The Zotac Zbox CI320 nano Plus Windows 8.1 with Bing ($249.99 as tested) is a cheap mini desktop PC aimed users with base computing needs. It comes with a quad core Intel Celeron processor and a 64GB solid state drive (SSD), which helps destroy the vision that all budget PCs are slow and sluggish.While bare bones, it is a fully functional Windows 8.1 system, something you can't say about the likewise compact Asus Chromebox M004U.
Design and Features
The Zbox CI320 has very solid chassis, the dimension about 1.75 by 5 by 5 inches (HWD), not including the external antenna for the 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The black metal chassis is a bit utilitarian looking, especially when oppose with the rounded Zotac Zbox Sphere OI520 Plus. That said, its size is in line with the Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) Kit D54250WYK and is much smaller than the Apple Mac mini and Polywell i2304-i5.
Like other mini PCs that can be hooked up to an HDTV, the Zbox CI320 comes with a HDMI port. The system can be mounted on the back of a monitor or HDTV using an included VESA mounting bracket. Other I/O ports are plentiful. The system includes audio ports, a Display Port, an eSATA port, an Ethernet port, an SD card reader, 2 USB 2.0 ports, and 4 USB 3.0 ports.
You'll possible need the eSATA or USB 3.0 ports for an external drive if you're thinking of using the Zbox CI320 as a traditional home theater PC. The 64GB looks a little slight if you're a video collector, but you should be fine if you're planning on streaming all of your music and movies. The meager amount of memory, which is likely due to Zotac wanting to keep the system price inexpensive, is more of an issue. We predict running out of active memory if you, say, tend to keep more than a couple of dozen open tabs in your browser, plus some instant messaging or Skype sessions active at the same time. Zotac does include guide on how to get to the internal drive and memory slot, should you wish to upgrade, but you'll have to replace the existing memory card, since there's only one SO-DIMM slot.
The Zbox CI320 comes with Microsoft Windows 8.1 with Bing, which is an improvement over kit based systems like the Intel NUC and the Zbox Sphere OI520 Plus, which came with no operating system. Microsoft Windows 8.1 with Bing is the same as the standard version of Windows 8.1, but with the operating system pre-configured to favor Microsoft services like the Bing search engine and OneDrive cloud storage. You can, sure, manually set the system to use DuckDuckGo, Google, or Yahoo services. Bloatware is thankfully nonexistent. The desktop comes with a one year warranty.
Performance
The Zbox CI320 is equipped with a 1.83GHz Intel Celeron N2930 quad-core processor with integrated Intel HD Graphics. This Bay Trail processor is designed by Intel to be both x64 compatible and run in a fanless enclosure, like a tablet or entry level laptop.
The system returned an adequate 1,496 points on the PCMark 8 Work Conventional test, measurably above the entry level Gateway ZX4270-UB31, but far below the Polywell i2304-i5 and other budget systems like the Maingear Spark. Likewise, the Zbox CI320 took a leisurely 7 minutes 22 seconds to complete our Handbrake video encoder test. It garnered a good Photoshop CS6 score (5:16), but on the whole the Zbox pays for its fanless quiet with less than stellar performance. That said, just about all of these other entry level systems cost up to or more than double the Zbox CI320's $250 price tag.
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Watching 720p and 1080p HD videos on the Zbox CI320 is a smooth experience, with very few dropped frames or stuttering. It seems that viewing streaming media is the system's forte. I think the Zbox CI320 is a better choice for video viewing than most Smart TVs, since streaming services like Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, and Netflix update their plug-ins for Windows much faster than they would for Smart TVs (if at all).
Unlike the Maingear Spark, however, the Zbox CI320 is ill suited for playing 3D games on an HDTV. I could only achieve single-digit frame rates on our gaming tests. Essentially, you don't want to play any games more complicated than Angry Birds on the system.
The Zotac Zbox CI320 nano Plus with Bing is a good attempt at creating a Windows PC for the same price as a Chromebox. It's competent enough to run Windows apps, albeit slower than other, more expensive entry-level systems. Though it costs twice the price, the Gateway DX4885-UR2D has more future proofing, including expansion room, better performance, and 10GB of system memory. The DX4885-UR2D holds on as our top pick for budget desktops, but keep the Zbox CI320 in mind if all you need is a simple PC that surfs the Internet and is more flexible, all while streaming video better than any Smart TV so far.
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