The Iwill XP4-G Mini-PC
Iwill Enters the SFF Fray...

By, Marco Chiappetta
June 25, 2003

Small Form Factor, or SFF PCs have been getting a ton of press lately.  In late 2001 Shuttle introduced their SV24, and from then on the market has simply exploded.  Now, a myriad of different OEMs offer mini-PCs that cater to a wide variety of users.  Shuttle has delivered SFF systems for business users (SB52G2) or the performance enthusiast (SB61G2).  MSI has audiophiles covered with their MEGA PC.  Each one of these systems, and many others, offer specific features that are designed to please a specific target audience.  In general, the trend has been to cram as many features into one of these PCs as possible. 

Iwill on the other hand, has taken a slightly different approach.  Their first mini-PC, the XP4 was targeted at budget conscious buyers looking for a basic second system or inexpensive business class PC.  It offered integrated video and only a single PCI slot.  Their second mini-PC, the XP4-G, improves on their original design with its redesigned enclosure and AGP slot.  Iwill is targeting the XP4-G at LAN Gamers or users who are looking for a high-performing system that isn't overloaded with extra features that jack up cost.  We think they've done a decent job...take a look...

Specifications & Features of the Iwill XP4-G Mini-PC
Iwill's Mini-i845GE

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SPECIFICATIONS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM IWILLUSA.COM

Processor
  • Supports single socket 478 Intel Pentium 4 processor
  • Supports 533/400 MHz Intel Pentium 4 processor speeds up to 3.06 GHz and higher
  • Supports Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Chipset

  • Intel 845GE chipset
  • 82845 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH)
  • 82801DB I/O Controller Hub 4 (ICH4)

System Memory

  • 1 x DIMM slot
  • Supports up to 1GB DDR333 / 266 / 200 (PC2700 / PC2100 / PC1600) SDRAM

IDE

  • Dual channel ATA 100/66/33 IDE
  • Connect up to four (4) IDE / ATAPI devices

Audio

  • RealTek ALC650
  • AC'97 Audio CODEC
  • 6-channel audio
  • 1 x 4-pin CD-ROM audio-in header
  • 1 x 4-pin AUX header

VGA

  • Intel Extreme Graphics
  • Integrated in Intel 845GE, 845GV, 845G and 845GL chipsets
LAN
  • RealTek RTL8100 10/100M Fast Ethernet Controller
  • 10/100 Mbps operations

Expansion Slots

  • 1 x AGP slot supports 4X mode (1.5V only)

I/O Interface

  • 2 x ATA/100 IDE connectors
  • 2 x PS/2 connectors (keyboard and mouse)
  • 1 x 25-pin ECP/EPP parallel port
  • 1 x 9-pin 16500-based serial port
  • 1 x VGA port (video)
  • 1 x RJ-45 connector
  • 4 x USB 2.0 ports (2 x front / 2 x rear)
  • 1 x Internal WOL header
  • 3 x Audio connectors (Line-in | Line-out | MIC)
  • 1 x MIC input on front panel
  • 1 x Earphone output on front panel

Dimensions

  • 6.3 in x 7.5 in x 10.64 in (W x H x D)
  • (160mm x 190mm x 270mm)

Package Contents

  • 1 x IWILL XP4-G Mini-PC barebones system (Includes motherboard, chassis and 220W power supply)
  • 1 x Users' manual
  • 1 x IWILL Power Installer CD
  • 1 x ATA/100 IDE cable
  • 1 x Power cable
  • 1 x Package of screws and zip-ties

The Bundle:

    

Iwill doesn't include many accessories with the XP4-G, but then again, they don't really have to.  As you'll see a bit later, there is no need for an exotic cooling system and because there is only a single externally accessible drive bay, there aren't many cables included either.  In the stylish box, bundled with the XP4-G, we found a bag of mounting screws and zip ties, along with a power cable, an 80-Wire IDE cable, a driver CD, a User's Manual and a Quick Reference Guide.  The User's Manual and Quick Reference guide are fairly informative.  However, most users will be able to put this system together without having to read any documentation.  On the whole, this wasn't the most inspiring bundle, but the essentials are there.

Quality & Setup