
Advantages: attractive appearance, modern platform, high performance, a set of promising interfaces, expandability, gigabit network controller, built-in power supply.
Flaws: instead of a card reader, this model has a morally obsolete floppy drive, a relatively high price.
Miniaturization of personal computer components is a long-established market trend. The introduction of modern semiconductor technological processes makes it possible to create more and more complex integrated circuits that 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 we close our eyes to the fact that the filling, which is quite powerful in terms of computation, fits quite well in the case of a smartphone or tablet, and focuses specifically on traditional personal computers, it is clearly noticeable that the average size of such systems has decreased. Both laptops and desktops have become smaller and lighter. Among mobile computers compact netbooks and ultrabooks gained popularity, while high-performance desktop systems often began to be content with the Mini-ITX form factor, and in parallel, very small-format PCs like the Intel NUC or numerous nettops appeared.
All this is a completely natural reflection of technological progress, but it manifests itself not only in this way. Miniaturization 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 package. Currently, two fundamentally new directions have emerged in the external form of computers: a mixture of a laptop and a tablet - two-in-one class devices - and something in between a desktop system and a laptop - monoblocks. It is about the expansion of monoblocks that will be discussed in this material.
In itself, the idea of placing a personal computer in a monitor case is far from new. This approach allows you to save space on the work surface, do without a bundle of wires lying on the table and give the computer a more “decent” 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 the monitor case was far from simple and required considerable efforts from developers. As a result, the final products were not affordable, they were based primarily on laptop components, and the final performance was severely limited by the modest-sized coolers. In other words, in fact, it turned out to be something like a stationary analogue of an expensive laptop, which differed from it for the better in screen size and the ability to choose a keyboard and mouse to your taste.
This would probably have continued further, but with the release of Core series processors latest generations Intel became interested in promoting computers of new form factors. And she not only became interested, but, seeing the opportunity to increase sales of her own processors, she 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 them alone. Intel also became interested in monoblocks, which, in the era of transition to touch interfaces and the Windows8.1 operating system, 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 produce its own devices of this type and did not resort to large-scale advertising campaigns, but simply standardized the design of the filling that can fit in 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, which immediately included almost all the leading suppliers: ASUS, ECS, Gigabyte, ASrock, as well as numerous OEM developers. ODM integrators were not long in coming, launching the production of monoblock cases stuffed with monitors that are compatible with the Intel ThinMini-ITX standard.
Thus, the market for monoblocks based on Core family processors has come to life, and today it presents a wide variety of products, both from famous companies and from numerous Chinese and even domestic assemblers. All such products are, in fact, related, as they are based on a single design of LGA 1150/1155 motherboards, but the differences between them can be very significant. Firstly, the available cases for monoblocks differ externally. They have a different design and are supplied with matrices of various sizes - from 18 to 24 inches. Secondly, assemblers are completely unlimited in their choice of fillings: there are a lot of compatible boards, plus they can install various processors and memory, vary 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 monoblock is standardized in a certain way, you can purchase a case and fill it with stuffing 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 systems for assembling a monoblock from components on its own. Wibtek's barebones include motherboards based on the reference design, and the user is left to add a processor, memory, storage, and some mini-PCIe devices. Today we will get acquainted with one of these barebone monoblocks, created on the basis of the Intel concept. Our laboratory received a skeletal system for creating a Wibtek A23-TH87G-S U3 Touch L6 monoblock.
Specifications
Description/Features: All-in-One PC with 23" touch screenOperating system: not installed, support for Windows 7 / 8
Motherboard chipset: Intel H87 (Wibtek TH87G-SA motherboard)
Supported processors: 4th Gen Intel Core i3/i5/i7, 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 Gb/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, support 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, LED backlit.
Network controllers:
10/100/1000 Mbps LAN;
Installation of WiFi 802.11b/g/n is possible.
Firewire: no.
Card reader: yes, support for MS/MS Pro/SD/MMC formats.
Ports/Slots:
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.
Delivery set: instructions, power adapter, driver disk.
Wall mountable: yes, bracket sold 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 such computer is perceived, including the Wibtek A23-TH87G-S U3 Touch L6 model under consideration.
In fact, if you do not know in advance that we have a full-fledged computer in front of us, you may not notice any significant differences from the multimedia 23-inch LCD display. If you know in advance that we are talking about a monoblock, then the thickness of this monitor will certainly catch your eye. At the edges, it is less than 2 cm, but the monitor swells up to about 6 cm at the place where the stand is attached.
