Two Gigabyte AMD-powered Brix systems are now available in the US with prices starting at $260, scaling up based on specs. The entry-level model (barebones) Gigabyte GB-BXA8-5545 is powered by AMD’s A8-5545M Richland processor paired with Radeon HD 8510G graphics.
Additional features include Ethernet, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, up to 16GB of RAM (not included in base price) and room for an mSATA SSD (also not included in base).
As Liliputing’s Brad Linder notes, the unit boasts more than enough horsepower for HD video playback and other basic home theater tasks. However, it probably isn’t really fast enough to handle the latest high-end video games.
“Possibly it’s main selling point is that the Gigabyte GB-BXA8-5545 is significantly cheaper than an Intel NUC with a Core i3 chip, such as the $380 Haswell-powered NUC D54250WYK1,” Linder explained. ”But it’s also a little less powerful when it comes to sheer CPU performance, and noisier when the CPU and GPU are working hard enough to power up the fan.”
Not surprisingly, Gigabyte is also offering another Brix (GB-BXA8G-8890) specifically designed for modern gaming at a $570 price point. The system is packed with an AMD A8-5557M CPU, AMD Radeon R9 M275X dedicated graphics, faster WiFi, as well as room for a SATA III hard drive and an SSD.
