What is a nettop? Best budget solution: Asus Chromebox.

We are looking for the best way video playback

Many readers have probably thought about how to “teach” their TV to play media files (movies in various “Internet” formats, music, photos...), as well as play video content from the Internet. After all, even if you have a Blu-ray/DVD player, you don’t always want to buy a disc - sometimes it’s easier to download the movie you’re interested in from the Internet. Yes, and videos from YouTube are more pleasant to watch big TV than on the monitor screen.

Until recently, this problem was solved by purchasing a media player or HTPC. Today the range of possible solutions is much wider.

1. Firstly, most modern TVs have a USB input and allow you to play media files from it; many manufacturers also equip their TVs with Internet capabilities;
2. Secondly, most Blu-ray/DVD players, which cost from 3,000 rubles, can be used as media players;
3. Thirdly, mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) equipped with an HDMI output and allowing Full HD video to be output to an external screen are becoming increasingly common;
4. Finally, there remain the “classic” options in the form of a media player, HTPC or nettop. The advantage of nettops is that they can be used and how low-power computer, that is, install any x86-compatible OS and software, connect peripherals, etc. Unless optical drive they don't have it, but it's not really necessary these days. On the other hand, nettops have an obvious disadvantage in the form of price and the need for configuration (installing the OS, downloading codecs, etc.). In turn, among media players in Lately Models with Android have begun to appear, which makes such devices a good alternative to the same nettops.

To find out what the solution is would be better suited to play media files and watch video content from the Internet, we decided to carry out practical testing number of devices using our standard set of video files used in testing mobile devices. We also assessed ease of use and ease of setup. And in the case of Internet devices, the ability and convenience of playing video from the Internet.

The main set of devices looked like this:

• Media player iconBIT Toucan Smart based on Google Android OS;

The last two names are not the newest models, but in price they are quite close to the budget media player iconBIT, and their components are quite popular, so the results we obtained will be valid for a very wide range of similar devices that are widely represented in stores today.

Well, to understand whether you need to buy anything additional to play media files if you have a TV and a player, we also added the budget Philips BDP2600/51 Blu-ray player and the LG 37 LK430 LCD TV. Of course, such a comparison cannot be considered representative, but it can convince (or, conversely, dissuade) us that we cannot rely only on a Blu-ray player and TV for such tasks.

We emphasize that we are not talking about full testing of the above devices. Our goal is to find out how they cope with a certain range of tasks and which of them is more appropriate to buy (or not to buy) to solve these particular problems.

It is also obvious that these devices are not interchangeable (say, a Blu-ray player will not replace a nettop - and vice versa). And for some of them, video playback functions (including from the Internet) are additional, not basic. All this will be taken into account in the comparison. But first, let's briefly describe our heroes.

iconBIT Toucan Smart

iconBIT Toucan Smart is a representative of the Toucan line of mini-PCs (as the manufacturer itself positions them). A special feature of the models in this line is the use of the full Google Android OS. We have already tested one of the “toucans” - Toucan W. Toucan Smart can be called its successor.

Feature of Toucan Smart (besides Android) - support HDMI interface 1.4. Also worth noting is the unusual design: from the back to the front, the player increases in height. That is, the front panel is wider than the back (where most of the connectors are located). It probably doesn't add much in terms of functionality, but it looks unusual. In addition, the front panel is metal. This also adds originality to the appearance.

The location of the connectors is as follows: on the back we see a power connector, composite audio/video output, HDMI, LAN (for connecting an Ethernet cable), two USB hosts and an optical output. Another USB host, as well as an SD/SDHC memory card slot, is located on the left side of the device. The lack of a component output, which was on the Toucan W, is confusing, but apparently it is assumed that HDMI will be enough for the user.

In May, two new firmwares for Toucan Smart became available: one firmware offers an interface more familiar to TV, the other offers the standard Android Launcher.

Firmware

The firmware is updated as follows: download the required firmware from the manufacturer’s website, unpack the zip file, open the PDF manual and then follow the instructions step by step (given in Russian). There is only one caveat: to update you will need a blank SD card (or microSD with an adapter to SD), an adapter from SD to USB, and a computer with Windows control XP or Windows 7 (what should owners do? Apple computers or Linux users - not reported).

The general procedure is as follows: run the utility from the archive, then use this utility to unpack the firmware from the image to the SD card. When the SD card is ready, insert it into the switched off Toucan Smart and turn it on. The firmware process is automatic and takes about two minutes. When it's finished, you'll need to reboot and initial setup system, and after that install one apk package from the archive and click the Patch button in it. That's it, the flashing process will be completed. For an enthusiast and gadget lover - nothing complicated, but for a beginner or a simple home user You will be confused by the non-obvious procedure and the need for such accessories (not always found in households) such as, say, an adapter from SD to USB.

