Between the HTC Vive, the PlayStation VR and the Oculus Rift, you’ve probably noticed by now that virtual reality has become the new name of the new game. And despite what you may have heard to the contrary, you don’t actually need to have a giant rig in order to be VR-ready. The folks at Zotac are continuing with their compact ZBOX ways, expanding the lineup with the new MAGNUS EN980. It’s a mini-PC that’s totally ready to handle your virtual reality needs.
Despite its relatively diminutive stature, the MAGNUS EN980 is actually bigger on the inside in terms of performance. It’s like a TARDIS, except totally not like a TARDIS. Under the heat dissipation-optimized housing, you’ll find a sixth-generation Intel Skylake Core i5 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 graphics, and a specially-designed liquid-cooling system. Video output comes by way of HDMI or DisplayPort with support for up to four displays.
ZOTAC is saying that this is the most powerful ZBOX gaming mini PC to date, delivering the “full power of a premium desktop gaming solution” in a fraction of the size. It surpasses the recommended specifications for a great VR experience. Other highlights include a USB 3.1 type-C port and dual gigabit LAN.
No word on pricing just yet, but ZOTAC will be showing off the MAGNUS EN980 AT CeBIT and GDC next week.
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The Most Powerful Mini PC
HONG KONG – March 10, 2016 – ZOTAC International, a global manufacturer of innovation, is pleased to introduce the most powerful ZBOX Gaming Mini PC ready for virtual reality, MAGNUS EN980. This ZBOX is equipped with a 6th generation Intel Skylake processor and features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 graphics card to deliver a VR experience in the most compact form factor.
MAGNUS EN980 packs the full power of a premium desktop gaming solution into a ZBOX Mini PC. The result is the most powerful ZBOX, and goes beyond the recommended specifications for VR experience.
The unit supports up to four displays via HDMI and DisplayPort, enabling other forms of entertainment that is best enjoyed with multiple displays. USB 3.0 is the standard with a USB 3.1 type-C port which delivers up to 10Gbps data transfer rate. Along with dual gigabit LAN and 802.11ac WiFi, the MAGNUS EN980 is quick across the board.
While the Intel Skylake CPU and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 provides the power that pushes the gaming experience further, the factory-installed water-cooling solution keeps MAGNUS cool. By lining liquid channels, heatpipes and heat fins, the heat is directed away from the source, effectively keeping the power core cool. With all the powerful hardware in the most compact of size, amazingly ZOTAC still manages to keep it whisper quiet.
All the performance is housed by a newly designed case that encompasses function and style. Designed with a functional minimalistic approach, it incorporates the water-cooling system, and the shape and surface dimensions to provide great effectiveness in heat dissipation, further strengthening the cooling process with the help of natural aerodynamics.
The MAGNUS EN980 will be exhibited at the upcoming Cebit 2016 and GDC 2016 in March.
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