MSI Wind Box Intel Atom 330 NetTops

Through Phoromatic you can easily build a benchmarking test farm with minimal effort and combined with Phoromatic Tracker you can monitor the performance of a given software or hardware component over the course of time. We used our own tools to launch a Linux kernel tracker that monitors the performance of the very latest Linux kernel code on a daily basis at kernel-tracker.phoromatic.com. We are also announcing another new, important public tracker coming soon, but first off, we needed a few more low-powered Intel Atom systems. We ended up purchasing two MSI Wind Box NetTops (the 6667BB-003US and 6667BB-004US) that are both based around an Intel Atom 330 dual-core processor within a very low-profile enclosure. The MSI 6667BB-003US utilizes Intel GMA 950 graphics while the 6667BB-004US boasts an ATI Radeon HD 4330 graphics processor. Here is our Linux look at these two Intel nettop computers.

The MSI Wind Box 6667BB-003US and 6667BB-004US are barebone systems that lack a hard drive or system memory, but both provide a 1.6GHz 64-bit capable Intel Atom 330 dual-core processor, a motherboard based around an Intel 945GC chipset with ICH7 southbridge, and the board offers a single memory slot that supports 200-pin DDR2-533/400MHz memory up to 2GB in capacity. Both of these mini computers boast Gigabit Ethernet, an integrated Compact Flash card slot, a half-high PCI Express mini card slot, and a single 3.5-inch internal drive bay for a Serial ATA hard drive, but neither have integrated WiFi support. There is a WiFi antenna included with both units, but no WLAN PCIe mini card is installed. The only real difference between the two MSI nettops is the graphics processor, which as we mentioned is the Intel GMA 950 with the lower-cost model while the 6667BB-004US has the ATI Radeon HD 4330 graphics processor.

Included with each of the Atom nettops was a quick start guide, user's manual, warranty card, the external AC/DC 65W +19V power adapter, and a wall mounting kit. It is quite convenient that MSI includes the wall mounting kit with the unit itself rather than needing to purchase it separately. Both units were well packaged and arrived in fine condition.