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Zotac is adding a bit more power to its line of mini-desktop computers. The company has offered Zotac Zbox computers with Core i3 and Core i5 options for a little while, and now Zotac is offering systems with up to an Intel Core i7 processor.

Unfortunately we’re still talking about Intel’s 3rd generation Core chips. While you can get a Zotac mini-ITX motherboard which supports 4th generation ‘Haswell” processors, the ZBOX desktops still top out at Ivy Bridge.

Zotac Zbox ID65

The new Zotac ZBOX nano ID63, ID64, and ID65 are available with Core i3-3227U, Core i5-3337U, and Core i7-3537U processors, respectively.

The systems feature HDMI and DisplayPort output, Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, a flash card reader, an eSATA port, and a 2.5 inch drive bay or 2 mSATA connectors for storage.

Zotac offers the computer as a barebones system with a processor and not much else. Or you can opt for a Plus model, which comes with 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive. You’ll have to provide your own operating system with either configuration.

via Tech2.hu

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10 replies on “Zotac mini desktops now come with Core i7 options”

  1. Unfortunately?
    Aren’t these still well suited to what they are designed for?

      1. Zotac has been focusing more on low cost and low power than on the latest technology.

        1. Well Haswell is lower power. Also they retail for 390 / 490 / 590 euros in Europe (barebone models) which makes them even MORE expensive than the Brix and the NUC.

    1. They are more than adequate, BUT:

      Haswell consumes 20% less power in idle or near idle situations compared to Ivy Bridge, with overall system power consumption up to 25% lower under typical usage scenarios.

      On top of that, Haswell has a 10% clock-for-clock advantage over Ivy Bridge in terms of performance if you don’t factor in any of the new instructions it brings, so on software available right now, you have a 10% advantage, if software starts using stuff like AVX2, FMA3, and TSX in the future however, that gap can widen to 25% and more clock-for-clock.

      Lastly, the new intel integrated graphics are up to 80% faster in real world performance than Ivy Bridges (HD 4600 vs HD 4000).

      So in conclusion: You are right, noone NEEDS Haswell for the things you’d typically use a ZBOX for, but it would still be nice to have.

      1. That is some super juicy detail, and something I honestly had no idea about, so I thank you for the insight and truly valuable information.
        I’m running a first-gen core i7 gaming desktop, but am by no means a big enough enthusiast to be able to tell you its “other” name.

        1. I too am running a first-gen core i7 (i7-920) gaming desktop, and I’ve been paying attention to haswell. The power draw it needs to provide the same amount of processing power compared to my i7-920 is tempting enough to look into upgrading.
          I did a rough calculation, and with my pc on 24×7, I can probably go down from 60 cents a day on average for electricity to ~40 cents a day (this includes everything, not just the CPU savings). So $72 a year in savings isn’t bad at all. Even bigger difference if electricity is expensive (it’s cheap where I live)

          1. If you have the money right now, it certainly would be a good time for the upgrade, since Haswell is the first Processor Generation to use the new Socket 1150, so the board should be good for at least Haswell and its Successor Broadwell. On the other hand, seeing how you held out this long from the introduction of the original Nehalem until now, and your main reason would be power consumption, not performance concerns – in addition to you mentioning electricity is cheap where you live – you might want to wait another year.

            Broadwell will be another Die-Shrink (22nm -> 14 nm) compared to Haswell, so that should be another step in terms of power efficiency in and of itself, and it will bring its own slew of new Instructions (ADOX, ADCX, MULX, PREFETCHW, RDSEED).

          2. yeah, the 14nm shrink is my biggest distractor from jumping on Haswell 🙂

            Performance from my i7-920 is enough for me. My rising age is lowering my needs for CPU performance.

        2. No Problem, bringing extra value to articles is what comment sections are for IMHO. As for first gen Core i7’s, that’d be the “Nehalem” Architecture, and the Codename would be “Bloomfiled” for the enthusiast Socket 1366, 9xx Model Names, or “Lynnfiled” for the regular Home Market Socket 1156, 8xx Models.

Comments are closed.