The Ice Whale Zac Cube: A Great Idea Gone Wrong

TLDRThe Ice Whale Zac Cube offers impressive features like hot-swappable drive bays and expandability, but falls short in several areas. The prototype model reviewed here has limitations and issues with compatibility. The power draw is higher than expected and the PCIe bandwidth is not sufficient for high-speed transfers. Overall, it's a great concept but needs improvement.

Key insights

🤔The Zac Cube from Ice Whale has potential, but falls short in execution.

⚠️The prototype model reviewed here has limitations and issues with compatibility.

💡The hot-swappable drive bays and expandability are impressive features of the Zac Cube.

💰The Zac Cube may be more expensive than expected, considering its drawbacks.

🔌The power draw of the Zac Cube is higher than desired for a low-power CPU.

Q&A

Does the Zac Cube have RAID support?

No, the current version of the Zac Cube does not support RAID. However, it may be added in future models or software updates.

Can I install any operating system on the Zac Cube?

Yes, you can install any operating system of your choice on the Zac Cube, as it is not limited to a specific OS.

Is the prototype model representative of the final product?

The prototype model reviewed here may have some differences from the final product, so it's important to consider updated specifications and reviews before making a purchase.

What is the power consumption of the Zac Cube?

The power draw of the Zac Cube varies depending on the configuration, but it generally consumes more power than expected for a low-power CPU system.

Are the PCIe slots limited in bandwidth?

Yes, the Zac Cube has limited PCIe bandwidth, which can impact high-speed transfers. It's important to consider this limitation when using PCIe devices in the system.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Introduction to the Ice Whale Zac Cube and its impressive features.

02:21Review of the hardware and build quality of the Zac Cube, including the hot-swappable drive bays and expandability options.

04:58Discussion about the limitations and issues with the prototype model, including compatibility and power draw.

09:38Explanation of the PCIe bandwidth limitation in the Zac Cube and its impact on high-speed transfers.

11:18Insights on the potential improvements and future updates for the Zac Cube.