Interface

Let's move on to studying the interface. In the TV interface we see five large icons: Applications, Settings, Favorites, Media Player and Browser. Everything here is clear without words.

As for the Android interface, its main screen looks different. There are three icons on the bottom bar (Browser, Applications and Settings) and four icons at the top, below the Google search bar. These are Market, File Manager, Music Player and Super-HD Player. Obviously, the Android interface is more suitable if you are going to connect a mouse and keyboard to the media player, and the TV interface is more convenient for navigation using the remote control.

Now let's talk about pre-installed applications. Actually, this set is limited to those listed above, with the exception of mail application Gmail not present on the home screen. Obviously, the standard (usual for tablets and smartphones) delivery lacks YouTube and Gallery. But YouTube can be installed from the Market (as can any other applications, although some of them may not be compatible). And it is suggested to use Super-HD Player as a tool for viewing photos. As it turned out, it was not in vain: viewing pictures with its help is really very convenient.

As already mentioned, the iconBIT Toucan Smart has three USB ports. So you can connect both an external drive and peripherals. The mouse and keyboard are recognized perfectly and are very convenient to use (although there is also a remote control that can be used to perform basic operations).

A few words about the disadvantage of Android on a media player. Firstly, Android 2.x icons were not intended for large screens, so they lack detail (even at 1080p resolution). In general, Android 2 was not distinguished by its aesthetics, and in this format this is especially striking. Therefore, we are waiting for the Toucan Smart firmware update to Android 4.x Ice Cream Sandwich (the manufacturer promises to release it this summer).

Besides, I didn't really like working with mail client Gmail. The interface is inconvenient. For example, you have to attach files to a letter one at a time, that is, you cannot select several files at once and attach them to the letter all together (at least, we have not found how to solve this problem).

Hardware configuration

The media player is powered by the Allwinner A10 system-on-chip, just like the iconBIT NetTAB Matrix tablet. SoC includes one processor ARM core Cortex-A8, operating, according to the manufacturer, at a frequency of 1.2 GHz, as well as graphics accelerator Mali-400MP. But the amount of RAM is less than that of the tablet - 512 MB. The capacity of the built-in flash memory is 4 GB. Not much, but given the ability to connect memory cards and storage devices, this doesn’t seem like a big problem.

We tried installing our standard benchmarks to check the device's performance, but most of them did not work correctly or did not start at all. Results were achieved only in GeekBench 2 and SuperPi. In the first benchmark, the media player scored 341 points - more than Matrix. And SuperPi was completed in 1062.851 seconds. By tablet standards - not the best best result, but, on the other hand, this is still pure “synthetics”, and it’s hardly worth drawing any conclusions from this.

Playing video

Now we come to the most important part of our research: playing video files. The set of test files includes video in MKV container different resolutions and bitrates (up to BD-remix 1080p with a bitrate of 39 Mbit/s), as well as with audio tracks encoded in different codecs and with subtitles.

The playback results are shown in the table.

So, with absolutely all the files from our test set the player did it. Let us recall that among mobile devices only a tablet from the same manufacturer, iconBIT NetTAB Matrix, demonstrated such a result.

As for Internet video, by installing YouTube app, you will have the opportunity to very conveniently watch videos from this popular service, and high resolution is supported and does not cause the slightest difficulty for the media player.

The general impression of iconBIT Toucan Smart is the following: I still wouldn’t position it as a mini-PC. The limitations of the Android operating system, which is still oriented towards touch control, do not allow full work with Toucan. That is, let’s say, you can play a little, and you can also do some small things (for example, read letters or go to one or two websites). But the main purpose of Toucan Smart is video playback. And here he demonstrates truly excellent results. Firstly, it is practically omnivorous. Even the most inconveniently encoded or resource-demanding videos run on it without problems. Secondly, the user will not have to look for any third-party players, will not have to configure anything, etc. The pre-installed Super-HD Player copes with its tasks perfectly, using hardware acceleration, picking up subtitles and providing other necessary functionality. We were also pleased with the ability to watch HD videos from YouTube, but the YouTube application itself will have to be installed independently.

Now let's get acquainted with the other two main characters of our testing.

Foxconn Netbox nT535

Before you consider specific model, we will describe the fundamental differences between nettops and media players like Toucan Smart. Firstly, nettops are built on processors with x86 architecture, while media players are based on ARM. Thus, nettops are closer in configuration to netbooks, and media players are closer to tablets. Another big difference is that nettops are often supplied as “semi-finished products”, that is, to work with them you need to purchase some additional components and/or an operating system. On the one hand, this gives much greater flexibility: if you want an SSD instead of an HDD, please! Increase RAM - no problem. Installing some extravagant build of Linux instead of Windows is also possible. But, on the other hand, all this may alienate those users who do not consider themselves enthusiasts and would like to start using the device for its intended purpose immediately after purchase, rather than spending two days setting it up.

