- Feb 14, 2004
- 50,861
- 6,838
- 136
The chip:
http://ark.intel.com/products/80274/Intel-Atom-Processor-Z3735F-2M-Cache-up-to-1_83-GHz
The Intel Baytrail-T Z3735F chip has decent specs:
* Quad-core (no hyperthreading)
* 1.33ghz Atom CPU (1.83ghz turbo)
* 22nm (2.2 watts)
* 2GB RAM max
* Intel HD graphics
So originally, Intel announced the Compute stick, which is an HDMI stick (similar to other sticks like the Roku TV stick, Amazon Fire TV stick, and various Android TV sticks available), except that it has an x86 CPU instead of an ARM chip. The basic concept was that it could run Windows 8.1 or Linux, had a MicroSD slot for expansion, Wifi, etc.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/07/intel-compute-stick/
There's a whole bunch of these more or less "Windows SoC" systems coming out, so I'm sure we'll a glut of them coming in in coming months, in addition to the variety that is already available. Lilliputing is a great website to keep up on tiny computers:
http://liliputing.com/
Operating Systems:
That chipset has now been released into the wild. It currently runs 3 operating systems:
1. Windows
2. Linux
3. Android
Interestingly enough, some devices (primarily the tablets) offer a dual-boot Windows 8.1 & Android 4.4 (check the Chinese vendors like Alibaba, AliExpress, Geek Buying, etc. using the search string "Z3735F 8.1 4.4"), which use kind of a hybrid suspend mode. Also, the Windows variants of the computers come with "Windows 8.1 with Bing", which is a free 32-bit OS for OEM's to use for low-cost computers. Some more reading here:
http://www.howtogeek.com/167013/how-to-optimize-windows-8.1-for-a-desktop-pc/
For the record, Windows 8.1 with Bing is exactly the same as Windows 8.1 Core (home version, i.e. no Windows Media Center & no ability to join a domain), except that all of the search stuff (for IE & Windows) comes set to Bing by default (but you can change it, that's literally the only difference). It can also be upgrading to Windows 8.1 Professional using the $99 Pro Pack upgrade: (I tested this myself successfully on a work machine)
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Pack-Upgrade-Online/dp/B00HG0460M/
Note: Some vendors are including Windows 8.1, but without an activation key, so they are shipping the devices with invalid serial numbers. It's unclear why this is, so read the comments before buying any of these devices. Most come pre-activated, but some don't. I read of at least one where the manufacturer discovered that their OEM key was invalid & fixed it for the customers. MeeGoPad is one vendor that was having licensing issues on certain devices, like their HDMI sticks.
So be aware of that, and also that some of the foreign ones ship in with Chinese language set to default, so you have to navigate Windows via the GUI & change it to English. I prefer devices that (1) are shipped in English, and (2) are pre-activated, although some of the trial versions ship at a cheaper price, which is handy if you want to run Linux on them. I'm still digging into the best way to download a copy of Windows 8.1 with Bing (assuming it's activated off the BIOS), so I'll update the thread if I find anything on that. Also, since there's only two gigs of RAM on most devices (one gig for some of the tablets), you can use Microsoft's free low-resource antivirus program (Windows Defender). I have a post about setting it up here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2325766
Also, here is what a user posted on an Amazon review about installing Linux on one of the units:
Hardware Devices:
As far as the hardware goes, the Atom chip is available on 3 types of hardware devices:
1. HDMI stick
2. Tablet
3. Mini PC box
The HDMI sticks are based off the Intel Compute reference design:
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-compute-stick.html
Two that are available right now are the Lemel Stick (on eBay, search for "Lemel Atom", $229) & the MeeGoPad Stick T01: ($130, but no activation key, so you'd have to buy one yourself)
http://www.amazon.com/MeeGoPad-T01-Windows-Computer-Bluetooth/dp/B00S6LJVR8/
A sample picture of the size from an eBay seller of the Lemel stick:
http://i.imgur.com/nNxXjfG.jpg
These are cool because they are tiny, cheap, and can be stuck right in a television or newer LCD monitor. However, they lack ports (Ethernet, multiple USB's, etc.) & apparently are performance-throttled due to the 5V max power (they are powered off a USB port, so ~2.1A or whatever the available cap is) & thermal cooling capabilities. I have a Lemel on order; the seller said I'd need a Bluetooth keyboard & mouse, but from what I understand I can just use a single Logitech Unity receiver for both keyboard & mouse, for example, so I'll see what happens when it gets here. Overall, the HDMI stick is a really neat idea (computer on a stick!) but doesn't seem super practical due to the limited ports & limited performance.
