Intel Compute Stick Review | Very limited PC

Intel recently announced a micro PC Intel Compute Stick with Windows OS. It will be priced at $150 at official Intel dealers, while the Ubuntu Linux-based version, with slightly modified specs, should sell for $110.

Intel Compute Stick is not a desktop replacement. "PC flash drive" is positioned as an additional computing module that connects to a TV or display via an HDMI connector. Intel Compute Stick designed to handle simple tasks, including editing simple documents, watching videos, or just talking with friends via Skype. The device has dimensions of 114x38x13 mm. It is equipped with a module wireless communication, USB 2.0, Bluetooth, video and audio controllers.

Intel Compute Stick available with two operating systems: Windows 8.1 and Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. The Windows version (STCK1A32WFC) appeared at the end of April, while the release of the Ubuntu version (STCK1A8LFC) should take place in June.

Intel Compute Stick Review | Specifications

Intel Compute Stick Specifications
Operating system	Windows 8.1 at Bing 32-bit Ubuntu (Linux) 14.04 LTS 64-bit
CPU	Intel Atom Z3735F, 1.33 GHz, 2 MB cache, fan cooled
BIOS	FCBYT10H.86A.0018.2015.0330.1117 (3/30/2015)
GPU	Intel HD Graphics with driver v.15.33.27.3910
System memory	Single channel DDR3L-R-S RAM @ 1.35V, 1333MHz Windows: 2 GB Ubuntu: 1 GB
Storage device	Embedded Samsung MGB4GC eMMC Windows - 32 GB, Samsung Ubuntu - 8 GB SDXC v3.0 slot with UHS I support
Periphery	Integrated wifi controller 802.11bgn USB 2.0 Bluetooth 4.0 microSD slot
Net	Integrated 802.11bgn controller
Audio	Intel HD Audio over HDMI with multi-channel support
Power requirements	Power adapter 5 V, 2 A
Case size	103mm x 37mm x 12mm

Intel Compute Stick Review | First Impressions

At first we thought that Intel Compute Stick great as a portable PC, able to turn any HDMI-enabled TV into a work computer, although this would require carrying a keyboard and mouse with you. But then we corrected our opinion. The device can turn a large TV into a working computer, allowing you to surf the Internet, chat on Skype or work with e-mail, all through the familiar Windows interface. A potential problem, in our opinion, is the lack of computing power and random access memory when working with multiple programs. Single applications shouldn't be a problem.

Despite their small size, one of the main problems Intel Compute Stick is its external form. With a device length of 103 mm, there must be enough space behind the TV for installation. Some TVs have HDMI connectors on the side of the display, but there are models that are very tight against the wall, you can install them in such TVs Intel Compute Stick It won't work without an HDMI adapter cable.

The sample we reviewed included a 20cm HDMI extension, but we used a 90cm extension to Intel Compute Stick placed in front of the display, making it easier to access the USB port and the power button. Intel Compute Stick light enough, and if desired, it can be left hanging on a 20 cm extension behind the screen.

Speaking of USB ports. Depending on how many devices you want to connect to Intel Compute Stick, you may need a USB hub, especially if you don't have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. According to Intel representatives, to install additional USB ports in Intel Compute Stick not enough interior space. In addition, a prerequisite for the operation of the device is the presence of a TV with HDMI support. The company also confirmed that Intel Compute Stick will only work with direct HDMI input (no adapters).

Intel Compute Stick Review | External Description

Intel Compute Stick has a minimal external set of interfaces and controls. For additional devices one USB 2.0 slot is available, and a microSD slot is provided for storage expansion. We installed a 32 GB card into it without any problems. Intel Compute Stick also comes with Bluetooth 4.0, so if you have a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard and mouse, you can go wireless and leave USB port free.

For the most part, the Bluetooth keyboard worked well. There were no problems with the Logitech Folio. But when we plugged in a cheaper RockSoul Bluetooth keyboard, we noticed frequent disconnections that meant we had to constantly reconnect it to Intel Compute Stick. In this situation, we are not inclined to blame Intel Compute Stick, since the Folio worked without problems, but the performance of the RockSoul-branded keyboard is still in question.

External elements of the Intel Compute Stick

The power button is located on the side next to the HDMI connector, which is not very convenient. When disconnecting or setting up the device, you have to take it very carefully so as not to accidentally press this button. We hope that in more later versions this shortcoming will be corrected.

Included Intel Compute Stick There is a 90 cm power cable. One of its connectors is inserted into the power socket on the device, and the USB connector is inserted into the 5 V socket.

For physical security, instead of a Kensington lock in Intel Compute Stick two interconnected recesses are used on the sides of the case. A thin metal cable is threaded through them, which is then crimped. This type of lock is typical for industrial type products.

Intel Compute Stick Review | Internal organization

Intel Compute Stick equipped with a quad-core Atom Z3735F processor, belonging to the Intel SoC family based on the Bay Trail architecture. This 64-bit SoC was introduced in early 2014. It has a 2 MB L2 cache and operates at a base frequency of 1.33 GHz (1.83 GHz in boost mode). The RAM is a single-channel DDR3L memory with a frequency of 1333 MHz and a capacity of 2 GB.

To work with graphics Intel Compute Stick uses GPU Intel HD Graphics integrated into the Atom Z3735F processor. Through the Intel HD Graphics Control Panel, users can adjust general display settings, manage power settings, and create custom profiles that save video settings for various applications.

Opening the case is easy, but all the fun is under the heatsink

The storage system is represented by Samsung MBG4GC eMMC flash memory with a capacity of 32 GB. It is intended for mobile devices and uses high-density MLC NAND memory chips with an MMC controller. Of the 32 GB listed on the box, Windows Disk Management shows that 23.04 GB goes to the root file system, 5.86 GB to the recovery partition, and the remaining 100 MB to the EFI System Partition.

The single-band Wi-Fi module Azurewave AW-NB177NF M.2 is responsible for wireless communication. It supports 802.11 b/g/n standards and operates in the 2.4 GHz band while providing a Bluetooth 4.0 connection. At a nominal speed of 150 Mbps, performance is comparable to WiFi adapter N150, which is significantly slower than current AC Wi-Fi devices.

Intel Compute Stick Review | Exploitation

The very first thing we wanted to check is how Intel Compute Stick handles online video playback. To our surprise, watching movies and shows on Netflix and Hulu was quite comfortable. YouTube videos played without delay. Streaming is smooth, and built-in Intel Compute Stick The audio controller outputs fairly clear sound to the TV's speakers. While playing videos on Netflix, there were slight delays when moving the mouse across the screen, but streaming content was not affected. This problem usually occurs when the mouse is used more than three meters from the PC. But in our case, it was about 2.5 meters from the display to the mouse.

We also tried to use Remote Desktop (remote desktop) on Intel Compute Stick and connect to a computer via Wi-Fi. There was some delay during the first connection and login to the computer. Typically, this delay is not observed when using Remote Desktop, but considering that the Wi-Fi module Intel Compute Stick does not support 802.11ac and that we are working with an SoC, a Remote Desktop session could be too much of a task for the device. But after the first session, the launch time of the program was reduced. However, by connecting an 802.11ac USB network adapter to Intel Compute Stick We did not notice any difference in response.

Intel Compute Stick Review | Equipment

In the box with the sample that came to us for testing, we found the following components:

• Intel Compute Stick preinstalled with Windows 8.1 Bing 32-bit;
• USB AC power adapter, 5V, 2A;
• USB cable for power adapter 75 cm long;
• HDMI extension cable 20 cm long;
• adapters for power sockets of different standards.

According to Intel, the retail version Intel Compute Stick will have the same package, plus instructions and user manual.

