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Zotac ZBOX QK7P3000 (i7-7700T, Quadro P3000) Mini PC Review

Gamer-turned-workstation. Zotac has swapped out the GeForce GTX 1060 in its ZBox Magnus series for the workstation-equivalent Quadro P3000 to create a powerful mini PC for professional users. Temperature and fan noise are excellent when compared to workstation laptops. Some slight throttling behavior at extreme loads prevent this from being a must buy.

The wide-reaching Zotac ZBox family of mini PCs ranges from very small HTPCs like the P series up to larger gaming solutions like the Magnus E series. One of its newest additions is the Q series based on Nvidia Quadro GPUs for workstation users. Current SKUs include the QK5P1000, QK7P3000, and QK7P5000 with Quadro P1000, P3000, and P5000 Pascal GPUs, respectively.

Our test unit today is the mid-range QK7P3000 barebone configuration with the Core i7-7700T CPU and Quadro P3000 GPU for $1400 USD. We've outfitted the system with a 512 GB Samsung SSD Pro 960 NVMe SSD and a single 8 GB DDR4-2666 RAM module from Kingston for reviewing purposes. Other than the CPU and GPU swap, however, the QK7P3000 utilizes the exact same chassis design as the mid-range ZBox Magnus EN51050 gaming mini PC and so we recommend checking out our existing review for more information on the case and its internals. The visual similarities are unsurprising since the power envelopes between the EN51050 and QK7P3000 are nearly the same.

Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
Processor
Intel Core i7-7700T 4 x 2.9 - 3.8 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA Quadro P3000 - 6 GB VRAM, Core: 1215 MHz, Memory: 7008 MHz, GDDR5, 390.77
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4 1600 MHz, 14-16-16-32, Single-Channel
Mainboard
Intel B150 (Skylake PCH-H)
Soundcard
NVIDIA GP104 - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
2 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 2 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Infrared, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm microphone, 3.5 mm headphones, Card Reader: SD reader
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 62.2 x 210 x 203 ( = 2.45 x 8.27 x 7.99 in)
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Additional features
Quick Start guide, User's manual, Antenna, Warranty card, Drivers DVD, Drivers USB flash drive, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.676 kg ( = 59.12 oz / 3.69 pounds), Power Supply: 665 g ( = 23.46 oz / 1.47 pounds)
Price
1400 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

225 mm / 8.86 inch 203 mm / 7.99 inch 128 mm / 5.04 inch 3.3 kg7.38 lbs210 mm / 8.27 inch 203 mm / 7.99 inch 62.2 mm / 2.45 inch 1.7 kg3.69 lbs210 mm / 8.27 inch 203 mm / 7.99 inch 62.2 mm / 2.45 inch 1.7 kg3.8 lbs221 mm / 8.7 inch 142 mm / 5.59 inch 39 mm / 1.535 inch 1.3 kg2.94 lbs115 mm / 4.53 inch 111 mm / 4.37 inch 51 mm / 2.01 inch 577 g1.272 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Port selection is a strong point for the QK7P3000. Nonetheless, competing mini PCs like the Intel Hades Canyon NUC offer Thunderbolt 3 for potentially more connectivity options. An IR receiver is absent on the Zotac.

Front: Power button, SD reader, USB 3.1, 3.5 mm microphone, 3.5 mm earphones, USB 3.1 Type-C Gen. 2
Front: Power button, SD reader, USB 3.1, 3.5 mm microphone, 3.5 mm earphones, USB 3.1 Type-C Gen. 2
Left: Kensington Lock
Left: Kensington Lock
Rear: AC adapater, 2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x DisplayPort 1.3, 2x Gigabit Ethernet, Antenna
Rear: AC adapater, 2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x DisplayPort 1.3, 2x Gigabit Ethernet, Antenna
Right: No connectivity
Right: No connectivity
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
81 MB/s +128%
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
41.11 MB/s +16%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
35.52 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
88.3 MB/s +107%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
42.73 MB/s
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
42.45 MB/s -1%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
376 MBit/s +55%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
243 MBit/s
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
213 MBit/s -12%
iperf3 receive AX12
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
591 MBit/s +102%
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
321 MBit/s +10%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
292 MBit/s

Accessories

Unlike the larger and bulkier Magnus EN980, the QK7P3000 uses just one external antenna and one AC adapter. It's good to see both a USB stick and DVD included as many OEMs ship with DVDs only even if the product has no optical drive.

