Zotac Introduces New Zbox "R" Series Mini PCs
Zotac International has introduced a new "R" line of mini PCs consisting of the Zbox RI323 and the Zbox RI531. Both models come packed with Intel processors and GPUs, two DDR3-1600 slots for up to 16 GB of memory, and dual gigabit Ethernet ports.
The big selling point with this new line is that each one supports two 2.5-inch hard drives or SSDs in a RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration. Of course, these two Zbox models also support non-RAID setups, allowing the user to install several storage solutions of different sizes.
In addition to the storage aspect, Zotac has thrown in a COM port, making these two Zbox models ideal for commercial and industrial use such as kiosk controllers, digital signage and more. "This enables the unit to be embedded into a vast array of machinery and electronic devices and act as a controller and data transfer device," the company's press release said.
For the most part, the two Zbox units are identical. However, the Zbox RI531 provides an mSATA SSD slot in addition to the two SATA slots. This model also packs an Intel Core i3-5010U dual-core processor (2.1 GHz), whereas the Zbox RI323 is based on the dual-core Intel Celeron 2961Y processor (1.1 GHz).
As with other Zbox units, Zotac offers a "Plus" version of the RI531 that includes 4 GB of DDR3 memory and a 64 GB mSATA SSD; there's no "Plus" version of the RI323. Both units are sold without an operating system, but are deemed Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 ready.
For a complete list of the hardware in both models, check out the table below:
| Header Cell - Column 0 | RI531 | RI323 |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 2x DDR3-1600 slots | 2x DDR3-1600 slots |
| Storage | 1x mSATA2x SATA | 2x SATA |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-5010U | Intel Celeron 2961Y |
| GPU | Intel Graphics HD 5500 | Intel Graphics HD |
| Display | HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 | HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 |
| Card Reader | 3-in-1 | 3-in-1 |
| Ethernet | Dual Gigabit | Dual Gigabit |
| Wi-Fi | Wireless AC, Bluetooth 4.0 | Wireless AC, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| USB Ports | 4x USB 3.0 | 4x USB 3.0 |
| Audio | HDMI Audio, Headphone jack, Microphone jack | HDMI Audio, Headphone jack, Microphone jack |
Zotac did not provide a shipping date or price in its announcement.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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stevenrix Did they improve the chassis for ventilation or is it the same generation than the older models? I run the Intel Atom CPU D525 and because the ventilation system is not really efficient, it will put your drives into predictive failure a few years later down the road. So with 1 extra drive, i am afraid it would also add more heat, but i might be wrong.Reply