Intel Compute Stick Review | Additional accessories

Since you get only 32 GB of storage in the Windows version, you should not ignore the possibility of expanding it with microSD cards. The device supports cards up to 128 GB, and this is worth taking advantage of. The built-in flash memory won't last long, especially if you save files locally, so extra storage won't hurt.

You can also use cloud storage. Given that Intel Compute Stick works under Windows control 8.1, there are many options available for storing data in the cloud. For example, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive provide free storage of a certain capacity, but you will have to pay extra for additional space on such a drive.

Accessories for Intel Compute Stick

Using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse is well worth it as you can keep the only USB port free. Wireless technologies Intel Compute Stick free the user from wires dangling on the floor. If you can't use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, you can buy a wireless USB keyboard with trackpad or a keyboard and mouse set with a shared USB receiver.

Also not superfluous on the list would be a USB hub with external power supply, which allows you to connect devices, especially peripherals, with a power consumption of more than 500 mA. Because the Intel Compute Stick only supports USB 2.0, a suitable hub will be inexpensive. USB 2.0 hubs are great for USB card readers, keyboards, mice or webcams. If the speed of the built-in wireless module is not enough for you, you can install a wired USB controller or more fast USB Wi-Fi adapter.

list tested for compatibility with Intel Compute Stick peripherals can be found at intel.com.

Intel Compute Stick Review | Test Methodology

For testing Intel Compute Stick we had to borrow a few techniques from reviews of tablets and network equipment. It was also necessary to take into account the low performance of the device. We understand that this is not game system and not a workstation, so our expectations were formed accordingly. In addition to performance, we are interested in functionality Intel Compute Stick as an additional computing resource for a TV or monitor.

To test the processor, graphics and storage, we connected Intel Compute Stick to 24" Asus VS247 monitor with HDMI port.

Web tests were conducted on the same Asus monitor, and to analyze network throughput at different distances between the Asus RT-AC66U dual-band router with an Ethernet-connected ASRock VisionX mini PC (Core i7-4712MQ, AMD HD8850M GPU, 8 GB RAM) , 256 GB SSD and 2 TB HDD) we used a small cart.

The quad-core Atom z3735F was tested using Primate Lab Geekbench 3. Geekbench is a cross-platform benchmark designed to test CPU and memory performance. One of the main benefits of Geekbench is access to Primate Labs' large database of tested devices, including platforms running Windows, iOS, and Android. Today we are interested in single-core and multi-core tests using integer and floating point calculations, as well as tasks that load RAM.

We will test the speed of sequential and random I / O operations on the integrated Samsung drive using CrystalDiskMark.

The PassMark Advanced Networking module allows you to test your Wi-Fi end-to-end transmission speed. The program is installed on each computer in a client/server configuration. On one it runs as a server, on the other it runs as a client. To test TCP traffic from Intel Compute Stick on the ASRock Mini-PC we used the standard fixed block size of 16384 bytes. The test results show received and transmitted data, average speed in kbps and processor load. Given that Intel Compute Stick only supports 2.4GHz transmission, we limited other devices in network comparison tests to the same range.

Experimenting with the formats of computing systems, Intel introduced the ultra-compact Compute Stick platform. A full-fledged PC with a quad-core processor, a wireless network controller, internal memory and Windows 8.1 on board is made in the form of a large key fob. What is it, a bold experiment of the manufacturer or the birth of a new format of computing systems? Let's see what to expect from such a PC.

Compact systems, similar in size to large flash key fobs, are no longer exotic. Similar platforms based on ARM chips and Android/Chrom OS have been on the market for some time. But we really see a PC of this form factor with an x86 processor and Windows 8.1 operating system for the first time. And it is not surprising that such a solution was proposed by Intel, which has recently been increasingly developing the direction of miniature computers.

The system comes in a neat, fairly compact box.

The kit includes a 10W (5V, 2A) external power supply with a set of adapters for various electrical outlet standards, an HDMI extension cable (20 cm), a quick start guide, and a coupon for a one-year McAfee AntiVirus Plus subscription.

Design and layout

So, Intel Compute Stick has dimensions of 103×37×12 mm. The system is offered as a complete solution. All that is needed to operate a PC is a screen with an HDMI interface and peripherals for control (keyboard / mouse).

The body of the system is made of black plastic. At the same time, the top panel has a glossy finish. Of course, in this case, the eye clings to such nuances of the external decor, but fingerprints that inevitably remain on such a surface do exactly the same. There are no special design frills here. Often this computer will be hidden from the eyes of the owner, because even in the external design of the system, everything is primarily subordinated to the functionality of the device.

On the top panel, you can immediately distinguish two zones with grilles for the heated air outlet, through one of which a miniature fan is visible. In the central part there is a large and well-read Intel Inside logo. Closer to the top edge is an activity indicator that lights up blue when the system is running.

On the left side of the "stick" there is a power button, a micro-USB connector for connecting an external power supply, as well as a full-size USB 2.0 port that can be used to connect any peripherals.

On the right panel there is a slot for installing Micro SD memory cards up to 128 GB.

There are no elements on the back of the Intel Compute Stick. Almost the entire panel is occupied by a sticker with supporting information.

The HDMI connector is located on the bottom panel.

All you have to do to connect the Intel Compute Stick is plug it into the appropriate port on your monitor/TV. Due to the shape of the case, it is obvious that not all devices will allow you to directly connect a PC. In such cases, a complete flexible HDMI extender is very useful. Unfortunately, the video interface cannot provide power to the Compute Stick, so an additional external source is required for the system to work. For these purposes, a 10-watt PSU (5V, 2A) with the usual micro-USB connector is used. The USB cable from the PSU is 95 cm long, so it is desirable that there is a free electrical outlet within reach. Theoretically, you can power the system even from the USB connectors located on the TV / monitor, but only if these ports can provide the necessary power.

Platform

The Intel Compute Stick has an Intel Atom Z3735F processor from the Bay Trail-T family. This is a quad-core SoC model with a base frequency of 1.33 GHz, which can accelerate up to 1.83 GHz under load.

These chips use the Silvermont architecture and are manufactured using the 22nm process technology. The CPU TDP is less than 4W, while the SDP is 2.2W. In general, this is a typical model used for tablets based on the Intel platform. Slightly faster versions of this family are also used for affordable models of compact laptops.

The integrated video core Intel HD Graphics includes 4 execution units, while the GPU frequency can vary between 311-664 MHz.

The Intel Atom Z3735F memory controller allows for 2 GB in single-channel mode (DDR3L-1333). This is the amount of RAM installed in the considered modification of the Intel Compute Stick. The system is also equipped with a built-in 32 GB eMMC flash drive (Samsung MBG4GC). The Realtek RTL8723BS controller is responsible for working with wireless networks, providing communication via Wi-Fi 802.11bgn (1 × 1, 150 Mb / s) and Bluetooth 4.0.

On the considered modification of the Intel Compute Stick, the Windows 8.1 operating system with Bing was initially installed, which obviously can be painlessly upgraded to Windows 10 after its announcement. This uses a 32-bit version of the OS, which is quite logical, given the amount of RAM available.

Performance and usage details

Obviously, the performance of the system in this case is determined by the processor used. In general, we have repeatedly considered the capabilities of PCs and tablets based on chips from the Intel Bay Trail family. As one of the manufacturer's slogans used for the Compute Stick says, "We have reduced the size of the system, but not its performance." And this is how it really is. First, some results of synthetic tests.

