AOpen XC Cube EZ482 Barebones Computer Review

The AOpen EZ482 barebones system is a small form factor box that includes both onboard video and a PCI Express x16 slot for video upgrades. It measures just 7.9 x 7.3 x 12.6 inches, weighs just over 8 pounds, and is very quiet. It also includes S-Video TV-out and gigabit ethernet. It supports AMD Socket 939 CPU's including Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64, and Sempron.

An obvious use for this quiet little box is as a media PC, although with the addition of a fast video card, it'd make a fine gaming box.

The onboard audio controller from Realtek is of the new High Definition type with sample rates up to 192kHz which is far superior to the normal AC97 solutions you tend to find on motherboards for AMD processors. The rear audio connectors comprise four outputs for 7.1-channel sound alongside a microphone and a line in. The line in also doubles up as a 3.5mm optical S/PDIF input.