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Zotac announces Magnus ERX480 mini PC with AMD RX 480 graphics

The Zotac Magnus ERX480, a VR-ready small form factor gaming PC. (Source: Zotac)
The Zotac Magnus ERX480, a VR-ready small form factor gaming PC. (Source: Zotac)
Zotac provides virtual reality gaming in a small package with the ERX480.

Thanks to this year's improvements in energy efficiency and thermal management for graphics cards, manufacturers have been shrinking the footprint of their gaming notebooks and PCs. Zotac is no stranger to small form factor gaming PCs, specializing in mini-PCs with high-end hardware targeted at gamers. With the new Magnus ERX480, Zotac is expanding its line of tiny gaming PCs and adding the option for VR gaming.

The Magnus ERX480 features the following components: 

ProcessorQuad-core Intel Skylake i5-6400T (2.2 GHz base clock w/ 2.8 GHz boost)
GraphicsAMD RX 480 (4 GB GDDR5, 256-bit memory bus, Polaris Architecture)
MemoryTwo slots, up to 32 GB DDR4 at 2133 MHz
StorageOne M.2 SATA 6.0 Gbps (SSD), One 2.5 in SATA 6.0 Gbps (SSD or HDD)

The Magnus ERX480 is compact, measuring 210 mm x 203 mm x 62.2 mm (8.27 in x 7.99 in x 2.45 in). Despite the small size, Zotac is still able to fit ample connectivity onto the back of the chassis. These include:

  • One WiFi antenna connection
  • Two USB 3.0 Type-A ports
  • Two USB 2.0 Type-A ports
  • Two Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
  • Two HDMI 2.0 outputs
  • Two DisplayPort 1.3 Outputs

On the front of the chassis, the device has a dedicated microphone in, a dedicated headphone/audio line out, a 3-in-1 SD/SDHC/SDXC card reader, one USB 3.1 Type-A port, and one USB 3.1 Type-C port.

Zotac is selling three versions of the device. The i5-6400T and AMD RX 480 are included with all models. The ERX480 is a barebones system, meaning that buyers will have to provide their own memory and storage. The ERX480 PLUS comes equipped with 8 GB of DDR4-2133 RAM, a 120 GB M.2 SSD, and a 1 TB 2.5 inch HDD. The ERX480 with Windows includes the same components as the PLUS and comes with preinstalled with Windows 10.

Zotac is aiming the device at customers that want a great gaming experience in a small footprint, possibly as a home theater PC (HTPC). Pricing and availability have not been announced as of this writing.

The Magnus ERX480 from Zotac has ample port selection for a mini PC. (Source: Zotac)
The Magnus ERX480 from Zotac has ample port selection for a mini PC. (Source: Zotac)
Zotac's Magnus ERX480 features a front-side USB 3.1 Type-C connector (Source: Zotac)
Zotac's Magnus ERX480 features a front-side USB 3.1 Type-C connector (Source: Zotac)
Zotac includes several items, such as a WiFi antenna, in the box. (Source: Zotac)
Zotac includes several items, such as a WiFi antenna, in the box. (Source: Zotac)
 

Source(s)

Zotac

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2016 11 > Zotac announces Magnus ERX480 mini PC with AMD RX 480 graphics
Sam Medley, 2016-11- 2 (Update: 2016-11- 2)