ZBOX Sphere OI520 Plus: Zotac's Take on the NUC
by Ganesh T S on August 1, 2014 8:50 AM ESTStorage and Wireless Networking Credentials
We have recently started devoting a separate section to analyze the storage and networking credentials of the units under review. On the storage side, one option would be repetition of our strenuous SSD review tests on the drive(s) in the PC. Fortunately, to avoid that overkill, PCMark 8 has a storage bench where certain common workloads such as loading games and document processing are replayed on the target drive. Results are presented in two forms, one being a benchmark number and the other, a bandwidth figure. We ran the PCMark 8 storage bench on selected PCs and the results are presented below.
The OI520 Plus obviously suffers here due to the absence of a SSD.
On the networking side, we restricted ourselves to the evaluation of the WLAN component. Our standard test router is the Netgear R7000 Nighthawk configured with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. The router is placed approximately 20 ft. away, separated by a drywall (as in a typical US building). A wired client (Zotac ID89-Plus) is connected to the R7000 and serves as one endpoint for iPerf evaluation. The PC under test is made to connect to either the 5 GHz (preferred) or 2.4 GHz SSID and iPerf tests are conducted for both TCP and UDP transfers. It is ensured that the PC under test is the only wireless client for the Netgear R7000. We evaluate total throughput for up to 32 simultaneous TCP connections using iPerf and present the highest number in the graph below.
In the UDP case, we try to transfer data at the highest rate possible for which we get less than 1% packet loss.
The wireless card performs as well as the 2x2 Intel AC card in the NUC, despite being 1x1 only
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heffeque - Sunday, August 3, 2014 - link
Why weren't 2 slot memory + ssd benchmarks posted?biffzinker - Sunday, August 3, 2014 - link
The motherboard only has one slot, bandwidth to the CPU/iGPU is cut in half (out of 25.6 GB/s.)biffzinker - Sunday, August 3, 2014 - link
My bad it has two slots, so yeah why wasn't it tested with two sticks?ct909 - Sunday, August 3, 2014 - link
We deployed a number of the D54250WYKH units, and although the i5-4250U is not in the same league as the i7-4770R of the Brix, for standard office apps, they work well enough.Apart from the usual "I like it but could I have a faster one" request, the wish-list feature that seemed to get the most requests was a QI charger built into the lid, so you can place your phone on the computer to re-charge - we have them sitting on the desk.
It seems that Intel are planning this for the next iteration, and personally, I can't see that working with a sphere.
Impulses - Tuesday, August 5, 2014 - link
Hmm, phones usually get a little warmer charging thru Qi, not sure I'd want that atop a small form factor case... Unless you're working in like a 3ft cubicle or something.ct909 - Thursday, August 7, 2014 - link
Intel have this feature on the roadmap for the next version, so presumably it will be designed to manage any heat issue.duploxxx - Monday, August 4, 2014 - link
intel GPU 4400 on the 15W part so downscaled like hell in combo with a default HD...The kaveri a10-7300 with 19W and SSD for the same price would be awesome in that box.
same price since intel cpu are way more expensive.
Haravikk - Monday, August 4, 2014 - link
It's nice to see something a little different, but I can't help but feel like they could have utilised the space better. For example, an internal PSU that occupies some of the extra internal space. I dunno, I just think it'd be more pleasing to have a unit that has nothing coming out of it besides a power cable and monitor cable, a brick kind of spoils that IMO. It also seems like it could have been a prime candidate for a passively cooled case, due to the sheer amount of surface area compared to the more compact, flat NUC systems.briansmccrary - Tuesday, August 5, 2014 - link
fgfggfDoomtomb - Saturday, August 9, 2014 - link
Google Nexus Q much?