However, the designers of Wibtek must be given their due. They were able to make the case quite a strict appearance, not hurting the aesthetic sense of the European. Moreover, a successful combination in the design of black and white colors visually hides the real thickness of the device - the candy bar seems quite slender. There are no special claims to 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 whole structure seems to be monolithic, nothing creaks, does not play and does not hang out. Moreover, a steel plate is hidden inside the case, so the monoblock turned out to be solid: monolithic and quite heavy.
Separately, it should be said about the stand. On the one hand, it is good: strong and rigid. On the other hand, it provides few degrees of freedom in adjusting the monitor. Raise, lower or even rotate the monitor will not work - you can only tilt it back and forth. But on the other hand, the monoblock sits on the stand like a glove, no vibrations or oscillations occur even when you touch the screen, which is important, given that the monoblock has a touch interface.
On the front side, the monitor is covered with plexiglass, that is, its surface is glossy and highly reflective. Fortunately, it does not get dirty too quickly even with constant touches, although with intensive use you 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 flush with the main surface of the screen, so it does not interfere with use at all. However, it should be mentioned that in newfangled 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 only at the bottom of the screen peeking out the white buttons for turning on the computer and monitor (it can be turned off separately), as well as adjusting the brightness of the image. In addition, the stand, which is black on the front, has a white edge, and this is also visible. To the left of the buttons in the frame of the monitor 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 eye with a resolution of 2.0 megapixels.
Let's take a look at the side faces of the monoblock. They are white and do not carry any ports.
Only the cover on the right edge draws attention. A “thin” optical drive can be hidden under it, if the owner of the monoblock wants to install it.
Yet the wealth of connectors is on the underside of the monitor. This arrangement is a consequence of the use of a standardized Mini-ITX motherboard, which in the case looks down with the back panel. Unfortunately, Wibtek designers didn't bother adding additional USB ports to the side faces of their monoblock, as a result of which users will definitely pay for convenience when 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, for a monoblock, most likely, it is sufficient. Moreover, Wibtek engineers nevertheless added a card reader installed in the monitor case to the basic capabilities: it is displayed next 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 is powered by an external "notebook" power supply, which is included in the package. However, the size and weight of this power supply is not so small, which does not really fit with its only 120-watt power.
The rear surface of the monoblock body is also of little interest, as well as its side faces. It is completely white, on top of it there is a grill for cooling the internal space of the computer, and on the bottom there are two grilles that cover the built-in speakers. The installed acoustic stereo system of two 3-watt speakers has a very mediocre quality, devoid of low frequencies. We can say that it produces a typical laptop sound.
It remains to pay attention to only two details. Firstly, a VESA mount is provided on the rear surface of the monoblock, which can allow it to be mounted on a bracket or directly on the 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 WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 monoblock went on sale as a skeletal system, devoid of the lion's share of internal components that the user is asked to install on their own, is not accidental. This system is not only standardized, but also convenient for the assembler. With its configuration, not only will you not need any additional equipment other than a screwdriver, but it will also be possible not to remember that assembly sometimes requires some kind of non-trivial effort and manual dexterity.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 is in full view. At the same time, the display matrix remains closed from access by a steel plate, but the full set of computer components on the basis of which the monoblock is assembled is evenly distributed over the entire available space on the opposite side of this plate, which acts as a kind of frame for electronic components.
In the original package, inside the Wibtek monoblock, a motherboard manufactured by the company itself is installed and there is the necessary low-profile processor cooling system. Complete the system with a processor hard drive, memory and, possibly, some expansion cards, the user is offered independently. At the same time, the interface boards for implementing the touch interface and connecting the monitor matrix via the LVDS interface are pre-installed in the system and are already connected to the motherboard.
However, this does not mean that the motherboard installed in the monoblock is an integral part of the design. As mentioned above, the design of this system is standardized, so if necessary, the board can be replaced. There are many suitable compatible models, the most common are the Gigabyte H87TN or ASUS H81-T boards. 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 get acquainted with what opportunities the WibtekTH87G-SA motherboard already has in WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 provides.
As you might guess from the name, this board is based on one of the most modern Intel H87 chipsets and is designed 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 chipset's capabilities are far from being fully exploited.
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, the dual-channel mode of the memory controller is supported, but the maximum amount of DDR3 SDRAM that can be used to fill 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, according to Intel, is designed to use exclusively integrated graphics in the processor. Thus, it is impossible to install a high-performance graphics card into a Wibtek monoblock.
But the WibtekTH87G-SA motherboard provides good opportunities to use mini-PCIe expansion cards. They have two slots. 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 conceived 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 pulled up to it.
