Introduction

Blending in with their bigger competitors as if they had always been there, Zotac has been around for a while now. However, they are newer to the industry than you might expect, having been established in 2006. In that short twelve-year span, they have grown to become an industry juggernaut that offers a range of products, including graphics cards, desktops, and mini-PCs. Continuing to push the envelope of what consumers can expect, Zotac has placed themselves in a solid position that allows for not only expansion but continued innovation. In general, Zotac will continue to be a force in the PC gaming market.


In today's review, I look at the brand new Zotac ZBOX CI660 nano barebones mini-PC. The barebones model is currently not available in the US. However, the Plus model, which includes 4 GB of memory and a 120 GB SSD, will be. With that out of the way, the system is passively cooled and comes packing an 4c/8t Intel Core i7-8550U, which should offer more than enough processing power to get actual work done. That said, the system as reviewed is a barebones unit and as such, system memory and storage are up to the end user to provide. This means the final specs will depend on one's budget, which will have performance vary as well. I will be testing the CI660 nano with Patriot Signature Line 2x8 GB (16 GB) DDR4 SODIMMs running at 2133 MHz. The OS drive and storage will be handled by a Crucial 250 GB MX500 SATA SSD. With specifications like this, I expect to see solid performance, but before we get to that, let us take a closer look at the system itself.

Packaging and Contents

The box the Zotac ZBOX CI660 nano comes in features an image of the system on the front and mentions that it is in fact a barebones offering. Thus, users are responsible for the memory, storage, and operating system. On the left side, we are asked "why not both" in regards to a mini-PC or compact desktop with Zotac gleefully shouting in large bold text that they made the original mini-PC.


Moving on to the back, we find a few images detailing the various I/O ports, along with some information on the system's features. Those features are its passively cooled design, 8th generation Intel processor, and 4K @ 60Hz display outputs, etc. Moving on to the right side, you will see the system specs along with the various ways in which you can position or mount the system. The biggest eye catcher here is, of course, Zotac's use of an i7-8550U processor since most other specifications are up to the end user.


The top again lists a few features and specifications but little else, while the bottom lists what is included in the box.


Opening the box shows the Zotac ZBOX CI660 nano wrapped in a thin foam bag and placed in a cardboard tray. The power supply is in the smaller box off to the side. Included in the box are, of course, the usual manuals as well.


Overall, the bundle is very spartan with only the bare essentials necessary having been included. However, this makes perfect sense considering the unit is a barebones offering. Still, Zotac made sure to include a VESA mounting plate with screws along with a USB thumb drive that contains all the necessary drivers.

• CI660 nano system
• Power brick
• VESA mounting plate
• VESA screws
• USB thumb drive with drivers
• Wireless antenna

A Closer Look

The top of the CI660 nano is comprised of a honeycomb-vented top plate out of plastic with the Zotac name in the center. Flipping the system over, we can see the bottom use the same honeycomb design with built-in support for the VESA mount. Four rubber-tipped screws hold the system together and act as feet for the chassis.


On the front, users will be happy to see two USB 3.1 Type C ports and a USB 3.0 Type A port. Headphone and microphone jacks are located on the front as well, along with a 3-in-1 card reader and the power button. The outside edge is detailed with a white plastic border that helps give the system some character and a nice bit of contrast in an otherwise all-black design. Much like the top and bottom, the left side features the same honeycomb venting to improve heat dissipation.


On the back, users will find the power port, HDMI port, DisplayPort, four USB 3.0 ports, two gigabit LAN ports, a wireless antenna connector, and a Kensington lock. It should be noted that the HDMI port is version 2.0 and the DisplayPort is version 1.2; both support 4K @ 60 Hz. Finally, that leaves the right side, which is similar to the left in that it features the same honeycomb-vented design for maximum heat dissipation.


While not quite as small as the ECS LIVA Z2, the Zotac ZBOX CI660 nano is still quite small, as seen here when compared to a 140 mm fan. It measures in at 204 mm x 129 mm x 68 mm (8.03 in x 5.08 in x 2.68 in).


The power adapter is manufactured by Delta Electronics and rated at 19 volts and 3.42 amps for a total output of 65 watts.


Mounting the unit to a monitor is exceptionally easy. The included VESA mount will work for 75 mm x 75 mm or 100 mm x 100 mm mounting options. All you need to do is mount the bracket to the monitor with the included screws. Once done, slide the Zotac CI660 nano into place on the bracket. With that done, the system is good to go. Just keep in mind that the mounting method allows for the system to be turned in any direction for maximum compatibility.