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The HD-ID33BR-U and HD-ID34BR-U employed Intel's dual-core Atom D525, along with Nvidia's Ion 2 GPU (graphics processing unit). Now, the visually identical AD03 (above) moves to AMD's newly announced, 1.6GHz E-350, whose on-chip graphics are said to provide HD video playback and DirectX 11 compatibility.
As a result of the processor switch, the AD03 has the potential to provide much the same capabilities as the HD-ID33BR-U and HD-ID34BR-U, but at a lower price. While it didn't provide any information on the latter, Zotac called the AD03 a "potent casual gaming platform" and touted "smooth streaming high-definition video."
Meanwhile, a hallmark of Zotac devices is that they allow purchasers to install their own memory, hard disk drives (HDDs), and operating systems. Like its predecessors, the AD03 is available in a completely barebones configuration (including only the case, main board, and Blu-ray drive), or in a version with 2GB of RAM onboard and a 250GB HDD.
The device's front panel, visible in the image earlier in this story, includes one USB 2.0 port and one USB 3.0 port, plus what appears to be a memory card reader. Also up front are 3.5mm jacks for a microphone input and headphone output.
Zotac didn't provide an image of the AD03's rear panel, nor does it yet offer a product page for the device. We're presuming, however, that the mini PC's rear panel is similar or identical to that of the HD-ID3xBR-U, pictured above. Seen there are another USB 3.0 port, a combo eSATA/USB 2.0 port that allows connecting external hard disk drives, and an optical S/PDIF connector.
The HD-ID33BR-U and HD-ID34BR-U featured HDMI and DVI-I video outputs, gigabit Ethernet ports, and internal 802.11b/g/n wireless networking, according to Zotac. The 11.02 x 7.36 x 1.5 inch systems also had a Mini PCI Express expansion slot, which may or may not have been carried over to the AD03.
Carsten Berger, marketing director for Zotac, stated, "The AMD E-350 APU platform combined with our Zbox form factor is a phenomenal small form factor solution. The snappy day-to-day performance, superb high-definition video, and DirectX 11 3D capabilities makes it perfect for users that crave energy-efficiency without sacrificing premium features and capabilities."
Further information
More information on the AD03 may eventually appear on Zotac's Zbox product page. A detailed, generally favorable review of the HD-ID33BR-U and HD-ID34BR-Usystems may be found on the AnandTech website.
