If you thought the upcoming ZBOX ZOTAC PI320 mini PC powered by Intel Bay-Trail-T Atom Z3735F quad core processor was nice and small (and powerful), but at $199, a little pricey, MINIX NEO Z64 may be what you are looking for. On On the outside, NEO Z64 looks very much like the company’s NEO X8 Android TV Box, but inside it’s powered by the same Z3735F processor with 2GB RAM, and 32GB eMMC, and it’s is expected to sell for just $129.
MINIX NEO Z64 specifications:
- SoC – Intel Atom Z3735F “Bay Trail” quad core processor @ 1.33 GHz (Burst freq up to 1.83 GHz) and Intel HD Graphics
- System Memory – 2GB DDR3L
- Storage – 32GB eMMC flash + micro SD slot
- Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11n + Bluetooth 4.0
- Video Output – HDMI
- Audio Output – Analog Stereo output, HDMI
- USB – 2x USB 2.0
- Misc – Power button, IR receiver
- Power Supply – 5V/3A
- Dimensions – 13.5 x 12.5 x 2.5 cm (based on MINIX NEO X8 dimensions)
The system will support either Android 4.4 (pre-installed), or Windows 8.1 (optional) operating systems, and will be sold with power supply, and a IR remote control. It will also support XBMC out of the box, but for x86 platform it’s sort of expected. Contrary to my initial belief when I posted about ZOTAC PI320, it may not be that simple to install Linux on the platform, as it’s unclear whether any Bay Trail-T platforms are currently fully supported.
The $129 price tag, if true, if about the same price as their NEO X8 powered by Amlogic S802 quad core processor, which should have much less CPU power, less storage (8 vs 32GB), but possibly better multimedia capabilities (TBC). For example, the latter comes with optical S/PDIF output which lacks in the Intel version.
Via AndroidPC.es and Fudzilla
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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It is not very efficient at the VPU :
Decoding MPEG2, H.264/AVC, VC-1
Encoding : H.264/AVC MPEG2
However, it may be well for the office.
@Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) Don’t mind post from people who can’t google. Users do run Linux on top of these devices, google Asus T100 and Dell Venue 8 Pro. From what I read graphics and vaapi does works on the T100 also audio but not on the Venue (though the last post on this is quite old). I will add that both using Z3775 (Z3775D for the Venue). And the user that compared Linux to Windows in regards to the state of audio passthrough is clearly not aware that the with the Nuc N2820 passthrough works in the former but not… Read more »
@dhead666
My mistake: Venue uses Z3740D while T100 Z3775.
Me need linux in this 🙂
@dhead666
I dropped the comma:
“graphics and vaapi does works, on the T100 also audio but not on the Venue”
I doubt the minix will retail for this price but we always get cheaper versions from other manufacturers for a lot less. It’s just important for the trend to start and for Intel SOCs to catch on.
The new Intel SOCs will surely give ARM some serious trouble and they’re much more flexible due in part to the good state of Intel open source support.
Some other Intel based boards & boxes:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Intel-Quad-Core-Z3735F-Z375G-Windows8_2018492991.html
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/windows-mini-pc-intel-baytrail-4_2017950273.html
Windows 8.1 (optional) OS on 2 GB Ram Single Channel (maximum for Atom Z3735F) … really ?? LOL
Looks interesting !
About the price… straight from the horse’s mouth (http://www.minixforum.com/threads/minix-neo-z64-intel-bay-trail.650/#post-4848):
We are still finalizing pricing at the moment. The quoted US$129 price is just speculation.
It will certainly be priced under US$150, though.
@Jibril
Seems like… omg
Intel Atom Processor Z3735F (2M Cache, up to 1.83 GHz) spec:
http://ark.intel.com/products/80274/Intel-Atom-Processor-Z3735F-2M-Cache-up-to-1_83-GHz
Video of MINIX NEO Z64
Did this ever come out, or is it vapour?