We have already talked about the interface connectors on the rear panel of the board, looking at the lower part of the monoblock case, but in addition to them, the board also has a number of ports for internal deployment. 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 has a set of connectors for connecting a monitor panel: LVDS interface, power supply, connectors for brightness adjustment buttons, and so on.
Obviously, all the features of the board cannot be implemented through the functions of the logic set alone. Therefore, additional controllers can be found on the board: the RealtekRTL8111E gigabit network controller and the RealtekALC662 six-channel audio codec. However, we remind you that the monoblock under consideration has only two analog audio outputs, so the possibilities for connecting external acoustic systems are very limited. High-quality multi-channel sound can only be output through the HDMI port, but this, of course, will also require redirecting the image output from the built-in display.
Since the monoblock motherboard is powered by an external 19-volt power supply, the power circuit layout is somewhat different from what we are used to seeing on Mini-ITX boards. Nevertheless, there is a three-channel converter for the processor, assembled on classic field-effect transistors, coils and solid capacitors. By the standards of boards for enthusiasts, such a scheme could be called primitive, but a monoblock is another matter. There are no plans to use powerful processors, and even more so 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 quite justified.
The limitations in the power of compatible processors are determined not at all by the board, but by the cooling system provided for by the design. The processor is closed by a bare heat sink, which, using direct contact technology, penetrates three 6 mm copper heat pipes. They transfer heat to an 80x80x24mm aluminum heatsink mounted next to the board, through which air is blown by a PWM-controlled radial fan. The air intake for this cooling system is carried out from the inside of the case, and the exhaust is directed outside it, through a grill located in the upper part of the monoblock. The manufacturer promises that this cooling system will be enough to cool processors with a 65-watt thermal package. This means that any dual-core processors of the Haswell family, or quad-core processors, which belong to the energy-efficient S and T series, can be installed in the monoblock in question.
Motherboard WibtekTH87G-SA has two connectors for connecting fans - CPU and system. Both of them are used in a monoblock. As a system fan, the manufacturer installed a small centrifugal impeller in the corner of the board, which simply mixes the air inside the case. To be honest, these 40mm fans usually don't bode well for system noise, but this case its rotation speed is controlled via PWM, which noticeably alleviates the problem.
I must say that, despite the fact that the Mini-ITX form factor describes a fairly compact motherboard size of 17x17 cm, the developers of the WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 monoblock were able to fill all the internal space behind the monitor panel. On one side of the board is the cooling system, on the other - the place is reserved for drives. For them, the monoblock provides two seats. On top, if desired, you can place an optical drive. Any thin models are supported, and you don't have to worry about the color of the front panel, it will be hidden under the cover. Below 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 full-fledged and modern system with a good level of performance in a monoblock case with a 23-inch monitor. The only significant limitation is the need to use the graphics integrated into the processor. And, given that the monoblock board has the usual LGA 1150 desktop socket, the maximum possible version of the GPU is Intel HD Graphics 4600, which is quite difficult to classify as an acceptable solution for games. In other words, the gaming monoblock from the Wibtek system in question will not work, but it can be used in the office or in a normal home environment without problems. Moreover, in the latter case, support for touch input will be an interesting addition to the capabilities of this system.
The WibtekTH87G-SA motherboard BIOS provides only the most basic functionality. There are no means of overclocking the processor, memory or graphics core in it, just as there are no means for managing processor power-saving technologies. But in the BIOS there are options for controlling the speed of rotation of the fans. Available as an adaptive mode, and fixing the performance of the cooling system at a specific level.
Test results
The first thing to evaluate when getting acquainted with a monoblock is its monitor. The 23-inch WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 panel has a native resolution of 1920x1080 and uses LED backlighting. The viewing angles are 178 degrees vertically and horizontally, the brightness is 250 nits, the contrast ratio is 1000:1 and the response time is 5 ms. All this is rather mediocre parameters by modern standards, however, it should be borne in mind that the monoblock in question as gaming computer not positioned. Its main focus is the use in the office or at home as a second or third computer. And here such screen parameters could be quite enough, if not for one thing.The fact is that a TN-Film type matrix is installed in the monoblock. Accordingly, the viewing angles at which the picture does not fade, in fact, are not very large. In fact, the picture looks clear and without color loss only at right angles. Not too high and practical brightness with contrast. To achieve a comfortable level of brightness, it has to be twisted to the maximum, and the contrast does not change at all. In general, at least some adjustments would not hurt the monitor, but the developers did not provide them, like the on-screen menu.
