EGlobal, a PC maker from China, has started sales of its ultra-compact form-factor (UCFF) S200 PC. Uncommon for UCFF PCs, EGlobal's latest machines are based around Intel’s 45W laptop parts rather than their 65W+ desktop parts, somewhat limiting the vendor's chip options, but giving them more flexibility in terms of design. Case in point, the EGlobal S200s are only slightly larger than Intel’s own NUCs, but with the high-end Core i7-8750HK or Intel Xeon E-2176M inside they can offer considerably higher levels of performance.

When Intel introduced its first NUC UCFF computers in 2013, it not only entered the market of PCs with own-brand products, but it demonstrated its partners among makers of desktops that UCFF PCs were not only feasible from technology point of view, but also popular among end users. Since then, Intel has been releasing new versions of its NUCs, whereas its partners have been trying to refine their own UCFF PC products in an attempt to offer something unique. EGlobal is among companies that have managed to develop something unique: the S200 system measures 5.6 × 5.3 × 2.5 inches, yet it packs a rather powerful processor.

The EGlobal S200 is based on Intel’s Coffee Lake-H mobile CPUs, with the manufacturer offering the Core i5-8300H, Core i7-8750HK, or Xeon E-2176M as options. The system also has two SO-DIMM slots for DDR4 memory (thus supporting up to 32 GB), an M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot for an SSD, as well as a 2.5-inch bay for a SATA storage device. The CPU is cooled using a rather simplistic air cooling system featuring an aluminum radiator, which should be plenty for stock performance, but it remains to be seen whether it would be enough for overclocking of the unlocked Core i7-8750HK.

When it comes to connectivity, the S200 has an 802.11ac + Bluetooth Wi-Fi controller, a GbE port, four USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a USB Type-C port, and two display outputs (a mini DisplayPort and an HDMI port). Notably, there isn't any Thunderbolt support here, so expandability options are limited to USB, and this would rule out using an eGFX chassis with the PC.

Various versions of EGlobal’s S200 are available at AliExpress, with prices ranging from $327 to $1058 depending on configuration.

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Source: Liliputing

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  • HStewart - Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - link

    It really kind of silly comparing TB3 to USB-c, because USB-c has no advantage technically over TB3 and TB3 has everything USB-c has and more. PCI Video more is awesome - my dock running LG 38u88 ultra wide and could run additional 4k screen if I desire - too much screen space for my table.
  • GreenReaper - Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - link

    It is not silly to compare things for a particular use-case. What is your alternative - just say "TB3" is better, therefore there is no need to choose anything else? Be serious . . .

    It depends what you want to do with it. To provide its features, TB3 has many requirements, resulting in higher costs. If you don't need all the things it does in one port, maybe you don't need TB3.
  • HStewart - Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - link

    I have found that regular USB-c alternate mode does not drive display as good as TB3 (of course my use of TB3 is only for two Dell XPS 2in1's (13 and 15))

    But the big advantage of TB3 over normal USB-C is that it can drive more components than USB-C if you have a good dock. Not only does it drive external monitors but a 7 port USB switch in my case.
  • dontlistentome - Wednesday, February 6, 2019 - link

    HStewart. Agree. Had a USBc dock before the TB3s ones got fixed.

    The talk of MST DP1.3 is irrelevent if all the devices (ultraportable laptops) people have use DP1.2 for now, so MST (if supported by the screen) is limited to 2x2K or 1x4K. Yes, you can use an MST dongle, but we're meant to be using fewer wires here.
    The current issue with TB right now is cost (of the docks etc), which I suspect is the reason people keep banaging on about USB-c (which they probably don't have either...).
  • zmatt - Wednesday, February 6, 2019 - link

    Nothing of value was lost. TB3 is impressive with speeds but its just too expensive and very very few users can really use it.

    What do you need a single 40Gb/s port for exactly? The most common uses given, external video cards and being able to run multiple various devices off a hub only really matter if you have a poorly designed device with just one port. I use a T480 for work. I have never had to use a hub for connectivity.

    My desktop has a crap ton of USB 3.1 ports and dedicated ports for sound, ethernet etc. I'm fine. And connecting a videocard to a laptop is silly. You still have the thermal constrains of a laptop. By the time you get the KBM, dock, external display, dGPU and its case you've spent several times what a midrange gaming PC would and it performs worse. Its ultimately an inferior and more costly solution to a desktop and I doubt its seriously used all that much in the real world.

    Faster ports are always nice but anything that uses active cables will inevitably fail in the market due to cost and lack of convenience. Passive cables always win out in the end.
  • dromoxen - Wednesday, February 6, 2019 - link

    When 10gE is not fast enough , connect two PC's using TB3 ?? 40Gb/s sounds just about fast enough .. is it being done ??
  • PeachNCream - Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - link

    That is a nice design except for the top fan grille. My home is a bit dusty despite my efforts to keep that problem under control so if such a system were sitting with the fan upright as depicted, quite a bit of dust would settle atop it over time only to be ingested by the cooling fan during operation. I guess turning it on its side would help to an extent.
  • PeachNCream - Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - link

    Oh hah, did anyone look at the photo frame in the background that still contains the little slip of paper with its measurements inside it? Classy!
  • romrunning - Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - link

    Are you sure the fan in pulling air in, or is it pushing air out? If it's blowing air out, then you won't have dust settling on the top (although it could pull it in from the side slot openings).
  • PeachNCream - Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - link

    It's a pull in and push down over the heatsink. That's pretty clear from the fan orientation and blade design in the bare motherboard photo.

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