ZOTAC’s ZBOX is a range of mini PCs that has managed to carve a niche for itself. These mini PCs are full featured PCs coming in a small form factor casing that offers both the computing power you need for your day to day computing needs, in addition to offering a range of entertainment features. You can use them as a desktop PC by placing them on your work desk coupled with a monitor, keyboard and mouse, or you can use it as your primary media center tucked away nicely behind that big screen TV of yours.

Today we have the ZBOX ID92 Plus mini PC for review at Review Central Labs. This is one of the most powerful and energy-efficient mini PC we have come across in recent times. It runs on a 4th Generation Intel Core processor to offer processing power for lightning-fast responsiveness in a small form factor.

The ZOTAC ZBOX ID92 Plus also features Intel’s HD Graphics 4600, which provides you with excellent 3D capabilities and outstanding HD audio and video playback. In addition, the ID92 Plus offers the new 802.11ac WiFi standard that provides zippy wireless networking capabilities when compared with Gigabit Ethernet. And did we mention it now supports 4K (Ultra High Definition) content, too?

Looks-wise, the ID92 Plus is a beautifully designed mini PC, echoing the design guidelines ZOTAC has always followed with most of its products. The ID92 Plus measure just 188mm from front to back and 45mm across. ZOTAC includes a stand and a VESA mount with the product ensuring it fits into the tiniest of places. So the included stand allows for vertical operation, while the VESA mount lets you attach the PC to the back of compatible monitors.

As mentioned earlier, the ID92 Plus runs on a Intel Core i5 processor that boasts the latest Haswell architecture. ZOTAC also throws in 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard disk for storage purposes. In addition, there are a few empty slots such as a spacre memory slot and room for an mSATA SSD, which can be used to upgrade the system, if needed. The only thing that’s missing, which is the case with most mini PCs from ZOTAC, is the operating system.

In terms of connectivity though, the ZBOX ID92 Plus seems to have got you covered on all fronts. With the ID92 Plus, you get two gigabit Ethernet ports in addition to an 802.11ac Wi-Fi radio with a powerful antenna and Bluetooth 4.0. There are four USB 3.0 ports included on the system – two at the back, one on top and one at the front. The HDMI port is missing though. But that isn’t a biggie – you an always use the DVI port to channel the HDMI video and audio to your TV without any hassle. You also get two DisplayPort inputs.

We tested the ZBOX ID92 Plus using a 24-inch monitor and a gigantic 65-inch UHD TV. Yes, as we mentioned earlier, the ZBOX ID92 Plus supports UHD (4K) content. That explains why you get two DisplayPort ports and one DVI port. That also explains why the HDMI is missing – HDMI can never serve up content in the resolutions of 3840 x 2160 due to bandwidth limits.

We were amazed at the sheer performance of the ZOTAC ZBOX ID92 Plus. The processor and the graphics core are clearly capable of delivering what is promised and the ZBOX case kept the interior cool. In addition, when it comes to power consumption, the ID92 Plus rated on the lower side ranging between 25W and 41W. This is one of the lowest we have seen in PCs. Don’t get fooled by its size – the ZOTAC ZBOX ID92 Plus is more than capable of getting a job done.

Price: AED 2190

Specifications:
Chipset: H87 Express
GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4600
Processor: Intel Core i5 4570T (dual-core, 2.9 GHz) (Up to 3.6 GHz, Turbo)
Socket: LGA1150
Memory Type: DDR3
Memory Speed: 1600 MHz
Slots: 2 x 204-pin SODIMM
Memory Capacity: 4GB (up to 16GB)
Ethernet: 2 x 10/100/1000Mbps
WiFi: 802.11ac
Bluetooth: Version 4.0
Hard Drive: 500GB 5400RPM HDD
Memory Card Reader: 4-in-1 (MMC/SD/SDHC/SDXC)
Ports: DVI (1), DisplayPort (2), USB 3.0 (4)
Form Factor: Mini PC