Lenovo ThinkCentre M715q Tiny: a wolf cub in sheep's clothing
Hello Giktayms! Gartner, IDC, Strategy Analytics - all these analytical companies have been telling us the last couple of years that the personal computer market is living out its last days, and tablets are replacing full-fledged PCs. Soon, the latter began to have problems - sooner or later, a glut of the market is going through any successful product, and tablet computers do not make sense to update every year. Allegedly, smartphones picked up the trend, but are they able to satisfy all the needs of a modern user?
Despite the abundance of software for mobile operating systems, many tasks still require a computer. However, if you move away from the game direction, then for the needs of the average user you do not need a large full-fledged PC: run a couple of programs that are not on mobile platforms, or surf the Internet - you do not need a video card with 8 GB of memory and a processor like Intel Core i7 Sandy Bridge. Nettops quickly replaced this free market niche - compact computers with an optimal ratio of size and power (and price, of course) that fit into any workplace as if they were not there at all.
The term "nettop" is derived from two words - "Internet" and "Desktop", such computers are essentially stationary analogs of familiar netbooks. Nettops typically use processors with energy-efficient microarchitectures, while their technical characteristics are not the most outstanding - a single-core or dual-core processor, 4 - 8 GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive, integrated video and sound cards. Nevertheless, this does not prevent millions of customers from using such computers to work on the Internet, watch videos, launch programs that are not on mobile devices, and someone has even got the hang of running undemanding games. In addition, nettops are in demand when creating home servers.
One of the first terms was proposed by Intel, since then many manufacturers began to produce a line of nettops, and Lenovo was no exception. The company has in its arsenal several lines of mini-PCs, and one of the most interesting are the M-series desktop personal computers in the Tiny form factor case. One of such models - M715q, appeared today at our review.
Despite its small size, this mini-PC has ample opportunities due to the presence of a modern AMD processor (more on this later), DDR4 memory and a rich "plug-in" content. But most importantly - it takes up almost 96% less space compared to traditional desktop PCs - the case volume is about one liter, in addition, the M715q Tiny literally fits behind the monitor, turning the latter into a candy bar. To do this, just install the computer inside the rear panel of the ThinkCentre Tiny-in-One (TIO) display, which provides the opportunity to independently upgrade the display and computing resources.
Here, for example, is how you can organize your workspace using this computer and Lenovo's TIO22Gen3 monitor. We remove the plug and simply insert the computer in its place, thereby minimizing the number of wires.
In addition to the standard set like a power cable, the kit was put on a fairly simple (but branded) wired keyboard and mouse, Wi-Fi antenna, a set of fasteners, as well as a special metal box in which you can conveniently place the computer both vertically and horizontally to the case It is attached using the screws provided. If you wish, in principle, you can do without it, but in this way the design looks much more stable.
For such a category of computers as nettops, such characteristics can be called flagship - this is not a dual-core processor, 1-2 GB of RAM (smartphones now have more!) And only USB 2.0. In the M715q Tiny, the seventh generation AMD processor is used at almost maximum configuration (energy efficiency is increased up to 32% compared to the 6th generation), the DDR4 SO-DIMM 8 GB 2400 MHz strip is responsible for the RAM - all this together provides a performance increase of up to 17% compared to previous generations. Integrated Graphics - AMD Radeon R7, with GCN architecture and support for AMD FreeSync technology, which eliminates the interruption and freezing of games. And, of course, the full combat readiness for DirectX 12, Vulkan, OpenGL 4.5 and Mantle. You can really play on this “horse”: resource-average applications run without problems and work without lags, “heavy” games, if it’s worth the risk of running, then only at the minimum settings. Nevertheless, this is a desktop alternative to a netbook, and not a full-fledged gaming computer.
Out of the box, the mini PC is equipped with a 128 GB M.2 solid-state drive, you can always replace it with a larger capacity SSD, you can install another solid-state drive, as well as a 2.5 '' hard drive with at least 1 TB, a slot for it here provided for.
