DCDCDCDCDC
DCDCDCDCDC's Stats
- Review Count1
- Helpfulness Votes41
- First ReviewDecember 9, 2013
- Last ReviewDecember 9, 2013
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating5
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Questions
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- Last QuestionNone
- Featured Questions0
- Answer Count1
- Helpfulness Votes3
- First AnswerDecember 9, 2013
- Last AnswerDecember 9, 2013
- Featured Answers0
- Best Answers1
DCDCDCDCDC's Reviews
Asus - Essentio Desktop - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive
Learn more about the New WindowsThis Asus Essentio M11BB-B06 desktop's built-in high-speed wireless LAN makes it easy to connect to the Web for access to your favorite Internet content. The 1TB hard drive provides ample room to store photos, videos and other files.
Solid performer, good value
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: DCDCDCDCDC
from Seattle WA
on December 9, 2013
Features
4.0
Performance
5.0
What's great about it: Runs fast and quiet
What's not so great: No legacy PCI slot/ warranty void if case opened
As soon as I got the machine, I uninstalled the McAfee anti-malware suite and opted for Microsoft Defender instead. I also uninstalled the Bing bar. Then I connected to Windows Update and downloaded a LOT of system and app updates. Then I updated to Win 8.1 through the Store which automatically updated all drivers including AMD Radeon. Then I installed "Classic Shell" to get the Win 7 start menu back. Took about 2-3 hours to do all this. Now the machine is screaming fast and WAY better than any Win7 machine.
Motherboard is a stripped down ASUS F2A55-M:
- does not have a legacy PCI slot (just an empty space instead)
- does have PCI-E x16, PCI-E x4, and PCI-E x1 slots
- has only 4 SATA connectors (instead of 6)
- does have 4 DIMM slots so expandable to 32GB or 64GB
- is not compatible with standard F2A55-M BIOS/firmware updates
- BIOS/firmware updates are less frequent than the standard board from ASUS
- PCI-e x4 slot is populated with a Ralink WLAN card, but it can be relocated to the x1 slot if you want to do Crossfire
- does not have a legacy PCI slot (just an empty space instead)
- does have PCI-E x16, PCI-E x4, and PCI-E x1 slots
- has only 4 SATA connectors (instead of 6)
- does have 4 DIMM slots so expandable to 32GB or 64GB
- is not compatible with standard F2A55-M BIOS/firmware updates
- BIOS/firmware updates are less frequent than the standard board from ASUS
- PCI-e x4 slot is populated with a Ralink WLAN card, but it can be relocated to the x1 slot if you want to do Crossfire
RAM:
- Ships with a single 8GB 1600MHz DIMM either Kingston or A-Data
- easily expandable to 32GB or 64GB
- Ships with a single 8GB 1600MHz DIMM either Kingston or A-Data
- easily expandable to 32GB or 64GB
CPU:
- AMD A10-6300 is pretty much the top of the line 2013 APU in 65-watt TDP
- temperatures and fan speed remain low even under load
- AMD A10-6300 is pretty much the top of the line 2013 APU in 65-watt TDP
- temperatures and fan speed remain low even under load
Power supply:
- no-name 300watt model
- not 80+ certified
- no mains switch on rear, only soft on/off switch on front panel
- upgraded supply needed to run powerful graphics card(s)
- no-name 300watt model
- not 80+ certified
- no mains switch on rear, only soft on/off switch on front panel
- upgraded supply needed to run powerful graphics card(s)
Chassis:
- lightweight, but solid construction
- 2 5.25" drive bays - external has DVD-RAM, internal has USB/audio/memory-reader
- 3 3.5" drive bays - one has the hard drive, other two are free, so no problem having 3 hard drives!
- may need to remove CPU heatsink/fan in order to install extra hard drives
- warranty sticker prevents opening the case without voiding 1-year warranty (hair dryer works to melt the glue to pull off and preserve the sticker)
- no chassis cooling fans included or needed, but has spots for optional front and rear fans
- front cover has minimal ventilation so front fan not recommended
- side cover has ventilation holes which must not be obstructed
- lightweight, but solid construction
- 2 5.25" drive bays - external has DVD-RAM, internal has USB/audio/memory-reader
- 3 3.5" drive bays - one has the hard drive, other two are free, so no problem having 3 hard drives!
- may need to remove CPU heatsink/fan in order to install extra hard drives
- warranty sticker prevents opening the case without voiding 1-year warranty (hair dryer works to melt the glue to pull off and preserve the sticker)
- no chassis cooling fans included or needed, but has spots for optional front and rear fans
- front cover has minimal ventilation so front fan not recommended
- side cover has ventilation holes which must not be obstructed
Hard drive:
- Western Digital Blue 7200RPM
- factory partitioned with ~150GB OS, and ~750GB Data
- Western Digital Blue 7200RPM
- factory partitioned with ~150GB OS, and ~750GB Data
This product is... quiet, A nice compact size, lightning fast
I would recommend this to a friend!
+39points
41out of 43found this review helpful.
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DCDCDCDCDC's Answers
Asus - Essentio Desktop - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive
Learn more about the New WindowsThis Asus Essentio M11BB-B06 desktop's built-in high-speed wireless LAN makes it easy to connect to the Web for access to your favorite Internet content. The 1TB hard drive provides ample room to store photos, videos and other files.
What's the NAME of the motherboard that includes this PC?
I would like to know it to make clear if I can upgrade this PC.
Hi. The included motherboard is a stripped down ASUS F2A55-M. They have removed the legacy PCI slot and 2 SATA ports, so it only has 4 SATA ports and PCI-E x16, x4, and x1 slots. Because of these changes, the BIOS/firmware is different that the standalone board.
The PC certainly has a lot of upgrade potential.
Hope that helps.
The PC certainly has a lot of upgrade potential.
Hope that helps.
10 years, 5 months ago
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Posted by:
DCDCDCDCDC
from
Seattle WA