Gigabyte adds quartet of Skylake and Thunderbolt 3 equipped BRIX

Gigabyte has launched four new BRIX small form factor PCs. All of the systems are based upon Intel Skylake processors, come equipped with Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C interfaces, and can fit an M.2 SSD. Two of the models are suffixed 'HT' and these are 46.8mm tall, rather than 34.4mm tall, they offer added capacity for a 2.5-inch drive up to 9.5mm thick.

The four new Gigabyte BRIX are the GB-BSi5T-6200, GB-BSi5HT-6200, GB-BSi7T-6500 and GB-BSi7HT-6500. As you could probably guess from the model numbers, those four BRIX PCs are basically two variants of two models; in 34.4mm height and 46.8mm height (HT). Another clue from the model numbers is of the Intel processors powering these BRIX. The GB-BSi5T-6200 and GB-BSi5HT-6200 are powered by an Intel Skylake Core i5-6200U processor while the GB-BSi7T-6500 and GB-BSi7HT-6500 are equipped with the more powerful Core i7-6500U CPU. Both those processors offer 2C/4T, with the i7 offering faster base and boost frequencies. The built-in GPUs are the same Intel HD Graphics 520 with a base frequency of 300MHz and boost of 1GHz (1.05GHz for the i7 chip).

Gigabyte is promotiong the new BRIX quartet as ideal for a discreet HTPC/multimedia hub, an ultra-low power PC for the family, an office PC or as a digital signage unit. The Thunderbolt 3 port can offer a bandwidth of up to 40Gb/s and supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is able to drive a 4K resolution display at 60 FPS, and USB 3.1, and is also backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. Six devices can be daisy chained to this port. Furnthermore, thanks to the Thunderbolt 3 port and the built in dedicated Mini-DP and HDMI 2.0 ports the BRIX systems make useful multi-monitor systems. They are built into discreet brushed aluminium chassis but can be tucked away behind a monitor or TV, for example, using the supplied VESA bracket.

I've tabulated the key system specs of the four new BRIX below:

GB-BSi5T-6200	GB-BSi5HT-6200	GB-BSi7T-6500	GB-BSi7HT-6500
Size: 34.4 mm x 112.6 mm x 119.4 mm	Size: 46.8 mm x 112.6 mm x 119.4 mm	Size: 34.4 mm x 112.6 mm x 119.4 mm	Size: 46.8 mm x 112.6 mm x 119.4 mm
Intel® Core™ i5-6200U 2.3GHz / 2.8GHz, Intel® HD Graphics 520	Intel® Core™ i5-6200U 2.3GHz / 2.8GHz, Intel® HD Graphics 520	Intel® Core™ i7-6500U 2.5GHz / 3.1GHz, Intel® HD Graphics 520	Intel® Core™ i7-6500U 2.5GHz / 3.1GHz, Intel® HD Graphics 520
2 x SO-DIMM DDR4 slots 2133MHz Max. 32GB	2 x SO-DIMM DDR4 slots 2133MHz Max. 32GB	2 x SO-DIMM DDR4 slots 2133MHz Max. 32GB	2 x SO-DIMM DDR4 slots 2133MHz Max. 32GB
Gigabit LAN (Intel i219V), Intel® IEEE 802.11 ac ,Dual Band Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 4.2 NGFF M.2 card	Gigabit LAN (Intel i219V), Intel® IEEE 802.11 ac ,Dual Band Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 4.2 NGFF M.2 card	Gigabit LAN (Intel i219V), Intel® IEEE 802.11 ac ,Dual Band Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 4.2 NGFF M.2 card	Gigabit LAN (Intel i219V), Intel® IEEE 802.11 ac ,Dual Band Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 4.2 NGFF M.2 card
Realtek ALC255	Realtek ALC255	Realtek ALC255	Realtek ALC255
M.2 SSD (2280) slot	Supports 2.5” HDD/SSD, 7.0/9.5 mm thick (1 x 6 Gbps SATA 3) and an M.2 SSD	M.2 SSD (2280) slot	Supports 2.5” HDD/SSD, 7.0/9.5 mm thick (1 x 6 Gbps SATA 3) and an M.2 SSD
4 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB3.1 type C, HDMI plus Mini DisplayPort Outputs, SD card reader, Headphone and Microphone Jack	4 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB3.1 type C, HDMI plus Mini DisplayPort Outputs, SD card reader, Headphone and Microphone Jack	4 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB3.1 type C, HDMI plus Mini DisplayPort Outputs, SD card reader, Headphone and Microphone Jack	4 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB3.1 type C, HDMI plus Mini DisplayPort Outputs, SD card reader, Headphone and Microphone Jack
VESA mounting Bracket (75 x 75mm + 100 x 100mm)	VESA mounting Bracket (75 x 75mm + 100 x 100mm)	VESA mounting Bracket (75 x 75mm + 100 x 100mm)	VESA mounting Bracket (75 x 75mm + 100 x 100mm)

