The AOpen EZ65 & Biostar iDEQ 200T
Shuttle Isn't the Only OEM Making SFF Systems...

By, Marco Chiappetta
December 16, 2003
 

    

With all of the buzz surrounding Shuttle's popular XPC line of small form factor systems, you'd think they were the only company producing these diminutive machines, which obviously is not the case.  Over the past year or so, virtually every major player in PC hardware has brought their version of the mini-PC to the market.  Some of them have been viable alternatives to the XPC product line-up, while others simply can't hold a candle to Shuttle's SFF systems.  Today on HotHardware.Com, we're going to take a close look at two relatively new small form factor systems that directly challenge Shuttle's products, the Biostar iDEQ 200T and the AOpen EZ65 XC cube.  Both of these machines are based on motherboards powered by Intel's i865 "Springdale" chipset, and as such they support any Northwood based Pentium 4 or Celeron processor, all the way up to the current flagship 3.2GHz P4.  Each machine has a similar feature set, but offers its own unique style and feel.  Biostar's iDEQ 200T has a more muscular-looking, silver case while AOpen's EZ65 XC Cube is more reserved, with its glossy white enclosure (incidentally the EZ65 is also available in grey, black, blue or red).  What do you say, we crack open the boxes, get these machines built and take them for a spin?  Follow me...

Specifications & Features of the AOpen EZ65 & Biostar iDEQ 200T
Shuttle's Got Competition

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW

   

SPECIFICATIONS TAKEN FROM BIOSTAR.COM.TW & AOPEN.COM

AOPen EZ65

SIZE WDH (mm)

  • 300(W)x 200(D)x 185(H)

CHIPSET

  • Intel865G / ICH5

MEMORY

  • TYPE DDRx2 (DUAL Channel)

  • 266/333/400 MHz

CPU

  • Socket 478

  • 400/533/800 FSB

  • Intel Hyper-Threading technology

VIDEO

  • Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2

  • AGP Slot (8x AGP)

SLOTS

  • PCI X 1

  • AGP X 1

AUDIO

  • Realtek AC97 5.1 Channel

LAN

  • Intel 10/100/1000 Ethernet

IDE

  • ATA100 X 2

SERIAL ATA

  • SATA X 2

USB 2.0

  • 2 X Front Ports

  • 2 X Rear Ports

IEEE1394

  • 1 X Rear

  • 2 X Front (6/4 Pins)

DRIVE BAYS

  • 1 X 5.25"

  • 1 X 3.5"

  • 1 X Internal 3.5"

POWER SUPPLY

  • 220W (with 8cm Fan)


      

Biostar iDEQ 200T

PROCESSOR

  • Intel Pentium 4
  • 800MHz Front Side Bus
  • Intel Hyper-Threading technology

CHIPSET

  • Intel 865G + ICH5R

MEMORY

  • Two DDR400 slots
  • Dual Channel Memory architecture
  • Up to 2GB in total system memory

EXPANSION SLOTS

  • 1 x AGP (8x)
  • 1 x PCI

IO PORTS

  • Front
  •  2 x USB 2.0
  • 1 x S/PDIF input, 1 x Microphone, 1 x Headphone
  • 1 x IEEE 1394A
     
  • Rear
  • 2 x USB 2.0
  • 1 x IEEE 1394A
  • 1 x LAN
  • 1 x VGA
  • 1 x Serial
  • 2 x PS/2
  • 1 x S/PDIF output, 1 x Line-in, 1 x Line-out, 1 x Mic

IDE

  • Accommodates up to 2 EIDE devices
  • Ultra DMA 33/66/100/133 Bus Master Mode

SERIAL ATA

  • Intel SATA

VIDEO

  • Intel Extreme Graphics 2

AUDIO

  • C-Media CMI9739A 6-Channel AC'97 CODEC

1394A

  • VIA VT6307

LAN

  • Realtek RTL8100B 10/100mbps LAN

SIZE

  • 210mm x 323mm x 187mm (W x D x H)

POWER SUPPLY

  • 220W (with 80mm Fan)

The Bundles:


ACCESSORIES INCLUDED WITH THE AOPEN EZ65

AOpen packed the EZ65's box with a healthy compliment of accessories.  Inside the package, we found a total of 4 complete User's Manuals (each one in a different language), a Quick Installation Guide, and a utilities CD that contained Acrobat Reader, drivers for the system and AOpen's proprietary Silent Tek hardware monitoring application.  AOpen also included three power cables for different regions of the world, SATA, SATA Power, IDE and floppy cables, and lastly a baggie with screws, thermal paste, wire ties and even a cloth for wiping the system clean.  A copper / aluminum hybrid CPU cooler, with a hefty base and vertically mounted 70MM fan, is bundled with the system as well.

 


ACCESSORIES INCLUDED WITH THE BIOSTAR iDEQ 200T

The Biostar iDEQ 200T also shipped with a very complete accessory bundle.  A User's Manual, Quick Installation Guide, Driver CD and Studio-Fun CD accompanied the system, along with Serial ATA power and data cables, a power cord, drive bay covers, some thermal grease and a pack of screws.  A copper heat-pipe heatsink, with vertically and horizontally situated fins, and a vertically mounted 60MM fan was also included with the iDEQ 200T.  But where are all of the other drive cables?  How will we connect all of our drives?  Be patient grasshopper.  As the old Ragu commercials used to say, "It's in there..."
 


Let's Look at the AOpen EZ65