GIGABYTE Launches BRIX Gaming: AMD A8-5557M and R9 M275X
by Ian Cutress on January 28, 2014 10:28 AM EST
GIGABYTE’s push on the BRIX has been with so much gusto it is hard to keep up with all the possible models coming to market and ones they are merely testing the water with. Hot on the heels of their BRIX Pro being certified as a Steam Box at the Consumer Electronics Show, there were hints of BRIX models coming with discrete mobile graphics, namely the 8000M series. We have received a PR from GIGABYTE regarding the next model in the stack, dubbed the BRIX Gaming.
The main hardware specifications start with an AMD A8-5557M APU, a dual module 35W Richland-based part (four threads) at 2.1 GHz (3.1 GHz Turbo), with onboard HD 8550G graphics (256 SPs @ 554/720 MHz). On the discrete GPU side, there is an R9 M275X mobile graphics solution (specification unknown, requesting more information), but no official word if these two can be paired for a dual graphics scenario.
As with most BRIX modules, this will be a barebones unit, with space for users to include two SO-DIMM memory units and a choice of either mSATA or a 2.5” SSD. The device comes with four USB 3.0 ports (two front, two rear), a miniPCIe WiFi module with dual band 802.11ac compatibility (with BT4.0), and VESA mounting. Video outputs come in the form of a HDMI and mini-DisplayPort.
The unit is designed to accommodate the 2.5” SSD compared to most BRIX units (59.6mm x 115.4mm x 128mm), and depending on the exact specifications of the mobile GPU could make a nice LAN PC for on the move. The BRIX Gaming is also being sold by Maingear, who are going to rebadge it as their “Spark” Steambox PC and should be offering users to customize the insides so it can be pre-built for them.
I have asked for confirmation of R9 M275X specifications, as well as release dates, pricing, and more detailed images of the internals.
Addendum: The product page for the BRIX Gaming is here, and the product code is given as GB-BXA8G-8890, suggesting that originally this build used the 8890M discrete graphics solution. This is further corroborated by coverage of the BRIX line at CES where Colin Brix (GIGABYTE Technical Marketing) himself showcased a BRIX with discrete 8890M graphics.
Due to Chinese New Year, GIGABYTE USA have infromed me that a media kit will be available after CNY.
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konistehrad - Tuesday, January 28, 2014 - link
You beat me to this, but yeah, the decision to go Richland rather than waiting for more suitable, 35W Kaveri parts is baffling. Dual Graphics isn't a silver bullet by any means, but it'd certainly be better than an unusable VLIW block on the APU.Flunk - Tuesday, January 28, 2014 - link
Yes, that is odd and disappointing. I misread this at first and got excited.Hubb1e - Tuesday, January 28, 2014 - link
It does seem odd to go with Richland. But remember that Richland can run just fine in an AM2+ board so Kaveri and Richland are compatible on the same platform. And at 35W Kaveri should prove to be much more capable than Richland at 35W since the benefits of Kaveri are seen at low TDP.Death666Angel - Tuesday, January 28, 2014 - link
*FM2+ socket, not AM2+. And Richland can run in it but that doesn't mean that they are using that here. So if they use FM2 socket with Richland, there is no compatibility.Gigaplex - Tuesday, January 28, 2014 - link
The AMD A8-5557M is BGA mountednightscheme - Sunday, February 2, 2014 - link
Actually AMD promised support for VLIW5 and GCN Dual Graphics, meaning it's still possible.HisDivineOrder - Tuesday, January 28, 2014 - link
So like AMD to announce something without pricing, release, or if the APU and GPU CF well. Basically, they just threw pictures and a brief description up and thought, "Hey, they'll fill in all the bad blanks with assumptions if we say nothing!"Just like we always do with everything else they "reveal" in this fashion.
PhoenixEnigma - Tuesday, January 28, 2014 - link
That's funny, as this wasn't revealed by AMD, unless they've suddenly purchased Gigabyte."We have received a PR from GIGABYTE regarding the next model in the stack, dubbed the BRIX Gaming."
rhx123 - Wednesday, January 29, 2014 - link
Typical gigabyte. Hype a product then reduce it's specs. They've done this before with thunderbolt equipped laptops that never happened, now they tout a 8890M and release it with a much slower part.No hope in hell the NVidia one will be a 880M, I called this right from the start. It's going to be a 840m or something.
Gigaplex - Monday, February 3, 2014 - link
I don't understand the point in this model. The sole point of getting an AMD APU is for the GPU advantage over Intel. If you're going to use a discrete GPU anyway, may as well just use an Intel CPU.