Zotac ZBOX Nano AQ01 Updated with AMD Kabini APU

[exfileme]

The ZBOX nano AQ01 now has quad-core processing power.

Zotac ZBOX Nano AQ01 Updated with AMD Kabini APU : Read more

 

[decembermouse]

I'm really interested in the A4-5000. 15W TDP, and a quad-core with 128 shaders. The E-350 was a dual-core with 40 shaders, and both of these components are older than in Kabini. I expect great things from this platform - I mean, you're not going to build a serious gaming rig with this, but you can have a seriously low-power device with performance that seems to far outstrip what you'd expect from such a power envelope.

I'd love to do a custom build with this chip and see how it would underclock/undervolt, and how overclockable (and underclockable) the Radeon 8330 is. It's definitely got more than 500MHz, if they come out with mobos giving us the option to change its clocks. Then I'd want to see how overclocked performance is. With a good heatsink and solid mobo, I'm sure Alternately, if MSI's Afterburner software would work, I'd want to test out how long I could get idle and load voltages (and power draw) from this chip with undervolted CPU, or with undervolted GPU, or with both.

This could make a passable casual gaming system that 1) sips power, 2) emits almost no noise (with right HSF), and 3) takes next to no space.

With a passive heatsink and fanless PSU, this could be the perfect system for say the grandparents, who want no fuss. One strategically 120mm exhaust fan in a filtered-intake mini-ITX case would mean no dust or fan failure worries, and performance at stock would be more than adequate for their demands. Also if they ever had a problem with it, it wouldn't be too heavy for them to pick up and take to the store.

Sorry, everyone, just daydreaming here.

 

[ta152h]

I have an a6-5200 (which I'm using to write this), and the performance is much better than the machine I replaced (E-450).

The E-450 was too slow. You couldn't want Netflix in HD, for example. It was much less responsive on some web pages too.

The main difference in setup is that this computer is using Windows 8.1, not the significantly slower Windows 7. Yes, Windows 8.1 is obnoxious, and you shouldn't have to work around the idiotic tablet interface. But, it's also a better OS under the absurd interface, and significantly faster. It's also cheaper ($110 for retail version, versus around $300 Windows 7 retail).

I just set up this computer a week ago, and there's just no way I can go back to the E-450, even with preferring Windows 7. The speed difference is too dramatic.

I wouldn't touch this A4 5000 though. Why suffer with 1.5 GHz when you can get 2 GHz? On top of that, the fan barely ever goes on with the A6 5200.

I do recommend the Kabini, and really like this machine a lot (fast enough, very low power, completely silent, tiny, attractive, etc...), but not in the A4-5000 version.

One caveat, be really careful about the memory you buy. I got some 8 GB DDR3 1600 at 1.35v CL8, and the motherboard (ECS KBN-I) can't use it unless I populate the other slot with memory (I had some 1333 memory laying around, but that certainly doesn't help the performance). So, make sure you check their site before you buy it, instead of a being a bone-head like I was and assuming it would work with quality memory.

 

[alextheblue]

ta152H: In most cases yes, the A6-5200 is a much better way to go. The exception is if you're power or thermal limited. The A4-5000 uses less power and runs cooler, so it's much friendlier to ultra small designs like this.

Anyway, I wish they had announced pricing too, just because I'm curious.