CompuLab Intense-PC - A Low-Power, Compact, Powerful Linux PC

Following in the success of the Fit-PC2 NetTop and Tegra 2 Trim-Slice, the latest computer out of CompuLab is the Intense-PC. The CompuLab Intense-PC is a very small form factor (19 x 16 x 4 cm), low-power, fan-less computer that features up to an Intel Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor, 16GB of DDR3 system memory, and a solid-state drive for storage. The Intense-PC is also available with Linux Mint pre-loaded as the operating system.

After being very satisfied with the Fit-PC2 and Trim-Slice from CompuLab, which continue to be running and used for new Linux benchmarks at Phoronix, I accepted an offer from CompuLab for them to send out an Intense-PC review sample. The Intense-PC is their new model that they advertise as being powerful, tiny, and fanless. The Intense-PC isn't as tiny as the Trim-Slice or Fit-PC2, but it's not shipping with an Intel Atom or ARM CPU but rather a low-power Intel Celeron/Core processor. The Intense-PC is available in several varieties ranging from an Intel Celeron 827E to an Intel Core i7 3517UE "Ivy Bridge" 17 Watt processor. The model that CompuLab sent over was the Intel Core i7-3517UE model, which is a dual-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz with a 2.8GHz Turbo Boost and 4MB of Smart Cache. Along with the Core i7 3517UE CPU, which boasts Intel HD 4000 graphics and are used by the Intense-PC, the configured system for evaluation had 8GB of RAM, a 500GB Hitachi HCC54755 HDD, and a Realtek RTL8188CE wireless adapter. For those interested, from OpenBenchmarking.org there is archived the lspci, cpuinfo, and other system information for the Intense-PC. The PC shipped with Mint 13 by default.

CompuLab sent over the Intense-PC from their facility in Yokneam, Israel. Fortunately, it arrived just fine here in Chicago. The Intense-PC product box is rather conservative and plain for being a system that ended up being impressive for its petite size for packing an impressive performance punch with 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor.

Included with the computer itself was a 100~240V AC power adapter that leads to a 12V DC 5A output, an HDMI to DVI adapter, 3.5mm to RCA cable for S/PDIF, and two WiFi antennas. There's also a concise owner's manual.