Skip to main content

Xi3’s palm-sized Z3RO Pro PC ‘marks the end of desktop computing as we know it’

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The bulk of attention given to Xi3 at this year’s CES was due to Valve announcing its investment in the company. This diverted the press towards the company’s 7-Series and Piston development concept that might one day be released as the much-anticipated “Steam Box.” Yet those were not the only products the company had to show. Xi3 also revealed the Z3RO Pro, a tiny computer that the company enthusiastically predicts will “end desktop computing as we’ve known it.”

How tiny? Its largest dimension is its length of only 4.8 inches. The device is also 3.6 inches wide and 1.8 inches tall. That’s about the same size as a large digital point-and-shoot camera and is close to being pocketable. And we thought the Chromebox was small. Size aside, this is still a desktop computer.

Xi3 has strangely decided not to name the processor inside the system. Instead the company refers to it as a dual-core 64-bit, x86-based processor running at 1.65 GHz. The Z3RO Pro also includes an integrated graphics processor with 80 graphics cores.

Based on this information, we’re confident the processor is a low-power Fusion APU from AMD. That means overall performance, though adequate, will be well short of a traditional mid-tower desktop.  The system also ships with 4GB of RAM and a solid-state hard drive (size options range from 16GB to 1TB). The computer will operate on about 15 watts of power.

Though small, the system includes a wide range of connectivity. It offers four eSATAp 3.0 ports (which can accept USB or eSATA connections and deliver power to connected devices), as well as HDMI, DisplayPort, and Ethernet. The only notable omission is integrated Wi-Fi.

Pricing for the Z3RO Pro starts at $399. However, there’s a catch: the base system ships with openSUSE Linux, meaning Windows will be an additional charge. The company is now taking pre-orders, but availability is not expected until the second quarter of 2013. 

Topics
Matthew S. Smith
Matthew S. Smith is the former Lead Editor, Reviews at Digital Trends. He previously guided the Products Team, which dives…
I tested the three best 14-inch gaming laptops. There’s a clear winner
Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.

Over the past few years, the category of 14-inch gaming laptops has grown tremendously. You'll find multiple models among the best gaming laptops, but there are three key designs that are all begging to be your high-end portable gaming powerhouse.

I'm talking about the Razer Blade 14, Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, and HP Omen Transcend 14. All three are thin and light gaming laptops that pack the latest hardware from Intel, AMD, and Nvidia, and they all deliver an excellent gaming experience. There are a surprising number of differences between the three laptops, however, and one of them has a clear edge.
Specs and pricing

Read more
PC airflow guide: How to position your fans for best cooling
Exhaust fan in PC case.

Fan placement is an important component in your system's cooling. The quantity, positioning, and orientation of fans affects overall system performance, noise levels, and how often you need to clean your whole system out. Although you aren't going to see a dramatic difference in your PC's performance from adding one more fan, or making sure they're pushing instead of pulling (or vice versa), it's still useful to optimize this part of your PC's cooling to get the best experience for you, the PC user.

So, whether you're looking to boost your system's cooling to improve your overclock, or want to keep your fan speeds as low as possible without overheating, here's a guide to PC airflow, as well as some suggestions on fan placement and position that you might find useful.
Get the basics down

Read more
Why you should buy a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air
The 14-inch MacBook Pro on a window sill.

There are plenty of reasons to buy a MacBook Air instead of a MacBook Pro. If you want a MacBook on a budget, you don't necessarily need the goodies that come with upgrading to the MacBook Pro.

That being said, I'm going to argue for spending a little more. In my experience, the MacBook Pro offers several distinct advantages that help justify a higher price, especially with the introduction of the more affordable MacBook Pro 14 with the base M3. If you can stretch your budget a bit, here's why I think you should buy a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air.
Setting the stage: pricing

Read more