Giada Introduces Book-Sized i53 Mini PC, Silent But Deadly

As we flip past more channels blacked out by the DirecTV and Viacom dispute and the case for ditching satellite or cable pay TV builds, svelte little HTPCs like the Giada i53 Mini PC look even more compelling.

China’s Giada (not her) has a spate of interesting mini computers, and the i53 is a well-appointed member of the family. The machine runs your choice of Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processors with the Intel HM76 chipset and Intel GMA HD 4000 graphics. It appears that 4GB of DDR3-1333 RAM is standard, and storage options are between a 320GB or 500GB 2.5-inch HDD.

Giada i53 Mini PC

There’s a USB 3.0 port on board as well as a quartet of USB 2.0 ports, audio out and mic-in, HMDI, VGA, and a SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO card reader. For connectivity, the i53 has Gigabit LAN, WiFi 802.11n, and Bluetooth, and it comes with an infrared remote control. Efficiently is predictably a selling point for the i53, which purports to drink just 35W of power and uses a single smart temperature-controlled fan.

Windows 7 Premium is an option, so this isn’t just a budget Linux box, although you can opt for a Linux distro if you like. According to a press release, a standard configuration (Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB HDD) will cost $520.
Tags:  systems, HTPC, Giada, i53