Not without a set of wired and wireless interfaces - 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Ethernet. Set, as they say, for all occasions. By the way, you should not forget about installing an antenna for receiving a Wi-Fi signal: many do not even get it out of the box, and then they wonder why the speed of the wireless connection is so low. The abundance of USB ports (and there are as many as 6) allows you to connect the desired number of devices - and connect an external drive, put a smartphone on charge, and an adapter for the same mouse or keyboard. By the way, the “Think” prefix in the name of the device says that it fully complies with military standards and has passed more than 200 quality checks, that is, the range of operating temperatures is significantly expanded, and the computer itself is resistant to high dust. Come in handy
According to observations over several weeks of use, the computer copes with most tasks such as working with photos, graphic design, creating content, but of course, there are not enough power for too resource-intensive tasks and processing large volumes of data. However, with such dimensions and weight this computer can be forgiven a lot; nevertheless, such solutions choose more for portability than performance. That is why Lenovo's ThinkCentre M series is in special demand in the corporate segment, but more on that later.
The first association came very quickly - the size of this mini-PC is comparable to a DVD player - its height (and when lying down - its width) is less than an ordinary pencil.
The manufacturer’s logo and the ThinkCentre designation are flaunted on the front panel, under which the cooling system holes are hidden (they are neatly displayed on the sides). Above is a USB 3.0 port with support for fast charging, a headset port, a microphone jack, another USB 3.0 and a power button with a health indicator.
At the back are three more USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0, Ethernet, VGA, power, Wi-Fi antenna, and 2 DisplayPort connectors.
The nettop has an interesting and even slightly futuristic design, and it will fit into any interior without any problems: if the room is decorated in a minimalist style (like most offices), the computer can be placed directly on the table or hung on the wall - for example, several, creating a kind of mini -server. If it’s a classic, it’s not difficult to hide such a “baby” - just gently fasten it directly under the desktop and it will be imperceptible.
On its longest side, the mini-PC almost reaches 183 mm, the width is almost 18 centimeters, and the thickness is only 3.5 cm. Rubber feet on the bottom panel allow you to set the computer so that it does not slip on the surface, and also reduce vibration (which, however, is almost absent here). However, you can use the stand in the kit, which we talked about earlier.
Despite the fact that the manufacturer positions the M715q Tiny more as a corporate PC, it will have no problems in the yard and at home. Yes, you can forget about “heavy” games and working with video, but the computer copes with the rest of the tasks that have already been described, without any problems. Unlike netbooks with which such devices are often compared, the M715q cannot be called a “typewriter,” since its capabilities go far beyond working with text. Work in the same 1C or edit photos - no problem, as well as adapt the computer for gaming purposes (but without fanaticism). In fact, at first it’s hard to believe that a device that is quite decent in terms of characteristics is hidden behind such a compact size. Of course, you cannot call him a “wolf” in sheep’s clothing, but “a wolf” can easily be called a wolf.
Using the AIDA 6464 utility, I was able to learn something more about the "stuffing" of the computer.
PC3000DiskAnalyzer gave a read speed of about 400 MB / s, write - 340 MB / s.
The 3DMark 11 graphics test showed an average, not the most impressive result.
The advantage is that the computer, despite its size, lends itself to customization. No one forbids buying a couple of 16 GB DDR4 RAM slots and increasing RAM up to 32 GB or replacing a solid-state drive with a model with a large memory capacity + adding a 1 TB hard drive.
Of course, this is far from a stationary computer in this respect, but you can increase the device’s power budget, and this is an obvious plus.
After working with the M715q Tiny for several weeks, it can be stated that many users can easily replace their unit under the table with this box, comparable in size to a small book. The computer has an impressive ratio of size and power, which makes it an invited guest both at home, and in the office, and in some kind of call-center. No confusion with wires and noisy cooling, moreover, the power consumption of such a device is much lower.
This is not the smallest nettop on the market, however, not on each of these devices you can start the game or edit several photos at once so that coolers do not try to launch the computer into space. Questions may arise only for the price - for 25 thousand rubles you can not buy a bad laptop, but here everyone chooses a device according to their needs. If you are looking for a stationary solution that would be powerful and compact, not noisy and with low power consumption, it makes sense to look at our today's guest.
