Zotac ZBox HD-ID34 mini-PC Review

Performance Analysis

There's not much to say about the performance, as the capacity of a dual-core Atom and basic 16-shader Nvidia graphics is pretty well documented. Whether it's a DDR2 or a DDR3 Atom makes very little difference in the real world. It's fast enough for simple web browsing and basic use, but obviously it doesn't handle multi-tasking or performance-heavy software well. We found the 2GB of memory included is enough for this kind of use.

One thing to make sure of is that the ZBox needs the right software to accelerate Blu-ray and other media, as the dual-core Atom hardware has trouble playing anything HD. The included Cyberlink PowerDVD bundle does that for Blu-ray discs, and Media Player Classic Home Cinema and VLC also have GPU acceleration for streaming and local playback of many other formats.


As expected, the included PowerDVD works fine to play Blu-ray discs (if you don't mind stereo audio), and the latest version of MPC-HC and VLC played everything 1080p we threw them. Only VLC displayed some issues with one of the H.264 clips, although it does state its use of GPU acceleration is experimental and the same clip played in MPC-HC just fine.

When left to idle we found the CPU sat at around 50^oC with the GPU at 65^oC in an ambient temp of 23^oC. This made the whole casing warm to touch, but at least the system was completely inaudible apart from the very faint hard drive ticking.

Fully loaded with Prime 95, the CPU barely hit 60^oC and even when we ran the STALKER: Call of Pripyat demo at low resolution (but with DirectX 10.1 enabled) the GPU only hit about 85^oC. Both are well within their thermal limit and just as importantly there was still virtually no noise the whole time. Again we literally had to pick it up and put our ear right to it to hear anything.

Conclusion

Zotac has made a beautifully neat little machine that isn't limited to only showing it's face, like so many other HTPC chassis. A stand to sit side on would be nice, but that's a wish not a complaint. What is missing is aremote control and built-in infrared port though. It seems crazy since Zotac went to the lengths to integrate the latest hardware such as USB 3, powered eSATA, 802.11n Wi-Fi and use a slot-loading Blu-ray player, then not have a remote!

Anyway, now the software for GPU acceleration has finally caught up, like other Ion net-tops it'll now play pretty much any video thrown at it, including HD Flash thanks to the 10.1 update. For XBMC lovers there's a whole thread about the ID33/34BR on their forums as well, and Nvidia has provided drivers for GPU acceleration in Linux for some time.

The advantage of a full PC system over one of the many streaming media players is that it's far easier to customise the operating system and use extra features (Hulu, BBC iPlayer) for example, but even so, to justify the Zotac HD-ID34BR over those cheaper media players or even a PS3, you've got to want the Blu-ray and freedom of full x86 hardware.

With an increasingly varied definition of home theatre hardware no one machine will ever fit the bill for everyone, so if the Zotac HD-ID34BR ticks all right boxes: low power, Nvidia GPU acceleration, inaudible running, fantastic looks for the living room and most importantly: software customisation - then do yourself a favour and grab one!

• Performance
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• -
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• 7/10

• Features
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• 9/10

• Value
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• -
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• 8/10

• Overall
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• -
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• 8/10

Score Guide