Asus EeeBox PC EB1501P Review
Performance Analysis and Conclusion
Asus set out to prove that you can get impressive performance from a small nettop such as the EeeBox PC EB1501P, particularly in the form of high-definition video output. Thanks to NVIDIA’s next generation Ion graphics and dual-core processor, the system is quite capable of offering 1080p playback as well as a 5.1 channel surround sound experience via HDMI and S/PDIF outputs. With its handful of I/O ports, the system also offers plenty of other connectivity options as well.
Intel’s dual core Atom D525 processor certainly gives this nettop a boost in performance over previous generation Atom systems. Although the system sometimes took a few seconds to load a heavy application, it handled basic tasks such as word processing and surfing the Web with ease. Gaming on this system wasn’t quite as impressive as on the ZBox units we looked at earlier this year, though the EeeBox PC EB1501P did manage 25.4 fps in Enemy Territory Quake Wars. Keep in mind, this isn’t a gaming system, but it can handle some light-duty gaming thanks to its Ion GPU.
The EeeBox PC EB1501P’s price of approximately $519 may seem high at first, particularly if you’re comparing to the Zotac ID34 we took a look at earlier this year, but it’s important to keep in mind that this is a whole system (minus a monitor); You’ll find the EB1501P loaded with an OS and a keyboard and mouse in the box. The Zotac unit was more of a bare-bones system that lacked an OS, keyboard, or mouse. By the time you add the price of these additional components to the Zotac unit, pricing is more competitive.
All in all, Intel's Atom D525 combined with NVIDIA’s next-gen Ion GPU provides for decent performance at an affordable price. You’ll be able to enjoy local high-definition video clips, web browsing, and other everyday tasks just fine. Since the system doesn’t have a Blu-ray drive, we especially appreciate the two USB 3.0 ports for faster transfer of high-definition videos and other large files.
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