Asus DigiMatrix - The Pizza Box Form Factor

Construction - Build, Appearance, Size (continued)

The sides of the DigiMatrix are bare, each side only revealing a large strip of ventilation holes that serve as intake vents. This is mainly because it functions as a PC and therefore, has PC components, such as memory, a CPU, a hard drive, etc., all of which need to be cooled.

Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

The back side of the system is home to most of the functionality of the DigiMatrix. In the upper left hand corner are the ports from the audio/radio module: antenna jack, line in, headphone, and microphone. Next is a RF connector for the TV input, video in, 10/100 ethernet jack, Gigabit ethernet jack, USB 2.0 ports, and the PS/2 ports (keyboard and mouse). For video output, the DigiMatrix provides three options: VGA, LCD, and HDTV/TV.

In the lower left hand corner is the second channel IDE connector of the motherboard. The hard drive (you need to buy) and the bundled optical drive run off the primary channel. This is for the DigiMatrix subsystem, which is an additional accessory you will need to purchase, should you want to add a second hard drive and optical drive. We don't have that many details on the subsystem, but it follows the same basic layout as the DigiMatrix, just without the motherboard and accessories. The only thing that it contains is the space to add a hard drive (not provided) and the notebook-size optical drive that comes with the subsystem. This seems to suggest that the subsystem is similar (if not smaller) than the footprint of the DigiMatrix.

Click to enlarge.

To the right of the IDE connector is the 3-pin power connector, which goes off to the power brick. The small power port next to the 3-pin power connector is actually a power out feed for the subsystem. This is so that the subsystem doesn't need the hassle of another power adapter. Unfortunately, this means that the DigiMatrix will need a bigger power brick to accommodate the extra possible power drain.

There are two square exhaust vents on the top side for the only two system fans. The bottom side is bare, minus the four rubber feet.

Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

Because the DigiMatrix has a pizza box like form factor, it only measures 11.2" x 11.4" x 2.1" thick. This makes it basically the same size as the many of the DVD players on the market. Fully loaded (CPU and hard drive added), the DigiMatrix weighs somewhere between 8 and 9 pounds. Its weight class makes it comparable to one of the high-end desktop replacement notebooks.

Click to enlarge.

DigiMatrix's power brick next to the Dell Inspiron 8600's power brick.

The power brick for the DigiMatrix is manufactured by Lite-On, and it is probably one of the biggest final production bricks that we have seen on any PC, notebook and SFF alike. Our eventual hope is that the power brick size would decrease in the second generation of the DigiMatrix model.