GIGABYTE BRIX Pro: A First Look at the Intel i7-4770R with Iris Pro HD 5200
by Ganesh T S on January 7, 2014 8:00 PM ESTThe BRIX Pro was evaluated using our standard test suite for low power desktops / industrial PCs. Note that some of the benchmarks are pretty recent (such as x264 v5.0 and 3D Mark 2013). Loaner samples haven't been tested with these new benchmarks. Therefore, the list of PCs in each graph are not the same. In the Windows Experience Index, the BRIX Pro scored 6.9, and was primarily held back by the graphics subsystem.
Futuremark Benchmarks:
Miscellaneous Benchmarks:
These benchmark numbers are downright impressive for a system in this form factor.
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laif - Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - link
This please. Also, please specify the kernel and graphics stack versions. Thank you.patterson32 - Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - link
Please add LZMA2 compression/decompression tests to your benchmarks. Maybe use Pixz ( https://github.com/vasi/pixz ) for both parallel compression and decompression. I tar.xz often so this would be useful for me. I don't remember the last time I used RAR.Subyman - Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - link
Strange they would call it the BRIX.JDG1980 - Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - link
The fan noise is extremely disappointing, since it pretty much rules out using the Brix Pro as a HTPC. I had hoped, especially given the price point, that this system would be fanless.DIYEyal - Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - link
a 65W TDP part in that size to be fanless?! I don't think so.. I bet you can swap the fan to some aftermarket fan, like a noctua for example (not sure if it's possible without a modding).Also, gigabyte are the first to use the 4770R and the 4570R, but I bet other OEMs go on board..
JDG1980 - Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - link
65W fanless in a small case is doable if you design the entire case as a heat sink, with heat pipes attached to the CPU core. This has been done before.Qwertilot - Wednesday, January 8, 2014 - link
There's a smallish streamcon one for ~100 pounds even. I'd rather that (and being able to use standard SSD's) than truly tiny and noisy, but I guess it wouldn't fit the theme :)Although this chip does seem like it might be pushing the limits of what works. Give it a couple more generations of intel ramping up power efficiency and we might really be talking.
MrSpadge - Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - link
Does this system have a regular Gigabyte BIOS/UEFI with options? If so try to lower the iGPU voltage: about -0.1 V should be possible at ~1.25 GHz from what I've seen from Ivy. The CPU could probably also take some tweaking. This should help noise and drive performance up. I'd be curious how far this could push such a thermally & power constrained system.Acarney - Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - link
I REALLY hope we get a detailed gaming test with this running the fastest ram possible. I thought a decent sized issue with the previous Iris Pro test was that the CPU was a good bit slower then all the recent desktop graphic card reviews AND that the TDP limit of the mobile chip might have been limiting Iris Pro some... Also very curious for a proper HTPC review of this, especially the hardest we can push MadVR with it... Yes people are moaning about fan noise but it's NOT impossible to cool a 65w TDP chip via passive means & I'm sure HDPlex or someone else will retrofit their case to accept the guts of a Brix Pro for passive cooling... Then that chip is a monster!edbless - Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - link
Intel has made this difficult for system builders.In reality the i7 4850HQ may be a better CPU option.
It is still Iris 5200, it is 47W, same form factor/mounting, and it does not cost much more.
I agree with many of the comments, if this is noisy it looses almost all value. It must in unobtrusive in all aspects, size and volume in order to fit in to most environments.