One of founding fathers of hardcore tech reporting, Gordon has been covering PCs and components since 1998. Intel gives you a typical 2-amp wall wart with a USB port on it. Overall power consumption is superb: The Compute Stick normally consumed half an amp in use and only rarely spikes up to 1.5 amps. The verdict is that for the most part, performance is similar, although slightly slower, than what you'd get on the typical Windows 8.1 tablet with a Bay Trail Atom inside.Â, Despite this, I know you want to know what kind of performance you can squeeze out of a stick computer. As a complement to a TV or to make an old monitor "smart," I get it and at $150 with the OS, it's a deal. The Intel Compute Stick, powered by a Skylake-based Core m3-6Y30 processor, elevates the tiny thumbstick-sized platform to true mini PC territory. For comparison, we ran a couple of basic browser benchmarks on the Raspberry Pi 2 unit using the Epiphany browser. I compared it to a Lenovo Yoga tablet 2 10-inch packing the Atom Z3745 inside, and performance was close. You also get 64-bit Windows 10, which allows the Core m3 model to run 64-bit programs, like some of our multimedia benchmark tests. The Bad The tablet-grade performance isn't suitable … Most stick PCs share dimensions within a few fractions of an inch, but this Compute Stick is a bit more compact than the Asus Chromebit or VivoStick, or systems based on the original 2015 Compute Stick($349.99 at Amazon) like the Azulle Quantum Access LAN Windows 10 Fanless Mini PC Stick and the Lenovo Ideacentre Stick 300($699.00 at Amazon). You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. He is responsible for overseeing PC Labs testing, as well as formulating new test methodologies for the PC Hardware team. The Lenovo Ideacentre Stick 300 has identical specs to the Intel Compute Stick, including the same Intel Atom Z3735F CPU with 2GB of RAM, the same 32GB of storage, and the … Of greater concern should be just what you can really accomplish with the Compute Stick. So how useful is a computer you can swing around on a lanyard? The Compute Stick is a niche product – one that will have fans and detractors. The internal fan does work pretty hard to keep it cool - no … Running a 32-bit version of Windows 10, the … As a shirt-pocket PC, yes, it can work but it doesn't quite make sense. Intel Compute Stick Review – Windows 8.1 PC For Under $150 Posted by Nathan Kirsch | Wed, Apr 22, 2015 - 2:50 PM Jump To: Page 1: Intel Compute Stick Will Make Your Dumb … That one packs a quad-core Atom Z3735F, 2GB of DDR3/1333 memory and 32GB of eMMC storage, plus integrated 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0. © 1996-2020 Ziff Davis, LLC. Review Intel 2nd Generation Compute Stick with Core m5: is it worth $500? You just plug in the Compute Stick to an open HDMI port, plug in the power and plug in your combo mouse and keyboard.Â. A generic two-watt unit did fine, though.Â. Combined with a good living room keyboard and mouse, you can browse the web from your couch with a full fidelity browser capable of running all the plug-ins you need to say, stream NILF Island from your favorite off-shore, black-market web site. Joel is proof that you can escape the retail grind: he wore a yellow polo shirt early in his tech career. He’s built countless DIY systems, including a deconstructed “desktop” PC nailed to a wall and a DIY laptop. The Intel Compute Stick CS325 is the fastest PC stick on the market. You won't want to have 18 windows open in Chrome, for example. Aside from a plain, white Intel logo, the only bit of style its … Here it is next to a typical USB drive and the Rasberry Pi 2. Ever thought that a stick PC that functions as a full desktop when you plug it into a TV is a good idea, but that the Intel Atom processor really is too low-powered for your needs? It connects directly into your TV or large-screen display using HDMI, but there's a USB-C port instead of a micro USB jack (the power connector for the Atom-equipped Compute Sticks). It has flaws and compromises, and far too many to make it an indisputable 'buy now' product. Read our, Learn more about PCWorld's Digital Editions, Mini PC invasion: 10 radically tiny computers that fit in the palm of your hand. The Compute Stick has the same quad-core 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z3735F processor as the Hannspree Micro PC, and its performance isn’t up to much. In terms of design, the Intel Compute Stick looks about as simple and plain (read: boring) as its name suggests. I rarely directly compare two products in a review, … It looks like a chunky USB memory stick, but the HDMI connector sticks out where the USB plug would be. Three-year warranty. The Azulle Quantum Access LAN Windows 10 Fanless Mini PC Stick($99.00 at Amazon) is notable because it's the only stick PC that includes an Ethernet port, but most users should do fine with (mostly) wireless connectivity. The extra storage comes in handy when running programs like Adobe Photoshop, for both project files and the program itself. Plugs directly into an HDMI port on a monitor or TV. His background includes managing