Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Cloud
  • 5G
  • Big Data
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Cloud
  • 5G
  • Big Data
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
Hardware

Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

By Bill Detwiler November 14, 2010, 11:25 PM PST on Twitter billdetwiler

Image
1
of 8

DSC_0003-1200x800.jpg
DSC_0003-1200x800.jpg
Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

Components for our living room PC

Components for our living room PC

Steve Jobs doesn’t think most people want a computer on their TVs. But, I’m not most people. I want the a complete PC experience on my TV. I want to be able to watch anything on the Web, play the latest games, and run common PC applications on my big, living room TV.

If you’re in this boat, you should take a serious look at the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11, which I reviewed as part of our Geek Gifts 2010 series.

As, the HD-ID11 is a bare-bones box, some assembly is required. And there are some serious visibility issues you’ll need to consider when using it on a big TV. I’ll walk you through the assembly process and my experience using the HD-ID11 in my living room.

I used the following parts to build our living room PC:

  • ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11
  • Seagate 250GB 7200RPM HDD
  • 2GB DDR2 RAM
  • Microsoft Arc wireless keyboard
  • Microsoft Mobile Mouse 6000
  • LG Electronics 42LH50 LCD TV (not shown)

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

Installing the ZOTAC ZBOX's hard drive

Installing the ZOTAC ZBOX's hard drive

The first step in the process of creating our living room PC is installing the hard drive and RAM in the ZBOX HD-ID11.

Installing the hard drive is a snap. Remove the HD-ID11’s case cover, which is held on with two thumbscrews. Remove the hard drive clamp screw, insert the drive, reattached the clamp, and tighten the screw.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

Installing the ZOTAC ZBOX's RAM

Installing the ZOTAC ZBOX's RAM

With the hard drive installed, I then installed the 2GB of RAM. The HD-ID11 as a single 200-pin DDR2 SO-DIMM slot.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

Microsoft Mobile Mouse 6000

Microsoft Mobile Mouse 6000

As this system will be used in a living room, I wanted to use a wireless keyboard and mouse. For the mouse, I went with a Microsoft Mobile Mouse 6000.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

Microsoft Arc wireless keyboard - Top

Microsoft Arc wireless keyboard - Top

I intend to use this system for tasks that require lots of typing. I therefore, wanted a full size keyboard. But, one that wasn’t very large. The Microsoft Arc keyboard fit the bill.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

Microsoft Arc wireless keyboard - Front

Microsoft Arc wireless keyboard - Front

The Microsoft Arc keyboard is extremely thin for a full-size keyboard.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

Installing the operating system

Installing the operating system

After installing all the hardware, it was time to install the operating system. The HD-ID11 doesn’t have an optical drive. I used an external optical drive to install the OS. You could also use a flash drive.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

Windows desktop

Windows desktop

I set the Windows display magnification at 200 percent, so the icons would be visible from across the room. Now let’s try it with

Note: I apologize for the the camera flash. I was shooting without a tripod.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

  • Hardware
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

    Your email has been sent

Share: Build a living room PC with the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11
Image of Bill Detwiler
By Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.
  • Account Information

    Contact Bill Detwiler

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Bill's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Checklist: Network and systems security

    Cybersecurity demands and the stakes of failing to properly secure systems and networks are high. While every organization’s specific security needs form a unique and complex blend of interconnected requirements, numerous security fundamentals almost always apply to each of these groups. It stands to reason that cybersecurity pros who effectively identify network and systems risks ...

    Published:  June 1, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 2, 2023, 7:48 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    How to host multiple websites on Linux with Apache

    In this guide from TechRepublic Premium we’re going to explore the various things you can do with a Linux server. We won’t leave out any steps, so you won’t have to refer to another tutorial to complete the process. The only step we will leave out is the installation of Linux, as we’ll assume you ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 31, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 1, 2023, 7:45 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    How to deploy an application with Kubernetes

    If you want to deploy applications into a Kubernetes cluster, be warned — it’s not the easiest task. There are a lot of moving pieces that go into these scalable containers. Don’t you wish you had a complete roadmap, from start to finish, to walk you through the process of deploying the Kubernetes cluster, deploying ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 31, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 1, 2023, 7:51 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Cross-training tool kit

    The more flexibility you can create in your technology workforce, the better you’ll be equipped to manage tomorrow, whatever the future brings. Too often, we focus on helping our teams become technical specialists who know volumes about a single technology, but quickly lose sight of how that technology connects with others. This makes their skills ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 30, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  May 31, 2023, 4:50 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice