AMD-powered Sapphire Edge HD3 Nettop Said to Ship Next Month

[Cristian_25H]

After releasing two versions based on Intel Atom processors, Sapphire is now preparing an Edge HD nettop/mini PC which is based around an AMD APU (accelerated processing unit). Showcased at CES 2012, the AMD-flavored Edge HD3 is equipped with an E-450 chip (boasting two 1.65 GHz Bobcat cores and Radeon HD 6320 graphics), 4 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive, LAN, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, D-Sub and HDMI outputs, and USB 3.0 connectivity.

Reportedly, the Edge HD3 will become available on February 1st, priced at $300.



Source: The Tech Report

[THE_EGG]

wow even though its low end (without a doubt). That price is FANTASTIC, so cheap!

[Super XP]

This would be great for my mom and dad. You would just need a monitor, mouse and keyboard which are not that expensive anymore.

[TheLaughingMan]

I may be wrong, but the similarly speced ZOTAC Z-box AD04 is only $230 and comes with bluetooth, media remote, and a multi-card reader. Though that price could be a typo.

[imitation]

Originally Posted by TheLaughingMan

I may be wrong, but the similarly speced ZOTAC Z-box AD04 is only $230 and comes with bluetooth, media remote, and a multi-card reader. Though that price could be a typo.

The price is correct, however the Zotac comes without RAM, a HDD or an OS.

[qwerty_lesh]

I recall when the hp n36l servers got as cheap as $199AUD people were so impressed with them even though the core performance was low end that there was discussion about using them as desktop replacements.

Its good to see something which isnt designed as a server/nas like the HP come to market at a good price point like this.

[Drone]

Looks good!

[TheLaughingMan]

Originally Posted by imitation

The price is correct, however the Zotac comes without RAM, a HDD or an OS.

There is a Plus model with RAM and an HDD. OS is of no issue since I would just use Ubuntu or the like. The Sapphire does not have an OS either, so that is a moot point.

[Steevo]

With a APU it will play farmville just fine, and some older game titles with actual hardware acceleration.

[FreedomEclipse]

The E-450 is a very capable APU. Tested one in a hp dm1.

[MN12BIRD]

Damn a nice little E-450 box like this or the Zotac would make a great HTPC! If you can buy the Zotac one cheap without an OS and throw XBMC/Ubuntu on it that would be great!

[faramir]

Originally Posted by THE_EGG

wow even though its low end (without a doubt). That price is FANTASTIC, so cheap!

How much does a computer case with PSU ($30), a low range CPU (say Sandy Bridge Pentium G620, $70), a motherboard with USB 3.0 ($70), 8 GB of DDR3 RAM ($40) and a modest 500 GB HDD ($80) cost compared to this pile of poop ? Such a machine will run circles around the Bobcat crap (it was built for netbooks ffs) and will be much more customizable and expandable, while at the same time costing less than $300, going by Newegg's prices and rounding them up to the nearest multiple of ten dollars ...

You AMD fanbois need to get your heads out of AMD's behind - Brazos was nice in 2010, in netbooks. Today it sucks just as much as Atom does and neither is usable on desktop. At least Atom crap is allegedly being developed further while AMD is apparently dumping Brazos in favor of low power Trinity.

[FreedomEclipse]

Originally Posted by faramir

How much does a computer case with PSU ($30), a low range CPU (say Sandy Bridge Pentium G620, $70), a motherboard with USB 3.0 ($70), 8 GB of DDR3 RAM ($40) and a modest 500 GB HDD ($80) cost compared to this pile of poop ? Such a machine will run circles around the Bobcat crap (it was built for netbooks ffs) and will be much more customizable and expandable, while at the same time costing less than $300, going by Newegg's prices and rounding them up to the nearest multiple of ten dollars ...

You AMD fanbois need to get your heads out of AMD's behind - Brazos was nice in 2010, in netbooks. Today it sucks just as much as Atom does and neither is usable on desktop. At least Atom crap is allegedly being developed further while AMD is apparently dumping Brazos in favor of low power Trinity.

All fine and dandy.....But does a Pentium G620 have a TDP of 18w?? Dont forget about how much less juice the E-450 sucks up compared to cheap desktop processors. Sure the G260 might be a lot more powerful but its not everything is about clocks per cycle and how many Ghz it can churn out

[Steevo]

Originally Posted by faramir

How much does a computer case with PSU ($30), a low range CPU (say Sandy Bridge Pentium G620, $70), a motherboard with USB 3.0 ($70), 8 GB of DDR3 RAM ($40) and a modest 500 GB HDD ($80) cost compared to this pile of poop ? Such a machine will run circles around the Bobcat crap (it was built for netbooks ffs) and will be much more customizable and expandable, while at the same time costing less than $300, going by Newegg's prices and rounding them up to the nearest multiple of ten dollars ...

You AMD fanbois need to get your heads out of AMD's behind - Brazos was nice in 2010, in netbooks. Today it sucks just as much as Atom does and neither is usable on desktop. At least Atom crap is allegedly being developed further while AMD is apparently dumping Brazos in favor of low power Trinity.

Intel Celeron E3400 Wolfdale 2.6GHz LGA 775 65W Du... 65W...ooops already over the TDP but anyway. $46

BIOSTAR G41D3C LGA 775 Intel G41 Micro ATX Intel M... $45

Patriot 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333... $25

Seagate Barracuda ST320DM000 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB C... $85 (whoops, you seem to have forgotten the raping on HDD's anymore.)

HEC 6K28BBX585 Black 0.8mm SECC Steel MicroATX Min... $50 after MIR, including a questionable power supply, and small since you want to keep it out of sight.

SYBA CL-ADA24021 Thumbnail-size WiFi Adapter with ... $15 USB wifi connection

XFX HD-645X-YNH2 Radeon HD 6450 512MB 32-bit DDR3 ... $25 after MIR plus software. $6 shipping

$274, you still need interface devices, an OS, and other cables, and you have some mediocre parts in a box with a questionable power supply taking up four times the space.

[TheLaughingMan]

Originally Posted by faramir

How much does a computer case with PSU ($30), a low range CPU (say Sandy Bridge Pentium G620, $70), a motherboard with USB 3.0 ($70), 8 GB of DDR3 RAM ($40) and a modest 500 GB HDD ($80) cost compared to this pile of poop ? Such a machine will run circles around the Bobcat crap (it was built for netbooks ffs) and will be much more customizable and expandable, while at the same time costing less than $300, going by Newegg's prices and rounding them up to the nearest multiple of ten dollars ...

You AMD fanbois need to get your heads out of AMD's behind - Brazos was nice in 2010, in netbooks. Today it sucks just as much as Atom does and neither is usable on desktop. At least Atom crap is allegedly being developed further while AMD is apparently dumping Brazos in favor of low power Trinity.

The Brazos platform was release in 2011, not 2010. And AMD is putting their full weight behind the Bulldozer architecture for better and for worst. While a little underwhelming, it will get better with Trinity being the first step. That is how development works when you have a design you believe to have better longevity.

There also is nothing wrong with an Atom or APU E series for daily desktop use for most people.

And if you want some fanboi to complain about, I recall the Sandy Bridge Pentium G620 struggling against similarly prized AMD parts.

Originally Posted by Steevo

$274, you still need interface devices, an OS, and other cables, and you have some mediocre parts in a box with a questionable power supply taking up four times the space.

Actuall a Z-box is about the size of a Wii so his $30 thing would take up roughly 8 times the space.

[MN12BIRD]

Originally Posted by faramir

How much does a computer case with PSU ($30), a low range CPU (say Sandy Bridge Pentium G620, $70), a motherboard with USB 3.0 ($70), 8 GB of DDR3 RAM ($40) and a modest 500 GB HDD ($80) cost compared to this pile of poop ? Such a machine will run circles around the Bobcat crap (it was built for netbooks ffs) and will be much more customizable and expandable, while at the same time costing less than $300, going by Newegg's prices and rounding them up to the nearest multiple of ten dollars ...

You AMD fanbois need to get your heads out of AMD's behind - Brazos was nice in 2010, in netbooks. Today it sucks just as much as Atom does and neither is usable on desktop. At least Atom crap is allegedly being developed further while AMD is apparently dumping Brazos in favor of low power Trinity.

