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Hardware

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

By Bill Detwiler October 11, 2010, 7:16 AM PDT on Twitter billdetwiler

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ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Cracking open the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

Cracking open the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11

The ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11 is a bare-bones, mini-PC that retails for around $250 (US). It’s available from several online retailers, including Amazon and Newegg. Depending on who you buy it from and which configuration you choose, it will likely ship without a hard drive or RAM. And, it definitely won’t come with an operating system.

Let’s take a look at the hardware inside this remarkably thin system.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

AC adapter and power cord

AC adapter and power cord

The ZBOX HD-ID11 uses an external 19V power supply.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Vertical stand

Vertical stand

This removable plastic stand allows you to position the ZBOX HD-ID11 vertically.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

VESA Mount

VESA Mount

Using this removable mount and the included mounting screws, you could affix the ZBOX HD-ID11 to the back of a monitor or television.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Top

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Top

The shinny, black panels on either side of the ZBOX’s case look great, but they are fingerprint magnets.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Bottom

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Bottom

Four rubber feet are located on the bottom panel of the ZBOX’s case–for use when the device sits flat. There is also an octagonal air intake vent.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Top edge

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Top edge

Along the top edge of the case is an exhaust vent for the ZBOX’s cooling fan and a USB port.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Bottom edge

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Bottom edge

Along the bottom edge are more air intake vents, two thumbscrews, and a slot for the vertical stand.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Front edge

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Front edge

Along the front edge of the ZBOX HD-ID11 are the headphone jack, microphone jack, multimedia card slot, USB port, indicator lights, and power button.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Back edge

ZBOX HD-ID11 - Back edge

Along the back edge of the ZBOX HD-ID11 are an eSATA port, four USB ports, Ethernet port, DVI port, HDMI port, optical audio port, power connector.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Using the vertical stand

Using the vertical stand

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Removing the bottom panel screws

Removing the bottom panel screws

Two external thumbscrews hold the bottom/back panel in place.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Plastic DVI port case block

Plastic DVI port case block

A small piece of plastic sits below the DVI port and can come loose once the bottom panel is removed.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Inside the ZBOX HD-ID11

Inside the ZBOX HD-ID11

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Warranty void if removed sticker

Warranty void if removed sticker

Although ZOTAC designed the ZBOX HD-ID11 to be opened, otherwise you couldn’t install the hard drive or RAM, they don’t want you removing the motherboard from the case. This “Warranty void if removed” stickers won’t last long as it’s hiding one of the motherboard screws.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Wireless antenna cables

Wireless antenna cables

Two thin gray wires connect the antenna to the wireless card. Be careful not to tear them when removing the motherboard.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Motherboard and case

Motherboard and case

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Motherboard with cooling fan - Front

Motherboard with cooling fan - Front

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Motherboard with cooling fan - Back

Motherboard with cooling fan - Back

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Wireless card antenna connectors

Wireless card antenna connectors

We’ll need to disconnect the two antenna cables from the ZBOX’s wireless card.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Wireless card screws

Wireless card screws

Two Phillips #0 screws hold the wireless card to the motherboard.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

AzureWave AW-NE785 Wireless Module - Bottom

AzureWave AW-NE785 Wireless Module - Bottom

The ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11 uses an AzureWAVe 802.11 n/g/b Wireless Mini PCI-Express Module.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

AzureWave AW-NE785 Wireless Module - Top

AzureWave AW-NE785 Wireless Module - Top

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Hard drive clamp

Hard drive clamp

A plastic clamp can be tightened with this thumbscrew to hold the hard drive in place.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Hard drive clamp screws

Hard drive clamp screws

Two Philips #1 screws hold the hard drive clamp to the motherboard.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Hard drive clamp removed

Hard drive clamp removed

With the screws removed, the clamp comes free from the motherboard.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Cooling fan and heat sink

Cooling fan and heat sink

We’ll need to remove the cooling fan and heat sink to see the CPU and GPU beneath.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Cooling fan and heat sink screws

Cooling fan and heat sink screws

Five, spring-loaded Phillips screws hold the cooling fan and heat sink in place.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Cooling fan and heat sink - Top

Cooling fan and heat sink - Top

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Cooling fan and heat sink - Bottom

Cooling fan and heat sink - Bottom

Along the bottom of the heat sink is a thermal pad for the CPU and some residual thermal paste for the GPU and a second Intel chip.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Motherboard - Front

Motherboard - Front

with the cooling fan and heat sink removed, we get our first look at the three large chips beneath.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Motherboard - Back

Motherboard - Back

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Genesys Logic GL850A Low Power USB 2.0 Hub Controller

Genesys Logic GL850A Low Power USB 2.0 Hub Controller

Genesys Logic GL850A Low Power USB 2.0 Hub Controller

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Realtek RTM875N-606

Realtek RTM875N-606

Although I was unable to find a data sheet for this chip (markings RTM875N-606) on Realtek’s site, it is likely a clock generator.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Realtek ALC888 Audio Codec and RTS5158E

Realtek ALC888 Audio Codec and RTS5158E

The ZBOX HD-ID11 uses a Realtek ALC888 7.1+2 Channel High Definition Audio Codec and Realtek RTS5158E chip, which is likely the controller for the multimedia card reader.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Winbond W631GG6JB-12 Graphics DRAM

Winbond W631GG6JB-12 Graphics DRAM

The ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11 has four Winbond W631GG6JB-12 Graphics DRAM chips.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Nuvoton NCT5571D LPC Super I/O integrated circuit

Nuvoton NCT5571D LPC Super I/O integrated circuit

According to Nuvoton documentation, the NCT5571D LPC Super I/O integrated circuit “supports serial port interface, PS/2 interface, GPIO, hardware monitoring functions, Intel PECI and AMD SB-TSI.”

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Intel Atom D510 1.66 GHz Dual Core CPU

Intel Atom D510 1.66 GHz Dual Core CPU

Our ZBOX HD-ID11 has an Intel NM10 Express chipset, that consists of a Pinetail Atom D510 1.66 GHz Dual Core CPU (shown here) and a southbridge chip (shown in the next photo).

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

NVIDIA ION 2 (GT218-ION-A3) GPU

NVIDIA ION 2 (GT218-ION-A3) GPU

Our ZBOX HD-ID11 has an NVIDIA ION 2 (GT218-ION-A3) GPU.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Texas Instruments CD4060BM

Texas Instruments CD4060BM

This Texas Instruments chip with markings 05A5GHM CD4060BM G4 is likely a CMOS 14-Stage Ripple-Carry Binary Counter/Divider and Oscillator.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

Realtek RTL8111D(L) Integrated Gigabit Ethernet Controller

Realtek RTL8111D(L) Integrated Gigabit Ethernet Controller

Just below the Ethernet jack (shown in this photo with the markings “UDE” ) is the Realtek RTL8111D(L) Integrated Gigabit Ethernet Controller for PCI Express Applications.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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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.
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