Hardware

ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown

By · October 10, 2010, 11:15 PM PST · billdetwiler

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  • 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

  • Box - Front

    The ZBOX HD-ID11 uses NVIDIA ION and Intel Atom architectures.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Box - Back

    As the illustrations on the back of the box indicate, ZOTAC is marketing the ZBOX as a computer that's perfect for the living room, kitchen, or bedroom.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Opening the box

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Box contents

    Inside the box, you'll find the ZBOX HD-ID11, a vertical stand, a VESA mount (attached the ZBOX in this photo), mount screws, a DVI-to-VGA adapter, AC adapter and power cord, driver CD, and product documentation.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • AC adapter and power cord

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Vertical stand

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Using the vertical stand

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the bottom panel screws

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the bottom panel

    With the two thumbscrews removed, you can easily slide the bottom panel forward and then lift it away from the case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • First look inside

    With the bottom panel removed, we get our first look inside the ZBOX HD-ID11. As I noted earlier, this unit did not ship with a hard drive or RAM.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • Inside the ZBOX HD-ID11

    Notice the large space for the hard drive at the bottom of the case and the RAM slot to the left of the cooling fan. There are four Phillips #1 screws that hold the motherboard to the case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • Connector

    Before removing the motherboard, we'll need to disconnect this cable.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Lifting the motherboard away from the case

    Once the screws are removed and cable disconnected, you can lift the ZBOX's motherboard away from the case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • Motherboard and case

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Nearly empty case

    With the motherboard removed, there's not much left in the case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motherboard with cooling fan - Front

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motherboard with cooling fan - Back

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • Wireless card screws

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the wireless card

    With the screws removed, the wireless card will pop up from the motherboard.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • AzureWave AW-NE785 Wireless Module - Top

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • 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

  • Hard drive clamp removed

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • 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

  • Cooling fan and heat sink - Top



    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • 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

  • Motherboard - Back

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Intel CG82NM10 southbridge chip

    The Intel CG82NM10 southbridge chip handles the ZBOX's hard drive and external ports.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • System battery

    The ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11 uses a 3V CR2032 Li-ion system battery.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Completely disassembled

    The ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11 mini-PC was a snap to disassemble. The computer has an easy-open case and uses standard Phillips screws to secure its internal components. I can't wait to get it back together and up and running.

    I'll be using it for an upcoming article on building a living room computer.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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
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By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the ...

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