(Source: Zotac)
(Source: Zotac)

Warranty

The standard one to two year warranty applies depending on region with no extended warranty options available. Owners must register the product first before claiming warranty. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Performance

The 35 W Core i7-7700T is not commonly found on laptops since it is a socketed FCLGA1151 desktop CPU. Unlike the quad-core i5-7500T, the quad-core i7-7700T includes Hyper-Threading to boost multi-thread performance. The CPU in the QK7P3000 can be removed and upgraded, though warranty will be voided in the process. The smaller and less expensive QK5P1000 SKU utilizes an i5-7200U instead.

Meanwhile, graphics is powered by the Quadro P3000 GPU with the same TMUs, ROPs, and shaders as the GTX 1060 albeit at slower base clock rates (1215 vs. 1405 MHz) and memory rates (1752 vs. 2002 MHz). The integrated HD Graphics 630 GPU is disabled with no Optimus graphics switching available.

 

Processor

CPU performance is roughly 20 to 40 percent faster than the Core i5-7500T found on the ZBox EN51050. The relatively wide performance delta can be attributed to the inclusion of Hyper-Threading to bring raw performance very close to that of the ubiquitous Core i7-7700HQ. Users who can benefit from having even more simultaneous threads may want to consider other systems with Intel 8th gen CPUs where hexa-core SKUs are common.

Running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop results in a performance drop of only 3 to 4 percent.

CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R15
CineBench R15
0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510520530540550560570580590600610620630640650660670680690700710720Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Eurocom Sky X4C
Intel Core i7-8700K
192 Points +24%
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Intel Core i7-8809G
178 Points +15%
MSI GT63 Titan 8RG-046
Intel Core i7-8750H
174 Points +12%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
Intel Core i7-8550U
169 Points +9%
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
161 Points +4%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
Intel Core i5-8305G
157 Points +1%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
Intel Core i7-7700T
155 Points
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
141 Points -9%
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN51050
Intel Core i5-7500T
129 Points -17%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Eurocom Sky X4C
Intel Core i7-8700K
1359 Points +90%
MSI GT63 Titan 8RG-046
Intel Core i7-8750H
1091 Points +53%
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Intel Core i7-8809G
864 Points +21%
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
738 Points +3%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
Intel Core i7-7700T
714 Points
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
Intel Core i5-8305G
710 Points -1%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
566 Points -21%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
Intel Core i7-8550U
531 Points -26%
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN51050
Intel Core i5-7500T
512 Points -28%
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
5873
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
21587
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
6824
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
114.9 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.58 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.75 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
170.5 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
714 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
155 Points
Help

System Performance

PCMark 8 benchmarks rank our ZBox very similarly to the MSI WS63 workstation and just slightly below the Intel Hades Canyon NUC. Perhaps not coincidentally, these systems share similar GPU and CPU performances. We can report no abnormal software or hardware behavior during our time with the test unit.

PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop), i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5166 Points +16%
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Vega M GH, i7-8809G, Intel Optane 120 GB SSDPEK1W120GA
4833 Points +8%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
Vega M GL / 870, i5-8305G, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
4693 Points +5%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
Quadro P3000, i7-7700T, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
4472 Points
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
4438 Points -1%
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM961 MZVKW512HMJP m.2 PCI-e
4284 Points -4%
PCMark 10 - Score
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Vega M GH, i7-8809G, Intel Optane 120 GB SSDPEK1W120GA
5301 Points +16%
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop), i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5197 Points +14%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
Vega M GL / 870, i5-8305G, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
4702 Points +3%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
Quadro P3000, i7-7700T, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
4553 Points
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
3464 Points -24%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4472 points
PCMark 10 Score
4553 points
Help

Storage Devices

Sequential read and write rates from our 512 GB Samsung SSD 960 Pro are roughly comparable to the same SSD in the Eurocom Q8 to suggest a PCIe x4 interface. Secondary 2.5-inch SATA III drives are supported.