Oh FFS You're missing the whole point. It's all about the size and low power draw. I don't need more power for a HTPC but something that small and compact would be nice. I don't want another desktop taking up room in my place, I already have one and it's obviously more powerful! Hell I've got a spare AII 3.0GHz Dual Core built into an Acer tower with Gb mobo 880G, Radeon HD4250 with HDMI that would be perfect for a HTPC. But once again I don't want a big tower beside my TV, I want something portable that can fit in below the TV along side say, the Wii. Now THAT's the point! That said E-450 for a desktop is perfectly fine for basic use. I'd buy one of these for my Mom, or Grandma (random examples) if she needed a basic PC. Slap it on the back of a cheap $100 21" LCD monitor and grab a $30 wireless desktop set and for $430 you got a complete system. Sure you can get an E-450 based notebook for ~$350 but not with a full sized keyboard, mouse and 21" monitor. I'd say it fits the bill.

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by faramir

How much does a computer case with PSU ($30), a low range CPU (say Sandy Bridge Pentium G620, $70), a motherboard with USB 3.0 ($70), 8 GB of DDR3 RAM ($40) and a modest 500 GB HDD ($80) cost compared to this pile of poop ? Such a machine will run circles around the Bobcat crap (it was built for netbooks ffs) and will be much more customizable and expandable, while at the same time costing less than $300, going by Newegg's prices and rounding them up to the nearest multiple of ten dollars ...

You AMD fanbois need to get your heads out of AMD's behind - Brazos was nice in 2010, in netbooks. Today it sucks just as much as Atom does and neither is usable on desktop. At least Atom crap is allegedly being developed further while AMD is apparently dumping Brazos in favor of low power Trinity.

For one form factor doesn't touch the footprint of these its the size of a Wii. Other than that do you not remember what PC's used to be? It's a dual core with a video card that outperforms some of the old cards of great. I would be curious to see how it compared to a 7800GTX backed by an FX60. AMD Brazos' is being phased out for the next generation just like AMD Neo chips were phased out for these. Just because Intel kept the same Atom name means nothing. On top of that they don't come close performance wise. Brazos offers more than enoguh power for a nettop its not a desktop replacement it gets plugged into a TV and used to surf the net.

You Intel fanbois need to get your heads out of your ass and release that Intel doesn't own every market segment nor does it have all of the best products. As it sits right now for me I would own an Intel desktop, AMD laptop, AMD netbook and AMD HTPC; Intel does not have things that compare in the same price point of performance envelope.

[MN12BIRD]

Yep. You nailed it. I love Intel and SB and sure if I was building a full DT right now I'd be going Ci5 2500 for the price to performance. I have no reason to hate one or the other they both have great products for the job. But I'd take an E-450 based netbook (a 12.1" one) over an Atom based netbook any day of the week and these things are damn perfect for HTPC. I can't think of any platform that would be better suited for a HTPC to be honest. In fact I want one of these now to toss XBMC on and stream HD media to my TV with that slick ass interface with all the box art and IMDB info at my fingertips... DAMMIT!

/Throws Patriot box office in the garbage.

[faramir]

Originally Posted by Steevo

...

Why would you put together a pile of 4 year old crap like this ? You're deliberately picking lame parts to make your silly point. Pick something that is more cost-effective (= more storage space, more performance):

Broadway Com Corp 1244MA-BLACK Glossy black Steel ... $30

Intel Pentium G620 Sandy Bridge 2.6GHz LGA 1155 65... $70

BIOSTAR H61MU3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI USB 3.0 Mic... $70

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin ... $40

HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM 1... $80

---

less than $290 for all your Farmville time-wasting needs

Toss in an optical drive to round it up to an even $300.

Somebody mentioned Ubuntu up in this thread. I am operating under assumption that if Ubuntu works for one option, it goes for the other as well.

The ONLY reason to go with a nettop would be because you're somehow power-constrained (yet you somehow can afford to run a monitor which uses just as much power alongside that box ...). You're going to save what, ~15W ? You give up quite some performance for it.

I'm not a fanboi of either CPU manufacturer, I'm just not blinded and can see where the value is. I would have advocated a similar system (but built around Athlon II and corresponding AMD motherboard) one year ago.



Oh and to the clown who claims that Pentium G620 has problems out-running any Brazos chip: CPU benchmark please or STFU. Thanks

[DannibusX]

Originally Posted by faramir

Why would you put together a pile of 4 year old crap like this ? You're deliberately picking lame parts to make your silly point. Pick something that is more cost-effective (= more storage space, more performance):

Broadway Com Corp 1244MA-BLACK Glossy black Steel ... $30

Intel Pentium G620 Sandy Bridge 2.6GHz LGA 1155 65... $70

BIOSTAR H61MU3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI USB 3.0 Mic... $70

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin ... $40

HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM 1... $80

---

less than $290 for all your Farmville time-wasting needs

Toss in an optical drive to round it up to an even $300.