The results are quite expected. Yes, the speed indicators are not amazing, especially in terms of graphic capabilities. In this regard, I would very much like to see a Compute Stick based on 14-nanometer Chery Trail chips, which have become even more economical, slightly more productive and received integrated 8th generation graphics (Gen 8) with 12 computing modules and support for DirectX 11.2. Unfortunately, the company introduced these SoCs only in March, while the Inte Compute Stick was announced at CES 2015 in January. We will probably see new processors in the "computing sticks", but the next generation.

The capabilities of the current system are quite sufficient for a fairly wide range of tasks. There is no problem opening several heavy pages with complex layout. Although especially zealous here, too, is not worth it. Browsers require more and more RAM, and with only 2 GB of RAM, you have to curb your appetites. Otherwise, the responsiveness of the system is reduced. Compute Stick confidently handles office applications. Serious voluminous projects are unlikely to be processed on such a system, but relatively simple documents can be edited quite comfortably.

The gaming capabilities of the Intel Compute Stick are not great. The built-in graphics core will provide a comfortable level of frames / c only in simple casual projects. Much more confident compact PC looks like a universal media player.

The list of video formats for which hardware decoding is supported is quite compelling. With DXVA support, the system can easily handle streams with bit rates up to 100 Mb/s.

When using an Intel Compute Stick, you should be rational about the choice of applications used and the list of tasks that are set for the system. Here, in general, the same approaches and principles work as for mobile systems with basic performance. You can try to work with layers in Photoshop or start editing a video, but this is a thankless task. Each task has its own tool.

The reviewed version of the Intel Compute Stick is equipped with a 32 GB eMMC drive. At the same time, part of the disk is allocated for a backup partition, which is necessary for the possibility of restoring the system. A significant part of the drive is initially occupied by Windows 8.1 Bing. After the first start, before updating the operating system and installing additional applications, the system owner has approximately 19.5 GB of free disk space. As practice shows, such volumes are processed very quickly. The disk subsystem can be expanded by additionally installing a Micro SD flash card up to 128 GB.

As for the performance of the internal drive, its speed performance is more likely to be expected for eMMC - not very fast, but quite tolerable, especially for a disk installed in a PC of such a compact format.

To connect additional peripherals, the Intel Compute Stick offers one full-size USB 2.0 port. On the one hand, it's great that it is, in principle, on a platform of such dimensions, on the other hand, one USB connector is not enough for many situations. The examples begin with the inability to connect the usual wired mouse and keyboard. Obviously, in this case, it is worth taking care of the wireless kit in advance. Although, even here it is not without nuances. For sets with a radio module, you need to connect an external receiver to the system, which actually will occupy the only USB connector. Peripherals connected via Bluetooth in this case, perhaps, are preferable. But here it is important not to sell cheap - the most affordable mice / keyboards with Bluetooth often suffer from mediocre responsiveness in the process.

The USB hub for 4-8 additional ports solves the issue of connecting peripherals radically here. It is also worth considering here that the USB port on the Compute Stick offers a current of up to 500 mA, that is, the total power of the connected consumers should not exceed 2.5 watts. Connecting several external hard drives and wired peripherals to the hub at once will not work. For such a body kit, you need an active USB hub with additional power. Such a device radically solves the problem, but it requires another electrical outlet, and in general, in this configuration, the topology of the platform is already somewhat changing. Instead of a simple compact solution, we get a branched system with a lot of additional wires, which requires three free sockets to work.

Power consumption, noise and heat

In rest mode, the "baby" with the receiver of the wireless kit installed in the USB connector consumes about 3-3.5W. In the absence of load, the cooling system operates in passive mode, and the SoC heats up to 45-50C. After some activities, when the processor temperature reaches 60 degrees, the fan starts. It was not possible to register the speed of its rotation by well-known utilities. Subjectively, it is felt that the rotational speed changes in a certain range depending on the heating of the processor. During the maximum load on the computing cores, the CPU temperature rose to 70 degrees.

The noise level emitted by the fan is low, but in a quiet home environment, if the stick is connected to a working monitor, it is not difficult to hear it. If the system is connected to a TV set at a distance of 2-3 meters from the user, then the presence of a fan should definitely not be embarrassing. The same is true for office work. Of course, the ideal option would be to use a passive cooling system, which would remove all issues with the level of noise emitted. But, as you can see, Intel has relied on efficient heat dissipation and a safe temperature regime for the system.

Under load on the CPU and GPU blocks, the system's power consumption is about 8-9 W, while while watching HD video, the Compute Stick's consumption is 5-6 W. It's not the 20-30 watts that a NUC class system requires. The difference is quite noticeable, but that's exactly what we expected from a PC with such a compact form factor and an economical hardware platform.

Price

Intel Compute Stick will be presented in two versions. A version with 2 GB of RAM, a 32 GB drive and Windows 8.1 with Bing is already available in the US market for $149. The model with Linux Ubuntu 14.04 LTS will cost $110, but this version will be equipped with 1 GB of RAM and an internal disk with a capacity of 8 GB. The price is relatively low, but at the same time, this is not an ultra-budget solution. In the nascent segment of computing "sticks", the cost is great importance. The order of prices is different and $20-30 is already a significant difference. To the cost of the device, you should also add the amount needed to purchase a mouse / keyboard kit, and if you are going to actively use additional peripherals, then you can’t do without buying a USB hub.

Making a choice in the direction of keychain format systems, you need quite strong arguments and a justified model for using an ultra-compact platform, because slightly more expensive mini-PCs offer more functionality.

Results

The Intel Compute Stick lets you turn any TV or monitor with an HDMI output into a complete, workable system. With a familiar operating system and a set of necessary applications. At the sight of solutions like the Intel Compute Stick, the progress of computing systems is especially felt. The capabilities of a PC for which not so long ago a classic was needed system unit, are now implemented in a key fob, lost in a shirt pocket. Yes, of course, such a "stick" will not fully replace a desktop or laptop, and it certainly does not pretend to be the only computer in the house. However, at a relatively low cost, it can turn a large TV into another computer that handles everyday tasks and network activities, as well as allows you to watch videos. various formats and lightly entertain yourself with casual games.

The Intel Compute Stick is the manufacturer's first iteration in this segment. The platform is not yet perfect, at least there are quite certain parameters that we would like to improve. Of course, such a compact solution has its own nuances of use, but if the spirit of technical adventurism is alive in you, then such a PC will be very interesting even as an object for experiments. At the same time, the ease of connection and the initial readiness of the system to work allows you not to limit the circle of potential owners of the Intel Comppute Stick to only enthusiasts.

Liked

Very compact dimensions

Performance sufficient for everyday tasks

Full USB port available

Micro SD card slot (up to 128 GB)

HDMI extender included

Operating system Windows 8.1 with Bing

Did not like

- Modest integrated graphics capabilities

– Active cooling system

- Small amount of internal storage

Today, almost any TV, secondary monitor, or even a projector equipped with an HDMI port can turn into a Windows 10 PC in just a few seconds. The secret to this magical transformation is a new generation of micro-desktops, like Intel's Compute Stick, priced at about 13,500 rubles ($159). They are only slightly larger than a USB dongle and plug into a redundant HDMI port.

Such microcomputers allow you to take a fresh look at the concept of a pocket PC. Starting with the original Computer Stick that made a splash at CES 2015 and was modified in 2016, you can finally get a full pocket knife-sized Windows desktop. The latest version of the Computer Stick currently sells for 13,500 rubles ($159) at retail, though that price may be even lower.

All this is part of the growing trend of miniaturization of such devices. Set-top boxes like Roku or Amazon Fire TV are the size of a small book. Similar solutions are available for desktop computers. Unless, of course, you are willing to put up with some inconvenience.

