Looking for a gaming PC but don't want the bulk of a monstrous desktop? Zotac may have what you're looking for with the launch of the ZBOX EN760 mini PC. This device combines the graphical power of a Nvidia GPU with an Intel "Haswell" processor, providing a PC capable of producing 1080p gaming that can fit into the palm of your hand.
"It's the perfect time for a high-end gaming mini-PC," says Carsten Berger, senior director, Zotac International. "With a combination of the highly energy-efficient Nvidia Maxwell GPU architecture and Intel Haswell CPU architecture, we created the Zotac ZBOX EN760 series mini-PC to deliver a smooth and phenomenal 1080p gaming experience."
The new Zotac ZBOX EN760 Series comes in two flavors: barebones and "Plus." Both are packed with an Intel Core i5-4200U dual-core processor (1.6 GHz, 2.6 GHz), and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M "Maxwell" GPU with 2 GB of GDDR5 VRAM (1020 MHz base / 1097 MHz boost). That's quite a bit of punch in a palm-sized form factor.
In addition to the CPU/GPU specs, the EN760 provides two 204-pin DDR3L SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 16 GB of DDR3-1600 memory, one SATA 3 (6 Gbps) connection and one mSATA (6 Gbps) connection. The more expensive "Plus" model will have 8 GB of DDR3 memory and a 1 TB hard drive already installed.
The new Zotac mini-PC also provides a 4-in-1 SD card reader, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, on-board Wireless AC and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, four USB 3.0 ports (two on the front, one on the back, one on the top), HDMI and DVI-I video output, and analog output. The device is Windows 7 and 8 ready, although you'll be required to provide the OS.
Zotac indicates that this new ZBOX EN760 mini PC is "the ultimate gaming mini-PC for demanding gamers." This system rides between the minimum and recommended specs for Watch Dogs, and should run the game at a decent frame rate. The game's minimum specs include an Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 (2.66 GHz) and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 460. The max requires an Intel Core i7-3700 (3.5 GHz) and a GeForce GT 600-series GPU.
"Just think of it as a preview of the [Steam Machine] hardware," a rep told Tom's, referring to the new EN760. "The ZBOX Steam Machine will come with SteamOS plus [the] controller, but that's launching later when SteamOS is ready."
The pricing for the new ZBOX EN760 mini PC is $549.99 for the barebones version, and $699.99 for the "Plus" model. Both will be available in mid-June at Amazon, CDW, Newegg and a host of other online retailers.