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I was always thinking that AMD will be leader on this part of market with their APus.
They had advantage 2-3 years ago, but have failed to profit.
In the meantime, Intel have been agresive and here we are, AMD not so interesting anymore in APU market, as Intel has “Good Enough” product that is better.

darcotech
I was always thinking that AMD will be leader on this part of market with their APus.
They had advantage 2-3 years ago, but have failed to profit.
In the meantime, Intel have been agresive and here we are, AMD not so interesting anymore in APU market, as Intel has “Good Enough” product that is better.

I think AMD had a lead over Atom for a long time, but that didn't really help and I think the money Intel lost in that market shows why AMD haven't sold into tablets etc.

I'm not sure that E350 and FM1 platforms were really up to the job for making something like the Brix, and it is only quite recently with Carrizo that AMD really had something that would work well in that formfactor. Intel seemed to have the market fairly well sewn up by then. Gigabyte did make an AMD based gaming Brix, and people seemed to like the performance but complained the fan was too loud trying to get rid of all the heat.

Still, I doubt it is a big market. Let's hope the 15W AM4 cpus get a look-in.

I just can't believe Intel get away with calling a dual core CPU an i7.

"I just can't believe Intel get away with calling a dual core CPU an i7.“
I agree with DanceswithUnix.

It should really be a higher grade i5 with only 2C/4T.
From performance comparisons I have seen, my mini PC with a i5 5275u would perform quite well against both of these.
Quote ”In terms of overall gaming performance, the Intel Core i5-5257U 2.7GHz is noticeably better than the Intel Core i7-6500U 2-Core 2.5GHz when it comes to running the latest games." (From Game Debate)
OK, these newer ones have a edge in certain areas (example Thanderbolt), but you would think that a next generation i7 should outperform my older i5 by a significant amount and it should have 4C/8T. Having more cores and threads is why I look at buying a i7 over a i5.
So this i7 6500 should really be classified as a higher performing i5 in my humble and amateur opinion.

whatif
"I just can't believe Intel get away with calling a dual core CPU an i7.

“
I agree with DanceswithUnix.

It should really be a higher grade i5 with only 2C/4T.
From performance comparisons I have seen, my mini PC with a i5 5275u would perform quite well against both of these.
Quote ”In terms of overall gaming performance, the Intel Core i5-5257U 2.7GHz is noticeably better than the Intel Core i7-6500U 2-Core 2.5GHz when it comes to running the latest games." (From Game Debate)
OK, these newer ones have a edge in certain areas (example Thanderbolt), but you would think that a next generation i7 should outperform my older i5 by a significant amount and it should have 4C/8T. Having more cores and threads is why I look at buying a i7 over a i5.
So this i7 6500 should really be classified as a higher performing i5 in my humble and amateur opinion.

I think i5s don't have hyperthreading but i7s do? That's presumably why it's called an i7?!

daddacool
I think i5s don't have hyperthreading but i7s do? That's presumably why it's called an i7?!

Yes, but i7's usually have more than 2 cores, and in the 15W part 2 cores is all you get.

The mobile i7 is 2 core 4 threads, on a desktop that would be called an i3. In a world where 8 core phone processors are old hat in a bid to save power, a dual core cpu just seems sad.

Gigabyte adds quartet of Skylake and Thunderbolt 3 equipped BRIX

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