Gigabyte BRIX Gaming UHD Review With Teardown And Rebuild Action
Gigabyte BRIX Gaming UHD: Software & User Experience
As with any barebones kit, the end user is responsible for installing the operating system. Thankfully, this means no dreaded bloatware, but it also means drivers will need to be downloaded and installed from Gigabyte’s website. Be sure to have a second system and a flash drive handy to make this possible. Once configured and updated, however, the Gigabyte BRIX Gaming UHD is really no different from any other custom built computer.
From a user experience perspective, inputs and outputs on the BRIX Gaming UHD are done right. Four USB Type-A ports should offer enough flexibility for most users to attach external drives or other devices alongside their mouse and keyboard.
The WiFi antenna connects with a 2.5 foot (75cm) cable which can allow users to place it in a more convenient position. This is essential for use in tight entertainment centers and the like where signal strength may otherwise be dampened. It also sidesteps the sometimes goofy-looking on box rabbit ear setup.
Here's a quick rundown stream of the system in action, with a quick benchmark preview as well, before we get into the hard data...
Unfortunately, the cooling fan included with the build can get a little noisy - registering in at 42dB in a 32dB ambient room while idling. Under stress test conditions the noise level climbs to around 55dB, though generally it hovers below 45dB while gaming. Still, we might suggest exploring an alternative cooling fan solution if you're particularly sensitive in this regard. Think overworked game console levels of noise but certainly not obnoxious hair dryer levels, acoustically.
From a user experience perspective, inputs and outputs on the BRIX Gaming UHD are done right. Four USB Type-A ports should offer enough flexibility for most users to attach external drives or other devices alongside their mouse and keyboard.
The WiFi antenna connects with a 2.5 foot (75cm) cable which can allow users to place it in a more convenient position. This is essential for use in tight entertainment centers and the like where signal strength may otherwise be dampened. It also sidesteps the sometimes goofy-looking on box rabbit ear setup.
Here's a quick rundown stream of the system in action, with a quick benchmark preview as well, before we get into the hard data...
Gigabyte BRIX UHD Thermals
Thermally, the BRIX Gaming UHD manages to stay sufficiently cool to the touch. At peak load, we recorded surface temperatures on the top panel of around 44C. The top panel sticks around 26C at idle in a 22C room. For internal temps, the CPU idles at 32C and peaks around 65C with a typical load while the GPU idles closer to 28C with a peak of 56C. Under stress test conditions, the CPU did reach 91C, which is high, but we had to really throw everything at it to get there.
Unfortunately, the cooling fan included with the build can get a little noisy - registering in at 42dB in a 32dB ambient room while idling. Under stress test conditions the noise level climbs to around 55dB, though generally it hovers below 45dB while gaming. Still, we might suggest exploring an alternative cooling fan solution if you're particularly sensitive in this regard. Think overworked game console levels of noise but certainly not obnoxious hair dryer levels, acoustically.