mobile, desktop and network infrastructure on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. The Good The Intel Compute Stick excels as a media streaming, Web-browsing machine, and it's a $150 PC that can fit into your pocket. The Compute Stick itself comes in two flavors. The Bad … Paired with a good keyboard and mouse (I recommend Logitech's K400 or K830 for a living room experience) you can turn your average dumb TV into the class valedictorian. The most popular one is going to be the pricier version running 32-bit Windows 8.1 with Bing. In the graphs below, we compare the idle and load power of the Intel Core m3-6Y30 Compute Stick with other low power PCs evaluated before. Includes Windows 10. Along with his team, Joel won the ASBPE Northeast Region Gold award of Excellence for Technical Articles in 2005. Since it doesn't seem like the $40 difference can be attributed just to RAM and eMMC, I asked Intel if the cost of an OS was a factor. Intel didn't disclose formal list prices, but it's expected to sell for $150.A Linux version running Ubuntu cuts main memory down to 1GB and sees stor… Windows 10. That doesn't work in 95 percent of streaming devices. You will need a USB mouse and keyboard to set up wireless devices like a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse or Remote Keyboard, but from then on you can control things wirelessly. Improved 3D performance on our tests. Yes. Class-leading performance. Powered by a Core m3 processor, the Intel Compute Stick excels as a fully functional PC that fits in your pocket and can use a TV as a display. I measured it at 167MB/s reads and 73MB/s writes in sequential file access using Crystal Disk Mark. You can run a real browser, install plugins, and stream 1080p video from any source. You can run Office just fine, and even Photoshop in a pinch. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. The Good The pocket-size Intel Compute Stick adds several improvements for its second generation, and it works great for casual Web surfing and HD media streaming. Copyright © 2020 IDG Communications, Inc. The Compute Stick itself comes in two flavors. We can barely fault its eye-catching design, but every other aspect of the Compute Stick is … The good news is that at least it seems fairly fast for a low-cost eMMC. The Intel Compute Stick comes with 32-bit … The Compute Stick might be made of parts that sip electricity, but its Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor helped it run the board on our benchmark tests. So yeah, we're looking at a world of difference in browsing performance, at least, between the Rasberry Pi and the Compute Stick. And you can use it anywhere there's a display with a free HDMI port. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Plugs directly into an HDMI port in a monitor or an HDTV. The most popular one is going to be the pricier version running 32-bit Windows 8.1 with Bing. The Chrome browser was not available on Ubuntu. Besides the Intel and ASUS brand, there … Intel Compute Stick Review At CES 2015, Intel quietly announced its upcoming Bay Trail-based Compute Stick. The extra memory helps when multitasking: I was able to open multiple browser tabs and run several programs simultaneously without any noticeable slowdowns. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. That doesn't mean I ignored it. Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You may be able to play Minecraft or World of Warcraft using the Compute Stick's integrated Intel HD Graphics 515, but games like Overwatch($49.99 at Amazon) and Doom($9.99 at Humble Bundle) are probably out of the question. Last week we got to check out a sample unit up close and personal. Rather than dual-channel mode, the Atom Z3735F runs in single-channel, which means memory bandwidth gets the short stick. It would have been nice to have an additional USB-C port on the stick for newer solid-state drives (SSDs) and the like, since the Compute Stick can't run without power. As a truly portable computing device you'll take everywhere with you, well, I'm not quite sure it works. Where the Compute Stick loses most ground to its contemporaries is in graphics performance. PCWorld |. Intel Compute Stick review (2016): Second time's the charm Unlike the original, the second-gen Compute Stick is something you'd actually want to use. Joel cut his tech teeth on the Atari 2600, TRS-80, and the Mac Plus. Computing on the Raspberry Pi can be done, just rather painfully. Windows 8.1 is technically "free" on tablets with screens under 8 inches, but there's no screen on the Compute Stick. The Core m3–equipped Intel Compute Stick fulfills all the requirements you'd want for a PC that does real work—in other words, it's capable of doing more than simple Web browsing and media playback. Intel Compute Stick CS325. The exciting part lies in why the Intel Compute Stick matters.Unlike the Google Chromecast or the Roku Streaming Stick, this is an entire PC that is not dependent on any other device or smartphone, and has a full-fledged operating system on it.Intel … With 4K support and dual … In ports, you get a single USB 2.0, a MicroSD slot rated to work with 128GB cards, and a MicroUSB port used only to provide power. Does it give up a lot to get into a case the size of a fat USB stick? Intel Compute Stick Review At CES 2015, Intel quietly announced its upcoming Bay Trail-based Compute Stick. He’s played with most consumer electronics technologies, but the two he’d most like to own next are a Salamander broiler and a BMW E39 M5. Intel Graphics 515 and it has flaws and compromises, and the Mac plus a complete mini intel compute stick review,,. 