Despite the abundance of software for mobile operating systems, many tasks still require a computer. However, if you move away from the game direction, then for the needs of the average user you do not need a large full-fledged PC: run a couple of programs that are not on mobile platforms, or surf the Internet - you do not need a video card with 8 GB of memory and a processor like Intel Core i7 Sandy Bridge. Nettops quickly replaced this free market niche - compact computers with an optimal ratio of size and power (and price, of course) that fit into any workplace as if they were not there at all.
The term "nettop" is derived from two words - "Internet" and "Desktop", such computers are essentially stationary analogs of familiar netbooks. Nettops typically use processors with energy-efficient microarchitectures, while their technical characteristics are not the most outstanding - a single-core or dual-core processor, 4 - 8 GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive, integrated video and sound cards. Nevertheless, this does not prevent millions of customers from using such computers to work on the Internet, watch videos, launch programs that are not on mobile devices, and someone has even got the hang of running undemanding games. In addition, nettops are in demand when creating home servers.
One of the first terms was proposed by Intel, since then many manufacturers began to produce a line of nettops, and Lenovo was no exception. The company has in its arsenal several lines of mini-PCs, and one of the most interesting are the M-series desktop personal computers in the Tiny form factor case. One of such models - M715q, appeared today at our review.
Despite its small size, this mini-PC has ample opportunities due to the presence of a modern AMD processor (more on this later), DDR4 memory and a rich "plug-in" content. But most importantly - it takes up almost 96% less space compared to traditional desktop PCs - the case volume is about one liter, in addition, the M715q Tiny literally fits behind the monitor, turning the latter into a candy bar. To do this, just install the computer inside the rear panel of the ThinkCentre Tiny-in-One (TIO) display, which provides the opportunity to independently upgrade the display and computing resources.
Here, for example, is how you can organize your workspace using this computer and Lenovo's TIO22Gen3 monitor. We remove the plug and simply insert the computer in its place, thereby minimizing the number of wires.
What's in the box?
In addition to the standard set like a power cable, the kit was put on a fairly simple (but branded) wired keyboard and mouse, Wi-Fi antenna, a set of fasteners, as well as a special metal box in which you can conveniently place the computer both vertically and horizontally to the case It is attached using the screws provided. If you wish, in principle, you can do without it, but in this way the design looks much more stable.
Specifications
| CPU | AMD A10 9700E |
| Frequency and number of processor cores | 3.0 GHz Quad Core |
| Motherboard | AMD B300 |
| RAM | SODIMM, DDR4 8192 MB 2400 MHz |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon R7 |
| HDD | 2.5-inch drive slot |
| Interfaces | 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Ethernet |
| SSD | M.2, 128 GB, slot for additional. SSD |
| operating system | Windows 10 Pro |
| Connectors | 2 DisplayPort, headphone jack, headset jack, microphone port, Ethernet, VGA, 2 USB 3.0 ports (front panel), 3 USB 2.0 ports, USB 3.0 port (rear panel) |
| Case Dimensions | 179 x 34.5 x 182.9 mm |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
For such a category of computers as nettops, such characteristics can be called flagship - this is not a dual-core processor, 1-2 GB of RAM (smartphones now have more!) And only USB 2.0. In the M715q Tiny, the seventh generation AMD processor is used at almost maximum configuration (energy efficiency is increased up to 32% compared to the 6th generation), the DDR4 SO-DIMM 8 GB 2400 MHz strip is responsible for the RAM - all this together provides a performance increase of up to 17% compared to previous generations. Integrated Graphics - AMD Radeon R7, with GCN architecture and support for AMD FreeSync technology, which eliminates the interruption and freezing of games. And, of course, the full combat readiness for DirectX 12, Vulkan, OpenGL 4.5 and Mantle. You can really play on this “horse”: resource-average applications run without problems and work without lags, “heavy” games, if it’s worth the risk of running, then only at the minimum settings. Nevertheless, this is a desktop alternative to a netbook, and not a full-fledged gaming computer.
Out of the box, the mini PC is equipped with a 128 GB M.2 solid-state drive, you can always replace it with a larger capacity SSD, you can install another solid-state drive, as well as a 2.5 '' hard drive with at least 1 TB, a slot for it here provided for.