See our table of HDDs and SSDs for more benchmark comparisons.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM 5
CDM 5
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Intel Optane 120 GB SSDPEK1W120GA
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
Samsung SM961 MZVKW512HMJP m.2 PCI-e
AS SSD
38%
26%
-37%
49%
Copy Game MB/s
583
768
32%
1010
73%
250.5
-57%
1121
92%
Copy Program MB/s
234.6
342.4
46%
468
99%
174.9
-25%
447.3
91%
Copy ISO MB/s
871
1125
29%
1649
89%
392.7
-55%
1760
102%
Score Total
3863
3023
-22%
2791
-28%
1113
-71%
3759
-3%
Score Write
1705
714
-58%
669
-61%
307
-82%
1440
-16%
Score Read
1441
1524
6%
1429
-1%
595
-59%
1568
9%
Access Time Write *
0.09
0.033
63%
0.04
56%
0.056
38%
0.028
69%
Access Time Read *
0.079
0.025
68%
0.06
24%
0.146
-85%
0.036
54%
4K-64 Write
1479
556
-62%
443.8
-70%
181.2
-88%
1151
-22%
4K-64 Read
1200
1258
5%
1170
-2%
337.1
-72%
1244
4%
4K Write
43.07
103.5
140%
105.2
144%
92.7
115%
128.5
198%
4K Read
26.06
127.9
391%
46.69
79%
24.78
-5%
49.02
88%
Seq Write
1823
553
-70%
1205
-34%
334.3
-82%
1603
-12%
Seq Read
2154
1379
-36%
2119
-2%
2335
8%
2750
28%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3354 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 2039 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 322.2 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 250 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1908 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1837 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 42.82 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 104.7 MB/s

GPU Performance

3DMark 11
3DMark 11

Graphics performance is unsurprisingly very similar to a gaming laptop equipped with GTX 1060 graphics. The MSI GV62, for example, scores just a few percentage points higher than our Zotac ZBox in 3DMark benchmarks. Performance is surprisingly very close to the Quadro P4000 Max-Q with scores just 10 percent behind on average.