Does not shine with high quality and color reproduction. In other words, you won't be able to edit images or do printing prepress on a monoblock. Moreover, the perception of the picture will be hindered by its mercilessly glaring glossy surface. However, in defense of the Wibtek monoblock, it should be said that such a coating is a consequence of the implementation of the touch interface. And in this part, there are no complaints about the monoblock. As testing has shown, the applied capacitive-type touchpad in Windows 8.1 is very responsive and works clearly and accurately, recognizing up to ten simultaneous touches.
But the built-in speaker system is not pleased at all. It produces a sound so flat and devoid of low and medium frequencies that it can only be used to listen 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 fight. The position for the built-in microphone was also unsuccessfully chosen. It is located at the bottom of the case, so all the sounds coming from the speakers get into it, reflected from the table. As a result, it is almost impossible to talk, for example, via Skype, using the built-in monoblock tools.
We did not test the WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 performance 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 a similar filling, the performance is almost the same. A small (at the level of a few percent) monoblock lag in speed occurs only because of the settings of the memory subsystem. The Wibtek system uses DDR3 SO-DIMMs, which are generally slower than regular 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 timings on performance here.
As for other important practical aspects of the WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 operation - noise level and temperature conditions, their study was given special attention. On the basis of a monoblock was assembled working system, based on a Corei3-4340 processor with a TDP of 54W, equipped with two 4GB DDR3-1600 SO-DIMM modules with timings of 11-11-11-28-1T and a WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB hard drive.
Unfortunately, we cannot call the monoblock noiseless in this configuration. Even at idle, the small system fan spins up to over 3,000 rpm, creating a distinct hum. More massive CPU cooler, on the contrary, in idle it behaves very restrained: the speed of its fan does not go beyond 1400 rpm. However, under load, the situation changes dramatically. When the CPU warms up, the processor fan can accelerate up to 4000 rpm, raising a real howl, resembling the work of a small vacuum cleaner. In other words, a quiet Wibtek all-in-one system can only be achieved with economical, energy-efficient processors. Ordinary CPU models, although they do not overheat, make the standard cooling system work in the limiting and very noisy mode.
By the way, the thermal regime of the system during the tests turned out to be quite acceptable. The typical temperature of the processor under load is from 70 to 80 degrees, and the temperature inside the monoblock is maintained at no higher than 50 degrees. And even after an hour-long stress test in LinX0.6.5, the maximum temperature of the processor was 91 degrees, the chipset microchip - 57 degrees, and the hard drive - 53 degrees. This means that heat dissipation in the WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 system is built normally, and there is no need to be afraid of overheating of the components.
conclusions
Until recently, those who wanted to get a compact one-component system that allows you to get rid of the bundles of wires traditionally accompanying desktop computers had only two options: a branded candy bar or a laptop. Both types of systems have long been supplied by leading PC manufacturers, however, in both cases, such products have noticeable drawbacks associated with the fact that they are a finished and closed product that does not allow either configuration for specific user needs or subsequent full-fledged upgrades. However, times are changing, and the market for such systems began to gradually turn towards enthusiasts who are accustomed to assembling computers with their own hands. So, today we met a unique skeletal system of the "monoblock" form factor, designed for self-assembly of a computer using widely available components.“Thank you” for this should be said first of all to by Intel, who developed a certain monoblock layout standard. Armed with this standard, numerous Chinese manufacturers have rushed into the market, ready to supply cases that are compatible with a wide range of ThinMini-ITX motherboards and other hardware components. The WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 system considered in this review is one of the embodiments of such a semi-finished monoblock: it combines a liquid crystal monitor and a platform for assembling a modern PC based on Haswell processor. By adding to it a desktop LGA 1150 processor of your choice with a heat dissipation of no more than 65 watts, DDR3 memory and a drive, it is easy to build a completely full-fledged monoblock personal computer, the configuration of which will be tailored to the specific needs of the user.
Moreover, the resulting system will be in many ways no worse than branded monoblocks from leading manufacturers of personal computers. It will be able to offer excellent performance by today's 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 a home network using WiFi technology and much more.
However, despite the huge advantage of the Wibtek system, which lies in its orientation to the market of DIY enthusiasts, its disadvantages cannot be ignored. In order for the considered system to be put on a par with branded monoblocks, it lacks gloss. The lack of a pedigree leads to some simplicity of the exterior, individual miscalculations in the internal design and the use of a not very high-quality TN display matrix in a monoblock.
