| All-in-one PC sports dual cores |
Aug. 28, 2008
 The U.K. company Akhter has jumped on the "green PC" bandwagon with a new computer built into a 19-inch LCD display. The "LoCO2PC" typically consumes about 55 Watts, sleeps using 3 Watts, includes an HDMI port and DVD writer, and features Intel dual-core CPUs, Akhter says.
(Click here for a larger view of Akhter's LoCO2PC)
While other "green PCs" have been marketed for some time, they typically use relatively low-performance processors such as Via's C7. But, claims Akhter, the LoCO2PC uses faster, dual-core processors from Intel, yet still manages to "achieve 55 Watts in normal use," the company says, "as measured by ENERGY STAR 4.0 tests."
Citing what may be maximum power use figures, Akhter says the LoCO2PC's integrated system unit consumes 44 Watts, while its integrated, 19-inch LCD screen uses 32 Watts. "Forgetting to shut down at the end of the day is not costly," the company adds, since sleep mode is said to require just 3 Watts. Because of the unusually economical sleep mode, the LoCO2PC is said to meet the stringent Energy Star 4.0 specification, which requires integrated systems -- like "desktop PCs," "desktop-derived servers," and "gaming consoles" -- to use four or fewer Watts when asleep.
Implied, though not quite specifically promised, is the fact that the LoCO2PC stays within the above power consumption limits no matter what processor a customer selects. Seven different dual-core Intel CPUs are offered for the device (see spec list below for specifics).
The LoCO2PC uses Intel's G31 Express chipset, a block diagram of which is shown below. As the above CPU specifications suggest, the G31 Express supports frontside bus speeds up to 1333MHz. The chipset also offers up to 12.8GB/sec. of dual-channel DDR2 memory bandwidth, support for 4GB of RAM, and accelerated Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 graphics, Intel and Akhter say.
A block digram of Intel's G31 Express chipset
(Click to enlarge)
The LoCO2PC's 19-inch display has a resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels, a 300-nit brightness rating, 800:1 contrast ratio, and optional touchscreen. Multimedia support includes an internal DVD reader/writer, an optional external USB TV tuner, and a forthcoming internal DVB-T (digital video broadcasting terrestrial) tuner.
The LoCO2PC's bottom-mounted ports
The LoCO2PC has two side-mounted USB ports, intended for temporary connection of phones, media players, and the like. The bottom of the device (pictured above) sports four additional USB ports, two gigabit Ethernet ports, and audio I/O. It also has no less than three ports for adding a secondary display externally: VGA, DVI, and HDMI.
Internally, the LoCO2PC accepts up to 4GB of memory, and has both Mini PCI and Mini PCI Express expansion slots. A further four USB ports are found internally, too: Akhter says these ports can support an optional webcam, IR module, or touchscreen interface.
Finally, the LoCO2PC is available with its own desk stand, or it may be mounted onto 100mm x 100mm or 75mm x 75mm VESA mounts, according to the company. Citing customer concern that an all-in-one PC's screen might get broken prematurely, Akhter says it has fitted its device with extra-strong "8H" glass, "durable enough to withstand daily use in tough working environments."
Features and specifications listed by Akhter for the LoCO2PC include:- Processor:
- Celeron E1400, 2.0GHz, with 800MHz FSB and 512KB second-level cache
- Pentium E2180, 2.0GHz, with 800MHz FSB and 1MB second-level cache
- Pentium E2200, 2.2GHz, with 800MHz FSB and 1MB second-level cache
- Pentium E5200, 2.5GHz, with 800MHz FSB and 2MB second-level cache
- Core 2 Duo E7200, 2.53GHz, with 1066MHz FSB and 3MB second-level cache
- Core 2 Duo E7300, 2.66GHz, with 1066MHz FSB and 3MB second-level cache
- Core 2 Duo E8400, 3.0GHz, with 1333MHz FSB and 6MB second-level cache
- Memory -- 2GB or 4GB of DDR2 RAM
- Display -- 19-inch screen with 1280 x 1024 resolution and optional touchscreen
- Storage -- DVD+/- drive and hard disk drive (capacity not listed)
- Networking -- 2 x gigabit Ethernet
- Other I/O:
- 10 x USB (2 side-mounted, 4 under unit, 4 internal; since this total seems beyond chipset maximum, not all may be simultaneously usable)
- 2 x RS232
- audio mic in, line in, line out
- 1 x VGA
- 1 x HDMI
- 1 x DVI
- 1 x IDE (used by DVD drive)
- 1 x SATA II (used by hard disk drive)
- Dimensions -- 17.1 x 16.3 x 3.4 inches
- Weight -- 14.77 pounds
The LoCO2 PC appears to be available now. Prices range from 539 U.K. Pounds (about $975) for a Celeron E1400 system to 639 U.K. Pounds (about $1,150) for a Core 2 Duo E8400 system.
The devices are available with Windows Vista Basic, Windows XP Home, or Windows XP Professional, according to the company.
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