The Computer Stick, like its counterparts, is by no means a hi-end device. In fact, they are somewhere on the level of inexpensive laptops under $200. They carry a low-power Intel Atom processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of flash storage (most of which is occupied by the operating system).

However, those who need to quickly turn a TV or monitor into a computer rarely need anything more than simple web surfing, streaming video or other online services for which this functionality is more than enough.

The Computer Stick is longer this year, but has an extra USB port

Computer Stick 2016. What has changed?

The 2016 model has evolved in a positive direction. Outwardly, it is still the same small block with a matte surface and rounded corners. It's a bit longer than its predecessor, but that's forgivable as it now has two USB ports (one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0) versus the one on its predecessor. The WiFi antenna now supports the 802.11ac standard (although WiFi problems have been noted with its predecessor), and the Intel Atom processor has been updated to the latest version called Cherry Trail. Although even with the old processor, last year's model played HD video very well. And this is despite the fact that Atom processors, regardless of generation, are by no means intended for everyday work computers.

Specifications

• Estimated price- 13,500 rubles ($159);
• Processor - Intel Atom x5-Z8300, 1.44GHz;
• RAM - 2048MB DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz;
• Video adapter - 128MB (dedicated) intel HD Graphics;
• Permanent memory - 32GB SSD;
• Operating system - Windows 10 Home (32-bit).

Design and functionality

Compute Stick design, regardless of generation, is sleek and minimalist. At least, it seems so at first glance. And of course, installing and running it is a little more complicated than just "inserting into an HDMI port."

First, you need food. So don't forget the Micro-USB cable and power supply. This time the cable is longer, a little less than a meter, but it's still an extra wire. Perhaps in the future, some new version HDMI, it will be possible to supply power directly through the video port, but this is still a long way off. Also, in case the dimensions do not allow you to insert the unit directly into the HDMI port of the TV, an additional HDMI cable is provided.

Next in line is the keyboard and/or mouse. There are several options here. You can connect wired versions (thankfully there are now two USB ports). Or you can use the wireless options by connecting them via a USB radio or via Bluetooth. Last option is the most preferred because you do not need to occupy USB ports with cables or radios. Especially, given the fact that there are already enough cables.

Intel also offers an app called Intel Remote Keyboard available for iOS and Android that will allow you to connect on-screen keyboard and touchpad from your smartphone or tablet. This is quite handy if you only need basic access to the system, or if you plan to use your mouse for navigation and your smartphone's on-screen keyboard for entering passwords or URLs.

Ports and Connectors

• Video - HDMI;
• Audio - no;
• Data - 1xUSB 3.0, 1xUSB 2.0, micro-SD cart reader up to 128GB;
• Network - WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0;
• Optical drive - missing.

Performance

Last year's first-generation Compute Stick had decent performance. Power was enough for Web-surfing and media player. But she was also prone to sudden slowdowns. The new processor installed on the 2016 version (or by name, Cherry Trail vs. Bay Trail) performs similar or even more modest results in our benchmark tests, but you most likely won't even feel the difference. They both compete well against another Kangaroo Mobile Desktop Computer micro PC and Lenovo's inexpensive 100S laptop. Determining a clear leader is quite difficult.

Well, as a dessert, do not forget about Windows 10. Recall that last year's version had only Windows 8. At the same time, Windows 10 is better optimized for weak machines, which somewhat alleviates the inconvenience of use.

As a result of the test, new model a little faster than its predecessor (probably thanks to Windows 10 and the Edge browser), but running multiple tasks at the same time still causes lag. However, with basic tasks, such as launching Netflix or YouTube, the mini-PC is quite capable.

The Computer Stick 2016 will also handle light games quite well, but the small amount of memory left after running the operating system leaves a limited selection of older games like Torchlight or Amnesia: The Dark Descent that will run on almost any platform. If you want something more, then remember the micro-SD card slot, which supports cards up to 128GB.

Conclusion

Prices for micro PCs have fallen sharply close to the $100 mark, so $159 for an Intel Computer Stick is expensive. This is despite good performance (relative to) the new configuration, as well as two USB ports, which can be very useful.

In principle, the same Asus Chromebit boasts better performance, even for a lower price. But it has ChromeOS, which means no new apps. If you're looking for a more powerful Windows-based micro PC, check out Intel's latest Core M release later this year. But keep in mind that it will be twice as expensive.

As a video or web surfer for everyday use or travelling, secure transportation of business data or applications, or just trying to breathe new life into an old TV or monitor, the Compute Stick is well out of the price range. But if Intel can bring the price down to $99, then I will say that this will be a “must have” product for anyone who is interested in such functionality.

Pros: The second generation of the Intel Compute Stick handheld has received several improvements and is great for everyday web surfing and HD video playback.

Minuses: There is very little memory, so installing applications or downloading videos is problematic. In spite of modern design, additional adapters and a tangle of cables greatly spoil the impression.

Outcome: Intel has fixed last year's handheld blunders, but be prepared for weak specs. However, for e-mail, social networks or video - the resources provided are enough.

Single-chip systems of the Bay Trail family are found today in smartphones, tablets, compact motherboards and microcomputers. The Silvermont architecture proved to be a significant step forward for Intel and allowed it to strengthen its position in the mobile market. Perhaps the most successful was the Z3700 series, which even opened up a second wind to the microcomputer segment.

With four cores and a typical power consumption of 2 or 2.2 W, these models have made it possible to create products that support the operating system. Windows systems, able to cope with the common mass tasks of the "typewriter" - the Internet, office, multimedia. At the same time, one must understand that such a reduction in power did not go unnoticed. The chips targeted by the manufacturer for the tablet segment have significant limitations in terms of hardware configuration, including the maximum amount of RAM of 1, 2 or 4 GB and the lack of modern fast external peripheral interfaces. However, as experience has shown, such products are very interesting for a certain category of users, especially considering their relatively low price.

This spring, we already tested one of these models, and today we will get acquainted with a microcomputer developed by Intel itself, which they called the Intel Compute Stick. One of the key characteristics of the device is ease of use - "Connect, Compute, It's that simple."

This solution in the HDMI dongle format is interesting for its compact size, sufficient performance for popular tasks and affordable price. The company positions the device as an addition to monitors or TVs, turning them into a "real computer". Use cases mentioned include basic office PC, multimedia, thin client, and video advertising.

Two modifications of the device are presented:

• with Windows 8.1 with Bing, 2 GB RAM and 32 GB storage
• with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, 1 GB RAM and 8 GB storage

The remaining characteristics of these modifications are the same. AT this testing participated in the first version.

Delivery set and appearance

Intel has both the experience and the ability to ensure the attractiveness of its solutions on the shelves of retail chains, photographs in catalogs of online stores, and simply in the hands of the user. The Intel Compute Stick comes in a bright, sturdy cardboard box that some smartphone vendors might envy. Used glossy and matte varnish, there are photos of the device, technical specifications, description of ports and connectors. In Russian - only a couple of words with an explanation of the configuration.

The computer itself is placed in a special insert at the top of the box. The rest of the space is occupied by a short (20 cm) HDMI cable (female-female), a 1-meter Micro-USB cable, a 5 V 2 A power supply with a set of inserts for different sockets, a quick start guide and a card for activating an annual antivirus subscription. McAfee. This is just enough to work with a computer.

True, there are small comments on individual elements. In particular, HDMI cable it would be possible to make it rigid with shape memory, and put the cable outlet on the power supply on the side, and not from the end. Still, when we talk about compactness, spending 11 cm from the socket plane is not very convenient.

On the manufacturer's website in the support section, you can download driver and BIOS updates for this device. True, for the second there is a certain comment on the complexity of the installation process. Of course, against the background of the almost complete lack of support for similar nameless products, this is not bad, but still, in this case, it was worth somehow simplifying and improving these points.

The case of the computer is made of strong black plastic. At the same time, one element is glossy, which can hardly be called the optimal choice, given the positioning of the model, and the second is matte. Overall dimensions without HDMI connector are 38×104×12.5 mm.

On one of the short ends there is a connector for connecting to a monitor. Luckily, the manufacturer used a full-sized HDMI variant, so in most cases, no adapters are required. However, it should be noted that the width of the body of the model is large enough, so it will not be convenient to use it with all TVs. In this case, a complete extension cord will be useful.

The downside of using this format is the difficulty of placing it in a rack with equipment or at a great distance from the receiver, since the required cables of sufficient length are found in the assortment of specialized stores much less often than traditional options. Perhaps it was worth adding a compact adapter to go to the HDMI jack in the box.

On the top glossy cover of the device, in addition to the manufacturer's logo, you can see two ventilation grilles (one more pair is present at the ends). Moreover, a fan is visible under the large of them. Yes, despite the low declared power consumption of the device, it has an active cooling system. As we will see in the tests, this solution ensures that the processor does not throttling even under high load, however, it leads to the fact that the model can no longer be called a silent model. There's also a blue power LED, and there's a lanyard hole on the rib that could probably be used for basic theft protection as well.

All connectors and ports of the model are located on the long ends. On one slot for memory cards with a latch. You may need a tool to install or remove the card. On the other hand, it does not protrude from the case during operation.

On the other side we see the power button. Perhaps it is too close to HDMI, but still quite convenient due to its shape. Next comes Micro-USB to supply power to the computer and standard USB 2.0 Type A for connecting peripherals.

On the bottom cover of the system you can see identification numbers models. The device is meant to be so light (55g) that it will simply "hang" on an HDMI connector or extender. Not the best option in terms of reliability. Especially when you consider the relatively weak Micro-USB and the high likelihood of using the "big" USB port at the same time.

In general, we see that for the sake of a compact size, we had to make some compromises in the design. The solution is more of a product for geeks or a sample for other companies than a truly mass product for the end user.

Specifications

The solution uses SoC Intel Atom Z3735F as the main element of the hardware platform. We have already met with this model in previous publications. For this chip, the SDP is 2.2 W, so it is quite appropriate for this device format. The model has four cores with support for 64-bit computing. In the absence of load, their frequency drops to 500 MHz, its nominal value is 1.33 GHz, and in the overclocking mode (Burst) it can reach 1.83 GHz. Today, when automatic frequency control technologies are actively used, the exact values ​​\u200b\u200bdo not make much sense, since the criteria for their selection are also set by the system manufacturer.

As we wrote earlier, this processor modification is one of the youngest in the family. It supports only 2 GB of single-channel RAM, does not have a USB 3.0 controller, and the maximum video output resolution is FullHD.

In the device under consideration, 2 GB DDR3L-1333 is installed. Out of the box, the operating system already takes up about 700 MB, so there is no need to talk about the possibility of effective multitasking with resource-intensive applications.

The Intel HD Graphics supports DirectX 11 and OGL 3.2 and has hardware decoding units for popular video formats (which does not include H.265). The HDMI video output allows you to connect monitors with resolutions up to 1920x1080 and is also the only wired audio output option from your computer.

As with other microPCs based on such a platform, we tried to test the media center scenario with the device discussed in this article. It should be noted that due to the limited speed of the wireless module, the use of this model for full-fledged viewing of video in maximum quality and with HD sound does not seem to be a very convenient option. In addition, here we have some difficulties with the bitstreaming of multichannel audio tracks. So in this case, we can only talk about basic functions to view online video or files with stereo tracks and low bitrate.

The device is equipped with one standard (Type A) USB 2.0 port. It can be used to connect keyboards, mice, drives and other standard devices. Unfortunately, there was no place on the case for at least one more port. So in fact, the most convenient option would be to use a computer with input devices connected via Bluetooth, or work with a USB hub in the monitor.

The built-in SSD in this model appears in Device Manager as Samsung MBG4GC. It has an eMMC interface and a capacity of 32 GB. There is a 6.35 GB operating system recovery partition on the disk, so about 22.55 GB is left for the user, and 19.8 GB is free out of the box. After installation actual updates at the time of testing, the amount of free space is reduced to 16.9 GB. Note the presence of a microSDXC port in the computer, so that you can relatively easily expand the amount of space for storing user data.

The only regular way to connect to the network - the built-in Wi-Fi controller is based on the Realtek RTL8723BS chip, connected via SDIO, since there are no other methods provided in this platform. This chip was introduced last year and provides the implementation of a wireless adapter 802.11b / g / n with support for the 2.4 GHz band and a maximum connection speed of 150 Mbps, as well as Bluetooth 4.0. There is no mention of BLE support in the device specifications.

Present in the product and implementation wireless connection displays natively supported by Windows. When working with the Netgear PCTV3000 adapter, the resolution of the additional monitor was 1366 × 768, it was possible to output video and sound to it.

The computer is powered by the Micro-USB port. The stated requirements for the power supply are 5 V 2 A. We will try to evaluate the real consumption in the testing section.

It is quite expected that there are no options for changing the configuration in such a compact package. The only thing left for the user is to install a memory card to increase the disk space.

The modification in question comes with a 32-bit version of the operating system. Microsoft systems Windows with Bing. No additional software is installed on the computer, except for the complete antivirus subscription, but you will need to download it yourself.

When the device is turned on for the first time, the user will be prompted to specify several parameters for the operation of the operating system, including the ability to select the interface language (Russian is on the list). Further operation of the product is no different from traditional personal computers.

Testing

Since we have already met such a platform both in tablets and microcomputers, the approximate level of its performance is known. The product is suitable for mass tasks that are not demanding on computing speed - browsing Internet sites (with a reasonable number of tabs in the browser), working with e-mail, editing simple office documents, consuming multimedia content (photos, music, videos), communicating via the network, casual games and so on.

The main remarks in this case relate to the small amount of RAM and the low performance of network access. The first problem can be dealt with by launching only those needed in this moment applications, and the second you can try to solve using external network adapters with a USB interface.

As we wrote above, the performance of the system in the case of such solutions depends not so much on the main platform, but on the settings of the processor operating modes, the choice of RAM modules and the characteristics of the system drive. So let's start this section by checking individual components.

The computing cores of a single-chip system in idle mode operate at a frequency of 500 MHz. When a load appears in the form of processor stress tests of the AIDA64 program, they are overclocked to 1583 MHz. The temperature of the cores in this mode is about 60 degrees. Recall that this product has a built-in fan, which allows you to keep the heat at a reasonable level in the entire operating temperature range from 0 to 35 degrees.

If you put a load on all the components of the system at once, then the temperatures rise to about 70 degrees, but even in this mode, throttling does not occur. In terms of clock speeds, the cores switch between 1333 and 1583 MHz states.

You can see the maximum declared frequency of 1833 MHz on a single-threaded load, for example, in the LinX test, running in one thread.

As we can see, the fan greatly helps to ensure a high level of performance and ensure a comfortable temperature. The price of this is slightly increased, in comparison with some other similar solutions, the size of the computer case and the noise produced by the fan. Fortunately, if there is no load and no heat, it is completely off. It is not possible to determine the exact parameters of the fan operation algorithm. Observation of it during stress tests showed that it probably turns on when temperatures reach about 60 degrees and turns off when they drop to 50 degrees. At the same time, the fan speed is constant and it is impossible to check it programmatically. Such characteristics lead to the fact that during the Futuremark tests the fan was almost constantly running.

Comparison with the previous system, not equipped with an active cooling system, is clearly in favor of the Intel solution. Most likely, this will also provide a higher level of performance in resource-intensive tasks due to the absence of a decrease in the frequencies of processor cores.

Now let's look at the AIDA64 report on working with RAM. Recall that this SoC uses a single-channel memory controller.

The results are almost identical to those previously seen on this platform. A similar comment can be made for synthetic GPGPU tests.

So, from the point of view of the processor and RAM parameters chosen by the manufacturer, there are no comments.

More important for the user is the speed of the system drive. The use of the eMMC interface alone does not guarantee certain performance. Much depends on the controller and flash memory chips.

In this case, we can say that the choice turned out to be quite successful - streaming read and write speeds exceed 160 and 70 MB / s, respectively. This, of course, is not SATA or PCIe, but the values ​​\u200b\u200bare very good for this segment.

Let's look at the same time and work with external drives - a SanDisk Ultra memory card and a USB 2.0 connected (using a hub and additional power) solid state drive.

Considering that in this case we will rather not be talking about exchanging large amounts of data with a standard disk, but directly working with external drives, the maximum speeds shown at the level of 20-30 MB / s can also be assessed as quite worthy.

Today, the use of computers without network access is almost impossible, so the characteristics and speed of network adapters can make a big difference. In this case, the platform limits the manufacturer to the SDIO interface, and the one installed in the model under consideration wireless adapter does not strike the imagination and is similar to those installed in mass inexpensive smartphones - 802.11n in the 2.4 GHz band with a single antenna and a maximum connection speed of 150 Mbps. In ideal line-of-sight conditions at a distance of several meters, it shows a performance of 50 Mbps. However, in reality, given the format of the device and its likely location, things could be much worse. When installed behind a monitor and connected to a router that was about six meters behind one wall, the speed drops to 15 Mbps. Talking about comfortable work in this case is already difficult. For example, after turning on the computer for the first time, it decided to download about one gigabyte of updates for the operating system ... In addition, such speeds significantly limit multimedia scenarios with network sources or media libraries.

Now let's move on to Futuremark integrated benchmarks - PCMark 7, PCMark 8 and 3DMark. For comparison, the tables will show the results of Foxconn Ultra Nano PC on a similar platform, which we tested a couple of months ago. Recall that the synthetics showed the proximity of the participants in computational tests, the difference in speed drives and significant differences in the processor under high load. All tests were carried out with a connected monitor resolution of 1920×1080 pixels.

Scenarios PCMark 7	Intel Compute Stick	Foxconn Ultra Nano PC
PCMark score	2395	1993
lightweight	2339	1934
Productivity	1807	1585
Entertainment	1579	1189
creativity	4786	3424
Computation	5822	4570
System Storage	4096	3059

Depending on the scenario, the advantage of the first participant ranges from 14 to 40%. To explain this only with a faster drive, perhaps, will not work. Most likely, the work of the central processor of the system also plays a role here. This version of the test does not have convenient tools for checking its parameters, but PCMark 8 reports are more informative. But let's look at the results first.

Scenarios PCMark 8	Intel Compute Stick	Foxconn Ultra Nano PC
home accelerated 3.0	1078	971
Creative accelerated 3.0	956	855
Work accelerated 2.0	1137	1143

In the first two tests, the advantage of the Intel solution is about ten percent, and the third works equally well on these devices. The test of the system drive in the Intel Compute Stick could not be carried out due to its small volume.

This version of the test package has useful opportunity View graphs of temperature (turquoise line) and frequency (purple line) of the processor, which will allow us to compare the two systems in more detail. In this case, the graphs refer to the launch of the Creative template. The time scale is slightly different, but some features can be found.

First of all, it is worth noting that the average temperature line for the Intel system goes at 60 degrees, and for the opponent - at 80 degrees. As for the frequency, the first participant boasts a stable 1583 MHz in the Music To Go and Video Editing Part 2 v2 templates, while the second solution is sometimes forced to drop the frequency to 500 MHz, which clearly affects the result.

Let's now look at the graphics tests of the 3DMark package. Despite the fact that solutions cannot be called gaming, graphics performance today still plays a role in other applications.

3D Mark scripts		Intel Compute Stick	Foxconn Ultra Nano PC
ice storm	Score	10861	8741
	Graphics score	10490	8737
	Physics score	12401	8756
Ice Storm Extreme	Score	6737	4719
	Graphics score	5975	4223
	Physics score	12173	8020
cloud gate	Score	1022	1020
	Graphics score	1019	1044
	Physics score	1034	946

In Ice Storm scenarios, the advantage of the Intel solution ranges from 20% to 50%. But the Cloud gate differs slightly in products. Let's see here, what was the situation with temperatures and frame rates during the Ice Storm test.

As in the previous comparison, first let's pay attention to the temperature scale, and then to the dynamics of frame rate changes. There is one more confirmation of the correctness of the active cooling solution chosen by Intel.

Despite the use in the model under consideration of one of the junior modifications of the Bay Trail-T family, we can say that it quite successfully copes with the tasks stated for it in terms of performance. Of course, there are certain trade-offs in terms of multitasking, network speed and storage capacity, but understanding these boundaries, the device may be in demand for many categories of users.

As a supplement, we present the values ​​of the power consumed by the device obtained in several scenarios. The model was connected to a monitor, a Logitech wireless receiver for keyboard and mouse was installed in the USB port, and a 32 GB memory card was present in the microSD slot. The evaluation was carried out by averaging over five minutes of measurements of the current consumed by the Micro-USB port in several scenarios: inactivity, communication over wireless network, CPU stress test in AIDA64, stress test of all components in AIDA64.

As we can see, in the requirements for the power supply 2 A are indicated with a large margin (however, we did not take into account the use of external drives). The real maximum consumption in our configuration is only slightly more than 5 watts. So in most practical use cases, a regular USB output on a TV or other device may be quite enough for a computer.

Conclusion

Before evaluating the device, let's look at the prices. For the considered modification with Windows, the manufacturer indicates the recommended cost of $149, the version with Ubuntu is planned to be sold for $99. Given that you only need a keyboard and mouse to operate, these numbers look quite attractive. As expected from a manufacturer like Intel, the computer has a good design and interesting appearance, well-built and has a sufficient package. Separately, it is worth mentioning the effective solution to the issue of overheating, which allows to ensure stable performance. However, we would recommend that a potential buyer carefully evaluate their requirements before purchasing this device.

The microcomputer is quite capable of handling the traditional basic set of Internet+Office+Multimedia tasks. This is facilitated by efficient cores of the main chip, a good graphics unit and a fast system drive. The optimization of the Windows 8.1 operating system also plays a certain role. But to approach this solution as a familiar desktop computer, even if entry level probably not worth it. The limited amount of RAM can affect multitasking, and the lack of fast external interfaces reduces the comfort when performing some tasks.

We have already mentioned above the scenarios for using the Intel Compute Stick, proposed by the manufacturer. Testing showed that all of them fit into the concept and capabilities of the model. We can offer a few more - an additional computer for the kitchen, living room or nursery, a mobile solution for those users who often need to work in different places, an emulator game consoles past generations, microserver, home automation controller, transport solution. True, in almost every case, you will have to make some compromises, for example, in terms of connecting peripherals, appearance, or ease of management, but, in general, we do not see significant problems in these tasks. It is also worth mentioning the need in some cases to independently resolve issues with additional software, for example, to implement a multifunctional media center.

