Aftershock tries its hand at mini PCs with its new Nano series
Aftershock PC has announced its Nano series of mini PCs, a new line of ultra-compact systems targeted at both the casual home user and graphics and video editors.
The Nano-S appears to share the same specifications and body as the Intel Skull Canyon NUC. (Image Source: Aftershock PC)
These days, it seems like everyone and their dog is making some sort of mini PC. It comes as no surprise then that Aftershock PC, a company perhaps best known for its attractively-priced gaming laptops and desktops, is now dipping its toes into the mini PC market with its new Nano line of ultra-compact systems.
Aftershock already makes what could be considered a small form factor desktop in the form of the Aftershock Tremor, but the new Nano mini PCs take things to the next level. They are actually available in two flavors – the Nano and Nano-S, both of which are targeted at vastly different types of users.
The Nano-S is the more powerful of the two and comes equipped with a sixth-generation Intel Core i7-6770HQ (2.6GHz, 6MB cache) processor with Intel Iris Pro Graphics. It also has two SO-DIMM slots and supports up to 32GB of DDR4 2,133MHz memory, in addition to 2TB of storage across two M.2 PCIe SSD sockets and a 2.5-inch drive bay.
Aftershock intends for the Nano-S to be a compact workstation suitable for professional work like graphics or video editing, so it’s taken care to include a selection of the latest high-speed interfaces as well. You’ll find a single Thunderbolt 3 port – which offers up to 40Gb/s of bandwidth and supports video outputs as well – one USB Type-C DisplayPort 1.2 connector, and a further four external USB 3.0 ports. An HDMI 2.0 port is included as well, so you’ll even be able to drive up to two 4K displays at 60Hz.
If you're wondering why it looks just like Intel's Skull Canyon NUC, that's because Aftershock has actually collaborated with Intel on the Nano-S. Customers will be able to choose from either Intel's default design or Aftershock's custom painted option, but we don't know what the latter looks like yet.
On the other hand, the Nano is a more modest system intended for use in homes and offices. It is more compact than its big brother, the Nano-S, and measures just 115 x 111 x 48mm. It features a sixth-generation Intel Core i5-6260U (1.9GHz, 4MB cache) processor, and supports up to 32GB of DDR4 memory and 2TB of storage. The available storage expansion options are slightly more limited than the Nano-S, and it comes with just one M.2 socket and one 2.5-inch drive bay.
The Nano is targeted primarily at space-constrained home and office users. (Image Source: Aftershock PC)
Connectivity options are likewise more suited for the home user than professional video editor, and there are no Thunderbolt 3 or USB Type-C ports. Instead, there are four external USB 3.0 ports for connecting peripherals, and display outputs that include one HDMI 1.4b port and one Mini DisplayPort connector.
Both the Nano-S and Nano ship with either Windows 10 Home or Professional and come with an SD card slot for expandable storage. The Nano mini PCs retail at a starting price of S$870, and can be customized to suit your needs.
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