As a result, a personal computer assembled on the basis of the Wibtek A23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 skeleton, in any case, cannot look like an elite solution, even if it is filled with the most expensive and productive components. However, the Wibtek system does not pretend to do this, compensating for its shortcomings with a completely democratic cost. The recommended price of a monoblock case complete with a motherboard is only $600 (and it is available in retail even cheaper). Accordingly, the price of a fully assembled system made from this barebone monoblock will be about $800-900. And this is much cheaper than a branded monoblock with similar characteristics, which, moreover, will not allow subsequent modernization. And this means that the WibtekA23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 monoblock construction kit 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 express our gratitude to 3Logic for providing the Wibtek A23-TH87G-SU3 TouchL6 monoblock for testing.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
Many people think that choosing a decent computer case is an easy task. Unfortunately, experience shows that this is far from the case. Many PC cases seem very interesting at first glance and offer good quality assemblies. But a closer look often reveals that looks can be very deceiving.
Four mini PC cases have arrived at THG's lab, with each case being described as "brand new" by the manufacturers. All models cost about 70 euros, which is quite expensive for a case of this size. After all, in these buildings there is no hardware. You will have to separately buy the motherboard, power supply and all other components. By the time you have your system fully equipped, you will have spent a lot of money.
At first glance, it seems that you have acquired a small and very stylish case for PC, which will decorate any LAN-party. However, for each of the candidates presented in our review, we found a number of shortcomings that often go unnoticed when buying in a store, and even more so over the Internet. Such shortcomings are found only at home, when it is already too late.
Some of the case samples that came to our lab seem to be more suitable for the role of scrap metal in the nearest landfill than for the role of bestsellers. Not to mention the plastic doors, which we have been criticizing for a long time. Some cases rattled even when we just unpacked them, without the hardware installed in them! At first glance, the drive bays seem to bend at a glance, which in itself does not inspire confidence. We captured some of these shortcomings in the video that is presented at the end of our article.
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Aplus Blockbuster II BM. Click on the picture to enlarge.
From the side, the Aplus Blockbuster II BM case looks very compact and massive at the same time, although it weighs only 6.4 kg. Two 5.25" drive bays are available on the front, which are covered with downward-opening plastic doors. An optical drive can be installed here. When the drive tray is ejected, the door swings down on two hinges. A return spring, similar to the one used in a ballpoint pen, automatically closes the door.
Behind the third plastic door is a 3.5" bay that can accommodate either an older floppy drive or a more modern flash card reader. A little to the left is another plastic cover that hides the front USB, audio, and FireWire connectors. When the computer is running , large power on / off button is illuminated in blue. The dimensions of the case are not quite ordinary. Blockbuster is not only very tall, but also quite long, which, of course, limits the possible options for its placement. It is worth considering whether you need such a bulky system unit in the living room ?
However, a case of this size has its advantages: it provides a wider choice of components. With the exception of the motherboard, which must conform to the micro-ATX form factor, you are, for the most part, free to use standard components. You should not just take a very high cooler. It's better to opt for a flatter but wider cooler, such as the Zalman CNP8700 LED or Coolermaster that we used in our testing. Unlike giant CPU coolers, the above models are well suited for the Aplus Blockbuster II BM case form factor.
Behind the empty case, you can see the place for the I / O panel of the motherboard and the installation of three fans. Click on the picture to enlarge.
The housing cover is fixed with five screws. Apparently, the manufacturer forgot about the existence of knurled screws, which would make life much easier for buyers. After opening the case, you find a very successful interior. All edges and edges are finished to prevent cuts. With the help of two internal latches, the upper part of the case can be folded aside, which makes it much easier to install the hardware.
The audio jacks are located behind the front door, USB ports and firewire.
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The large front optical drive door must be opened manually. Otherwise, the tray will not be able to eject. Click on the picture to enlarge.
The case, almost similar to the Aplus Blockbuster II model, was developed by TACens. The black "cube" looks pretty stylish. The drive bays are behind a large door that hides almost half of the chassis' front panel. You can’t tell right away that there is a door in front of us. The rest of the front panel is made in a simple business style. However, the illusion of belonging to a high class collapses when this large door is opened, which is accompanied by a creak and crack. As it turned out, this door is made of cheap plastic. In addition, the TACens THECA case does not have an opening mechanism similar to that of the luxury OrigenAE 21ST. In other words, if you want to remove the disc from the optical drive, the tray will be locked. In the worst case, it can even damage the optical drive slide mechanism. This applies to both 5.25" bays.
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When the computer is turned on, the power button and the company logo are illuminated. Click on the picture to enlarge.