As a matter of fact, a logical conclusion follows from this: a nettop is a solution primarily for enthusiasts, while a media player is suitable for users who prefer the Apple philosophy of “plug and play.”

At the same time, of course, the range of possible uses of nettops is much wider than that of media players. A nettop, for example, can become the basis office computer- weak, of course, but to work with mail, surf the web and create documents, nothing more is required. Theoretically, the same thing can be done using a media player (after all, we work on tablets with mail, documents, etc.), but the ergonomics will be completely different. Therefore, when choosing the type of device (nettop or media player), the buyer still needs to decide what exactly he wants to ultimately get: expanded functionality of his TV or a low-power compact computer. In this case, we are primarily interested in a specific feature: video playback (including Internet video). Therefore, we will not conduct full testing of nettop performance, focusing on the practical side of the issue that interests us.

Configuration and Design

So, the configuration of Foxconn Netbox nT535 is as follows: dual-core Intel processor Atom D525 1.8 GHz (Hyper-Threading supported), Intel NM10 Express chipset, integrated Intel graphics GMA 3150 plus hardware high-definition video decoder Chrontel CH7036. Of course, there is a built-in Wi-Fi module and Gigabit Ethernet.

There is a bay for a 2.5-inch hard drive and a slot for one SO-DIMM DDR3-800 RAM module (up to 4 GB) - the user will have to buy them themselves.

The nettop has a rectangular shape, the body is made of glossy black plastic, the corners are slightly rounded. There is a stand that allows you to install the nettop vertically.

The situation with the connectors is as follows: on the front side there are two USB port, SD memory card slot, microphone and headphone/speaker jacks, speaker, as well as on/off and sleep mode buttons. On the rear panel we see a power connector, another 3.5 mm jack with audio output, LAN, HDMI, D-Sub and four USB ports. You can screw an antenna on top to improve Wi-Fi reception (the antenna is included in the kit; but together with it, the nettop looks like a large router).

The design is worth praising for the presence of as many as six USB ports (including the front one - this is convenient for connecting external drives), but the main disadvantage (from the point of view of the device for home theater) I would say the lack of digital audio output. Because it turns out that multi-channel audio can only be output via HDMI.

But with an HDMI connection, an unpleasant surprise awaited us. Even after installing all the drivers from the included CD, the nettop displayed the image on a Full HD monitor only in a resolution of 1366x768. And no settings helped fix this and achieve the desired 1920x1080. Just in case, we tried installing two different Linux distributions - Ubuntu 11.10 and Linux Mint 12 (they should set the resolution correctly without any additional drivers).

But the situation with them was similar. As it turned out, the problem is with the Intel GMA 3150. This GPU allows, when connected via digital, to transmit video only with a resolution of 1366x768 (or lower, but not higher). Keep this in mind when choosing a nettop!

The resolution situation makes it unlikely to use the Foxconn Netbox nT535 nettop as a media player (well, unless you have a small TV with a resolution of 1366x768 or less). However, we still decided to check the playback of video files.

Playing video

In order for the files to be read, we needed to install the K-Lite Codec codec package Pack version 8.8.0 Standard. Files played on Windows Media Player.

In general, the result should be considered quite good, although it is still worse than that of the formally weaker iconBIT Toucan Smart. In addition, Windows Media Player was unable to play subtitles embedded in some files. But I was able to do it VLC Player(version 2.0.1), but it had its own problem - with hardware video decoding. As a result, we received more or less correct playback only on videos of 720p and smaller, but VLC Player did not handle all Full HD videos.

As for the performance of such a solution in general, it was studied in detail in articles about the Atom D525 ( and ). We will limit ourselves to the Windows performance rating.

For this device it was defined as 3.1. The screenshot shows that, first of all, the graphic part let us down.

Zotac ZBox-AD02

Zotac nettops and barebones have already come under our review (see articles about ZBox HD ND-22 and ZBox Nano), and from those materials you can get a fairly complete picture of the devices in this series.

ZBox-AD02 today can be bought for about 7,000 rubles, but, as in the case of Foxconn Netbox nT535, you will have to additionally spend money on a 2.5-inch hard drive, RAM and an operating system. However, the last expense remains at the discretion of the user - you can install a free OS (which, by the way, we will definitely do).

Before we talk about the design of the ZBox, I would like to note its packaging. It is very massive (almost like a laptop) and at the same time solid, dense, and beautiful. Inside, in addition to the device itself, we found a stand for it (apparently, it is needed primarily to improve air circulation), user manuals, and an adapter from DVI to D-Sub. Such pleasant little things create a good impression of the product as a whole.

ZBox itself looks quite bulky when compared with the same Foxconn Netbox nT535. The design seems boring, but only until you turn on the device. Then a bright green ring lights up on the glossy black plastic surface - and the ZBox immediately becomes original.

