ZOTAC ZBOX $250 mini-PC teardown
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Using the vertical stand
Using the vertical stand
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
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
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
Inside the ZBOX HD-ID11
Inside the ZBOX HD-ID11
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
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
Motherboard and case
Motherboard and case
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Motherboard with cooling fan - Front
Motherboard with cooling fan - Front
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Motherboard with cooling fan - Back
Motherboard with cooling fan - Back
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
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
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
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
AzureWave AW-NE785 Wireless Module - Top
AzureWave AW-NE785 Wireless Module - Top
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
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
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
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
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
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
Cooling fan and heat sink - Top
Cooling fan and heat sink - Top
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
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
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
Motherboard - Back
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
Genesys Logic GL850A Low Power USB 2.0 Hub Controller
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
