BOXX Introduces the World’s Smallest Overclocked Workstation
Bohs Hansen / 9 years ago
When we think small and compact systems, we usually think in the direction of HTPCs or low-powered LAN rigs, but there are a lot more possibilities with today’s hardware and BOXX proves that with their impressive new and very compact workstation dubbed the APEXX 1.
The APEXX 1 is the smallest workstation coming from BOXX and it packs quite an impressive punch for its tiny measurements. It is less than 5 inches wide, 8.5 inches tall, and 9 inches deep, which has been achieved thanks to the in-house developed and built chassis.
There are two new models available in the APEXX series, the first is i7 based and the second is Xeon based. The i7 systems features an 8-core CPU overclocked to 4GHz and up to 32GB DDR4 memory while the Xeon E5 model comes with up to 18 cores and up to 64GB DDR4 memory. Overclocked Skylake models will be available at the end of the month too.
When it comes to the graphics card used, you got the choice between both of the two rivals in the workstation market. Whether you need an NVIDIA Quadro or an AMD FirePro graphics card, you can get both.
The system is using a duality of liquid cooling as well as a blower fan to provide optimal cooling for the entire system. An important aspect in such a tiny system and especially considering the power that these systems pack. The closed-loop AIO cooler is maintenance free as we’re used to and the system doesn’t require any more than a little de-dusting now and then.
Storage wise you can get the best of the best too. You can go with an optional M.2 PCI-Express NVMe drive or use the two dual 2.5-inch bays for more traditional SATA3 drives such as SSDs and HDDs. Although I don’t know who would put a mechanical drive in a beautiful and modern system like this.
There are plenty of USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 ports available so you can attach all the external storage that you want. It also features eSATA, USB 2.0, and a dual PS2 connector. Gigabit Ethernet is also present and so is a 7.1 channel sound card with S/PDIF Out. The PSU is external and is among the reasons why this system can be so tiny despite its power.
If one system shouldn’t be enough for your workplace or you need extra rendering power, then you can easily stack these system thanks to the four bumpers available when placed on its side. The upcoming renderPRO 1 can also be stacked right on top and it fits like a glove.
The system comes with either Windows or Linux and it is backed by a 3-year warranty, one year of 24/7 phone support and next business day onsite service for US and Canadian customers. The price will depend on your configuration and model of the APEXX 1, but I have no doubt that it will be worth it.