Hidden behind the door are the front audio jacks and USB ports.
At the bottom of the front panel of the TACens THECA case there is another, more "elegant" cover, behind which two front USB ports and audio jacks are hidden. There is no FireWire connector. Company logo and case name highlighted LED indicators, moreover THECA lights up only when the drive is active, and "TACens" illuminated constantly. .
Internal structure of TACens THECA and Aplus Blockbuster II BM
Same internal structure, different appearance. Click on the picture to enlarge.
At first glance, it becomes obvious that the Aplus and TACens cases use the same internal layout. More specifically, they use the same chassis, so it looks like they are made by the same supplier and differ only in the design of the exterior trim. We noticed the same feature when considering Midi Towers. Apparently, the steel or aluminum structures come from the same manufacturer, while the company's front panel is produced independently (or maybe bought from another company). As a result, the two parts are connected together on the assembly line. This allows companies to offer their own customized models even though they end up selling essentially identical models.
To open the case, you need to move the latches. Click on the picture to enlarge.
In this case, such similarity is not a disadvantage. Such "twins" are easy to test, describe and evaluate. To be honest, it helped us save a lot of time. Both cases are models with a side-folding top. When assembled, the upper part of the case contains the drives and the power supply. In the lower part are placed the motherboard with the central processor, video card and memory. With the top open, it's much easier to access the cables because all the jumpers and connectors can be reached from either side. The only downside to this two-tier design is that it limits the height of large CPU coolers. The same goes for video cards with complex and therefore large heat pipe cooling systems. However, for such long video cards as the GeForce 8800 GT, this is not a problem.
After you slide the latches, you can flip the top of the case. Click on the picture to enlarge.
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Five LEDs illuminate a large case fan. Click on the picture to enlarge.
Aplus products have already been seen on the pages of the Tom Hardware Guide more than once. The new case called "Blockbuster Storm" is equipped with a huge fan that takes up almost the entire top panel. Due to this size, the fan can rotate very slowly and still provide good ventilation. In addition, the fan speed can be set manually. Hot air is blown out of the back of the case by a 120mm fan. While other cases, such as the XClio Twin Engine, have a 250mm fan located on the side or front, the Aplus design suggests placing such a fan directly on the top of the case. One disadvantage: you lose additional free space, since nothing can be put on the case.
The fan speed can be adjusted manually using the wheel. Click on the picture to enlarge.
Front connectors Blockbuster Storm. Click on the picture to enlarge.
On the sides of the case are cut out large transparent windows, which allows you to admire the insides of the computer even when the case is closed. Modders will love this as all the accessories and interior lights are on display. On the front panel is a small display that displays the temperature inside the case. The corresponding sensor is installed anywhere inside the housing.
...and behind. Click on the picture to enlarge.
What does a company do when it has nothing new to show off? She redesigns, renames or repaints her existing models. Apevia sent the X-QPack 2 case to our lab as a new model, but after unpacking it, we recognized it as its predecessor - X-QPack which was written about two years ago. Of course, we were curious to see what had changed.
Body at the back. Click on the picture to enlarge.
On the outside, the X-QPack 2 has changed a bit from the previous version. The individual elements are no longer as tightly connected as before. Windows have disappeared from the panels, now they are only available as an optional upgrade. It was nice to find that the sloppy carrying handle of the old version of the case has been replaced with a more reliable and firmly fixed metal handle. This gives the new case a much more solid and confidence-inspiring look.
The interior is completely identical not only to the insides of the Blockbuster Storm hull described in this review, but also the predecessor X-QPack. The aluminum interior shone as if Apevia had carefully polished every detail before sending the case to our lab. Unfortunately, the new body of the X-QPack 2 retains the same wonky components that we have already criticized in article about the first X-QPack. The video link to which you will find below clearly demonstrates this.
The Apevia case display can show two temperatures. Click on the picture to enlarge. .
Internal structure of Aplus Blockbuster Storm and Apevia X-QPack 2
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The second pair of cases. Click on the picture to enlarge.
The internal structure has not changed for better or for worse. Neither Aplus nor Apevia brought anything innovative to the design of their cases, but simply used their old layout. Each chassis can accommodate two 3.5" drives and one 5.25" drive. The motherboard must be in Micro-ATX form factor. As for the fans, the design of the cases is slightly different, but only externally. In the Aplus case, the 120mm fan is transparent and illuminated by three LEDs. Apevia uses a blue non-illuminated fan. In addition, the X-QPack 2 has an 80mm front fan that draws cool air into the case.