See our page on the Quadro P3000 for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Apple iMac Pro
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, W-2145
25589 Points +77%
Eurocom Tornado F5W
NVIDIA Quadro P5000, E3-1280 v5
20623 Points +42%
MSI WS63VR 7RL-023US
NVIDIA Quadro P4000 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
15837 Points +9%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
15101 Points +4%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700T
14483 Points
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ
12105 Points -16%
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5
8313 Points -43%
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN51050
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7500T
7831 Points -46%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U
3749 Points -74%
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
NVIDIA Quadro P500, i5-8550U
3022 Points -79%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Apple iMac Pro
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, W-2145
12374 Points +53%
Eurocom Tornado F5W
NVIDIA Quadro P5000, E3-1280 v5
10428 Points +29%
MSI WS63VR 7RL-023US
NVIDIA Quadro P4000 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
9296 Points +15%
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ
9063 Points +12%
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5
8654 Points +7%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
8215 Points +2%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700T
8076 Points
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN51050
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7500T
6938 Points -14%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U
4854 Points -40%
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
NVIDIA Quadro P500, i5-8550U
3016 Points -63%
SPECviewperf 12
1900x1060 Catia (catia-04)
Eurocom Tornado F5W
NVIDIA Quadro P5000, E3-1280 v5
155.4 fps +26%
Apple iMac Pro
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, W-2145
135 fps +9%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700T
123.6 fps
MSI WS63VR 7RL-023US
NVIDIA Quadro P4000 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
110 fps -11%
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ
96.5 fps -22%
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5
77.9 fps -37%
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
NVIDIA Quadro P500, i5-8550U
27.97 fps -77%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U
15.05 fps -88%
1900x1060 Creo (creo-01)
Eurocom Tornado F5W
NVIDIA Quadro P5000, E3-1280 v5
126.6 fps +18%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700T
107.1 fps
MSI WS63VR 7RL-023US
NVIDIA Quadro P4000 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
91.9 fps -14%
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ
87 fps -19%
Apple iMac Pro
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, W-2145
85.3 fps -20%
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5
64.8 fps -39%
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
NVIDIA Quadro P500, i5-8550U
35.91 fps -66%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U
17.12 fps -84%
1900x1060 Energy (energy-01)
Apple iMac Pro
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, W-2145
18.58 fps +112%
Eurocom Tornado F5W
NVIDIA Quadro P5000, E3-1280 v5
14.95 fps +70%
MSI WS63VR 7RL-023US
NVIDIA Quadro P4000 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
10.6 fps +21%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700T
8.78 fps
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ
7.7 fps -12%
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5
4.85 fps -45%
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
NVIDIA Quadro P500, i5-8550U
0.55 fps -94%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U
0.31 fps -96%
1900x1060 Maya (maya-04)
Apple iMac Pro
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, W-2145
102.6 fps +19%
Eurocom Tornado F5W
NVIDIA Quadro P5000, E3-1280 v5
102.1 fps +19%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700T
86.1 fps
MSI WS63VR 7RL-023US
NVIDIA Quadro P4000 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
73 fps -15%
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ
67.7 fps -21%
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5
50.4 fps -41%
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
NVIDIA Quadro P500, i5-8550U
21.61 fps -75%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U
9.22 fps -89%
1900x1060 Medical (medical-01)
Apple iMac Pro
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, W-2145
74.6 fps +85%
Eurocom Tornado F5W
NVIDIA Quadro P5000, E3-1280 v5
71.5 fps +78%
MSI WS63VR 7RL-023US
NVIDIA Quadro P4000 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
41.8 fps +4%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700T
40.22 fps
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ
29.82 fps -26%
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5
22.34 fps -44%
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
NVIDIA Quadro P500, i5-8550U
9.33 fps -77%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U
3.71 fps -91%
1900x1060 Showcase (showcase-01)
Apple iMac Pro
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, W-2145
106.4 fps +92%
MSI WS63VR 7RL-023US
NVIDIA Quadro P4000 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
62.6 fps +13%
Eurocom Tornado F5W
NVIDIA Quadro P5000, E3-1280 v5
62.3 fps +13%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700T
55.3 fps
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ
54.8 fps -1%
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5
43.81 fps -21%
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
NVIDIA Quadro P500, i5-8550U
12.13 fps -78%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U
5.19 fps -91%
1900x1060 Siemens NX (snx-02)
Eurocom Tornado F5W
NVIDIA Quadro P5000, E3-1280 v5
183.6 fps +54%
Apple iMac Pro
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, W-2145
130.9 fps +10%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700T
119.4 fps
MSI WS63VR 7RL-023US
NVIDIA Quadro P4000 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
111.7 fps -6%
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ
71.8 fps -40%
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5
65.8 fps -45%
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
NVIDIA Quadro P500, i5-8550U
28.31 fps -76%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U
14.27 fps -88%
1900x1060 Solidworks (sw-03)
Eurocom Tornado F5W
NVIDIA Quadro P5000, E3-1280 v5
166.2 fps +17%
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700T
141.9 fps
MSI WS63VR 7RL-023US
NVIDIA Quadro P4000 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
119.9 fps -16%
Apple iMac Pro
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, W-2145
117.7 fps -17%
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
NVIDIA Quadro P3000, i7-7700HQ
102.9 fps -27%
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5
84.8 fps -40%
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
NVIDIA Quadro P500, i5-8550U
53.5 fps -62%
HP ZBook 14u G5-2ZB99EA
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, i5-8550U
26.11 fps -82%
3DMark 11 Performance
12086 points
Help
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 291.2 242.1 233.2 107.9
The Witcher 3 (2015) 34

Stress Test

We stress the mini PC to identify for any potential throttling issues. When running Prime95, the CPU can be observed operating at 3.6 GHz for the first few seconds before dropping to a steady 3.1 to 3.2 GHz range. The results match with our power consumption readings where consumption is highest only during the first few seconds of the benchmark test. Core temperature plateaus at the mid 60 C range. Running Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously results in CPU and GPU temperatures of 75  C and 54 C, respectively. The relatively cool GPU temperature can be attributed to performance throttling when subjected to such extreme loads.

