Specifications
Dimensions (WxHxD): 306 x 65 x 267 mm; Weight: 3.125 kg; Processor: Intel Atom 330, 1.60 GHz; Chipset: Intel 945G; Memory: 1 GB DDR2-533; Hard disk: 80 GB; Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet.
Price Rs 9,900
Website www.panache.co.in
Warranty 1 year
Netbook and nettop manufacturers have been cashing on the older generation Atom based platform for a long time. The Atom has been descirbed as versatile and affordable but can it be powerful? We tested a small form factor PC that features Intel’s first dual core Atom processor, this was fun!
# Features
The Panache Mini Thin PC is a small form factor PC (nettop) that has hardware commonly found in most netbooks and nettops such as Asus’s Eee PCs and Eee Box. However, the most significant difference is that of the processor. Most netbooks feature the Intel Atom N270, but this Thin PC features the Atom 330. Although both processors are clocked at 1.60 GHz, there are two main differences. The N270 has 512 KB L2 cache and 47 million transistors and the Atom 330 has 1 MB L2 cache and 50 million transistors.
Other features include 1 GB DDR2 RAM clocked at 533 MHz, an 80 GB 3.5-inch (7200 rpm) hard drive, gigabit Ethernet, and onboard graphics and audio. It even has the standard ports such as VGA, four USB (plus two in front), Ethernet and audio and there is a serial (COM) and a parallel port for backward compatability of hardware. It also has an S-video port so you can connect your TV to watch movies on it. A noticeable downside is the absence of an optical drive. On opening the case, we noticed that although the front panel has an optical drive bay cover, there’s very little room in the cabinet to accommodate a standard optical drive. In any case, this also rules out installing an operating system using a disc, unless you buy an external (USB) optical drive.
On the whole, it has pretty much everything else that makes a basic PC, all you need is a monitor, an operating system, a keyboard and a mouse and your PC’s ready!
#Build quality
Here’s something for the space-conscious people, who want their desks neat and tidy. The Panache Thin PC is slim, ruggedly built, easy to install and can hide behind your LCD monitor. Although not much to look at, it seems plain and is ideal for SOHO or a basic home PC environment. It’s more of a simple PC and may not impress people who prefer the stylish Asus Eee Box.
#Performance
It would be unfair to compare the performance of this PC to that of a mainstream desktop PC, so the closest comparison is the Asus Eee Box B202 which features the Atom N270 processor and the same amount of RAM. This one really trounces the competition in overall performance, thanks to its dual core Atom processor with double the amount of L2 cache. We’d say that if you install Microsoft Windows XP on this PC, it will surely suffice for applications such as Microsoft Office, media players, light image editing and even for light gaming.
Verdict: Although an entry-level user-upgradeable desktop PC cost around twenty percent more than the Panache Mini Thin PC, you won’t get the compactness that this baby offers. So considering the price, all-in-all it’s a great buy!