If we talk about the functional features of the design, then it is worth noting, first of all, the presence DVI connectors, optical audio output S/PDIF and even eSATA.

And this is all in addition to the obvious HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone output, microphone input, and USB (six in number, two of which comply with the 3.0 standard).

In terms of connectors, the ZBox is better equipped than the two devices reviewed above.

OS installation and video playback

Now it's time to install the OS. First, install Linux Mint 12 (64-bit version). Everything goes well, the system installs without problems. The “correct” 1920×1080 image is displayed on the screen connected to the nettop via HDMI. But at the first launch, the OS tells us that it is advisable to install proprietary ATI/AMD drivers for the graphics subsystem.

An attempt to do without this quickly convinces us that we will still have to install them - otherwise even Internet video standard definition slows down. We install one of the two drivers, try to install the second one (which is called a post-release update) - and get an error. The first driver crashes. We repeat the procedure without touching the second driver, reboot - and we see a completely unacceptable image, smaller in size than the screen, and also with distorted fonts (everything was fine with them before installing the driver!). To understand whose fault it is, we try to install Ubuntu 11.10 (64-bit version). And on it the situation is repeated almost exactly (including an error with the second driver and a shrunken screen), except for the problem with fonts. That is, it’s the drivers, not the OS or even the desktop (in the case of Linux Mint, Gnome was used, and Ubuntu 11.10 comes with Unity).

As it turns out, the screen can be adjusted using the Catalyst utility (by the way, in Windows we will encounter the same problem, and the solution there will be similar). Fonts in Ubuntu are not affected. Now let's try, in fact, to play videos (using VLC Player installed from the Software Center and the pre-installed video player) and watch videos from the Internet (the Firefox browser was used for these purposes).

But HD video from YouTube ran fine - but only in 720p resolution, and 1080p still slowed down.

Our test videos were played only in 720p resolution; serious problems began at Full HD - and in both players. Apparently, both of them are not able to fully use hardware acceleration.

Finally, we try to install Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit version). The difference between Windows and both tested Linux distributions is that it does not offer to install any drivers, but at the same time displays an image in a resolution of 640x480 (note that both Linux immediately produced an image of 1920x1080!). Therefore, immediately after installation, we will have to go to the Zotac website and download drivers for our model there (fortunately, finding them is not so difficult). After installing the drivers and solving the problem with the screen size, we try to play the video. To do this, install a browser Google Chrome. We are pleased with the result: YouTube videos are played without problems even in 1080p resolution.

To play test videos, install K-Lite Codec Pack. The results are as follows:

In principle, the result is close to Foxconn Netbox or even a little better. But we still see that not everything turned out smoothly.

We will leave issues of general performance outside the scope of this article, since we have repeatedly studied the performance of the AMD E-350 (see the articles linked above). But for general information However, here is a screenshot of the Windows Experience Index data.

As you can see, the graphics here are much better than those of the Foxconn nettop, and the overall result is higher, but the processor performance sags.

Philips BDP2600/51 Blu-ray player and LG 37 LK430 LCD TV

To complete the picture, we decided to see how things are going with the playback of our test set of files on a budget Blu-ray player (Philips BDP2600/51) and a budget Full TV HD (LG 37 LK430).

As you know, all new players and TVs are equipped with a USB input and allow you to play media files, often even in purely “computer” formats such as MKV. But, of course, the mere fact of supporting certain formats does not mean that all your films and TV series will go well. So, here are the results of the Blu-ray player (costing just under 3,000 rubles) with our test selection.

As you can see, more than half of the files from test set for one reason or another, they were too tough for the player. Moreover, the point is not in the container (MKV) and not in the resolution as such (it works / doesn’t work), but in other features. Therefore, guessing which video will go well will not be easy. That is, there is a high probability that you will download a video file from the Internet with completely non-extreme parameters - but it will not play. As a plus, we note that the player correctly displays built-in subtitles.

And now let’s subject the TV to a similar test.

The TV showed slightly better results than the player. He only had problems with two videos. But, unfortunately, it does not display subtitles.

conclusions

What conclusions can we draw from our research? The conclusions that emerge are quite interesting, but before we voice them, we repeat that our research in no way claims to be universal. More likely, it's special case- however, very indicative. In addition, our article cannot be considered a full-fledged test of the devices mentioned in it. We didn’t even start from the devices as such, but from the task at hand: to be able to play media files and videos from the Internet on a Full HD TV. Simply put, a very typical situation was simulated when a person wants to expand the functionality of his home theater (or just his TV) - and he begins to look for a solution to this problem.

First, you should look at what the TV and/or player you already have is capable of. If the model is fairly new, then it is possible that it copes well with the task of playing media files. In addition, many modern televisions (especially top level) are equipped with Internet functions (Philips SmartTV, Panasonic Viera Connect, etc.). However, you need to understand that these functions are also far from universal: in most cases, you can watch Internet videos only from certain sources (for example, YouTube), and other Internet capabilities (for example, mail and web surfing) are either not available at all. presented or implemented not very conveniently.