Running Witcher 3 is more representative of real-world stressful loads. The CPU and GPU can be observed operating at steady clock rates of 3.6 GHz and 1493 MHz, respectively. Idling on the Witcher 3 world map results in no major frame rate dips over time. GPU clock rates can reach up to 1771.5 MHz only during the first minute or so before stabilizing at the aforementioned 1493 MHz.

System idle
System idle
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
012345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637Tooltip
The Witcher 3 ultra
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 3.1 - 3.2 -- 63 --
FurMark Stress -- 961 -- 65
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 3.1 - 3.2 1215 75 54
Witcher 3 Stress 3.6 1493 63 66

Emissions

System Noise

Unlike many Ultrabooks, the system fan in the QK7P3000 is always active no matter the load. Simply idling on desktop can be as loud as 41 dB(A) compared to just 30 or 31 dB(A) on the HP ZBook 17 or ThinkPad P52s. The whirring is of much lower frequency from the ZBox, however, so it's not a distraction during regular use. Noise from laptops is more noticeable since the fans are generally smaller and higher pitched.

Fan noise barely changes when subjected to higher loads. Gaming, for example, induces a fan noise a slightly louder fan noise of just 41.6 dB(A). Users can set the fan speed in the BIOS much like on the Magnus EN51050. The maximum is set to 80 percent by default and so an even louder system is attainable if desired.

Noise Level

Idle
40.9 / 40.9 / 40.9 dB(A)
Load
40.9 / 41.6 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 29.6 dB(A)
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
Quadro P3000, i7-7700T, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Vega M GH, i7-8809G, Intel Optane 120 GB SSDPEK1W120GA
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop), i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Apple iMac Pro
Pro Vega 56, W-2145
HP ZBook 17 G3 TZV66eA
Quadro M3000M, E3-1535M v5, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
Quadro P500, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Noise
12%
1%
12%
7%
20%
off / environment *
29.6
28.7
3%
29.9
-1%
29.1
2%
30
-1%
29
2%
Idle Minimum *
40.9
29
29%
38.6
6%
29.8
27%
30
27%
29
29%
Idle Average *
40.9
29
29%
38.6
6%
29.8
27%
30
27%
29
29%
Idle Maximum *
40.9
29
29%
39
5%
29.8
27%
30
27%
31.2
24%
Load Average *
40.9
36
12%
40.6
1%
39.7
3%
48.9
-20%
32.5
21%
Witcher 3 ultra *
41.6
42
-1%
41.7
-0%
32.5
22%
Load Maximum *
41.6
49.4
-19%
47
-13%
47.9
-15%
48.9
-18%
37.5
10%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Zotac ZBox mini PCs run relatively cool in terms of surface temperature. The top cover can be as warm as 36 C when gaming while super-thin laptops like the MSI GS63VR will run much warmer.

It's possible to position the unit vertically because one of the four sides includes no ventilation grilles. There is no official stand, however, and so stability may be an issue.

System idle
System idle
Maximum stress (Prime95+FurMark)
Maximum stress (Prime95+FurMark)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Idling on desktop will demand anywhere from 20 W to 28 W depending on the power profile selected. Its range is slightly higher than most notebooks since the i7-7700T is not a mobile HQ series CPU. Gaming loads will demand about 114 W to be similar to a GTX 1060-powered laptop.

Maximum load will demand an average of 96 W from the medium-sized (~15.3 x 7.4 x 3 cm) 180 W AC adapter. Consumption is lower when compared to gaming load because of throttling.