It would be interesting to look at a similar microcomputer with older versions of the family, which, with a similar heat pack, have more fast controller RAM, support for 4 GB, increased frequencies of processor cores and graphics. True, most likely, this will be a completely different segment in terms of cost, since the chips themselves are more than twice as expensive, and the board for them is more complicated. And there already before Intel NUC near. In any case, a full-fledged x86 computer with an operating system for $150, and even under the Intel brand, is clearly worth paying attention to this combination.

Video review

In conclusion, we suggest watching our video review of the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer:

Microcomputers are different - really “micro” and slightly larger, not very productive and generally not very suitable for anything other than Internet surfing. This type today includes a whole host of different devices with different capabilities and purposes, but it is not easy to find a model that is powerful enough in its class among the apparent variety. It is even more difficult to find such a PC in Russia. The models that are on the market today, for the most part, are only suitable for Internet surfing and watching movies with far from the highest resolution. Intel itself decided to correct the situation by releasing a microcomputer based on a hardware platform of its own design. We are talking about the Intel Bay Trail platform in the Intel Bay Trail-T variant, designed primarily for tablet computers, but successfully used in many other devices. In the new microcomputer, everything is from Intel - both the design and the filling. Well, who, if not Intel itself, knows better what form factor and with what functionality a device based on the Intel hardware platform should have?

⇡ Contents of delivery

The device comes in a compact blue Intel corporate cardboard box. Inside, in addition to the microcomputer itself, the following accessories were found:

• HDMI cable;
• USB ↔ Micro-USB cable;
• power adapter with a set of four plugs of different standards;
• short printed user guide;
• activation card for an annual subscription to McAfee antivirus.

We will get acquainted with the purpose of accessories in more detail a little later, but for now we will consider the technical characteristics of the novelty.

⇡ Specifications

Intel Compute Stick
CPU	Intel Atom Z3735F, 4 × 1.33 GHz (1.83 GHz), 2 MB L3
Graphics controller	Intel HD Graphics
RAM	2 GB DDR3L-1333 (667 MHz) (soldered)
Storage System	1 × eMMC 5.0 32 GB, Samsung MBG4GC
Flash card slot	microSDXC
	1 × USB 2.0 type A 1 × Micro-USB (power supply only) 1 x HDMI 1.4a
WiFi	802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth	4.0
Sound	Intel High Definition Audio
Food	Power adapter 5V, 2W; By USB
Size, mm	104×38×13
Weight, g	54
Operating system	Windows 8.1 with Bing 32-bit
Manufacturer's official warranty, months	12
Estimated price*, rub.	10 500

* Average price for "Yandex.Market" at the time of writing.

The microcomputer is available in two versions - with different operating systems: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Windows 8.1 with Bing. We got the second option for testing. Interestingly, the manufacturer slightly cheated the version of the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer running Ubuntu, providing it with smaller amounts of RAM and disk subsystem and making it cheaper, respectively. As for the second version of this device, which came to our test lab, its OS has a 32-bit kernel. But the word Bing in the title means little to the user, except that this not the most popular search engine is built into the Internet Explorer browser. If you want - use it, but if you don't want - any other.

Processor and chipset information

As mentioned above, the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer is based on the Intel Bay Trail-T platform with a quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F, which already belongs to the second generation of processors for this platform, released last spring and developed on the 22-nanometer Silvermont architecture. This processor is one of the most inexpensive in the line, and therefore has a minimum clock frequency, which in the nominal mode is 1.33 GHz and can be increased to 1.83 GHz in turbo mode. The L2 cache is 2 MB. The processor belongs to very economical models. The SDP (Scenario Design Power), that is, the level of average power consumption during everyday work, is only 2.2 watts for it. Obviously, most often an active cooling system is not required for this processor, but in the case of the Intel Compute Stick, it is still implemented.

In general, there are many much more interesting models in the Intel Bay Trail-T processor family. Why the manufacturer chose the Intel Atom Z3735F, which is distinguished by a number of serious limitations regarding RAM, video output and other interfaces, is not clear. Most likely, this was done for economic reasons, because a more productive device will cost more, which means that the consumer circle will be completely different.

Memory Information

One of the most important limitations of the Intel Atom Z3735F processor is that it has a single-channel RAM controller, the maximum amount of which is not four, like other processor modifications, but two gigabytes. That is how much is soldered on the Intel Compute Stick motherboard. The DDR3L-1333 module is used, that is, the maximum possible frequency for the Intel Atom Z3735F. The amount of RAM in the microcomputer is small, but its modification with Ubuntu is even smaller - only 1 GB.

Information about the integrated video adapter

The Intel Atom Z3735F processor has an integrated four-executor Intel HD Graphics that runs at a base clock speed of 311 MHz and can be overclocked to 646 MHz when needed. We have already met this video adapter more than once, but it has different operating frequencies for different processors, so it will be possible to talk about the performance and capabilities of Intel HD Graphics only after testing. We only add that in this case the video adapter works with a resolution of no higher than 1920 × 1080 pixels, that is, Full HD, while other processors of the Intel Bay Trail-T family can display an image with a resolution of 4K.

The disk subsystem of the microcomputer is represented by a Samsung MBG4GC eMMC module with a capacity of 32 GB (29.0 GB available). The disk is represented by one working partition with a capacity of 22.55 GB, on which the operating system is installed. The rest of the volume is given over to service information and the recovery partition. As in the case of RAM, there is an urgent desire to increase the capacity of the built-in disk subsystem of the Intel Compute Stick at least twice, but, alas, this is not possible. Well, the modification of the microcomputer with Ubuntu has an eMMC module with a capacity of only 8 GB. In this case, nothing but a video player and a couple of other utilities will simply not fit on this disk. You will have to use flash cards, because on board the Intel Compute Stick there is a microSDXC reader.

To connect external drives and other devices, the microcomputer has a single USB port. The fact that the port is the only one is easily explained by the lack of free space on board the novelty. In addition, the manufacturer has placed not a reduced, but a full-sized version of the Type A USB port. If necessary, you will have to use a USB hub, which, by the way, can also be the video panel itself, to which the Compute Stick is connected. But the fact that the USB interface of the Intel Compute Stick has a specification not of 3.0, but of 2.0 should be counted among the shortcomings in which the processor used is again to blame. While other models from the Intel Bay Trail-T family have a built-in USB 3.0 controller, the Intel Atom Z3735F processor differs in working only with the 2.0 bus.

The set of wireless communications from the Intel Compute Stick is normal. A Realtek RTL8723BS module is installed on board, providing 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. As for the sound, the novelty is broadcast via the HDMI interface - no separate connectors are provided in the device. Power is supplied via USB, for which there is an additional Micro-USB port on board, which can be connected either to one of the USB ports of the video panel, or to the power adapter supplied.

⇡ Appearance

Looks like an Intel Compute Stick regular flash drive, but not too compact and with an HDMI interface instead of USB. The device easily fits into your pocket, so if you wish, you can use one computer at work, at home, in the country, and with friends. It’s just that you won’t be able to work with it on the road - you can’t also carry a monitor with you.

The body of the novelty is made of black plastic and consists of two halves. The bottom and side faces have a rough surface, but the top panel is lacquered. Naturally, it instantly attracts fingerprints and dust, and then the first scratches appear on it. The user can compensate for the extremely impractical decision of the manufacturer only by not removing the protective plastic film from the gloss or sticking his own.

The main interface of the device - HDMI video output - is located on one of the narrow side faces. Since the case of a microcomputer is still not quite “micro”, connecting it to a video panel without a short extension cord from the delivery set can be very problematic.

All other Intel Compute Stick interfaces are located on the long side faces. On the one hand, there are USB 2.0 and Micro-USB ports, a power control button, and a loop for attaching some kind of lace or cable that ensures the safety of the device if the video panel with it is placed in a public place. On the other side of the case is only a microSDXC memory card reader. As for the top lacquered panel, it has a blue LED power indicator and two large ventilation windows, behind one of which a miniature fan is visible. small ventilation holes carry side faces.

