Previously, I had set up a portable screen (monitor) as a secondary display. However, after using it for a while, I found it unnecessary. Mainly, I just write documents and do some simple video editing, and my main screen at home, a large monitor, is more than enough. But to avoid letting this portable screen sit idle, and since my child occasionally needs to use the computer for research and online classes, I decided to get a budget mini computer host, with a budget of around a thousand yuan, but with a large hard drive capacity to connect to this portable screen.
After much comparison, I finally purchased the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro mini computer host with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage (the current official price is 1095 yuan, which is just over a thousand). The reasons for choosing the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro are twofold: the price meets my budget requirements, and it has a large 512GB hard drive, which is unmatched at this price point.
The second reason is that my main computer host at home is a Zero刻 GTR5, which I find quite satisfactory and have a good opinion of its quality. Therefore, this article will briefly discuss my experience with the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro, providing a reference for those with similar needs. If you’re interested, please continue reading.
What have I done with the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro?
The first part of the article starts with “What have I done with the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro?” instead of the boring unboxing and performance specifications. As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, my main use for the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro is to combine it with the extra portable screen I have, allowing my child to occasionally research, attend online classes, and study. Additionally, my portable screen supports eye protection mode, making it quite suitable for children.
Moreover, this portable screen also has built-in speakers, and the input interface is integrated with power supply functionality. Therefore, by connecting it through the USB-C port to the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro, it can be powered directly by the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro without needing a separate power supply. This setup only requires the main unit’s power and a USB-C cable capable of video transmission, making it very convenient and tidy on the desk.
Another secondary use is that I have a spare SNK joystick controller at home, and I personally enjoy playing some arcade games. So, when my child is not using the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro, I connect the joystick controller to run some arcade games on it. Don’t ask me why I don’t just connect my phone to play; firstly, the phone screen is too small for an enjoyable experience, and secondly, there’s not enough storage on my phone to install emulators.
Why not connect the joystick controller to the main computer host for gaming? Because the main computer host is primarily used for work, and I don’t want to mix in gaming, plus there’s no extra space on my desk for such a large joystick controller.
I might be too out of touch; while testing the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro, I whimsically thought to try if the joystick controller could play some arcade-style games on Steam. The result was perfect support, and using the joystick is a completely different experience compared to using a gamepad.
In practice, I found that the game Cuphead on Steam can also be played with the joystick. If I hadn’t purchased the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro, I wouldn’t have thought to try using the joystick controller for this type of gaming. So, I guess I’ve “learned” a new way to play games.
The uses of the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro go beyond what I’ve mentioned above. Because it’s affordable and has ample storage space, there are many other potential uses. For example, it can be connected to some budget monitors and used as an office computer in a shop, to watch high-definition movies, or to handle documents. It’s completely OK, and due to its small size and light weight, it’s also convenient for mobility. Alternatively, it can be used to upgrade an old smart TV.
Additionally, the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro has 2 dual Gigabit network ports, which can also be used as a soft router. Furthermore, in the position shown in the image above, there are 2 network ports, 2 USB3.0 ports, 2 HDMI ports, and 1 power port. Including the power port, there are a total of 7 ports in this position, and the cooling vents of the host are designed above these numerous ports.
Design and Performance Overview of the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro
In this section, let’s take a look at the design and performance of the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro. As a mini computer host, it should be compact and mini, and I personally believe that the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro meets this requirement. Compared to the mobile solid-state drive on the left, it’s evident that the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro is not large. As for weight, the official specifications do not provide detailed information, but I measured it with a digital scale, and it weighs 318 grams, which is less than a bottle of mineral water (500ml).
Despite being a budget mini computer host, the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro does not compromise on design. For example, in terms of cooling, it employs a combination of active silent fans, heat sinks, and thermal pads. During actual use, the fan noise is indeed low, and the body temperature remains relatively low. Additionally, the patterned grilles on both sides of the body serve as air intake vents for cooling.
The front of the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro features 4 ports, including 2 USB3.0 ports, 1 Type-C port that supports video output, and 1 3.5mm audio port. With 4 ports on the front and 7 on the back, the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro has a total of 11 ports, which I believe can meet all connection needs.
The bottom of the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro shows that there are connection holes for installing wall-mounted brackets. This is a design that has been inherited in the Zero刻 mini computer host series; basically, every mini computer host has this design. If needed, the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro can be wall-mounted on a monitor for use.
By unscrewing the four screws on the bottom cover of the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro and opening it, you can see that there is a 2.5-inch hard drive bay, allowing for hard drive expansion if needed.
The internal structure of the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro is quite tidy and well-crafted. Additionally, the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro features two memory slots, with the 16GB memory consisting of two 8GB sticks, forming a dual-channel setup that further enhances the overall experience. Besides the 16GB+512GB version, there is also an 8GB+512GB version, which is cheaper by 140 yuan. If you have spare memory sticks at home, you can opt for the 8GB+512GB version.
In addition to providing a wall-mounted bracket and power supply, the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro also comes with screws and two HDMI cables (one long and one short), which I won’t showcase one by one.
Now, we arrive at the most critical part, which is the performance aspect. The Zero刻 EQ59 Pro is equipped with an Intel 11th generation N5105 processor, Intel integrated graphics, and an M.2 SATA3 2280 hard drive. I conducted a performance test using a benchmarking tool, and the score was 298650 points, which I personally consider to be quite good for a mini computer host.
The read/write speed test of the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro’s hard drive is close to the official stated reading speed of 500MB/s.
Although I personally recommend using the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro for office work, simple single-player games, and for my child’s online classes and studies, I know some might still ask: can the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro play online games like LOL? I personally tested LOL, and at a resolution of 1920*1080 with medium graphics settings, the FPS performance of the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro was around 80.
During team battles, the FPS ranged between 60 and 70, and overall gameplay was quite smooth. However, I still advise against buying the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro solely for gaming purposes. It can handle simple games like LOL or the previously mentioned ones, but for medium to heavy gaming, the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro may not meet your requirements.
Final Summary
From both a hardware perspective and an experience and price perspective, I believe the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro performs exceptionally well. If your budget is around a thousand yuan, I think the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro is an ideal choice. Whether for your child or for personal office use, I believe the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro will provide a good experience. If you’re interested, you can compare it with other mini computer hosts in the same price range. Not to mention, just the 512GB hard drive is a rarity among models at this price point.
Of course, the Zero刻 EQ59 Pro is not absolutely perfect. Its shortcomings include: 1. The USB-C port only supports signal output and does not support power supply; 2. The main unit does not have built-in speakers, requiring external speakers.