Somebody mentioned Ubuntu up in this thread. I am operating under assumption that if Ubuntu works for one option, it goes for the other as well.

The ONLY reason to go with a nettop would be because you're somehow power-constrained (yet you somehow can afford to run a monitor which uses just as much power alongside that box ...). You're going to save what, ~15W ? You give up quite some performance for it.

I'm not a fanboi of either CPU manufacturer, I'm just not blinded and can see where the value is. I would have advocated a similar system (but built around Athlon II and corresponding AMD motherboard) one year ago.



Oh and to the clown who claims that Pentium G620 has problems out-running any Brazos chip: CPU benchmark please or STFU. Thanks

I'm really sorry that your dad loved your brother, Boromir, more than you. It's a shame too because he'd probably be really proud of the bitter little man you became.

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by faramir

Why would you put together a pile of 4 year old crap like this ? You're deliberately picking lame parts to make your silly point. Pick something that is more cost-effective (= more storage space, more performance):

Broadway Com Corp 1244MA-BLACK Glossy black Steel ... $30

Intel Pentium G620 Sandy Bridge 2.6GHz LGA 1155 65... $70

BIOSTAR H61MU3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI USB 3.0 Mic... $70

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin ... $40

HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM 1... $80

---

less than $290 for all your Farmville time-wasting needs

Toss in an optical drive to round it up to an even $300.

Somebody mentioned Ubuntu up in this thread. I am operating under assumption that if Ubuntu works for one option, it goes for the other as well.

The ONLY reason to go with a nettop would be because you're somehow power-constrained (yet you somehow can afford to run a monitor which uses just as much power alongside that box ...). You're going to save what, ~15W ? You give up quite some performance for it.

I'm not a fanboi of either CPU manufacturer, I'm just not blinded and can see where the value is. I would have advocated a similar system (but built around Athlon II and corresponding AMD motherboard) one year ago.



Oh and to the clown who claims that Pentium G620 has problems out-running any Brazos chip: CPU benchmark please or STFU. Thanks

WTF is your point? Want to start comparing prebuilt dells while we are at it? These are in completely different classes. 15w power difference my ass the HDD you listed does that on its own. Let's put this in perspective my netbook pull UNDER 30 watts charging. That desktop you linked will idle draw over that.
This isn't an argument you are being stupid comparing apples and oranges. As for the performance of that chip the onboard video on brazos is better no ifs ands or butts want proof google it yourself you have no issues making stupid newegg builds that no one gives a fuck about.

[Steevo]

Originally Posted by faramir

Why would you put together a pile of 4 year old crap like this ? You're deliberately picking lame parts to make your silly point. Pick something that is more cost-effective (= more storage space, more performance):

Broadway Com Corp 1244MA-BLACK Glossy black Steel ... $30

Intel Pentium G620 Sandy Bridge 2.6GHz LGA 1155 65... $70

BIOSTAR H61MU3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI USB 3.0 Mic... $70

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin ... $40

HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM 1... $80

---

less than $290 for all your Farmville time-wasting needs

Toss in an optical drive to round it up to an even $300.

Somebody mentioned Ubuntu up in this thread. I am operating under assumption that if Ubuntu works for one option, it goes for the other as well.

The ONLY reason to go with a nettop would be because you're somehow power-constrained (yet you somehow can afford to run a monitor which uses just as much power alongside that box ...). You're going to save what, ~15W ? You give up quite some performance for it.

I'm not a fanboi of either CPU manufacturer, I'm just not blinded and can see where the value is. I would have advocated a similar system (but built around Athlon II and corresponding AMD motherboard) one year ago.



Oh and to the clown who claims that Pentium G620 has problems out-running any Brazos chip: CPU benchmark please or STFU. Thanks

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4524/t...g620t-tested/3





I will take option A.


A APU soundly kicks the shit out of this cheap intel in most tests, and wipes the floor with it in gaming, and shits on it all day long when you use actual rendering software and not benchmarks, and those require CPU performance as well don't they?



Sounds like a $300 little device is more poerful for the average consumer than your build is. Plus it should offer hardware accelerated post processing effects on video. Unlike the Intel, which offers little more than their older graphics do.


Also the Intel doesn't support 3D output...so if you planned on watching any 3D videos on your new TV you would be shit out of luck, unless you want to pay more for a graphics card.