CompuLab Fit-PC2 NetTop
We have tested a few interesting Intel Atom-powered nettop computers lately from the ASRock ION 330HT-BD that bears a Blu-ray drive and an Intel Atom 330 CPU with NVIDIA ION graphics to the ASUS Eee Top that packaged the entire system within a touch-screen monitor. In this article we are trying out the CompuLab Fit-PC2, which is definitely the smallest Atom-powered computer we have tested to date. The Fit-PC2 easily fits in the palm of your hand and it packs an Intel Atom Z530 processor with a Poulsbo graphics processor, a 160GB SATA HDD, and 1GB of system memory.
CompuLab is not a well-known brand compared to ASUS, ASRock, or Acer, but this Israel-based company that produces over 100,000 motherboards a year has been around for almost two decades. The Fit-PC2 carries a tag line of "do without wasting" and promises to save 96% of the power used by a standard desktop, to be the most efficient PC on the Energy-Star list, is smaller than a soft drink can, is completely fanless, can fit anywhere, and is meant for a variety of applications from IP telephony to media streaming in your living room.
The current Fit-PC2 models offered by CompuLab are the Fit-PC2 and the Fit-PC2i. We were sent a review sample of the Fit-PC2 by CompuLab for testing at Phoronix and it includes the 1.6GHz Atom Z530, 1GB of DDR2 system memory, one Gigabit Ethernet port, six USB 2.0 ports, and 802.11g WiFi support. The Chipset used by both Fit-PC2 computers is the Intel US15W SCH (a.k.a. "Poulsbo") with GMA 500 series graphics. This computer also boasts an internal bay for the 2.5" SATA HDD and a miniSD socket. CompuLab offers the Fit-PC2 with a choice between Windows XP Home SP3, Windows 7 Professional, and Ubuntu Linux 8.04. There are also other Fit-PC2 models without a disk, with only a 1.1GHz processor, and other options.
The CompuLab Fit-PC2 arrived from Haifa in a small cardboard box and inside of that was the Fit-PC2 package itself. The product packaging lists all of the specifications for this mini Atom-powered PC and states this product is ideal for use as a multimedia PC, security and home automation, desktop replacement, thin client, 24/7 server, or a car PC. A brief user's manual is included with the PC as well as the external power supply, one WiFi antenna, and a HDMI to DVI monitor adapter.