REVIEWS / HTPCS / ZOTAC INTERNATIONAL (MCO) LTD

ZOTAC ZBOX Nano VD01 Plus Review

25 Nov, 2011, 4:38 pm IST | by Roydon Cerejo | HTPCs

HTPCs

Small and compact

Small and compact
Good connectivity options
Snazzy power LED
The bundle
Drivers and setup guide
Underwhelming performance

PRICE IN INDIA

16,333

TECH2 RATING

6.0

AVERAGE USER RATING

7.5

How we test

CONTACT

ZOTAC International (MCO) Ltd

 sales@adityagroup.com

 +91 120 4555 666

 www.zotac.com


Performance
We had to compare this to ZOTAC’s other offering, the AD10 Plus. Boot-up time is quick and the Zbox comes to life quietly, without much sound. We installed Windows 7 Ultimate, which the Nano X2 had no problem handling once all the drivers were in place. There is quite a bit of warm air that’s thrown out from the sides, but that’s good as the Zbox does not heat up too much. The performance however leaves a lot to be desired.

Underwhelming performance

Underwhelming performance

 


In CPU intensive tasks, the Nano X2 lags just slightly behind the E-350 from AMD. Sadly, we weren’t able to run most of our usual tests, due to the limitations of the GPU. Some of the tests like ‘Communication’ and ‘Productivity’ in PCMark Vantage didn’t give us a score and neither did 3DMark Vantage, since the GPU does not support DX10.

Small and compact

Small and compact

 


Games like Dirt 2 simply refused to start and repeatedly kept putting on error messages, while Resident Evil didn’t seem to work even in DX9 mode. Overall, the CPU portion of the chipset seems ok, but the graphics department needs a lot more work.

Verdict
For a price tag of Rs.16,333, the Zbox Nano VD01 Plus does not make any sense when you have the AMD option available for a little more. Both the PCs are identical in terms of design, connectivity and build, but there's quite a big gap when it comes to performance. VIA had dropped out of the CPU scene years ago and I’m sure this wasn’t the comeback they were hoping for. AMD already has a strong CPU and GPU division, so it was a tall order competing with them from the word go. If you had the Zbox Nano in your sights, then we'd say skip the VD01 and go straight for the AD10. 

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Performance and Verdict


Tags:

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Would you buy it?




ZOTAC ZBOX nano AD10 Plus Unboxing

11 Oct, 2012, 02:10 pm IST

ZOTAC ZBOX nano AD10 Plus Unboxing

Zotac ZBOX nano XS AD11 Plus Unboxing

11 Oct, 2012, 02:11 pm IST

Zotac ZBOX nano XS AD11 Plus Unboxing

 


How We Test

The Tech2 Labs receives many products every single week and each of them is tested with the utmost care and highest level of objectivity. There’s a constant effort to reduce and totally eliminate subjectivity. Each product is tested according to set test processes so the same test scenario is used.

Verdict
The ratings awarded to a product are derived from a number of tests and calculations, keeping certain important factors in mind. These factors consist of features, performance, quality and value for money. In case of software and some other categories, build quality might be replaced with ease of use or ease of installation. Products are compared with other products in a similar price range or product category.


Features
The features component of the score is rated based on the kind of features present on a particular product. Features are a big part of what people look for when they’re buying a new product such as a phone or a camera.

Performance
The performance score is derived from the benchmarks and tests run on the product. In case of the subjective scores, an average of the scores given by the group of reviewers is considered.

Build Quality
The build quality of a product is important so that it doesn’t fall apart after some use. The build quality scores from the way the product is designed and the kind of materials used in the product.

Value
Value for money comes from the fact that a cheap product is able to provide most of the performance of a higher priced product. Once again, value for money is judged by comparing pricing and performance of products in a particular price range or category. 

There are many other aspects of the product that are looked at such as the bundled software and accessories. All of these scores are aggregated together to form the final score.

What do the ratings mean?

Ratings are simple - higher the score, the better the product. A brief listing of the features and what they mean are given below.

1 - 3

The product is bad in almost every aspect. We strongly advise against purchasing this product.

4 - 6

An average product that isn't the best you can buy, but isn't the worst either.

7 - 8

Product with this rating is highly recommended because it's priced sensibly, has a good set of features and performs well.

9 - 10

Exceptionally excellent product with features and performance unlike any we've seen in the past. A must-have for everyone!

What is the Average User Rating?

We at Tech2 take product reviewing very seriously and every product is tested with the utmost care and level of objectivity. The end user who buys a particular product and uses it over an extended period of time has his own take on a product and there might be nuances that he or she can shed light on. The Average User Rating is present to help readers get the complete picture of how good or bad a product is. The Average User Rating is calculated by averaging the ratings by the thousands of readers visiting Tech2.com every single day. To record your own rating of a product, simply click on the user rating bar. If you disagree with our ratings or our community's product rating, please don't hesitate from voicing your opinion in the comments section below the review.

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