The motherboard tray slides out for easy accessory installation. Click on the picture to enlarge.
Both cases have a motherboard tray that can be pulled out of the case to install accessories. This tray makes it much easier to install the motherboard, CPU, CPU and memory cooler. In addition, it is much easier to route and connect power cables and cables to the front panel connectors. After all the components are firmly fixed on the mounting tray, you just need to slide it, along with all the hardware, back into the empty case. If everything fits, then it remains to install and connect the power supply and drives.
Preinstalled chassis fan. Click on the picture to enlarge.
...and the Apevia case has a second pre-installed 80mm fan. Click on the picture to enlarge.
Test configuration
Our test platform for all HTPC cases. Click on the picture to enlarge.
| Hardware | |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-8I945GMH-RH |
| CPU | Intel P4, 2.6 GHz |
| CPU cooler | Cooler Master CM12V |
| Memory | ExceleRAM EX2-2800Ps, 2x 1 GB, DDR2 |
| HDD | Maxtor Diamond MAX 10 SATA-II 300 GB |
| optical drive | Gigabyte GO-D1600D (DVD) |
| Power Supply | Hiper High Power 560W |
| video card | Gigabyte GV-RX30128D |
The power supply uses a modular cable connection principle. Click on the picture to enlarge.
Aplus Blockbuster Storm and Apevia X-QPack 2 technical specifications
The front panels are different, but the internal structure is the same. Click on the picture to enlarge.
| Manufacturer | plus | Apevia |
| Model | Blockbuster Storm | X-Q Pack 2 |
| Price | 70 euro | 78 euro |
| Micro-ATX | Micro-ATX | |
| Expansion slots | 4x | 4x |
| 5.25" bays (external) | 2x | 2x |
| 3.5" bays (external) | 1x | 1x |
| 3.5" bays (internal) | 2x | 2x |
| Connectors on the front | 1x IEEE1394a, 2x USB, 2x audio | |
| 3x | 2x | |
| 1x 250mm, 1x 120mm | 1x 80mm, 1x 120mm | |
| Height | 235 mm | 228 mm |
| Width | 285 mm | 284 mm |
| Length | 385 mm | 373 mm |
| Weight (without power supply) | 6.4 kg | 6 kg |
| Material | aluminum + plastic | aluminum + plastic |
| Other | Retractable motherboard tray, two plexiglass windows, carrying handle, large fan on the top panel, display | Carrying handle, display |
Aplus Blockbuster II BM and TACens THECA technical specifications
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And again, different front panels, but the same insides. Click on the picture to enlarge.
| Manufacturer | APlus | TACens |
| Model | Blockbuster II BM | THECA |
| Price | 70 euro | 60 euro |
| Motherboard form factor | Micro-ATX | Micro-ATX |
| Expansion slots | 4x | 4x |
| 5.25" bays (external) | 2x | 2x |
| 3.5" bays (external) | 1x | 1x |
| 3.5" bays (internal) | 2x | 2x |
| Connectors on the front | 1 IEEE1394a, 2x USB, 2x audio | 1 IEEE1394a, 2x USB, 2x audio |
| Number of fan mounts | 3x | 3x |
| Pre-installed fans | 1x 80mm | 3x 80mm, 1x 120mm |
| Height | 247 mm | 233 mm |
| Width | 295 mm | 295 mm |
| Length | 385 mm | 348 mm |
| Weight (without power supply) | 5.70 kg | 5.70 kg |
| Material | aluminum + plastic | aluminum + plastic |
| Other |
TACens THECA. Click on the picture to enlarge.
| The weight | Category | Result |
| 25% | equipment | 85% |
| 40% | Ergonomics | 75% |
| 20% | Design | 80% |
| 15% | Price | 75% |
| Overall result | 79% | |
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The display shows the temperature inside the housing. Click on the picture to enlarge.
| The weight | Category | Result |
| 25% | equipment | 85% |
| 40% | Ergonomics | 80% |
| 20% | Design | 80% |
| 15% | Price | 75% |
| Overall result | 81% | |
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Aplus Blockbuster Storm case with an unusual top fan. Click on the picture to enlarge.
| The weight | Category | Result |
| 25% | equipment | 90% |
| 40% | Ergonomics | 80% |
| 20% | Design | 80% |
| 15% | Price | 75% |
| Overall result | 82% | |
Conclusion
None of the four mini PC cases we tested made a strong impression on us. None of the models showed the slightest hint of innovation. For example, the flip-top mechanism of the TACens THECA and Aplus Blockbuster II BM cases is a very convenient solution, but there is nothing new here. Two years ago, Gigabyte already used exactly the same mechanism in its case. CB91 .