Not much to say on the tablets. They typically come with a nice 720p-ish IPS screen & sometimes with a year's access to Office 365 as part of the package deal. For example, the HP Stream 7 is a $99 7" Atom-based Windows tablet that uses a variety of the chip (Z3735G instead of F, basically caps the turbo to 1.58ghz & only includes 1GB RAM instead of 2GB):
http://www.amazon.com/HP-Microsoft-Signature-Windows-Personal/dp/B00PJDNP5K
So moving onto the boxes, which is where the fun begins: there's a whole bunch of different designs & features available. They come with eMMC SSD drives in various sizes, including 16, 32, and 64gb - typically 32gb, which leaves about 20 gigs free for your files, which is small, but you can expand it with a MicroSD card (most devices max out at either 64gb or 128gb MicroSD, depending on the model). My current favorite is the MINIX NEO Z64: ($175)
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-installed-Quad-Core-Streaming-Player/dp/B00TD8MTFY/
There's also the Zotac ZBOX Pico: ($180)
http://www.amazon.com/Zotac-Z3735F-Windows-Preinstalled-ZBOX-PI320-W2/dp/B00OTJZZFS/
Some neat features of the MINIX:
* Bluetooth, 802.11n, and 10/100 Ethernet
* (2) USB 2.0 ports
* Headphone jack
* IR port
* Tiny
* Low-power (about 10 watts maxed measured)
* Fanless (doesn't get hot at all, barely even warm!)
* External Wifi antenna (the Zotac has an extra USB port, but has an internal antenna)
This model is basically like an AppleTV (just a little bigger) & makes a great desktop computer for basic needs. I'm using mine as a Thin Client computer. Another great alternative is the VOYO Mini PC, which is $50 less, adds a USB port, subtracts the Ethernet port, and doubles the SSD to 64gb:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Newe...-64GB-ROM-windows8-1-mini-pc/32268113869.html
I have one of those on order to test at home as a retro gaming HTPC. It also comes with a 3-hour battery, which is pretty neat to throw in the car for kids or to use outdoors (I have an LED projector with an outdoor inflatable screen from Walmart, so that would be pretty cool to watch a movie on!). For the gaming, I'm using the following gear:
Hyperspin
X-Arcade Tankstick (heavy-duty 2-player USB joystick controller)
Logitech K400 wireless keyboard with built-in trackpad
(2) Xbox 360 wireless controllers (with a USB Receiver for Windows)
I have a Roku box as my set-top player, which I do not want to get rid of (Plex, Netflix, etc.), but I would like to add some basic gaming to it. I'm hoping it will handle all of the old consoles as well as MAME well; reviewers said it couldn't handle GC emulation, but it did pretty well with N64 emulation, so we'll see how that goes. It'd be nice to console my old consoles & disc/cartridge-based games into a single small unit! Plus the Xbox 360 controllers are programmable & match up pretty nicely to the old NES/SNES-style button layout.
