- The Zbox Magnus EN275060TC’s 2.65-liter chassis delivers more power than many mid-tower desktops
- Users can add their own high-speed RAM and storage for flexibility
- Intel Core Ultra 7 brings 20 cores to a palm-sized body
Zotac’s latest foray into the mini PC market is positioning itself as a useful contender with ambitions far beyond its diminutive size.
The company claims that the Zbox Magnus EN275060TC can compete with the Apple Mac Studio in terms of performance, although such comparisons may need further investigation.
Magnus measures 210 x 203 x 62.2 mm, about the size of a small hardback book, and weighs around 1.4 kg.
Customization and upgrade options
At just 2.65 liters in total volume, it’s one of the smallest desktop systems currently equipped with a full desktop-class GPU.
Inside is an Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX processor paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics card.
The processor itself includes eight performance and twelve efficiency cores with a 5.2 GHz turbo boost and a 30 MB cache.
Coupled with the GPU’s 16GB of VRAM, this setup promises suitable 4K gaming, creative workloads and AI-based tasks.
Still, questions about thermal control and sustained performance remain open, especially given the extremely tight interior space.
Unlike some prebuilt compact systems, Magnus comes as a barebones kit that lets users install their own memory and storage.
It supports up to 96GB of DDR5 memory, either at 6400MT/s using CSODIMMs or at 5600MT/s with regular SODIMMs.
Two M.2 slots (one PCIe 5.0 and one PCIe 4.0) provide flexibility for SSD installation.
While this design gives users the freedom to tailor the machine to specific needs, it also moves the overall cost upwards once premium components are added.
The Zotac includes the necessary Wi-Fi antennas and wall-mounting hardware, which could make it appealing to those looking for a compact business PC setup or a capable but portable mobile workstation.
For connectivity, this device includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, five USB Type-A ports, dual Ethernet connections, and four display outputs.
Display outputs include HDMI and DisplayPort options, which allow the system to handle multiple displays and peripherals.
It also supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connectivity.
However, the system relies on a large 330W external power supply, which somewhat diminishes the appeal of its compact design.
The Zbox Magnus has been listed in some European markets for around €1,600, which equates to around $1,555 before tax.
This pricing puts it in direct competition with larger desktops that offer better cooling and potentially higher sustained performance.
Via TechPowerUp
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