There are better ways to invest the $70 you would spend on one of the cases presented in this article. For example, mini-PCs ("barebones") from Gigabyte and Shuttle already ship with a motherboard, power supply, and CPU cooler. Despite the fact that such cases cost more than 70 euros, in the long run, you will even save. Unfortunately, everything has calmed down on the barebone computer market, the Shuttle company is no longer so loudly declaring itself, having created a certain niche for mini-PC cases, such as those presented in this article. However, none of the candidates seems to us to be truly convincing.
The following videos show two negative features that we found during the testing of cases.
A laptop, in fact, is a well-coordinated computer "organism" in which certain processes are constantly taking place. All hardware components, every screw and detail - this is exactly what makes high-quality and efficient work on a laptop possible. Well, the filling of such a device is generally a separate song! It is selected by the manufacturer according to the form factor of the laptop, that is, in accordance with the tasks for which it is designed.
However, how many users, so many requirements, ideas and desires. It also happens that existing models on the market do not satisfy the needs of the user, and there is nothing reprehensible in this. Especially for such clients there are barebone systems - a very specific and controversial product, but, of course, very interesting.
So, a barebone (from the English barebone - "bare" - naked, "bone" - bone) is a laptop designed to be assembled by the user on his own, taking into account his wishes. That is, relatively speaking, there is a base in the form of a body and some details, and you can choose any filling! Of course, it is possible that for someone the ordeal regarding the choice of filling can turn into a kind of smorgasbord: everything is in abundance, you want to take both this and that, and also the same as the neighbor’s, because it tastes better. But, if you dig a little deeper, you will understand that filling the barebone base is a complex resource-intensive work that should be approached with great care.
Difficulties of choice
What are these nuances? First of all, with the fact that you are unlikely to find a barebone in the nearest hardware store. Usually it is purchased through online stores that specialize in this. By the way, barebone bases exist not only for self-assembly of laptops, but also for desktop computers, monoblocks, you can even buy a server in this way. In short, there are plenty to choose from.
In the process of thinking about the advisability of buying such a custom laptop, there are important points to consider. In particular, keep in mind that no matter which model you choose, some components will already be built into it and you will not be able to change them. Usually it is about optical drive and the motherboard, less often - about the display. However, the user always has the right to choose a processor, video card, RAM, hard drive, wireless communications. All these components must be purchased independently, while carefully rechecking their compatibility with the laptop motherboard. Thus, by selecting certain components, the user himself can vary the final cost of the resulting laptop.
By the way, for the maximum convenience of users, there are special resources, for example, rjtech.com, which immediately offers a list of all components available for a particular model. So, everyone can choose for themselves a chip of the 4th, 5th or even 6th generation, with an integrated video card or with the most modern discrete one, with 8 GB or 64 GB of RAM, etc. Take, for example, the Clevo P650RE-C, which starts at $1,319. Instead of the basic Full HD screen, you can choose a 4K screen, which will cost an additional $ 200, an Intel Core i7-6820HK chip instead of an Intel Core i7-6700HQ is an additional $ 125, and the maximum possible amount of RAM for this barebone is 64 GB, but for such a luxury will have to pay $ 675. By the way, the most common brands that offer barebones for laptops are Clevo, MSI, Gammatech, Schenker and Eurocom.
Self installation
In principle, filling the device yourself is not so difficult, provided that you already have experience in such matters. In addition, you need to arm yourself with several tools, including screwdrivers of different sizes, scissors for grabbing small parts, containers for storing screws. It would be useful to make sure that the barebone base is attached detailed instructions assembly, because you need to be ready for any outcome. After all the components are in place, all that remains is to install the operating system, and then all the necessary drivers.
Is the game worth the candle?
Without a doubt, the barebone base is a very interesting experience, but is it worth the effort? There is no single answer to this question. On the one hand, the user has a huge choice of hardware components: the performance of a laptop can be varied at will, and other technical characteristics will depend solely on the wishes of the user and his ability to pay.
On the other hand, it must be admitted that it will take a lot of time, and perhaps even nerves, to assemble an “ideal” gadget in every sense. If you fill the device yourself, there is still a risk of doing something wrong, damaging the part, etc. In addition, it is difficult to predict how reliable the hand-made assembly of laptop components will be. However, if you still decide to act, despite all the shortcomings, hesitations and delays, a long-awaited reward awaits you ahead: looking at your laptop, you can tell everyone “I made it myself!”.