Another really interesting model is the Egreat i6 ($140 on Geek Buying, AT won't let me directly link, sorry), which, in addition to an HDMI port, also has a VGA port! I also have one of these on order. This unit will be particularly useful for both business & home use where the user already has an existing monitor, keyboard, and mouse and just wants to replace say an aging Windows XP or Vista machine. I also have an HDMI to VGA adapter on order (not sure if it will work or what the quality will be) because I'd prefer to use the MINIX box since it's fanless & sealed. Here's some pictures of the Egreat rig: (looks like it has some vent ports on the side)
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Egreat-I6-Intel-2014-best-android_60154736916.html
That would be REALLY neat for replacing people's old computers at home, especially people who are on a budget like parents & grandparents...for under $200 shipped, you get a VGA computer with Windows 8.1 & can throw on Windows Defender (free) & set them up with a Gmail account for Google Docs, so you can save some money on Microsoft Office that way. If you need a good keyboard & mouse (like if you're replacing an old PC with PS/2 peripherals), I always buy the Logitech MK320 set, which is normally $40 but sometimes goes on sale for $25, uses a single tiny Unity USB receiver, and has regular batteries that last like 6 months:
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Desktop-MK320-Combo/dp/B003VAGXZC
As far as upgradability, I'm not sure if anything internally can be upgraded. Here's a teardown video of the VOYO Mini PC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjddUXpkZf4
One thing to keep in mind, hardware-wise, is that there is a fair amount of competition in this SFF segment. I'm a big fan of the Intel NUC & Gigabyte BRIX mini computers, which use laptop parts. However, they are relatively expensive fully-loaded; a typically model that I put in a workplace is about a grand (i5 BRIX, 16GB RAM, 240GB SSD, Windows 7, Office 2013, MiniDP to HDMI adapter cable).
However, there is one really awesome alternative called the HP Stream Mini, which is the same concept, but has way better specs & has been found to be totally upgradable. The base Celeron version is also $179, so it competes directly with the MINIX, but lets you add in better parts, have (4) USB 3.0 ports, dual displays, etc. The (minor) downsides are that it comes in baby blue, it's much thicker, has a cooling fan, uses more power (2.2w CPU for the MINIX's Atom vs. 15w for the Celeron CPU in the HP Stream Mini), etc. So depending on whether you like the looks or not (if that matters to you), care about the fan, or mind the extra wattage (still, only a quarter power of a 60w light bulb), this may be a better option for what you want to do:
http://store.hp.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/us/en/pdp/desktops/hp-stream-mini-desktop---200-010
Anyway, there's your tutorial for these neat little quad-core Atom-based systems. Low-power, runs Windows decently enough for basic computing purposes, and can be installed in a variety of situations :thumbsup;
http://ark.intel.com/products/80274/Intel-Atom-Processor-Z3735F-2M-Cache-up-to-1_83-GHz
The Intel Baytrail-T Z3735F chip has decent specs:
* Quad-core (no hyperthreading)
* 1.33ghz Atom CPU (1.83ghz turbo)
* 22nm (2.2 watts)
* 2GB RAM max
* Intel HD graphics
So originally, Intel announced the Compute stick, which is an HDMI stick (similar to other sticks like the Roku TV stick, Amazon Fire TV stick, and various Android TV sticks available), except that it has an x86 CPU instead of an ARM chip. The basic concept was that it could run Windows 8.1 or Linux, had a MicroSD slot for expansion, Wifi, etc.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/07/intel-compute-stick/
There's a whole bunch of these more or less "Windows SoC" systems coming out, so I'm sure we'll a glut of them coming in in coming months, in addition to the variety that is already available. Lilliputing is a great website to keep up on tiny computers:
http://liliputing.com/
Operating Systems:
That chipset has now been released into the wild. It currently runs 3 operating systems:
1. Windows
2. Linux
3. Android
Interestingly enough, some devices (primarily the tablets) offer a dual-boot Windows 8.1 & Android 4.4 (check the Chinese vendors like Alibaba, AliExpress, Geek Buying, etc. using the search string "Z3735F 8.1 4.4"), which use kind of a hybrid suspend mode. Also, the Windows variants of the computers come with "Windows 8.1 with Bing", which is a free 32-bit OS for OEM's to use for low-cost computers. Some more reading here:
http://www.howtogeek.com/167013/how-to-optimize-windows-8.1-for-a-desktop-pc/
For the record, Windows 8.1 with Bing is exactly the same as Windows 8.1 Core (home version, i.e. no Windows Media Center & no ability to join a domain), except that all of the search stuff (for IE & Windows) comes set to Bing by default (but you can change it, that's literally the only difference). It can also be upgrading to Windows 8.1 Professional using the $99 Pro Pack upgrade: (I tested this myself successfully on a work machine)
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Pack-Upgrade-Online/dp/B00HG0460M/
Note: Some vendors are including Windows 8.1, but without an activation key, so they are shipping the devices with invalid serial numbers. It's unclear why this is, so read the comments before buying any of these devices. Most come pre-activated, but some don't. I read of at least one where the manufacturer discovered that their OEM key was invalid & fixed it for the customers. MeeGoPad is one vendor that was having licensing issues on certain devices, like their HDMI sticks.
