Taking advantage of Ivy Bridge's efficient operation, Intel accompanied its third-generation Core processors with a new small form factor weapons platform dubbed Next Whole of Computing (NUC), the initial wave of which were powered by Heart i3 and i5 Common ivy Nosepiece parts affixed to an ultra-compact 4x4" motherboard -- considerably small than even the Mini ITX standardised.

Although we welcome SFF machines from industry heavyweights like Intel, the keep company's NUC products have been grossly expensive, initially protrusive just about $400 for a complete frame based on the Core i3. Even now, a barebones version of the i3 NUC system of rules still costs almost $300, and that's without memory, storage, WI-Fi and an operating system, which could easily tot a copulate hundred bucks.

Recognizing this issue, Intel introduced an option supported the 1.1GHz Celeron 847, but that break away is atrociously slow and at $180, the barebones box it comes inside still International Relations and Security Network't a particularly good prize. To date, we reckon IT's safe to say that NUC is a stylish melodic theme that has been hamstrung by poor computer hardware choices and unattractive prices -- a curve that GB hopes to buck with its new NUC offerings.

G's pint-sized "Brix" systems put in four different processor configurations, including the 1.8GHz Celeron 1037U, 1.9GHz Core i3-3227U, 1.8-2.7GHz Core i5-3337U and 2-3.1GHz Core i7-3537U. Those seem much to a greater extent powerful than Intel's lineup and that's certainly enough to warrant our attention, but it's worth noting that Brix too offers more USB 3.0 ports and Wi-Fi impossible of the corner.

Granted, while the Core i5-3337U-supercharged Brix system is faster than any of Intel's NUC options, it's also more expensive at $420 -- a sum up that testament increase well on the far side $500 after you purchase memory, storage and an operating system. We're thinking 8GB of 1600MHz SO-DIMM RAM, a 128GB mSATA SSD and a copy of Windows 8 Professional seem like a proper scene, and they add another $330.

With a total build cost in the domain of $750, it's simplified to question the value of Gigabyte's new offering. Keep in nou, you could purchase a Core i5-3337U-based laptop computer from Dell operating room Asus for low-level $600, which would cater a similar feature set, just in a mobile package instead of a tiny box. For additive perspective, the core parts of our entry-level play desktop be about $600.

Gigabyte BRIX in Detail

As mentioned, Brix systems come with quadruplet different processor options: a Celeron, CORE i3, Nitty-gritty i5 and Core i7. We receive tested the $420 Core i5 version (XM11-3337), which is $100 to a lesser degree the i7 manikin and $100 many than the i3. Externally, there isn't much to talk more or less, in the first place because this computer measures only 4.5 x 4.24 x 1.18" (114.4 x 107.6 x 29.9mm).

There is a USB 3.0 larboard in the bottom left corner that comprises the presence panel connectivity, which is built into an aluminum shell that wraps about both sides and the rear.

The glossy black top cover features Gigabyte's name in the height left recess and in the opposite attitude, a chromium-plate power clitoris that glows blue when the system is existing.

About of the action is around hindmost, including an HDMI end product, Thunderbolt (DisplayPort), USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet and a mogul jack. In that respect is also a Kensington lock in slot to impregnable the system if, e.g., you'atomic number 75 in an open office environment.

With support for HDMI and DisplayPort, the Brix can power two displays at the same time, increasing its viability for productivity purposes. The HDMI embrasure only supports a maximum resolution of 1920x1200 on our Dell 30" display, piece DisplayPort runs at the native 2560x1600 resolution.

You'll find small air vents on the back and sides of the showcase, while four small gum elastic feet are screwed to the bottom control board, which can live removed to access the storage and memory areas.

Once privileged, you'll spot an 802.11n Wi-Fi Miniskirt PCIe faculty preinstalled. Above that is the mSATA slot and there are also two SO-DIMM DDR3 slots.

The other position of the PCB includes the CPU, chipset (Intel HM77) and shelling, though you never need to see this side of the control board. With the SSD and RAM in topographic point, we reinstalled the baseplate and begun installing Windows, which requires an external USB exteroception drive along with a bootable Oculus sinister disc or (preferably) a bootable USB thumb drive with a copy of Windows connected it.