The picture is similar with media files. Formally, all modern TVs support Full HD and a wide variety of file containers and codecs, but in practice you can encounter the most different problems: there is video, but no sound, or everything is there, but there are no subtitles...

If you realize that the capabilities of the player and/or TV are not enough for you, then you should pay attention to media players and nettops. The total cost of the media player is lower, but its functionality is narrower. In fact, from a nettop you can make, albeit weak, but full-fledged computer, perhaps without an optical drive (although this problem can be solved by connecting an external drive). But keyword here - “to do”. That is, you will have to tinker a lot before you get what you wanted. Least, we're talking about about choosing, purchasing and installing a hard drive, RAM and operating system; and, at the most, about solving all sorts of problems with drivers, resolution, etc. Of course, we cannot say that these problems will necessarily arise, but, for example, we have encountered them. Finally, when you set everything up and move on to the main task - playing video, you may also encounter some difficulties here. The main one is engagement hardware acceleration. Problems software support You won’t have any formats/containers/codecs - the same VLC Player (available on all major platforms - Windows, Linux, Mac OS) is almost omnivorous. But the power processor cores may not be enough for video high resolution. Therefore, in order to get Full HD files to play correctly under Linux, you will have to try (although I’m not saying that this problem cannot be solved). With Windows the situation is simpler, but even here it is possible that some files will slow down - precisely because of a lack of performance or not at all correct operation drivers.

And in this case, it is wise to look at media players running Android OS. Yes, you can’t build a full-fledged computer on them, and the interface of a mobile operating system not installed on touch device, is much inferior in convenience and beauty not only to Windows, but also to almost all modern desktop Linux distributions. However, it is the media player on Android that copes with the main tasks easier and better than all other devices. In addition, unlike nettops and mini-PCs, media players operate much more quietly, they do not get clogged with dust, etc. But the main thing is that they can handle almost any video without any “dancing with tambourines.”

As a matter of fact, the media player we reviewed - iconBIT Toucan Smart - demonstrated all these advantages. At the same time, its cost turned out to be lower than that of the nettops with which we compared it. True, the comparison was not entirely correct, since the memory capacity of the Toucan Smart is 4 GB, and we installed much more capacious hard drives in the nettops. But even if you remove the cost of the hard drive, nettops will still be somewhat more expensive. In my opinion, the main competitor of iconBIT Toucan Smart when solving the task at hand (playing media files and videos from the Internet) should not even be nettops, but tablets - for example, iconBIT NetTAB Matrix. As we remember, it also coped without problems with all the files from our test set. At the same time he has big advantage in the form of mobility, compactness and ease of management. And the price is only slightly higher. So it would be logical to recommend it (or similar models; for example, tablets on Tegra 3 are doing well with video playback). But here a lot depends on how intensively you plan to use your device in conjunction with the TV. If you do it regularly, it’s probably more convenient to have a media player. And if such a task arises only from time to time, it is better to get a tablet.

- or a mini computer. Such computers are an excellent alternative to large system units. Firstly, they significantly save space, and secondly, modern devices have no lack of power. We will talk about what types of nettops there are, what they are, how to choose the ideal nettop, and what features you should pay attention to.

Housing or assembly

To begin with, it is worth considering the fact that most nettops come in one of two types - either a case or ready assembly. Housing includes motherboard and the processor, all other elements, such as the hard drive and RAM, you will have to purchase separately. Also, you can use existing elements, and if you are pursuing exactly this goal and know how to assemble a computer, it is better to choose the case option. It will cost less than an assembled mini-PC.

However, if you are looking finished device, which you can immediately start using, then your option is an assembled mini-computer, which is immediately equipped with both a processor and motherboard, both RAM and built-in. Often, they also include a pre-installed operating system. This option is ideal for all those who want to start over and get a fresh device, ready to work right out of the box.

What both options have in common is Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth and USB. All this is available on both versions of nettops.

Device contents

When purchasing a nettop, unlike complex purchase of the entire computer, you only get the case with the necessary filling. Everything else must be purchased separately. This applies to the keyboard, mouse, monitor and, of course, speakers. This is the minimum you'll need to consider when planning your budget, but there are no restrictions on which devices you choose to connect. Be it joysticks, separate boards, special keyboard panels, etc.

One important point should definitely be taken into account: due to their size, mini-PCs require a mini-HDMI port for a monitor. That is, you will have to check if the required input is available on the monitor and HDMI adapter to mini-HDMI or VGA to mini-HDMI. Sometimes an adapter is included in the kit, but this is rare, so more often it has to be purchased separately.

If you are purchasing a mini-PC and a new monitor specifically for it, then you can consider monitors with a special mount on the back, designed directly to secure the nettop case to the monitor. This is very convenient and significantly saves space on the table or in the room.