So be aware of that, and also that some of the foreign ones ship in with Chinese language set to default, so you have to navigate Windows via the GUI & change it to English. I prefer devices that (1) are shipped in English, and (2) are pre-activated, although some of the trial versions ship at a cheaper price, which is handy if you want to run Linux on them. I'm still digging into the best way to download a copy of Windows 8.1 with Bing (assuming it's activated off the BIOS), so I'll update the thread if I find anything on that. Also, since there's only two gigs of RAM on most devices (one gig for some of the tablets), you can use Microsoft's free low-resource antivirus program (Windows Defender). I have a post about setting it up here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2325766
Also, here is what a user posted on an Amazon review about installing Linux on one of the units:
Hardware Devices:
As far as the hardware goes, the Atom chip is available on 3 types of hardware devices:
1. HDMI stick
2. Tablet
3. Mini PC box
The HDMI sticks are based off the Intel Compute reference design:
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-compute-stick.html
Two that are available right now are the Lemel Stick (on eBay, search for "Lemel Atom", $229) & the MeeGoPad Stick T01: ($130, but no activation key, so you'd have to buy one yourself)
http://www.amazon.com/MeeGoPad-T01-Windows-Computer-Bluetooth/dp/B00S6LJVR8/
A sample picture of the size from an eBay seller of the Lemel stick:
http://i.imgur.com/nNxXjfG.jpg
These are cool because they are tiny, cheap, and can be stuck right in a television or newer LCD monitor. However, they lack ports (Ethernet, multiple USB's, etc.) & apparently are performance-throttled due to the 5V max power (they are powered off a USB port, so ~2.1A or whatever the available cap is) & thermal cooling capabilities. I have a Lemel on order; the seller said I'd need a Bluetooth keyboard & mouse, but from what I understand I can just use a single Logitech Unity receiver for both keyboard & mouse, for example, so I'll see what happens when it gets here. Overall, the HDMI stick is a really neat idea (computer on a stick!) but doesn't seem super practical due to the limited ports & limited performance.
Not much to say on the tablets. They typically come with a nice 720p-ish IPS screen & sometimes with a year's access to Office 365 as part of the package deal. For example, the HP Stream 7 is a $99 7" Atom-based Windows tablet that uses a variety of the chip (Z3735G instead of F, basically caps the turbo to 1.58ghz & only includes 1GB RAM instead of 2GB):
http://www.amazon.com/HP-Microsoft-Signature-Windows-Personal/dp/B00PJDNP5K
So moving onto the boxes, which is where the fun begins: there's a whole bunch of different designs & features available. They come with eMMC SSD drives in various sizes, including 16, 32, and 64gb - typically 32gb, which leaves about 20 gigs free for your files, which is small, but you can expand it with a MicroSD card (most devices max out at either 64gb or 128gb MicroSD, depending on the model). My current favorite is the MINIX NEO Z64: ($175)
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-installed-Quad-Core-Streaming-Player/dp/B00TD8MTFY/
There's also the Zotac ZBOX Pico: ($180)
http://www.amazon.com/Zotac-Z3735F-Windows-Preinstalled-ZBOX-PI320-W2/dp/B00OTJZZFS/
Some neat features of the MINIX:
* Bluetooth, 802.11n, and 10/100 Ethernet
* (2) USB 2.0 ports
* Headphone jack
* IR port
* Tiny
* Low-power (about 10 watts maxed measured)
* Fanless (doesn't get hot at all, barely even warm!)
