ECS LIVA Mini PC

Dubbed "The World's Smallest Windows-based PC" ECS LIVA will actuallly launch OS-free. This mini PC kit (ECS promises a 40 seconds set-up) features a still unnamed Bay Trail-M SoC as well as soldered RAM and storage. Great concept, great price (under $200), but unnecessarily crippled.

✓ Bay Trail-M
✓ 2GB DDR3L
✓ 32GB eMMC
✓ 1 x USB 3.0
✓ 1 x USB 2.0
✓ 1 x HDMI
✓ 1 x VGA
✓ 1 x Gigabit Ethernet
✓ IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n
✓ Bluetooth 4.0
✓ 118 x 70 x 56mm
✓ 190g

Source: itmedia.co.jp, impress.co.jp

A closer look at HFX MONSTER

Superlatives are inadequate to describe this incredible piece of Austrian hardware. The HFX Monster is the sole heat sink case that handles not only CPUs like the i7 4770K, but graphics cards as well (GeForce GT 640, FirePro 2270 / 2460 options available).

At 50lbs (23kg) this tank of a HTPC doubles as a solid workstation. Default configuration starts at $2,600 but we added 4TB of Samsung SSDs (in our dreams) for a grand total of $5,500. Pure. Luxury.

✓ i7-4770K (i3-4130T / i5 4570S / i5 4670K / i7 4770S options)

✓ 8GB Kingston DDR3 1600 (up to 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1866)

✓ 180GB Intel 530 SSD (4TB Samsung 840 Evo SSD, 16TB Western Digital HDD options)

✓ LG 24X DVD drive (LG 16X Blu-ray drive option)

✓ ASUS Maximus VI Gene motherboard

✓ SilverStone ST40NF Nightjar fanless PSU

✓ Windows / Ubuntu / OS-free options
✓ 5.71" (145mm) x 16.93" (430mm) x 17.72" (450mm).

Source: Endpcnoise

bit-tech reviews Akasa Tesla H

Akasa Tesla H gets a rave review from bit-tech. Clean lines and excellent cooling performance (not to mention two 2.5" bays) make it a real standout.

"The extra surface area provided by the Tesla H compared to the Tranquil PC Abel H2-5 allowed it to knock a sizeable chunk off of the temperatures. Under full load with Prime95's small FFT test running, it was 6°C cooler when enclosed and 11°C cooler when out in the open."

Source: bit-tech

Update: Blog HTPC review.

Haswell refresh has a name (and a better TIM)

Kudos to Brian Krzanich and his team for listening to their customers. Intel's Devil's Canyon is coming with a better thermal interface (between the heat spreader and the actual die). This should greatly improve cooling.

A good news never comes alone, Intel's Iris Pro Graphics are coming to the desktop too. The 5th Generation Core is shaping as a major breakthrough, game wise. Unlocked processors are not the easiest to cool passively but several case and coolers (including Nofan CR-95 and Thermalright HR-22) can do the job.

Source: Chinese VR-Zone

Update: More details at Forbes and The Tech Report

Chieftec Silentium Mini

Coming next from Chieftec: a passive mini-ITX case with two impressive stacks of fins. One side being used to cool the CPU, the other to cool the internal power supply. We're trying to get as much information as we can, stay tuned.

Source: 3DNews

Fanless ZBOX Nano looks stunning

Zotac's upcoming Bay Trail (or Kabini Temash) ZBOX is really gorgeous. We're loving the honeycomb design, and the hidden CPU cooler (most people are uneasy with a hot heat sink case).

With 7 USB ports (including a Super Charger one), SD card reader, Ethernet, full-size HDMI, full-size DisplayPort, and front power switch, this little guy's I/O puts the NUC to shame. Still on track for H1 2014.

Source: Cowcotland

Update: CeBIT video at HEXUS

4 Bay Trail-D motherboards from ASRock

ASRock went a little crazy with Bay Trail SoCs at CeBIT 2014. No less than 4 models are showcased, including the D1800B-ITX (Celeron J1800) and Q1900-ITX (Celeron J1900) that should compete with offerings from MSI, GIGABYTE, BIOSTAR and ASUS. The Q1900M is a micro-ATX solution that offers a little more flexibility.

But the most interesting of the quartet is definitely the Q1900DC. This mini-ITX board features a DC jack for power input. Because let's face it, an ATX power supply doesn't make sense in an ultra low power PC.

Source: Computerbase

ASUS debuts value Bay Trail motherboard

Finally ASUS gets something right. After the disastrous launch of its latest EeeBox and the upcoming "fanless" Chromebox, the J1800I-C is really passively cooled. The cooler itself looks efficient, and for some reasons even the gold color works here. Available for $85 on Amazon.

✓ Celeron J1800, 2 cores @ 2,41 GHz, up to 2.58 GHz
✓ 2 x 1.35V DDR3L DIMM slots
✓ 1 x PCI Express x1 slot
✓ 1 x Mini PCI Express x1 slot
✓ 2 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors
✓ 1 x USB 3.0 port
✓ 4 x USB 2.0 ports
✓ 1 x HDMI
✓ 1 x VGA
✓ 1 x COM
✓ 1 x PS/2 Mouse / Keyboard
✓ 1 x Gigabit Ethernet (Realtek RTL8111G)