Keyboards and mice should also be chosen with certain details in mind. Firstly, new modern nettops are completely incompatible with outdated PS/2 ports. That is, you will need peripherals either with USB connectors, or connected via Bluetooth. In this case, Bluetooth turns out to be much more effective, since the number of USB ports on the case is limited, and it’s absolutely not worth taking them up again.

Possibility of modifications and upgrades

One of the significant differences between large desktop computers and mini PCs is that last where Fewer upgrade options. The size in this case affects the number of slots for various parts and elements, and even if you unscrew the nettop case, you will immediately notice that everything inside is very compact and free space Hardly ever. In other words, it is better to purchase a mini-PC right away, taking into account several years of use without the ability to change anything. This is not to say that this is not possible in principle; you can always choose a suitable part, but be sure to keep in mind that, as in the case of a laptop, this will instantly void the warranty.

The most effective way to do this is to buy a case with a processor and motherboard. If you are not satisfied with something, or the time comes to upgrade, you just need to remove the memory and replace the case. The old one can be sold.

RAM in nettops

Another important difference nettop from a desktop PC, this is RAM. Mini PCs use the same memory cards that you use in a laptop, rather than the ones that are inserted into the motherboard of a regular PC. The unpleasant thing is that such boards are slightly more expensive than regular ones, but not significantly.

Before purchasing, you need to check how many DIMM slots your nettop has. In most cases, there are two of them, meaning you can add cards of 8GB, 16GB, etc. But there are also models that support only one memory slot. Of course, no one wants to find themselves in a situation where there is a board, but there is no place for it. Therefore, think through all this in advance.

The opposite side of the problem is that many of us buy too much RAM. So it is important to know exactly what parameters you want to get from the device. It is recommended to calculate all this in advance so that you can choose the correct and suitable configuration for you. In most cases, 16GB of RAM is sufficient.

Hard drive - SSD or HDD

Mini PCs typically support one of two types hard drives: M.2 or 2.5 inches. The first option is flash memory, that is, it will be necessary to take into account the cost and size of such disks. At the same time, M.2 differs from mSATA or standard SSDs. The disks themselves are slightly longer and narrower, and in terms of operating speed they are faster than their predecessor. 250GB is usually enough for work tasks.

In the second case, with the 2.5-inch type, you get flexibility: you can use both SSD and HDD. It is very important to know what exactly you are purchasing and what kind of drive you want to use. An SSD will be faster than a HDD, but a HDD will often allow for more storage. Therefore, if data processing speed is fundamentally important to you, then choose flash memory, and if the volume is more important, which will allow you to store a lot of data, then your option is HDD. Note also that some information can be stored on external hard disks, so you don’t have to keep everything in the nettop case.

Computer processor - Intel or AMD

Practically eternal question for all PCs, and it concerns that element that is not so easy to replace - the processor. Now the two most popular manufacturers are Intel and AMD. There was a time when AMD was significantly inferior to Intel in quality, but now this is not the case at all. Of course, it is necessary to take into account that many of the characteristics of Intel processors for nettops are higher today; just look at the list of processors on the official website. When it comes to laptops, Intel consumes less power, thereby allowing the device to last longer. But this is completely unimportant for a mini-PC.

One way or another, these devices actually use the same processors as laptops. It’s just that in this case, we don’t look at energy consumption indicators, since they don’t matter. But they have graphics capabilities, and in this regard, AMD Radeon even outperforms Intel, so in one price category You'll get better graphics performance from AMD. So they are more suitable for games or graphics work.

Is it worth getting a gaming nettop?

While we've already noted that AMD is better suited for gaming than Intel, we should also consider that a mini PC is not the best option for avid gamers. Even powerful nettops are significantly inferior to full-size PCs, just like laptops. In order to get a gaming machine, you will have to invest significantly and still the result will be far from perfect. So if you want to play the latest games and enjoy high performance, it’s much better to consider a more budget-friendly, albeit larger, gaming PC option. But for the average player, for light games, a mini-PC is quite suitable.

Don’t be in a hurry to get upset if you set out to purchase the smallest possible gaming device, progress does not stand still and we are more than confident that soon nettops will be able to catch up and maybe even surpass large machines in terms of parameters.

There are also several types of special gaming nettops available for sale, so most likely another revolution in the gaming equipment market is not far off.

Windows, Mac or Linux?

Be sure to decide on the operating system. Nettops support all popular operating systems, but in the case of a Mac you will only have one option - Mac mini. But all updates will be available completely free of charge and constantly.

But in other options you can choose between Windows and Linux. By purchasing cases without RAM and hard drive, you a priori choose the option without a pre-installed system. Usually the package includes support or availability of Windows. Well, if you don’t want to purchase Windows, then Linux is a completely free system, although you need to get used to it.

