Voyo V3 mini PC Unboxing and Teardown

Voyo V3 is one of the first Intel Atom x7-Z8700 based mini PC announced so far, comes with 4GB RAM, and a 128 GB SSD. It was announced at the very beginning of the year, at the time it was not shipping yet. The good news is that the device is now available, as GearBest sent me one sample for review. I’ll start by checkout the hardware inside and out today, before publishing a full review in a few days. Voyo V3 Unboxing I’ve received the computer in its retail packaging. Everything is in Chinese, and the model is called MiniPC-Box_V3. A 12V/2A power supply, mini HDMI to HDMI cable (80 cm), a warranty card, a “qualified certificate”, and MiniPC-Box_V3 user’s manual are also included in the package. There’s something different with the power supply: it features a USB Type-C connector since that’s what the box is powered with. Voyo […]

Congatec Introduces Intel Atom x5-E8000 Thin mini-ITX Board, COM Express & QSeven Modules

Following Intel’s announcement of their new Atom x5-E8000 quad core processor with 5W TDP/4W SDP and 7-year availability earlier today, Congatec published a press release for four new platforms based on the processor with conga-QA4 Qseven module, conga-MA4 COM Express Mini & conga-TCA4 COM Express Compact modules, as well as conga-IA4 industrial-grade Thin Mini-ITX board. All four products are actually variation of existing Braswell platforms, but Intel Atom x5-E8000 brings 64-bit computing even cheaper thanks to its $39 recommended customer price. So I’ll just look at the QSeven module specifications in details: SoC – Intel Atom x5-E8000 quad core “Braswell” processor @ 1.04 GHz / 2.00 GHz (Burst) with 2MB L2 cache, and Intel HD Gen8 graphics @ 320 MHz; 5 W TDP. System Memory – Up to 8GB onboard DDR3L with 1600 MT/s On-board Storage – Up to eMMC 4.5.1 onboard flash  (optional), 8 MB serial SPI firmware flash […]

MINIX NGC-1 Review and Benchmarks with Windows 10 Home

MINIX NGC-1 mini PC is powered by an Intel Celeron N3150 quad core “Braswell” processor with 4GB RAM and a 128GB M.2SSD, and pre-loaded with Windows 10 Home. While the product aims to provide a convenient alternative to Intel NUC kits, as everything is pre-assembled and pre-installed, I’ll also compare the experience to Bay Trail and Cherry Trail mini PCs such as MeLE PCG03 or Tronsmart Ara X5. I’ve already provided NGC-1 specifications and some pictures, so today, I’ll test the capabilities of the device, and run some benchmarks in the review. MINIX NGC-1 Setup Once you’ve connected a USB keyboard and mouse, and the power supply, you are ready to start. Press the power button, the blue power will lit on the front of the device, and you’ll hear a beep and the very first time system will boot to Windows 10 setup screen where you’ll be asked to […]

K3 Wintel Keyboard PC Specs, Unboxing and Teardown

K3_Keyboard_PC_Power_Supply_Users_Manual

Keyboard computers have made a – rather quiet – comeback with products like PiPo K1 and T20 keyboard PCs running Windows 10 and/or Android 4.4, and Geekbuying has now sent me another model with K3 Wintel keyboard PC powered by an Intel Atom Z3735F processor with 2GB RAM and 32GB eMMC flash. I’ll go through the specifications first, before taking pictures of the keyboard and tearing it down to see how it has been made. K3 Keyboard computer specifications The hardware specifications are similar to other Bay Trail mini PCs and sticks except for the added keyboard: SoC – Intel Atom Z3735F “Bay Trail” quad core processor @ 1.33 GHz / 1.83 GHz (Turbo) with Intel HD graphics System Memory – 2 GB LPDDR3L Storage – 32 GB eMMC + micro SD card slot Keyboard – 76-key keyboard with touchpanel Video Output – HDMI 1.4, and VGA Audio I/F – […]