⇡

The manufacturer does not assume that the user will open the plastic case of the device, since there are no replaceable parts inside it. Nevertheless, disassembling the novelty was not difficult. The entire internal space is occupied by the motherboard, closed by a composite aluminum radiator. The huge Type A USB port looks like something from another world here - strange and archaic. However, its presence is an undoubted advantage of the design, so you should not find fault.

The compact fan is mounted on the case cover and is connected to a connector on the motherboard with a long and very thin wire. From three sides resting against the edges of the cover, the fan housing has blank walls. And only that of its side face, which is facing the radiator, as well as the lower plane, are open for the intake of heated air.

⇡ Testing

For comparison Intel performance Compute Stick, we used the results of testing one of the contemporaries of this device that visited our laboratory - the ECS LIVA X model. It's not as compact, but it's still a mini PC based on the Intel Bay Trail-M platform with an Intel Celeron N2808 dual-core processor running at 1.58 to 2.25 GHz. It has 4 GB of DDR3L-1333 RAM soldered on the motherboard and the same as the Intel Compute Stick, integrated graphics core Intel HD Graphics with only one difference - the maximum core frequency is not 646, but 792 MHz. The disk subsystem of these PCs is also similar. For ECS LIVA X, it is represented by a Toshiba THGBMBG9D8KBAIG eMMC module with a capacity of 64 GB.

⇡ Performance

Unfortunately, it is not possible to carry out full testing according to our traditional method in the case of the Intel Compute Stick. The thing is that some of the test packages, such as CINEBENCH R15 or the fpFlac encoder, are designed to work only in a 64-bit environment, and our microcomputer has a 32-bit version of Windows 8.1 installed. Testing in Adobe Photoshop CS6 could not be completed due to insufficient disk space, although the resources of the Intel Compute Stick are sufficient for the operation of the program itself. However, to evaluate the performance, the part of the tests that ended successfully is enough.

Despite the lower clock speed of the processor and half the amount of RAM compared to the ECS LIVA X, the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer demonstrated performance that was almost identical to the capabilities of its larger competitor. In some tests, the ECS LIVA X minicomputer pulled ahead, and in others it was slightly ahead of the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer, but this difference is completely insignificant. But the dimensions of today's test lab guest are several times smaller than those of ECS LIVA X, which in itself gives reason to think.

In general, the performance and capabilities of the novelty are sufficient both for solving office problems and for creating a home entertainment center based on this device, which allows you to watch movies in Full HD, listen to music and even work with various multimedia programs. Only the critically small amount of RAM is upsetting, which simply physically will not allow the user to work with several programs at the same time. One can only imagine what this tiny device could be capable of if it had a slightly more powerful processor from the same Intel Bay Trail-T family, working with 4 GB of RAM in dual-channel mode and capable of displaying images with resolutions up to 4K.

Of course, for games, the capabilities of the integrated Intel HD Graphics are completely insufficient. Due to slightly lower operating frequencies graphics core in 3DMark, the Intel Compute Stick trailed slightly behind its larger competitor. Let's return for a moment to the previous "if ...": the older versions of the Intel Atom Z37x5 processors have an integrated video adapter with a core frequency of up to 792 MHz, like the ECS LIVA X processor, which would give the Intel microcomputer the opportunity to equalize the results, and maybe break out forward. But what is, is. However, the gaming capabilities of both the ECS LIVA X and the Intel Compute Stick are still only suitable for sitting out with simple Internet strategies or some kind of digital board games - and nothing more.

In addition to tests using the traditional methodology for laptops and PCs, we conducted a few more additional studies for the Intel Compute Stick. The first concerns its disk subsystem, represented by the eMMC 5.0 module. Test results in specialized programs ATTO Disk Bemchmark and CrystalDiskMark differ, but not much. The drive demonstrates not fantastic, but quite decent performance for its class, which is significantly higher than most 2.5-inch hard drives, but lower than modern SSD modules.

An important role for such a compact device with a small volume disk space and without wired network adapter plays the speed of wireless data transfer, and therefore we decided to test the performance of the built-in Wi-Fi module. The test involved a dual-band netgear router WNDR3800 connected via a wired gigabit interface to a test bench with an Atheros AR8151 controller serving as an endpoint. Testing was carried out within the same room. The data transfer rate was 45-60 Mbps, which can be assessed as quite an acceptable result. Such performance is sufficient not only for simple data transfer, but also for broadcasting streaming video.

⇡ Cooling system

As a rule, microcomputers, and most other devices based on economical Intel Bay Trail processors, have a passive cooling system, but Intel decided to do otherwise. The Intel Compute Stick model has its own active system with a miniature fan and an aluminum heatsink that covers most of the electronic components on the motherboard. With a slight load on the processor and video core, the fan remains at rest, but even when it is running, no noise is heard. It is difficult to say what will happen after a year of active use, but while it is new, this fan can be called one of the quietest.

Evaluation of the efficiency of the cooling system was carried out in the stress tests of the AIDA64 package. During testing, the device was placed on the wall of the monitor in a room with a temperature of about 21 ° C. The processor demonstrated stable operation, although the maximum frequency - 1.83 GHz - could not be seen. The highest recorded frequency was 1.58 GHz, and the temperature during operation did not exceed 65 ° C. Throttling when loading all systems was not observed.

⇡ Pre-installed software

The microcomputer is supplied without any pre-installed proprietary software, except for drivers and utilities for hardware components. As for the Bing search engine, as mentioned above, the user is still free to choose which search engine and which Internet browser to use, so you should not be afraid of the word Bing in Windows 8.1.

⇡ conclusions

On the one hand, the Intel Compute Stick microcomputer sets a new level of performance for devices of this type. On the other hand, the potential of the hardware platform embedded in it is not fully realized in the device. In fact, the level of performance and capabilities of the novelty could be even higher, but for economic reasons, obviously, the manufacturer decided to limit himself to not the most powerful processor from the very extensive Intel Bay Trail-T family.

Of course, the Intel Compute Stick is not alone in its kind, and everyone, if desired, will find a dozen Chinese analogues on well-known trading floors. But make no mistake when choosing! There are microcomputers on various low-performance platforms, and there are on the Intel Bay Trail, which include the hero of our today's review. Despite its modest dimensions, the capabilities of the Intel Compute Stick model are the same as those of an entry-level laptop or desktop PC. Among the shortcomings, in addition to the already repeatedly mentioned processor with limited functionality, one can note the small volume of the built-in eMMC drive and the completely impractical varnish coating of the upper part of the case.

Despite the shortcomings, the new product makes a very good impression and makes you think about the future of the PC as a whole, because the Intel Compute Stick is a full-fledged Windows PC with a very wide range of uses. So, the novelty can be successfully used as a home multimedia center and at the same time not complain about excessive slowness at work. You can buy it as a PC for presentations and various kinds of outdoor sessions. Well, for completely undemanding users who need a full-fledged, but not productive PC, the Intel Compute Stick model can become the main device, which, moreover, can be easily carried in your pocket.

Lenovo Ideacentre Stick 300, Archos PC Stick, ECS PCoS and others, the cost of which promises to be 20-40% less than the Intel Compute Stick. At the same time, the hardware component of these microcomputers absolutely completely repeats the one with which we met today. You should not expect that after the entry into the Russian market of all the above pocket PCs, the cost of the Intel Compute Stick will drop to six thousand rubles (it is planned to sell the Archos PC Stick for exactly that), but if it drops by at least one and a half to two thousand, it will already be good .