* External Wifi antenna (the Zotac has an extra USB port, but has an internal antenna)
This model is basically like an AppleTV (just a little bigger) & makes a great desktop computer for basic needs. I'm using mine as a Thin Client computer. Another great alternative is the VOYO Mini PC, which is $50 less, adds a USB port, subtracts the Ethernet port, and doubles the SSD to 64gb:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Newe...-64GB-ROM-windows8-1-mini-pc/32268113869.html
I have one of those on order to test at home as a retro gaming HTPC. It also comes with a 3-hour battery, which is pretty neat to throw in the car for kids or to use outdoors (I have an LED projector with an outdoor inflatable screen from Walmart, so that would be pretty cool to watch a movie on!). For the gaming, I'm using the following gear:
Hyperspin
X-Arcade Tankstick (heavy-duty 2-player USB joystick controller)
Logitech K400 wireless keyboard with built-in trackpad
(2) Xbox 360 wireless controllers (with a USB Receiver for Windows)
I have a Roku box as my set-top player, which I do not want to get rid of (Plex, Netflix, etc.), but I would like to add some basic gaming to it. I'm hoping it will handle all of the old consoles as well as MAME well; reviewers said it couldn't handle GC emulation, but it did pretty well with N64 emulation, so we'll see how that goes. It'd be nice to console my old consoles & disc/cartridge-based games into a single small unit! Plus the Xbox 360 controllers are programmable & match up pretty nicely to the old NES/SNES-style button layout.
Another really interesting model is the Egreat i6 ($140 on Geek Buying, AT won't let me directly link, sorry), which, in addition to an HDMI port, also has a VGA port! I also have one of these on order. This unit will be particularly useful for both business & home use where the user already has an existing monitor, keyboard, and mouse and just wants to replace say an aging Windows XP or Vista machine. I also have an HDMI to VGA adapter on order (not sure if it will work or what the quality will be) because I'd prefer to use the MINIX box since it's fanless & sealed. Here's some pictures of the Egreat rig: (looks like it has some vent ports on the side)
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Egreat-I6-Intel-2014-best-android_60154736916.html
That would be REALLY neat for replacing people's old computers at home, especially people who are on a budget like parents & grandparents...for under $200 shipped, you get a VGA computer with Windows 8.1 & can throw on Windows Defender (free) & set them up with a Gmail account for Google Docs, so you can save some money on Microsoft Office that way. If you need a good keyboard & mouse (like if you're replacing an old PC with PS/2 peripherals), I always buy the Logitech MK320 set, which is normally $40 but sometimes goes on sale for $25, uses a single tiny Unity USB receiver, and has regular batteries that last like 6 months:
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Desktop-MK320-Combo/dp/B003VAGXZC
As far as upgradability, I'm not sure if anything internally can be upgraded. Here's a teardown video of the VOYO Mini PC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjddUXpkZf4
One thing to keep in mind, hardware-wise, is that there is a fair amount of competition in this SFF segment. I'm a big fan of the Intel NUC & Gigabyte BRIX mini computers, which use laptop parts. However, they are relatively expensive fully-loaded; a typically model that I put in a workplace is about a grand (i5 BRIX, 16GB RAM, 240GB SSD, Windows 7, Office 2013, MiniDP to HDMI adapter cable).
However, there is one really awesome alternative called the HP Stream Mini, which is the same concept, but has way better specs & has been found to be totally upgradable. The base Celeron version is also $179, so it competes directly with the MINIX, but lets you add in better parts, have (4) USB 3.0 ports, dual displays, etc. The (minor) downsides are that it comes in baby blue, it's much thicker, has a cooling fan, uses more power (2.2w CPU for the MINIX's Atom vs. 15w for the Celeron CPU in the HP Stream Mini), etc. So depending on whether you like the looks or not (if that matters to you), care about the fan, or mind the extra wattage (still, only a quarter power of a 60w light bulb), this may be a better option for what you want to do:
http://store.hp.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/us/en/pdp/desktops/hp-stream-mini-desktop---200-010
Anyway, there's your tutorial for these neat little quad-core Atom-based systems. Low-power, runs Windows decently enough for basic computing purposes, and can be installed in a variety of situations :thumbsup;
. Also you might need this update (
Facebook
Twitter