Prime95 activated at the 20s mark. Note that consumption is highest for the first few seconds before throttling kicks in
Prime95 activated at the 20s mark. Note that consumption is highest for the first few seconds before throttling kicks in
Steady power consumption while running Witcher 3
Steady power consumption while running Witcher 3
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 1.43 / 1.8 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 19.9 / 20.3 / 27.6 Watt
Load midlight 86.2 / 96.3 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Zotac ZBOX-QK7P3000
i7-7700T, Quadro P3000, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2, , x,
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
i7-8809G, Vega M GH, Intel Optane 120 GB SSDPEK1W120GA, , x,
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EK71080
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop), Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, , x, 0.00
Apple iMac Pro
W-2145, Pro Vega 56, , , 5120x2880, 27.00
Lenovo ThinkPad P52s-20LB000HGE
i5-8550U, Quadro P500, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
MSI WS63 7RF-290US
i7-7700HQ, Quadro P3000, Samsung SM961 MZVKW512HMJP m.2 PCI-e, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Power Consumption
-0%
-50%
-240%
57%
14%
Idle Minimum *
19.9
15.5
22%
27.1
-36%
49.5
-149%
4.1
79%
11
45%
Idle Average *
20.3
16.2
20%
27.4
-35%
86.7
-327%
7.7
62%
14.2
30%
Idle Maximum *
27.6
16.5
40%
28.8
-4%
88.9
-222%
10.7
61%
14.6
47%
Load Average *
86.2
83.4
3%
100.4
-16%
150.1
-74%
52
40%
77.7
10%
Witcher 3 ultra *
114.4
121.7
-6%
243.1
-113%
38.8
66%
89.1
22%
Load Maximum *
96.3
173.5
-80%
186.7
-94%
508.5
-428%
65
33%
161.7
-68%

* ... smaller is better

Pros

+ quieter than most laptops when under load
+ relatively cool core temperatures
+ compact form factor
+ easy serviceability
+ 2x storage bays

Cons

- unable to sustain maximum CPU Turbo Boost
- performance throttling under extreme stress
- SD reader performance could be better
- slight hum when idling; never silent
- slow 1x1 WLAN module
- no Thunderbolt 3

Verdict

In review: Zotac ZBOX QK7P3000. Test model provided by Zotac
In review: Zotac ZBOX QK7P3000. Test model provided by Zotac

We're delighted to see the popular gaming-centric Magnus EN51050 converted into a workstation for professional users. Much like how the MSI WT and WS families are derivatives of the gaming GT and GS families, the Zotac Q series brings the best of what the ZBox gaming models offer including relatively quiet operation under load, reasonably cool core temperatures, and high performance for the small volume.

Unfortunately, the same drawbacks remain. Zotac has not bothered upgrading the WLAN or adding any additional features to further distinguish the Q series. WiFi speeds are still limited by a 1x1 433 Mbps Intel 3165 module whereas most newer laptops are already beginning to ship with the 1.73 Gbps Intel 9560. Thunderbolt 3 is still missing and transfer rates from the SD card reader are a fraction of what UHS-II promises. The GPU is unable to maintain its maximum Boost clock rate by default which is baffling considering that its core temperature has plenty of overhead available when under stress.

Many of these drawbacks could have been easier to forgive if it weren't for the high MSRP. At $1400 USD for a barebones kit without any storage drives or RAM, we feel that the QK7P3000 could have offered more for the price. At the same time, however, it's one of the very few mini PCs - if not the first - to ship with Quadro Pascal graphics and so alternatives are currently limited. We're hoping that future revisions will update some lacking components to better reflect the price range.

The power available in such a small form factor shouldn't be understated. Workstation users can now exploit the same Pascal-powered ultra-small form factor PCs that gamers have been enjoying for quite some time. It offers high performance-per-volume, albeit not necessarily the highest performance-per-Dollar.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Zotac ZBOX QK7P3000 (i7-7700T, Quadro P3000) Mini PC Review
Allen Ngo, 2018-07- 4 (Update: 2019-03- 9)