Of course, if you don’t want to spend time and effort installing the system yourself, the best option is a ready-made assembly with Windows preinstalled.

Intel is perhaps the most popular nettop manufacturer, and the NUC brand constantly reminds us why these devices are worth paying attention to.

Intel NUC Enthusiast is a modern nettop equipped with dual core processor Intel Core i7 with a frequency of 3500 MHz. 8GB of RAM and 2TB of internal memory are available for your use. At the same time, the nettop supports both HDD and SSD memory. The small and stylish case packs incredible power for its size. The computer has a pre-installed operating system Windows system 10 Home. At HDMI help or Thunderbolt ports, you can connect a monitor, in addition, the case has 4 USB 3.0 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Also, the device is equipped with a card reader and bluetooth for easy connection peripheral devices. Intel NUC is a great choice for your home or office. The small device weighs only 0.97 kg and its dimensions are 115x111x51.

Technological progress does not sleep. To keep up with the times, you need to be aware of all new products appearing on the market, even if you do not plan to purchase them yet. After all, whoever owns the information owns the world. Everyone already knows about tablets and smartphones. But we haven’t quite figured out what a nettop is yet.

The word itself is a tracing paper from the English “nettop”, formed from the components of the words “InterNET” and “deskTOP”. If you try to translate what you get, it will look something like “desktop computer”. Essentially, this is a stationary analogue of a netbook.

Why not everyone knows what nettops are is easy to explain. Most technological innovations do not reach our country right away. There are many reasons for this and it makes no sense to understand them. So far, this technique is not particularly popular in our country, which is why information about it is quite scattered, and sometimes even confusing for the consumer. For example, quite a lot of people equate nettops with all-in-one PCs.

A monoblock is a desktop PC circuit. In it, the system unit, monitor, microphone, speakers and webcam are structurally combined. Usually the keyboard and mouse are selected separately for it. Essentially, this is an LCD monitor, in the body of which there is

Then what is a nettop? This is a small personal computer released by Intel during the announcement of Atom processors. According to forecasts, it is these processors that should

were to become the basis for nettops. Initially, the nettop was created to work mainly with Internet applications.

To put it very simply, a nettop can be called a miniature system unit. It is easy to attach to the back of your monitor, hang on the wall, etc. (whatever is convenient for you). That is, it is a separate compact device that operates exclusively from the network.

To understand what a nettop is, remember ASUS Eee Box or Acer AspireRevo. They are typical examples of such a computer.

The basis for this technique is a processor with energy-efficient microarchitectures (in other words, energy-efficient). This could be Intel Celeron, Intel Atom, VIA C7 or VIA Nano. It can be single- or dual-core (1.2−1.6 GHz). HDD designed for 80-500 GB. Video and sound have a DVD drive, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB ports.

If you are interested in what a nettop assembled in Russia is, then you can pay attention to ARUTEK MediaBox, AxiomPC Micra, Wexler VisION and some others.

The power of nettops, in addition to working with various network services and the Internet, is enough for amateur work.

bots with photos, listening to music, watching videos and undemanding (rather simple) games. The newest models, however, are already equipped with chipsets whose built-in graphics allow you to watch movies in FullHD format. There is already even a gaming nettop Alienware X51. But such models are, of course, expensive.

Now nettops are no longer only based on processors. The buyer can choose the processor at his own discretion. Today they are increasingly being purchased for use as home servers.

What is a nettop in terms of user convenience? It is compact, has a minimum of wires, is light, aesthetically pleasing and easy to install. The performance of nettops is certainly lower than that of conventional PCs, but they are very small in size and have fairly low power consumption.

Ilya 4517

Every year, computer technology being developed becomes more and more compact. Miniature versions have replaced bulky system units. A bright representative The new generation of computer technology is nettops. It cannot be said that they are worse or better than ordinary home computers, since each of them is more convenient to use for performing a specific task.

Nettop is a simplified version desktop computer. However, the difference between them is the same as between a netbook and a laptop. All the necessary devices in a nettop fit into a small case the size of a DVD player. If there is no need to use resource-intensive applications, but are only interested in working with office programs, watching videos, listening to music, then in this case the nettop acts as perfect solution. A desktop computer is indispensable when processing 3D graphics, conducting complex calculations and to solve other problems that require the allocation of significant resources.

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The main advantage of nettops, which distinguishes them from desktop computers, is their small size and weight. The nettop can be mounted behind the monitor, on the wall, or simply placed on the table. The impressive size of the system unit sometimes takes up too much space on the desktop, which is not very convenient, but nettops do not have this drawback.

Almost all components in the nettop are integrated, which significantly reduces energy costs. Thanks to this, it was also possible to achieve a significant reduction in noise levels, and on some models this drawback was completely eradicated. Installed on desktop computers powerful system cooling, which creates the main noise, and there is no such need for nettops.

