Cheap but OLD mini-PC REFURB $59.99 @ Newegg (marketplace)

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAA8S4AU3215

This caught my eye. Pretty cheap for a bare bones mini-PC. Though, it's a refurb, it's older and slower technology, so it may not offer good value. Depend on what you want to use it for, I guess.

Dual-core, 1.7Ghz Brazos 2.0 / Zacate, according to CPU-World.com.

My Foxconn NanoPCs have a 1.0Ghz Brazos CPU in them, and they are constantly running at 80-99% CPU usage, just doing ordinary things like web browsing in Windows 10.

This should be a bit better (1.0Ghz to 1.7Ghz), but I fear that it's still just too slow to be acceptable.

Has a bunch of display outputs (DP!), eSATA, USB3.0, SD card reader. Could make a nice little unit for driving industrial signage.

If you're looking for a 2.5" SSD, xtrememicro on ebay has a number of cheaper 32GB and 60GB SSDs available. (I recent bought a few, and they seem non-fake, and performance is acceptable.) The Hectron X1 60GB comes somewhat recommended, for $23.

 

[Macgyversite]

I have a 60gb SSD laying around and several 4gb sticks of laptop memory so one should work. I am going to install Win7 Ultimate.

I bought off of Amazon because they have a better return policy. Same refurb place.

Thanks for the deal.

 

[VirtualLarry]

You're welcome. Let us know how it is. I'm tempted to get one, but I keep thinking, if I'm going to spend $60 on a dual-core 1.7Ghz Brazos, why wouldn't I spend $100 on another Gigabyte J1900 Brix unit.

OTOH, I have yet to find a Linux distro that works acceptably on the J1900 Brix units, without freezing up. I was going to try OpenSUSE Leap, but apparently, I installed an Alpha version, which for some reason, wouldn't work with my streaming radio station in Firefox. (No audio, although YouTube worked fine for some reason.)

Edit: Actually, I believe that I do know how fast (Slow) this rig is, for the most part. I have an E-350 mini-ITX rig, that I built a long, long time ago as my first power-saving rig. It handled 1080P YouTube (back then), but just barely (CPU usage 90%+). I think that the E-350 is the same chip, only 1.6Ghz instead of 1.7Ghz.

Ok for a media-consumption rig, I suppose. Not so great for anything else. Probably not quite as fast as the J1900, although single-threaded performance might be comparable. The Brazos chips, had a penalty for running in 64-bit mode, so my understanding is, to run 64-bit Windows, effectively, you cut their clock speed in HALF. At least, that makes sense, when comparing the performance of my 1.0Ghz Brazos C-60/70 Foxconn NanoPCs.

 

[Cardio]

I have a 60gb SSD laying around and several 4gb sticks of laptop memory so one should work. I am going to install Win7 Ultimate.

I bought off of Amazon because they have a better return policy. Same refurb place.

Thanks for the deal.

Couldn't find some of the specs for this even from Zotac.
It seems like it uses M.sata drive so your old ones may not work if regular SSD's.
Also no mention if it requires low Voltage 1.35v ram as do most mini's like this.
So regular ram may not work either. Lot of if's buying one of these.

 

[Macgyversite]

Space for a 2.5-inch hard drive and a 204-pin DDR3-1333 SO-DIMM slot enables users to customize the internals of the ZOTAC ZBOX nano AD12

Looks like the SSD should work. All my laptop memory is low voltage 4gb sticks.

She should boot up with one of my sticks. Win7 should run well too. It was designed to run 1080p and all the reviews were positive once up and running.


.
https://www.amazon.com/ZOTAC-ZBOX-E...00AMJR6GK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8


.

 

[jimbob200521]

Any thoughts on this unit as a basic tasks computer? I want to be able to run youtube 1080p streams and check email, that's about it. I have a much more well endowed i7 rig for my main PC so that's where the heavy lifting will fall. I just want something I can leave running 24/7 for basic duties that doesn't run the electric meter through the roof.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Does anyone think that this units needs, or prefers, low-voltage (1.35V, DDR3L) memory? Or will it run on 1.5V DDR3 SO-DIMMs?

What's the cheapest 2GB or 4GB of RAM for these units?

I'm thinking of loading the 32-bit version of Win7 on these, due to the 64-bit penalty on Brazos APUs.

That is, if these things can handle watching media (online movie sites, DIVX player in Firefox 32-bit) in 1080P (HDTV)?

Are there any reviews of this unit? (I think I came across a PCWorld review in my travels.)

http://zotacusa.com/specsheet/ZBOXNANO-AD12-U.pdf

Shows this unit coming with an MCE remote control. Wonder if the refurb includes that?

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2415724,00.asp

Edit: For a cheap 8GB SO-DIMM, see this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2476773

 

[Macgyversite]

I dont know when mine is coming. Some reviews I read said frame rate is iffy on 1080p. I know when I use Opera/Chrome and Youtube for 1080P on a low end machine. It stutters. Explorer works smooth as silk.

Good point about the 32bit. I have a Win7 32bit Ult I can install.