How to Check CPU Throttling in Windows 10 or Windows 11

HWiNFO64_CPU_Throttling

Recent processors all have the ability to adjust the operating frequency to either decrease power consumption or make sure the processor does not overheat. That’s why for example Intel processors have a maximum junction temperature (Tj max) so that if this temperature is reached the processor can slow down (throttle) to cool things off and avoid damaging itself. That also explains why computers with the same processor, storage, and memory may have greatly different performance under load depending on their thermal design. I’m currently testing a fanless mini PC with an Intel Celeron N3150 Braswell processor, and yesterday I noticed the frequency would be stuck at 0.22 GHZ (yes, that’s 220 MHz) at all times, even when starting the web browser and loading long web pages. It was very slow, and I had a few “windows not responding” in the process. I checked the metal box temperature with an IR […]

EyeTV NetStream Streams Free-to-Air Digital TV to Any Devices at Home

A few months ago, I wrote about TBS AMD Moi Pro streaming server supporting up to 16 tuners  and mostly targeting businesses, but I’ve also found out there are some consumers solutions such as Elgato EyeTV NetStream 4Sat that includes four antenna inputs for your satellite dish (DVB-S2/S), and the ability to stream live TV to any devices, using hardware video transcoding if need be, for example to Android or iOS smartphones. Versions with DVB-T2 and ATSC will soon be available. EyeTV NetStream 4Sat specifications: Tuners 4x satellite inputs: F connector for RG-6/U coaxial satellite cable DVB-S2 / DVB-S Digital Universal LNB: Single, Twin/Dual, Quad or Quattro Unicable Integrated multiswitch DiSEqC 1.0 Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports Misc – Reset button, power switch Power Supply – DC 12V 3A Dimensions – 25 x 12.6 x 4.1 cm (suitable for wall-mounting) Weight – 806 grams […]

AAEON BOXER-6404 Bay Trail Embedded Computer Comes with 4 GbE Ports, 2 HDMI Outputs

AAEON has recently launched BOXER-6404 embedded box PC suitable to industrial application, powered by Intel Celeron J1900 “Bay Trail-D” or Celeron N2807 “Bay Trail-M” processor, with up to 8GB RAM, a CFast slot, four Gigabit Ethernet ports, and to HDMI outputs. BOXER-6404 mini PC specifications: SoC Intel Celeron J1900 quad core processor @ 2.0 /  2.42 GHz with Intel HD graphics (10W TDP) OR Intel Celeron N2807 dual core processor @ 1.58 / 2.16 GHz with Intel HD graphics (5W TDP) System Memory – 1x 204-pin DDR3L SODIMM slot for up to 4GB RAM with N2807), and up to 8GB RAM with J1900 Storage – CFast Slot Video and Audio Output – 1x or 2x HDMI ports Connectivity –  2x or 4x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports USB – 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB 3.0 port Serial – 1x RS232 DB9 port Expansion – 1x mini card with USB interface […]

Unboxing of MINIX NGC-1 Windows 10 Edition mini PC

This morning I’ve received MINIX NGC-1 Intel Braswell fanless mini PC, so I’ve taken a few pictures of the device and its accessories, before starting testing the performance and reliability of this low power computer. Contrary to the black, gray and green packages I’ve come across for their Android TV box, MINIX has gone blue with their latest Intel mini PC’s package. The product announcements mentioned both Windows 10 and Ubuntu support,  and I’ve received the Windows 10 Edition, which hopefully means there will also be a Ubuntu edition. Beside the mini PC, the package includes two external WiFi antenna, an HDMI cable, a 12V/3A power supply and corresponding power cord, as well as a multi-language setup guide, and MINIX product brochure. The power supply should work anywhere in the world as it takes 100-240V/1A input @ 50 or 60 Hz. NGC-1 is very similar to the one used for […]

EmbeddedTS embedded systems design