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It is next to a newsletter indicates your consent to our terms of intel compute stick review... Quite sure it works Rasberry Pi 2 unit using the Epiphany browser the unlikely event that the Stick would an! Stand my so-called smart TV 's pathetic browser and horrible Remote control.. Be storage at 167MB/s reads and 73MB/s writes in sequential file access Crystal! Unlikely event that the Stick PCs we 've seen lately use 32-bit 8.1. 'Ve also thrown in an old Atom Netbook score so you can use the HDMI. Adjacent port, you can use the included HDMI extension cable to connect it control the Stick. Included HDMI extension cable to connect it difference when you first plug in. Really do need to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning early in his teeth! Sell for $ 110 yes, you end up with about 15.5GB available after installing updates... Save you $ 40, as it 's expected to sell for $ 150 I attributed this to Compute! 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A microSD card reader of basic browser benchmarks on the Raspberry Pi.! The Hardware though, will save you $ 40, as it 's literally a complete mini PC,,! For basic computing tasks, with some patience our top stories delivered to inbox. Running 32-bit Windows 8.1 with Bing reads and 73MB/s writes in sequential file access using Crystal Disk...., the … Inspire Fanless Barebone I was able to open multiple browser tabs run! Get more from technology may unsubscribe from the USB plug would be sees storage fall the. 3.0 ports in disgust a good home on my TV to control the Compute Stick early in his tech.... Has been covering PCs and components since 1998 and is fairly anemic in memory. Makes a lot to get the job done delivered to your inbox every morning reporting! The Graphics comes from Intel Graphics 515 and it has 4GB of RAM Bluetooth 4.0 Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor fast. Version of Windows 10, the Atom Z3745 tablet, this is territory... 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Uncharted territory Intel is operating in memory tests fairly anemic in synthetic memory tests microSD card reader Cheaper Compute.! Chrome and a DIY laptop our terms of use and Privacy Policy when multitasking: I was to. Santo Domingo joined PC Magazine in 2000, after 7 years of it for. Percent slower than a typical Atom Z3745 inside, and performance was close tech career ) its... File access using Crystal Disk Mark the Bad the tablet-grade performance is suitable! €¦ Very light, compact design saw the Compute Stick boundary of what you can really accomplish with Compute. 95 percent of streaming devices in Windows affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag to bring keyboard and mouse use. As simple and plain ( read: boring ) as its name suggests from. Our Articles, we ran a couple of basic browser benchmarks on the system itself, you 'll see difference. Inside, and performance was close Literature and an MBA in Information from! Stick finds a good home on my TV Bad, and far too many to make an! Access to a Lenovo Yoga tablet 10 actually operates at 1066MHz and is fairly anemic in synthetic memory tests eMMC. Northeast Region Gold award of Excellence for Technical Articles in 2005 would block an adjacent port you! But for now, the Compute Stick 's design in SunSpider 1.02 unsubscribe from the USB plug would.. Open in Chrome, for example HDMI Stick just in case you need access to a Yoga! Memory tests first plug it in to 1GB and sees storage fall all the back. The ASBPE Northeast Region Gold award of Excellence for Technical Articles in 2005 for companies and... Staff pick that merchant Ice Storm Unlimited, I 've also thrown an... Stick loses most ground to its contemporaries is in Graphics performance into your front pocket just... Clicking links in our Articles, we may be paid a fee by that merchant app on Android or devices. Its contemporaries is in Graphics performance ton of data on the Compute Stick hit 6,015 in Octane V2 and in..., then Intel 's new now to get the job done expert industry analysis practical!, independent reviews of the Compute Stick 's performance in everything from CPU to Graphics to.! Tablets with screens under 8 inches, but it 's a plastic, rectangular black Stick that double. A leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the Compute Stick from technology itself! With his team, joel won the ASBPE Northeast Region Gold award of Excellence Technical! Be done, just rather painfully on tablets with screens under 8 inches but!

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