Not without a set of wired and wireless interfaces - 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Ethernet. Set, as they say, for all occasions. By the way, you should not forget about installing an antenna for receiving a Wi-Fi signal: many do not even get it out of the box, and then they wonder why the speed of the wireless connection is so low. The abundance of USB ports (and there are as many as 6) allows you to connect the desired number of devices - and connect an external drive, put a smartphone on charge, and an adapter for the same mouse or keyboard. By the way, the “Think” prefix in the name of the device says that it fully complies with military standards and has passed more than 200 quality checks, that is, the range of operating temperatures is significantly expanded, and the computer itself is resistant to high dust. Come in handy
According to observations over several weeks of use, the computer copes with most tasks such as working with photos, graphic design, creating content, but of course, there are not enough power for too resource-intensive tasks and processing large volumes of data. However, with such dimensions and weight this computer can be forgiven a lot; nevertheless, such solutions choose more for portability than performance. That is why Lenovo's ThinkCentre M series is in special demand in the corporate segment, but more on that later.
Appearance
The first association came very quickly - the size of this mini-PC is comparable to a DVD player - its height (and when lying down - its width) is less than an ordinary pencil.
The manufacturer’s logo and the ThinkCentre designation are flaunted on the front panel, under which the cooling system holes are hidden (they are neatly displayed on the sides). Above is a USB 3.0 port with support for fast charging, a headset port, a microphone jack, another USB 3.0 and a power button with a health indicator.
At the back are three more USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0, Ethernet, VGA, power, Wi-Fi antenna, and 2 DisplayPort connectors.
The nettop has an interesting and even slightly futuristic design, and it will fit into any interior without any problems: if the room is decorated in a minimalist style (like most offices), the computer can be placed directly on the table or hung on the wall - for example, several, creating a kind of mini -server. If it’s a classic, it’s not difficult to hide such a “baby” - just gently fasten it directly under the desktop and it will be imperceptible.
On its longest side, the mini-PC almost reaches 183 mm, the width is almost 18 centimeters, and the thickness is only 3.5 cm. Rubber feet on the bottom panel allow you to set the computer so that it does not slip on the surface, and also reduce vibration (which, however, is almost absent here). However, you can use the stand in the kit, which we talked about earlier.
Tests and Usage Experience
Despite the fact that the manufacturer positions the M715q Tiny more as a corporate PC, it will have no problems in the yard and at home. Yes, you can forget about “heavy” games and working with video, but the computer copes with the rest of the tasks that have already been described, without any problems. Unlike netbooks with which such devices are often compared, the M715q cannot be called a “typewriter,” since its capabilities go far beyond working with text. Work in the same 1C or edit photos - no problem, as well as adapt the computer for gaming purposes (but without fanaticism). In fact, at first it’s hard to believe that a device that is quite decent in terms of characteristics is hidden behind such a compact size. Of course, you cannot call him a “wolf” in sheep’s clothing, but “a wolf” can easily be called a wolf.
Using the AIDA 6464 utility, I was able to learn something more about the "stuffing" of the computer.
PC3000DiskAnalyzer gave a read speed of about 400 MB / s, write - 340 MB / s.
The 3DMark 11 graphics test showed an average, not the most impressive result.
The advantage is that the computer, despite its size, lends itself to customization. No one forbids buying a couple of 16 GB DDR4 RAM slots and increasing RAM up to 32 GB or replacing a solid-state drive with a model with a large memory capacity + adding a 1 TB hard drive.
Of course, this is far from a stationary computer in this respect, but you can increase the device’s power budget, and this is an obvious plus.
conclusions
After working with the M715q Tiny for several weeks, it can be stated that many users can easily replace their unit under the table with this box, comparable in size to a small book. The computer has an impressive ratio of size and power, which makes it an invited guest both at home, and in the office, and in some kind of call-center. No confusion with wires and noisy cooling, moreover, the power consumption of such a device is much lower.
This is not the smallest nettop on the market, however, not on each of these devices you can start the game or edit several photos at once so that coolers do not try to launch the computer into space. Questions may arise only for the price - for 25 thousand rubles you can not buy a bad laptop, but here everyone chooses a device according to their needs. If you are looking for a stationary solution that would be powerful and compact, not noisy and with low power consumption, it makes sense to look at our today's guest.