The Intel Compute Stick (Core m3-6Y30) Review
by Ganesh T S on June 27, 2016 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
- Intel
- Core M
- Skylake
- HDMI Stick
- Compute Stick
Networking and Storage Performance
Networking and storage are two major aspects which influence our experience with any computing system. This section presents results from our evaluation of these aspects in the Intel Core m3-6Y30 Compute Stick. Despite the absence of a bonafide SSD, we had no trouble in runnng the PCMark 8 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 eMMC is obviously not going to be better than the bonafide SSDs in the other PCs, but, given the form factor and the price, it is good that Intel at least put in a good-quality eMMC module in the system. CrystalDiskMark provides some numbers to give further insight into the performance of the storage subsystem.
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 Intel AC8260 solution is a premium 802.11ac client solution, and it is apt that the Core M Compute Stick adopts it. The WLAN subsystem (including antenna placement) design enables the Core m3-6Y30 Compute Stick to top our Wi-Fi performance charts when compared against systems with a similar platform / form-factor.
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Ryan Smith - Monday, June 27, 2016 - link
No. That would be a terrible business strategy since it would undermine your trust in our reviews.We have run sponsored content in the past - which was clearly labeled - but that is always news/analysis and such; never reviews.
Otherwise I direct you to our About page section on sampling.
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The majority of what we review is provided directly by the manufacturer of the product. The product samples are delivered to our reviewers with the expectations of us providing a fair, thorough review. There is never any implicit guarantee of positive or negative, just that the review will be done as well as we can.
In the early days, when we were a much smaller site, manufacturers would threaten to withhold future review samples in response to a negative review (not so blatantly as that of course). We have quietly lost and gained the support of manufacturers throughout the years based on reviews. I've personally had many arguments with manufacturers who dare attempt to either knowingly deceive our readers or use advertising dollars or product support to influence our reviews.
Today, we are large enough to avoid these petty discussions of withholding review samples. Most manufacturers know that one way or another we'll get our hands on a product for review and don't try to play these sorts of games. Rarely we are faced with a manufacturer or advertiser who is looking to influence our content. We have a firm internal policy in place to deliver honest, balanced reviews to the best of our ability - regardless of external pressures. Fortunately, as I mentioned earlier, we have been around long enough and are large enough to avoid this being an issue in the vast majority of situations.
Wolfpup - Monday, June 27, 2016 - link
Huh... I may have use for a tiny, simple server at some point, and one of these would about fit the bill. Just need to add a USB Ethernet port and upgrade Windows 10 to Pro and it should work...bill.rookard - Monday, June 27, 2016 - link
You might be better off getting some cheap hardware off eBay at this point until the pricing comes down. Pick up a Dell Optiplex SFF for $100ish (just got one for $90 myself), outfit it with a notebook drive for the OS and a big HDD for storage and run it with a Linux system with Samba. That would do the trick nicely.beginner99 - Monday, June 27, 2016 - link
Even 64 GB storage is on the low side. Common. 128 Gb would add $5 max to the BOM. Sell it to me for $30 more and I would take it over 64 gb. NUC sounds like a better investment and more flexible.Realvn - Monday, June 27, 2016 - link
Ofcouse that core m series are the best perform stick, fastest at it size, best perform per watt, best...But the price too high, very high of it class, very high compare to any NUC at p/p
Sivar - Monday, June 27, 2016 - link
The use of a tiny fan concerns me. It's often the little fans that die young. Perhaps building the enclosure from (admittedly expensive) aluminum would be sufficient to allow for a solid state design?Meteor2 - Monday, June 27, 2016 - link
It only runs briefly, if at all.mostlyharmless - Monday, June 27, 2016 - link
Why 64-bit MS, with only 4GB RAM?The_Assimilator - Tuesday, June 28, 2016 - link
Because 32-bit is dead and needs to stay that way.harijan - Monday, June 27, 2016 - link
Contrary to some of these comments. I love these reviews Ganesh. I have a bay trail computestick, and it runs OK for what I do with it. I loaded it with ubuntu and have it running multiple lxc containers.I think I'll skip this generation, although I can't wait for next years model, hopefully with HDMI 2.0. Once they have that, I think the next Atom, or whatever Intel use in this segment, based model will be a no brainer in most HTPC situations.