I saw that Sodimm thread. I will test all my ram to see what works.

Not sure how long these will be on sale.

 

[Macgyversite]

I got the unit today. I put in my Adata 60gb SSD and a stick of Adata 4gb ram. Hooked up a USB CDrom. Booted and Windows 7 32bit is installing. Woops. Actually just finished.

 

[Macgyversite]

Nice unit so far. She isnt quiet but certainly good enough for HTPC if she can do 1080p and such. Boots fast so far. Installing the Zotac drivers then Windows updates etc. Gonna be a while. Build quality is good. Easy access. Lots of ports. Built in Wifi if it works. Should be good.

 

[jimbob200521]

Anxious to see everyone report back on how this box performs with 1080p video and youtube!

 

[Macgyversite]

Got service pack 1 installed. Updating all drivers and now I can also install Explorer 11.

 

[Macgyversite]

Pffft they changed IE11 now you need Win 8.1 or higher to run 1080p Youtube vids. Checking on work arounds. Opera 1080p Youtube is a little choppy atm. I will try to source all options soon.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Pffft they changed IE11 now you need Win 8.1 or higher to run 1080p Youtube vids. Checking on work arounds. Opera 1080p Youtube is a little choppy atm. I will try to source all options soon.

Are you saying that MS intentionally limits IE11 on Win7, to NOT be able to play higher than 720P video on YouTube? Or is this a Google thing, that you need Chrome to be able to view 1080P YouTube now?

 

[Macgyversite]

Well I seemed to have found a workaround. IE11 is working smooth as silk 1080p now. However the usual sound driver conflict somewhere after updating AMD drivers. Still its not a bad box at all. I will get her running at top speed soon enough.

 

[jimbob200521]

Well I seemed to have found a workaround. IE11 is working smooth as silk 1080p now. However the usual sound driver conflict somewhere after updating AMD drivers. Still its not a bad box at all. I will get her running at top speed soon enough.

Would you be able to try some youtube with Chrome? We're a Chrome household and I don't think we're switching any time soon :biggrin:

 

[Macgyversite]

IE11 was always the smoothest for youtube 1080p. I am still working on updates. I fixed the sound issue but lost my workaround for 1080p on IE11. I will keep you posted. BTW Firefox is best for 1080p Youtube If you want something else tested let me know.

 

[Macgyversite]

Sorry for the delay. I gave up on Win7 Ult 32bit. I am installing Win7 Ult 64bit. Nothihng that the Box is doing. Its a good device. I was thinking the probs I am having plus people might want to use 8gb sticks. Win7 64bit will see that amount of memory soooo. On to part two.

 

[Macgyversite]

Ok sorry again for lack of updates but I got Win7 Ult installed and installed Service pack 1. Then I got the Glitch where Win7 wont update anymore. It wouldnt take any stand alone updates either.So I googled and after a few manual KB7003810 etc downloads/updates and MrFixit and Resetting Windows update components etc etc. I finally got her to Update . 240 Updates. Well 24+ hours later. I am at stage 1 of 3 after they all installed. Rebooting as I type. She was running fine. I just want to get her fully updated to test 1080p properly.

 

[JeffMD]

Good ole windows 7. A couple of months ago I needed to reinstall on an older laptop and had had it with the update bug. I found an ISO that had all updates up to april 2016 merged with it from the lagoon of illicit wares. Never again!

 

[Macgyversite]

LOL. Wish I had that.

She is still on Sale.......

Well she is working as well as I can get her now. Fully Updated Drivers, Windows, Flash, Java etc.

She is a good little box. Not great.

I tested Opera, Firefox, Chrome, IE11. IE11 cannot do 1080p on Win7. PFfft Microsoft.

Chrome and Opera were the best for 1080p. Not perfect mind you but decent. Chrome edging out Opera by a little.

I have Comcast 150mbs plan and a Top line Asus router with an Arris modem that does 32 down and 8up.

I tested the following:

Youtube using the Godzilla 2014 Official Trailer because Its easy and streams well.

Netflix HD, chosen in settings, I used Agents of Shield first episode

Amazon Prime HD it streams what it can. No choices anymore. I used The Davinci Code.

1080p playback isnt perfect but watchable. I though Agents of Shield looked and ran great. Obviously ymwv.

The box is what it is. Inexpensive. Certainly not cheap. Its well made. Lots of connections. Wifi is good. You can put a SSD in. Ram doesnt seem too picky about. It surfs well. You can have lots of pages open. Its isnt Instant open like a core I7 but she is thoroughly usable.

If you have an extra SSD around and some laptop memory from a broken laptop. Get this. Its not perfect but it can fill a gap in your arsenal of electronics. Its Only $60 shipped. If you got the parts and can install Windows at will. Get this.

My next step will be to try Win10 on this. It uses less resources than Win7 so maybe it will iron out what ever kinks are left.

Oh yeah. Dont put 32Bit Win 7 on this. It was buggy imho. 64bit is perfectly stable.

I ran the Windows assessment. It got 3.9 with the low being from the Processor. 4.8 video and the rest were high 5's and 6's. Not too shabby.