For computer technology, the possibility of modernization is essential. In the case of desktop computers, everything is very simple, because you can replace the part of interest yourself without much difficulty. If you need to repair or modernize your nettop, then you can’t do it without a professional specialist.

The capabilities of computer technology are determined by its performance. In this parameter, desktop computers are superior to nettops, but, as noted at the beginning, this is only due to the specifics of their application. In the quest to make computers smaller, sacrifices sometimes have to be made, and in this case, productivity was sacrificed at the altar of progress. There are nettop models that are in no way inferior to desktop computers in their parameters, but this significantly affects their price.

Comparison basic characteristics the average nettop and desktop computer clearly demonstrates their difference in performance.

Nettop:
Processor: 1.2-2.1 GHz;
RAM: 2-4 GB;
Hard drive: 80-600 GB; Desktop computer:
CPU: Intel Xeon Quard-Core;
RAM: 4-6 GB;
Hard drive: 600-1000 GB; Nettops provide standard types communications, which includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and several HDMI ports. This set includes everything you need for comfortable work. Among the disadvantages of nettops, it is worth noting that not all models have an optical drive.

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Have you noticed that in the last decade too many different devices have appeared? Previously, there were only laptop computers, then laptops joined them... And today? Smartphones, tablets, netbooks and even some nettops. If we are very familiar with the first three, then what are nettops? This question is asked quite often by users. Well, I'll try to answer it.

The word nettop itself was derived from InterNET and deskTOP. Technically, a nettop is a stationary analogue of a netbook, but in my opinion it is one of the varieties laptop computers. At the same time, you can take it with you, for example, if you go to see friends. In simpler terms, we have before us an extremely miniature system unit, which most often is not equipped with a screen (there are such versions).

How else does a nettop differ from a computer or laptop?

• Firstly, it uses a simpler processor, which makes the device significantly cheaper. In principle, even the most simple and inexpensive processor. The same can be said about the remaining components of the gadget.

• Secondly, thanks to relatively simple and therefore weak components, the latter emit significantly less heat, which makes it possible to simplify the cooling system.

• Thirdly, the lack of a developed cooling system has a positive effect on the design, as well as the noise level emitted by the nettop.

At the same time, I would like to note that we have before us a completely worthy device that can perform all the same functions as a PC. After all, thanks to several gigabytes of RAM, a large hard drive, built-in wireless communication modules, a CD/DVD drive and the presence of many ports, you can fully use it.

For a more complete understanding, I propose to consider a couple of interesting nettop models.

Acer Aspire Revo R3600

This is enough popular model, so let's talk about it first. First - oh appearance. This is generally one of the smallest nettops on the market, but at the same time very, very powerful. As you can see, the device looks great, if not excellent. In size, it is several tens of times smaller than a conventional system unit, thanks to which it can be placed right next to the monitor - the gadget will not get in the way at all.

It uses the NVIDIA MCP79 chipset with integrated graphics core GeForce 9400M. Oddly enough, this solution is quite enough to play even not particularly demanding games.

The monitor can be connected either via the usual VGA output or via HDMI. By the way, there are plenty of ports here: 6 USB connectors, eSATA, audio connectors, card reader. The module, of course, is also available here.

Interestingly, the nettop comes with a keyboard and mouse as standard. They are practically standard, so there is no point in talking about them.

ASUS Eee Top ET1602

Now let's talk about another nettop, which turned out to be much more interesting than its “brother”.

So, the first and most important thing is that before us, in fact, small computer with a full screen, the components of which are housed in a relatively small body. Of course, in no case can it be used, because the ET1602 is not only larger (its screen diagonal is as much as 15.6 inches, that is, the same as on the most popular laptops), but also heavier. Moreover, the screen is touch-sensitive, and its resolution is 1366 by 768 pixels. The screen does not support multi-touch, but there is a hidden stylus that can be safely used for work.

The performance of the ET1602 is slightly simpler than that of the R3600, because it uses an Intel Atom N270 processor. However, it will be sufficient for most everyday tasks. There are also slightly fewer ports, and there is no CD/DVD drive. But the device itself is much more expensive.

Is it worth buying a nettop?

This is perhaps the main question of this article. To be honest, it all depends solely on the goals you are pursuing. For example, if you need a device to access the Internet while you are outside or in public transport, then nettop is definitely not your choice. In this case, it is better to give priority to tablets.

Using a nettop as a home computer is also not entirely logical. If you, for example, like to play games, then the device simply will not allow you to play the latest games.

To whom then can we recommend purchasing nettops? In my opinion, the ideal buyer would be the owner of a small office who does not want to clutter a small room with several boxes (system units). Another thing is that this is often simply unprofitable, since nettops are more expensive than system units with simple components.

And we must not forget that today it is not so easy to purchase a nettop, because many models are not represented on our market.